Everyone from your nan to Dave in IT made their way to the Ritz on Friday night to dad dance in the splendour of 80s smooth operator Billy Ocean.

Her debut album The Longest River blends classic old-world sounds from traditional sources with confident vocals that reminds you that the broad umbrella of folk branches far beyond pop beatniks Mumford and Sons.

Maccabees fans have been eagerly anticipating this UK tour to get a flavour of their upcoming fourth album, but on last night’s evidence at the Manchester Ritz, it is hard to gauge whether the record will match their previous efforts.

Ahead of the British punk band Slaves’ show at Gorilla in Manchester, guitarist and vocalist Laurie Vincent chatted to MM about their new album, surreal gigs and love of grime.

Irish band The Riptide Movement played an impromptu gig at Manchester’s Barclay House while the audience donated money to a Nepal earthquake fundraiser on Friday afternoon.

Tonight is a big night for a small group of Mexican musicians who’ve just arrived in the city – that’s because they’ll be playing Latin American Morrissey covers to a packed out Gorilla crowd in the Smiths’ frontman’s home city.

After stepping off an eight hour flight from New York to Manchester, grime MC Skepta kicked back to sit comfortably on the Red Bull music tour sofa with journalist Hattie Collins.

Ahead of her shows with Olly Murs at the Manchester Arena, Ella Eyre took some time out of her busy schedule to chat to MM about being a role model, James Bay, and her love of computer games.

The Deaf Institute, Manchester, was all ears as Luke Friend, of X Factor 2013 fame, took to the stage to perform his debut as a solo artist on Sunday April 19.

After their 2013 breakthrough and releasing their first album and travelling the world, the Vamps are back in the North West to perform at the Manchester Arena and catch up with MM.

Cult Manchester punk band Slaughter and the Dogs could be reunited in their original line-up for a one-off gig… if a mega-fan has his way.