The List

Royal Northern College Of Music (RNCM)

Located one mile south of Manchester City Centre, in the heart of the Education Quarter, this is one of four conservatories associated with the ABRSM. It was formed in 1973 by the merger of the Northern School of Music and the Royal Manchester College of Music. The RNCM is also a performance venue for concerts and other musical events. It is located one mile south of Manchester City Centre, in the heart of the Education Quarter. Oxford Road station is an eight minute walk away, and there is secure parking located next to the College in the basement of the Sir Charles Groves Hall of Residence, off Rosamund Street West.

What's On @ Royal Northern College Of Music (RNCM)

Kenny Thomas

Kenny Thomas

17 May 2025 - 25 Jul 2025

Kenny Thomas was one of the most popular UK soul dance vocalists of the early 1990s. His biggest UK hit came in 1991 with ‘Thinking About Your Love’ (number 4), while his debut album sold more than 600, 000 copies in the UK alone. Other hit singles spawned by that debut included ‘Outstanding’, ‘The Best Of You’ and ‘Tender Love’, and also resulted in a Brit Award nomination for Best British Male Vocalist and Best British Newcomer. The warm, relaxed dance grooves of that debut were replicated on a second album that continued Thomas’ massive commercial success. Guest musicians this time round included the Young Disciples, Nu Colours and the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra. This time some of the bonhomie of the original set was more restrained, with a slightly more mature lyrical vision reflecting more real-life experiences. Over the years Kenny has retained an extremely loyal following on the Soul/Funk circuit and is often one of the first names ‘considered’ for ‘Soul All dayers’ etc. However, now in 2021 Kenny has recruited a new band and is about to go out live to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his debut album ‘Voices’, that featured the hits Thinking about your love, Outstanding, Tender Love & Best of you In addition to the album Kenny has just released in conjunction with Dr Packer a new version of the seminal Fatback Band classic ‘I found lovin’ – this song has been a staple of Kenny’s live sets for some time and has already landed in several Soul based singles charts across the UK
Hue & Cry

Hue & Cry

8 May 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

“They’ve lasted because they are brilliant” Radio 2 Brothers Patrick and Gregory Kane formed Hue and Cry in the ’80s and the duo made a huge impact with the release of their debut album Seduced and Abandoned (1987) which featured their first top ten single Labour of Love. The follow up album Remote continued the trend and produced the huge hits Looking for Linda and Violently. Albums like Stars Crash Down, Showtime and Jazz Not Jazz ensured Hue and Cry’s continued successful run through the ’90s, whilst their 2005 appearances as finalists on ITV’s primetime show Hit Me Baby One More Time, featuring their version of Beyonce’s Crazy In Love, thrust the band firmly back into the mainstream limelight. A number of successful album releases and accompanying live appearances followed which included Open Soul (2008), Xmasday (2009), Bitter Suite Again (2010), Hot Wire (2012), Remote: Major to Minor (2014), September Songs (2015), Pocketful of Stones (2017). To date Hue and Cry have sold in excess of two million records worldwide. In 2019, Hue and Cry sold out their Summer Nights at the Bandstand show at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove park within forty-eight hours and finished the year by playing live all over the UK. With the global pandemic bringing live touring to a halt during 2020/21, Hue and Cry introduced their pioneering Live from Lockdown streaming shows which were broadcast live from the band’s Glasgow based studio and viewed online by thousands of fans around the world. A collection of their favourite tracks from these shows was released as a Best of Lockdown album (2022). Hue and Cry have sold tens of thousands of concert tickets worldwide. As well as performing alongside some of the greatest artists in music history – appearing with U2, James Brown, Madonna, Al Green and Van Morrison to name but a few – the band have undertaken a multitude of their own headline tours and made numerous festival appearances. Hue and Cry were recognised by their peers when they were recently presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Scottish Music Awards. The band are currently working on a brand new album and have made a welcome return to performing in front of audiences.
King Creosote - Any Storm in a Teacup
Following on from the success of 2024’s “Any Port in a Storm” tour, King Creosote’s 2025’s follow-up “Any Storm in a Teacup” promises a night of modular synth, I DES tracks and KC classics.
Will Young

Will Young

3 Jul 2025 - 3 Jul 2025

Will Young has spent the last two decades at the forefront of pop after bursting onto the scene in 2002 as the original winner of Pop Idol. His expansive career has culminated in four #1 and two #2 chart topping albums, two BRIT Awards, four UK number one singles and hits including ‘Leave Right Now’, ‘Evergreen’ and ‘Jealousy’. An acting career blossomed concurrently, with roles on stage and screen and presenting gigs on TV and radio, including regular cover for Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2. Will’s most recent album Crying On The Bathroom Floor hit #3 in the UK album chart this year and his new book To Be A Gay Man is available now via Penguin Books.
Country Hits Live

Country Hits Live

16 May 2025 - 26 Oct 2025

Performed by a cast of multi award-winning musicians and singers, Country Hits Live will celebrate the atmosphere and energy of an evening in the home of country music. Prepare be taken back through the history of country music featuring songs from Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain and Garth Brooks right through to Taylor Swift and Luke Combs.
Tony Ann

Tony Ann

10 May 2025 - 12 May 2025

Tony Ann is a virtuoso solo pianist who seamlessly blends contemporary and classical styles. As a harmony connoisseur, Tony pushes the limits of neoclassical and popular music, crafting emotionally rich compositions using the full range of the piano’s 88 keys.
Francis Rossi

Francis Rossi

1 May 2025 - 7 Nov 2025

Francis Dominic Nicholas Michael Rossi, OBE is an English musician. He is the co-founder, lead singer, lead guitarist and the sole continuous member of the rock band Status Quo.
Juno Birch

Juno Birch

2 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Juno Birch (born 25 December 1993) is an English drag queen, sculptor, and YouTuber.[2] She began performing in drag professionally in late 2018 and has since received significant media attention for her work.
Juno Birch: The Probed Tour

Juno Birch: The Probed Tour

2 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

JUNO travel's the Earth and probes the absurdity of life on this planet, in her one woman stand-up comedy tour ‘Probed.’  Expect jumbo hair, space age fashion and hysterical jokes from the extra terrestrial icon all the way from the distant planet of Manchester as she shares her struggles of life through the lens of her little pink sunglasses.
DakhaBrakha

DakhaBrakha

3 Oct 2025 - 12 Oct 2025

DakhaBrakha are a quartet from Kiev, Ukraine. Their music, aptly described as "Ukrainian Ethno Chaos" is a maelstrom of sound and soul, creating a world of unexpected new music.
The Amy Winehouse Band

The Amy Winehouse Band

24 Oct 2025 - 19 Dec 2025

We are delighted to bring you this exceptional & unique show: this, is The Amy Winehouse Band – Amy’s Original band led by her long term Musical Director/Bass player Dale Davis and Amy’s close friend from the very start of her career, celebrate her era defining global music and live performances, keeping her spirit and legacy and the Amy Winehouse sound alive in a true connection only possible by Amy ’s original band.
Lucy Rose
Indie
Music

Lucy Rose

24 Feb 2026 - 6 Apr 2026

Making her name as a backing singer for indie-rock collective Bombay Bicycle Club, Rose embarked on her own musical journey and released her debut album in 2012. The Surrey-born singer-songwriter performs indie-folk originals.
Van Morrison Alumni Band

Van Morrison Alumni Band

30 Sept 2025 - 28 Nov 2025

The Van Morrison Alumni Band, a repertoire company unlike any other, features the musicians who played thousands of concerts and recorded hundreds of songs with Van Morrison, over a period of transition when Van Morrison was making some of his most successful and loved albums including 1995’s million selling “Days Like This” and 1997’s “The Healing Game”. The evening will be curated and hosted by saxophonist and broadcaster Leo Green, who played on seven albums by Van Morrison and appeared on stages with him all over the world. Choosing from over 44 studio albums the concert will feature the works from throughout Van Morrison’s career, some of which are very rarely heard live in concert.
The Blow Monkeys

The Blow Monkeys

11 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

With hits like ‘Digging Your Scene’ and ‘It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way’, The Blow Monkeys epitomised the glamour of mid-80s pop at its most graceful and sophisticated. In the band’s frontman Robert Howard (aka Dr. Robert), they possessed a tall, charismatic singer who was both camera-friendly and clever, who appeared to be just as much at ease on the catwalk that is pop’s conveyor belt as he was penning witty, incisive songs. While quite clearly Robert’s band, though, the Blow Monkeys were also gifted three immensely talented musicians in bassist Mick Anker (he of the trademark bowler hat), saxophonist Neville Henry and drummer Tony Kiley. Behind the band’s stylish veneer lay something else, which became increasingly apparent from Robert’s lyrics. While some of the Smash Hits generation avoided politics with a capital P, The Blow Monkeys openly criticised the policies of the Conservative government, railing against social injustices and adopting an openly left-of-centre stance on issues of the day. From openly endorsing the gay community “Digging Your Scene” to an outright attack on Margaret Thatcher ‘Celebrate (The Day After You)’ – a duet with the late, great Curtis Mayfield, The Blow Monkeys were always the thinking person’s pop group. As the 1980s progressed, so too did the band’s musical style, from a sound once dubbed “jazz punk” by Robert to a more soulful, jazzy style and an ever-increasing adoption of dance music. The Blow Monkeys of their rare, indie debut single ‘Live Today Love Tomorrow’ (recorded on a shoestring in 1981) would be barely recognisable to those who bought the Balearic remix of ‘La Passionara’ from 1990. And yet a soulful, spiritually uplifting strain has continued to run through their music – and, indeed, that of Robert’s solo recordings – to this day.
Eddi Reader - 40 Years Live

Eddi Reader - 40 Years Live

5 Jun 2025 - 29 Nov 2025

Eddi Reader, considered to be one of Scotland's all-time greatest female voices and performers, is returning to stages. Celebrating almost half a century of music, Eddi will bring her signature vocals to venues up and down the country. As Eddi Reader fans will know, no two performances are ever the same, but each concert promises to be a special evening with Eddi reminiscing and sharing the music of the past while looking forward to many more ahead.
Beth Nielsen Chapman & Judie Tzuke

Beth Nielsen Chapman & Judie Tzuke

18 Oct 2025 - 9 Nov 2025

Join two of the most revered female singer-songwriters for an evening of unparalleled music. Appearing together on stage for the first time to perform songs such as ‘Stay With Me Till Dawn’, ‘Sand and Water’, ‘Bring The Rain’, ‘This Kiss’ and their stunning collaboration, ‘Safe’. Alongside their musicians, this is set to be a beautiful night of lyric, song and harmony.
Ballet of Lights: Peter Pan in a Sparkling Show
Join Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, and the Darling children on a magical journey to Neverland! Discover the magic of this beloved story as 6 local dancers perform mesmerising routines in illuminated costumes. Watch how Peter, Wendy, and Tinkerbell command the stage, leaving trails of light and colour following their every move. It's an evening filled with wonder, adventure, and light.
Penguin Cafe

Penguin Cafe

29 May 2025 - 26 Nov 2025

Penguin Cafe was founded in 2009 by Arthur Jeffes, following in the footsteps of his father, Simon Jeffes of the iconic Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Arthur formed Penguin Cafe with a brand new line-up, bringing together a talented and disparate group of musicians from the likes of Suede, Gorillaz and Razorlight.

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