Top picks: Halloween Gigs ft. SLUG, Baked A La Ska + The Hallé

You’ve probably been meticulously planning this since last year – or gave a disgruntled groan when you realised how close it was – but the most marmite calendar event of the year is fast approaching, so whichever side of the fence you sit on, make sure you at least have a good time, yeah? Staying true to Manchester’s reputation of being one of the most thriving cities people are lucky enough to be in, there’s loads going on, but read on for our gig picks of Halloween weekend…

SLUG (pictured)
Hand-chosen byFranz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos to tour with his newest venture FFS this year, SLUG is Ian Black of Sunderland, whose inspiration is driven by film soundtracks and minimalist music but also the rock and funk that can be found from Prince and Funkadelic. Split into two, this show will see Ian and band perform tracks from debut album Ripe as well as a second set that give a nod to horror composers such as Goblin, Fabio Frizzi plus more.
Sat 31 Oct, The Deaf Institute, 135 Grosvenor Street, Manchester, M1 7HE, 7pm, £8, www.seetickets.com

Fright Night with the Hallé
Ranked among the UK’s top symphonic ensembles, Manchester’s own Hallé boasts a long history of acclaimed performances not only in the UK but around the world – and this year the orchestra is offering a more classy affair at the ever-magnificent Bridgewater Hall. The concert will be a display of haunting Halloween music from creepy classics including Thriller, as well as Alasdair Malloy’s Hydrodaktulopsychicharmonica.
Sat 31 Oct, Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3WS, 7.30pm, £20, www.halle.co.uk

Baked A La Ska
Dubbed the ‘heavy, heavy sound’ of Manchester ska, this 11-piece band is made up of a trio of singers and provide for the audience one of the tightest rhythm sections in the city. Renowned for sell-out Christmas shows, they’ve inspired late night parties and have had people dancing on tables. The band will be throwing an All Halls Eve Ball at The Wonder Inn with Gypsies of Bohemia, one of the highlights of this year’s Festival Number 6. Expect scary film showing as well as food and drink.
Sat 31 Oct, The Wonder Inn, 29 Shudehill, Manchester M4 2AF, 7.30 – 1am, £13 – £15, www.thewonderinn.co.uk

Honorable mentions:

Hooton Tennis Club,
Fri 30 Oct, Soup Kitchen, 31-33 Spear Street, Manchester M1 1DF, 7pm, £6, www.seetickets.com

Blackalicious
Fri 30 Oct, 1 New Wakefield Street, Manchester M1 5NP, 7pm, £17.50, www.seetickets.com

Børns
Fri 30 Oct, Deaf Institute, 135 Grosvenor Street, Manchester M1 7HE, 7pm, £8, www.seetickets.com

Lydia Lunch’s Halloween Seance 
Sat 31 Oct, Islington Mill, 1 James Street, Salford, M3 5HW, 8pm til late, £7, www.skiddle.com. See our preview here.