List of Manchester bands, listed by their level of fame. This Manchester musicians list includes both bands and solo artists. All famous Manchester bands are included, as well as many Manchester musicians of underground status. This list of Manchester musical artists includes information like what genre the artist falls under, what albums they've put out and more. If you want to know more about these famous Manchester bands you can click on their names to learn more about them. Bands from every genre are listed here, including rock, pop, hip-hop/rap, jazz, and more.
List features bands like Oasis and The Smiths.
If you're wondering, "What bands are from Manchester?" or "What is a list of Manchester bands?" then this list will answer your questions. (103 items)
1
OasisRock music, Britpop, Alternative rock Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Developed from an earlier group, the Rain, the band originally consisted of Liam Gallagher, Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs, Paul ...more
2
The SmithsJangle pop, Indie pop, Alternative rock The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. The band consisted of vocalist Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce. Critics have ...more
3
The Chemical BrothersElectronic music, Electronic dance music, House music The Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo composed of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons originating in Manchester in 1989. Along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, Orbital and fellow acts, ...more
4
BuzzcocksPop punk, New Wave, Power pop Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band, formed in Bolton in 1976 by singer-songwriter-guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto. They are regarded as an important influence on ...more
5
Noel GallagherRock music, Britpop, Alternative rock Noel Thomas David Gallagher is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He served as the lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the rock band Oasis. Raised in Burnage, ...more
6
The Stone RosesJangle pop, Indie pop, Blues-rock The Stone Roses are an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s. ...more
7
David GrayPop music, Rock music, Folk rock David Gray is an English indie rock singer-songwriter. Gray released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later. It was the ...more
8
Liam GallagherRock music, Britpop, Alternative rock William John Paul "Liam" Gallagher is an English musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the original founder and lead vocalist of the rock bands Oasis and Beady Eye. ...more
9
Herman's HermitsBritish Invasion, Pop music, Rock music Herman's Hermits are an English beat band, formed in Manchester in 1962. Originally called Herman & The Hermits, they were discovered by Harvey Lisberg, who signed them up to management. ...more
Take ThatBallad, Synthpop, Pop music Take That are a British pop group who formed in 1990. The group currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen. The original line-up also featured Jason Orange and Robbie ...more
12
Simply RedBlue-eyed soul, New Wave, Pop music Simply Red is an English soul and pop band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew upon influences ranging from blue-eyed soul, New Romantic and rock to ...more
13
The HolliesPop music, Rock music, Psychedelic pop The Hollies are an English rock group known for their pioneering and distinctive three part vocal harmony style. The Hollies became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the ...more
14
Van der Graaf GeneratorProgressive rock Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester by singer-songwriters Peter Hammill and Chris Judge Smith and the first act signed by Charisma Records. ...more
15
JamesIndie pop, New Wave, Madchester James are a British rock band from Manchester, England. They formed in 1982 and were active throughout the 1980s, but most successful during the 1990s. Their hit singles include "Come ...more
16
ElectronicNew Wave, Madchester, Electronic music Electronic was an alternative dance supergroup formed by New Order singer and guitarist Bernard Sumner and ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr. They co-wrote the majority of their output between ...more
17
Peter HammillRock music, Progressive rock, Art rock Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill is an English singer-songwriter, and a founding member of the progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Most noted for his vocal abilities, his main instruments ...more
18
808 StateNew Wave, Neurofunk, Rave music 808 State are an English electronic music group, formed in 1987 in Manchester, taking their name from the Roland TR-808 drum machine and their common state of mind. They were formed by Graham ...more
19
Freddie and the DreamersPop music, Rock music, Merseybeat Freddie and the Dreamers were an English band who had a number of hit records between May 1963 and November 1965. Their stage act was based around the comic antics of the 5-foot-3-inch-tall ...more
20
MRK1Dubstep, Grime Mark Foster, known as MRK1, is a dubstep, grime and bass music producer, originally from Manchester, England. He is known especially for his work with the Virus Syndicate, including MCs ...more
21
Ian BrownMadchester, Britpop, Alternative rock Ian George Brown is an English musician. He was the lead singer of the alternative rock band The Stone Roses from their formation in 1984 until they broke up in 1996. Following the split he made ...more
22
CleopatraPop music, Contemporary R&B, Rhythm and blues Cleopatra were a R&B/pop girl group from the UK whose members were sisters Cleo, Yonah, and Zainam Higgins. Their debut single, "Cleopatra's Theme" entered the UK Singles Chart at ...more
23
The WhipPop music, Dance-punk, Electro house The Whip are a band whose founding members, Bruce Carter and Danny Saville, hail from Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. They were previously in the hotly tipped four-piece Nylon Pylon, who ...more
24
Mr. ScruffNu jazz, Downtempo, Trip hop Mr. Scruff is the recording name of Andy Carthy, is a British electronic music producer and DJ. He lives in Stretford, Greater Manchester and studied fine art at the Psalter Lane campus of ...more
25
Andy RourkeIndie pop, Alternative rock, Indie rock Andrew Michael Rourke is an English musician, best known as the bassist for the Smiths, an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. The band consisted of vocalist Morrissey, guitarist ...more
26
MagazineNew Wave, Post-punk Magazine are an English post-punk band active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. The band was formed by Howard Devoto after leaving punk band Buzzcocks in early 1977. Devoto had decided ...more
27
Jason OrangePop music, Dance music, Pop rock Jason Thomas Orange is an English singer, songwriter, dancer, musician and actor. He was a member of Take That during their original run in the early 1990s and again following their reunion in ...more
28
The MindbendersPop music, Merseybeat The Mindbenders were a 1960s beat group from Manchester, England. The band were one of the UK acts that were successful in the mid-1960s British Invasion of the US charts, with their ...more
29
DJ EnvyHip hop music, Rhythm and blues Raashaun Casey, known by his professional name DJ Envy, is an American DJ. He is also one of the three hosts of the syndicated radio show The Breakfast Club with Angela Yee and Charlamagne Tha ...more
30
Billy ThorpePop music, Rock music, Rock and roll William Richard "Billy" Thorpe, AM was a renowned English-born Australian pop / rock singer-songwriter and musician. As lead singer of his band Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, he had ...more
31
LambTrip hop, Electronic music, Electronic dance music Lamb is an English electronic music duo from Manchester, whose music is influenced by trip hop, drum and bass and jazz. The duo consists of producer Andy Barlow and singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes. ...more
32
DelphicIndie, Shoegazing, Electronic music Delphic are a band from Stockport, England. They are signed to Polydor but released their first single "Counterpoint", produced by Ewan Pearson, in April 2009 through R&S Records. ...more
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Armen NalbandianElectronic music, Classical music, Experimental music Armen Nalbandian is a jazz pianist, composer, author, and humanitarian.
34
Craig GannonIndie pop, Alternative rock, Indie rock Craig Gannon is an English guitar player. Previously best known for being the second guitarist in The Smiths, he is now a composer for film and television.
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Fear Of MusicElectronic music, Alternative rock, Art rock Fear of Music were a four-piece alternative rock band from Manchester, England. They formed in 2001 as a threesome consisting of Jo Rose, Ali Esmaail and Chris Stanley. Mike Ward joined the band ...more
36
Steve DiggleNew Wave, Punk rock, Post-punk Stephen E Diggle is an English guitarist and vocalist in the punk band Buzzcocks.
37
Life In Your WayChristian hardcore, Metalcore, Melodic hardcore Life in Your Way is a post-hardcore band from Connecticut.
38
When in RomeNew Wave, Pop music, Dance music When in Rome are an English new wave group, which originally consisted of vocalists Clive Farrington and Andrew Mann, and keyboards player Michael Floreale. They are best known for their 1988 ...more
39
The SmirksNew Wave, Power pop, Punk rock The Smirks were an English new wave band from Manchester who played from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Although they failed to meet with commercial success, they built a small but loyal ...more
40
Roy HarperRock music, Folk music, Folk rock Roy Harper is an English folk rock singer, songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since 1964. Harper has released 22 studio albums and 10 live albums across his 50 year ...more
41
Swing Out SisterPop music, Sophisti-pop, Electronic music Swing Out Sister are a British sophisti-pop group best known worldwide for their 1987 song "Breakout". Other hits include "Surrender", "Twilight World", ...more
42
52nd StreetRhythm and blues, Jazz, Soul music 52nd Street were a British jazz-funk and R&B band formed in Manchester in late 1980. Throughout the 1980s the group enjoyed success not only in the UK but also on the Billboard chart in the ...more
43
Helen WatsonPop music, Folk music, Jazz Helen Watson is an English singer-songwriter. Her music encompasses blues, soul, jazz, pop and folk.
44
Sarah HardingPop music, Dance-pop, Contemporary R&B Sarah Nicole Harding is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, and actress. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. ...more
45
A Certain RatioDance-punk, Alternative dance, House music A Certain Ratio are a post-punk band formed in 1977 in Manchester, England. While originally part of the punk rock movement, they soon added funk and dance elements to their sound. They are ...more
46
Gareth HughesHard rock Gary Hughes is an English hard rock singer, songwriter and musician. Apart from his work as a solo artist, Gary Hughes is the front man and main songwriter of Hard Rock/Melodic Rock band Ten. He ...more
47
PookaPop music, Rock music, Folk music Pooka was the former songwriting duo of UK guitarists/vocalists Sharon Lewis and Natasha Jones. They took their name from Púca, a mythical Irish goblin with an uneven temper.
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Alberto Y Los Trios ParanoiasRock music, Comedy Alberto y Lost Trios Paranoias were a comedy rock band, formed in Manchester, England in 1972. Their story is told in the book When We Were Thin. The name of the band is a corruption of the ...more
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Glyn Geoffery EllisPop music, Merseybeat Wayne Fontana is an English rock/pop singer, best known for the 1965 hit "Game of Love" with the Mindbenders.
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Darrell FittonElectronic music, Intelligent dance music Darrell Fitton is an electronic musician from Manchester, England. Most of his work is recorded under recording monikers Bola and Jello, released primarily on Skam Records. Fitton has also ...more
