Looking for a spontaneous night of music or theatre in Manchester? We’ve got you covered with our round-up of the best live gigs and productions around the city tonight.

Gig | Orange Goblin | Manchester Academy 2 | Sat 13 Dec | £29.50

Heavy metal pioneers Orange Goblin headline their End Of Transmission Tour tonight with support from Grand Magus and Urne.

Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR
Classical | Prokofiev: L’Amour des Trois Oranges | RNCM | Sat 13 Dec | £15.00

Experience Prokofiev’s zesty and irreverent opera featuring satire, slapstick, and captivating pyrotechnics, performed by the Royal Northern College of Music’s acclaimed ensemble.

124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD
Dance | Swing into Christmas (14:30) | Stoller Hall | Sat 13 Dec | From £44.00

The Down for the Count Swing Orchestra, one of the UK’s most highly-regarded vintage ensembles, brings festive big band jazz and strings to life with hits from Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald.

Hunts Bank, Manchester, M3 1DA
Dance | Swing into Christmas (19:30) | Stoller Hall | Sat 13 Dec | From £44.00

Celebrate the season with the 30-piece Down for the Count Swing Orchestra performing iconic swing and Christmas classics, renowned for sold-out shows at Ronnie Scott’s and The London Jazz Festival.

Hunts Bank, Manchester, M3 1DA
Theatre | The Enormous Crocodile - The Musical | The Lowry | Sat 13 Dec | From £16.50

Enjoy Roald Dahl’s mischievous musical featuring original tunes by Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab, puppetry by Toby Olié, and a fun-filled cast bringing the jungle adventure to life at The Lowry’s Lyric Theatre.

Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ
Words:
Finn Howard
Published on:
Sat 13 Dec 2025