In the groove: Manchester’s cult record shops and indie venues

. UK edition

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As The BRIT Awards head to Manchester we take a look at the places that have made it such a crucial part of Britain’s music map

Mancunians describe their home as “a city that thinks a table is for dancing on”. Nowhere is this truer than in Manchester’s music venues, whether you’re listening to synth rock in basement bars or indie bands in iconic clubs. From the much-missed Boardwalk where Oasis played their first gig to a club where Elbow pulled pints, Manchester’s storied music scene has launched careers, celebrated local talent and welcomed international artists.

That’s why the arrival of The BRIT Awards 2026, sponsored by Mastercard, is such a significant cultural moment, bringing national recognition that exciting talent and creativity thrive beyond London. The move is a huge nod to Manchester’s active role in championing up-and-coming artists and giving them places to be seen and heard. Let’s take a look at some of its renowned venues.

1 Piccadilly Records
More of an institution than a record shop, Piccadilly Records has been selling vinyl since 1978. Now based in the Northern Quarter, it flourished in the post-punk era of the 1980s, selling a mixture of rock, pop, indie and alternative music. Today, it is celebrated as one of the world’s best independent record stores and numbers Johnny Marr from the Smiths and the Charlatans’ Tim Burgess among its many high-profile customers.

2 Eastern Bloc
Over four decades, Eastern Bloc has cemented its status as a highly influential dance record shop. This sonic landmark played a pivotal role in launching bands such as the Inspiral Carpets, and is a must-visit for international DJs. It remains at the cutting edge of electronic music, showcasing up-and-coming talent alongside well-known names.

3 Vinyl Revival
Another Northern Quarter stalwart, Vinyl Revival was established in 1997. The team has a reputation for stocking obscure and neglected music which sits cheek by jowl with admired indie artists. Vinyl Revival also has its own record label – recently producing a pressing on grey wax, to reference the chimney smoke once belched out by Manchester’s cotton mills.

4 Vinyl Exchange
Since opening in 1988, Vinyl Exchange has cemented its position as one of the biggest buyers and sellers of rare and secondhand records, CDs and DVDs in north-west England. This Northern Quarter favourite is a beacon for music fans of all genres.

5 Withy Groove Records
The Northern Quarter’s newest record store, Withy Groove Records opened its doors in late 2023. Visitors to the vintage-vinyl shop can expect a treasure trove of rarities and collectibles.

6 Clampdown Records
Clampdown Records began life as a mail-order business but has had a store
in the Northern Quarter since 2004 where owner Neil Clarke champions a heady mix of genres, and there are sections dedicated to Manchester artists.

7 YES
With DJs on every night, YES has gained a reputation for club nights and intimate gigs. Part bar, part live music hub, part rooftop hangout, it is loud, sweaty, popular with students and regularly hosts hot new acts.

8 Night & Day
When it opened in 1991, Night & Day was in a desolate part of town. Fast forward to 2026 and the Northern Quarter’s bohemian appeal is a magnet for music lovers seeking intimate gigs featuring blistering new talent, with Night & Day a particular favourite. Thanks to its pioneering programming, it has seen the likes of Elbow, Arctic Monkeys, Courteeners and Lizzo grace its tiny stage.

9 Band on the Wall
A cornerstone of Manchester’s music scene for decades, this venue’s name dates to the 1930s when musicians played on a stage built halfway up the back wall. In later years, it provided a home for Manchester’s early punk scene before championing world music, jazz and under-represented international talent.

10 Co-op Live
The UK’s largest indoor arena, with a capacity of 23,500, Co-op Live will host The BRIT Awards with Mastercard on Saturday 28 February, the first time in the event’s 50-year history that it has taken place outside London.

11 O2 Apollo Manchester
Originally the Apollo Cine-Variety Theatre, this Grade II listed building – still a key part of Manchester’s cultural landscape – has played host to a who’s who of rock and pop royalty in its 88-year history, from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones to David Bowie, Prince and Oasis.

12 Blueprint Studios
Home to a smorgasbord of major artists including Elbow, Johnny Marr, Justin Timberlake and Snoop Dogg, Blueprint Studios opened its doors for the first time in 2003. Based in Salford, it is one of a number of long-running recording studios in the city.

Where the music stopped

13 The Haçienda
The epicentre of the Madchester scene of the 1980s and 90s, hosting early shows for the Smiths and Madonna and putting Manchester’s rave culture on the global map. It was immortalised in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People, just as it was being demolished.

14 Boardwalk
Once dubbed the Manchester club “so cool it made the Haçienda look like a bingo night”, Boardwalk closed in 1999. In its heyday, Happy Mondays, Rage Against the Machine and Sonic Youth were headliners, and it was where Oasis played their first gig in 1991.

15 Rafters
From 1978 to 1983, Rafters was the destination for Manchester’s underground music scene. A slew of bands played – among them Joy Division, Buzzcocks and Depeche Mode. The building is now a supermarket.

16 Roadhouse
A key part of the music scene with gigs by Coldplay, Scissor Sisters and the Verve, it shut in 2015. All the members of Elbow worked behind the bar or on the door at one point, no doubt dodging walls that “dripped with sweat”.

The BRIT Awards with Mastercard are being held on Saturday 28 February at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena. Watch live on ITV1 or catch up on ITVX. Discover more at mastercard.co.uk/BRITs