![The Stone Roses: There is no better time to be a Stone Roses fan than right now. The band - whose eponymous 1989 album melded guitar rock with dance music and rave culture - recently announced a handful of live reunion dates for 2016, including T In The Park.]()
The Stone Roses: There is no better time to be a Stone Roses fan than right now. The band - whose eponymous 1989 album melded guitar rock with dance music and rave culture - recently announced a handful of live reunion dates for 2016, including T In The Park.
![The 1975: When Gigwise interviewed Peter Hook earlier this year, he compared The 1975 to Hall & Oates. We're still not sure if he meant it as a compliment, but the band's recent output is a strange and intoxicating mix of Bowie, Prince and, of course, The 1975. They're set to take the world by storm with their forthcoming second album, which is called - deap breath everyone - I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It.]()
The 1975: When Gigwise interviewed Peter Hook earlier this year, he compared The 1975 to Hall & Oates. We're still not sure if he meant it as a compliment, but the band's recent output is a strange and intoxicating mix of Bowie, Prince and, of course, The 1975. They're set to take the world by storm with their forthcoming second album, which is called - deap breath everyone - I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It.
![The Chemical Brothers: Though Ed Simons and Tom Towlands are originally from London, Simons' schoolboy obsession with New Order and The Smiths led him to Manchester by his late teens. Shortly afterward, Rowlands followed him, primarily to immerse himself in the Hacienda scene. The music they produced together, though, was a far cry from their heroes. Their eighth album, Born In The Echoes, was released earlier this year and proved that they know how to stay relevant while remaining one step aside from the zeitgeist.]()
The Chemical Brothers: Though Ed Simons and Tom Towlands are originally from London, Simons' schoolboy obsession with New Order and The Smiths led him to Manchester by his late teens. Shortly afterward, Rowlands followed him, primarily to immerse himself in the Hacienda scene. The music they produced together, though, was a far cry from their heroes. Their eighth album, Born In The Echoes, was released earlier this year and proved that they know how to stay relevant while remaining one step aside from the zeitgeist.
![Everything Everything: The band's intention, in their own words, is to]()
Everything Everything: The band's intention, in their own words, is to "avoid the cliches expected of white men with guitars from Manchester." If you can forgive the slightly disparaging tone, Everything Everything have a lot to offer. Their third album, 2015's Get To Heaven, is perhaps their best yet.
![Happy Mondays:]()
Happy Mondays: "I saw the Happy Mondays on TV, said Paul McCartney in 1990, "and they reminded me of The Beatles in their Strawberry Fields phase." 25-years-on, and Happy Mondays, with the help of their eccentric dancer / percussionist Bez, are still going strong.
![LoneLady: Mixing post-punk influences with elements of dance and funk, LoneLady started out making music on a 4-track cassette recorder in her Manchester towerblock flat, and has since developed into one of the most exciting and unique musicians around today.]()
LoneLady: Mixing post-punk influences with elements of dance and funk, LoneLady started out making music on a 4-track cassette recorder in her Manchester towerblock flat, and has since developed into one of the most exciting and unique musicians around today.
![Courteeners: Having known each other since they were ten-years-old, Courteeners hail from Middleton - and their first ever gig wasn't far from there. Gaining popularity through word-of-mouth back in 2006 with their expressive brand of indie rock, they've been hugely popular ever since.]()
Courteeners: Having known each other since they were ten-years-old, Courteeners hail from Middleton - and their first ever gig wasn't far from there. Gaining popularity through word-of-mouth back in 2006 with their expressive brand of indie rock, they've been hugely popular ever since.
![MONEY: The newest band on this list, MONEY formed in 2011, and released their debut album, The Shadow Of Heaven, a few years later. They're not actually particularly fond of the 'Manchester band' label though, saying,]()
MONEY: The newest band on this list, MONEY formed in 2011, and released their debut album, The Shadow Of Heaven, a few years later. They're not actually particularly fond of the 'Manchester band' label though, saying, "None of us are crazy about those bands... Some people have seen us as trying to romanticise the city as it has been in the past." Romanticised or not, MONEY deserve to be huge.
![Doves: Though Doves are originally from Cheshire, the members came together after meeting at The Hacienda in 1989. After several years during which they went through several incarnations, they emerged as alt-rock band Doves in 1998.]()
Doves: Though Doves are originally from Cheshire, the members came together after meeting at The Hacienda in 1989. After several years during which they went through several incarnations, they emerged as alt-rock band Doves in 1998.
![Joy Division: Joy Division should have made more than two albums. But with the death of Ian Curtis, aged just 23, came the death of one of the most enduringly influential bands of all time. Sadly, the band also paved the way for a relentless dirge of pale imitations, but it was worth it.]()
Joy Division: Joy Division should have made more than two albums. But with the death of Ian Curtis, aged just 23, came the death of one of the most enduringly influential bands of all time. Sadly, the band also paved the way for a relentless dirge of pale imitations, but it was worth it.
![Hurts: Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson met outside Manchester's 42nd Street nighclub a decade away, while their friends got involved in a fight. As well as producing one of the most underrated Christmas songs, 'All I Want For Christmas Is New Year's Day', they've produced three brilliantly brooding, synthpop albums.]()
Hurts: Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson met outside Manchester's 42nd Street nighclub a decade away, while their friends got involved in a fight. As well as producing one of the most underrated Christmas songs, 'All I Want For Christmas Is New Year's Day', they've produced three brilliantly brooding, synthpop albums.
![The Buzzcocks: Regarded as one of the key influences of the Manchester music scene, and a whole host of other genres and scenes to boot, Buzzcocks' singles were a unique mix of punk and pop. Their name, by the way, was inspired by the headline,]()
The Buzzcocks: Regarded as one of the key influences of the Manchester music scene, and a whole host of other genres and scenes to boot, Buzzcocks' singles were a unique mix of punk and pop. Their name, by the way, was inspired by the headline, "It's the Buzz, Cock!" in a Time Out review - "cock" being Manchester slang for "mate."
![Inspiral Carpets: Formed in Oldham in 1983, Inspiral Carpets are known for their psychedelic sound, characterised by noodling, distorted guitars and organ playing. They released their first new music in 15 years a few years ago after original singer Stephen Holt rejoined.]()
Inspiral Carpets: Formed in Oldham in 1983, Inspiral Carpets are known for their psychedelic sound, characterised by noodling, distorted guitars and organ playing. They released their first new music in 15 years a few years ago after original singer Stephen Holt rejoined.
![Elbow: Guy Garvey and his band already had three albums under their belt before they managed to break into the mainstream. After a Mercury win gave it a helpful nudge into the limelight, Seldom Seen Kid sold over one million copies, and the band - who formed in Bury, Greater Manchester - have been riding high ever since.]()
Elbow: Guy Garvey and his band already had three albums under their belt before they managed to break into the mainstream. After a Mercury win gave it a helpful nudge into the limelight, Seldom Seen Kid sold over one million copies, and the band - who formed in Bury, Greater Manchester - have been riding high ever since.
![Oasis: Another band whose lead singer's loudmouth tendencies has usurped the band's reputation, Oasis are nonetheless the leaders of the '90s Britpop movement, their lyrics sometimes playfully meaningless, sometimes achingly poignant, and with melodies that worm their way, effortlessly, into your brain.]()
Oasis: Another band whose lead singer's loudmouth tendencies has usurped the band's reputation, Oasis are nonetheless the leaders of the '90s Britpop movement, their lyrics sometimes playfully meaningless, sometimes achingly poignant, and with melodies that worm their way, effortlessly, into your brain.
![Magazine: Formed by Howard Devoto after leaving Buzzcocks, Magazine were active for only four years - and still managed to ensure an enduring legacy with their combination of punk, avant-garde and pop. Radiohead, in particular, draw from Magazine's lyrical style.]()
Magazine: Formed by Howard Devoto after leaving Buzzcocks, Magazine were active for only four years - and still managed to ensure an enduring legacy with their combination of punk, avant-garde and pop. Radiohead, in particular, draw from Magazine's lyrical style.
![The Smiths: These days, Morrissey gets more attention for his militant vegetarianism and inability to write a convincing sex scene than for his music. So let this serve as a friendly reminder that The Smiths - lyrically, musically, vocally - are one of the most innovative and influential bands to come out of the UK, let alone Manchester.]()
The Smiths: These days, Morrissey gets more attention for his militant vegetarianism and inability to write a convincing sex scene than for his music. So let this serve as a friendly reminder that The Smiths - lyrically, musically, vocally - are one of the most innovative and influential bands to come out of the UK, let alone Manchester.
![New Order: Like a phoenix risen from Joy Division's abrupt demise, New Order managed to achieve the impossible - become a renowned and popular band entirely seperate from its members preceding band. A very public falling-out between Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner has made things pretty messy in recent years, but their reputation remains.]()
New Order: Like a phoenix risen from Joy Division's abrupt demise, New Order managed to achieve the impossible - become a renowned and popular band entirely seperate from its members preceding band. A very public falling-out between Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner has made things pretty messy in recent years, but their reputation remains.
![The Charlatans: One of Manchester's most fondly admired bands, The Charlatans have endured several tragedies and somehow come out of the other side with the same spirit that made them famous. After a quarter of a century together, they released their twelfth studio album, Modern Nature, in January.]()
The Charlatans: One of Manchester's most fondly admired bands, The Charlatans have endured several tragedies and somehow come out of the other side with the same spirit that made them famous. After a quarter of a century together, they released their twelfth studio album, Modern Nature, in January.
![The Fall: Formed nearly forty years ago in Prestwich, the post-punk band have endured an ever-changing line-up over the years. In fact, their only constant member is founder Mark E. Smith, who sums the band up perfectly:]()
The Fall: Formed nearly forty years ago in Prestwich, the post-punk band have endured an ever-changing line-up over the years. In fact, their only constant member is founder Mark E. Smith, who sums the band up perfectly: "If it's me and your granny on bongos, then it's The Fall."
![WU LYF: Given the veil of mystery surrounding WU LYF, it's a wonder we even know they're from Manchester. They became known for declining interview requests and refusing to divulge information to the press, making one album of]()
WU LYF: Given the veil of mystery surrounding WU LYF, it's a wonder we even know they're from Manchester. They became known for declining interview requests and refusing to divulge information to the press, making one album of "heavy pop" before lead singer Ellery Roberts left in 2012 with the melodramatic statement: "WU LYF is dead to me."