The reformed Verve fall far short of expectations with a distinctly average Manchester Central show.

Ginger's hard-working and hard-living band pull out the poses and carry on rocking at Academy.

Filthy disco-doom-electro-screamo-acid-metal-vaudeville-funk never sounded so good at Academy 3.

There may be "nothing complicated about their formula" but Status Quo are on top form at the Arena.

Manchester Central is a riot of sound, as Bloc Party and support act Foals shine.

There's a rioutous week day in the city for Bloc Party as the four piece rock Manchester Central.

Sheffield's finest supply "a set of face-melting crowd favourites" at Manchester Central.

XFM's annual shindig sees The Charlatans, Stephen Fretwell, The Ting Tings and more rock the Apollo.

The Californian band's recent explosion is partially to their detriment at the Academy.

The original punk sinners are suitably riotous as they charge through their classics at Academy 2.

Muddy sound and muffled vocals tarnish Malcolm Middleton's dour humour and fine pop at Academy 3.

For all their catchy hooks, something is missing in the Beep Seals' show at Ruby Lounge.

John Robb's punk heroes come on with "the brute force of bunker-crushing cluster-bombs" at Academy 3

There's a Mancunian love-in as King Monkey brings his ever popular sounds to Manchester Central.

Manchester's very own fab four leave the past behind and show off their new tunes at the Arena.

Ville Valo's band of Finnish miscreants bring their long-lived love metal to the Apollo.

It's "more Alice Cooper than Alice in Wonderland" as Marilyn Manson thrill Manchester Central.

There's a Mancunian love-in as King Monkey brings his ever popular sounds to Manchester Central.

Brian Warner shows he's still enjoying a golden age of grotesque at Manchester Central.

Rihanna stakes her claim to be the new queen of R'n'B with a sexy, powerful set at the Arena.

Neil Burrell's debut is "swaddled in a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, and pushed inside an enigma."

The Liverpudlian trio bring their guide to love, loss and desperation to Academy 2.

Shayne Ward's second album, for all its ultra-slick production, is "superficial and often vapid".

There's smoking, Spice Girls and superb songs all rolled into Queens Of The Stone Age at the Apollo.

The crowd fails to get fired up for Kaiser Chiefs and We Are Scientists' great sets at the Arena.

Maroon 5 just deserve their headline spot, despite a fine challenge from their support at the Arena.

High camp, high heels and high energy are the order of the day for Rufus Wainwright at the Apollo.

The ginger prince of acoustic pop brings covers, pathos and a fine line in jokes to Academy 2.

Aniff Akinola delivers The Ironweed Project's "suitably eclectic and exciting" debut.

The kings of the electro frontier hit the Apollo, with fine support from Simian Mobile Disco.

The glowering presence and blistering, brooding tunes of The Raveonettes are captured at Academy 3.

Something brilliantly different comes as Whiskycats are the first unsigned act to headline Academy 1

Black and white, back to basics rock and roll with a Swedish twist comes to the Apollo.

It's just number one after catrchy number one as McFly celebrate their Greatest Hits at the Arena.

Pete Doherty shows that there's much more to him than column inches with a great set at the Arena.

Richard Fleeshman's debut turns out to be "one big, steaming cauldron of fondue cheese."

The ever electric (We Are) Performance are "positively goose-bump inducing" at Night and Day.

The former System Of A Down frontman is a little unfulfilling in his stovepipe hat at Academy 1.

Black Sabbath celebrate the Dio years with a lashing out of some screeched rock greats at the Arena.

The Blimp's album is "like a hyperactive Talking Heads propped up on bath-tub caffeine tabs."

With nods to many 80s hair-rockers, Atreyu explode over the Academy 2, with help from Still Remains.

Darkness reigns over Academy 1 as the men from UNKLE bring their beats and guitars to town.

A very grumpy Ryan Adams entertains the Apollo with great songs and some "asshole karma".

The Canucks with the catchy hooks make yet another return to Manchester, but is a show too many?

Former Lamb man Andy Barlow makes a brilliant Manchester debut with his new band at the Ruby Lounge.

Curtis James Jackson III continues his worldwide mission to get rich or die tryin' at the Arena.

The queen of the internet turns his attention to conquering music at Academy 3.

The dance duo show there's plenty of legs in their sound yet with a killer show at the Apollo.

Despite a talent for whistling and a penchant for dandy violin, Andrew Bird falls flat at Academy 3.

French musical genius Serge Gainsbourg gets a full day of celebration at the Ruby Lounge.

The Oregon indie merchants aren't quite fulfilling as they step up to the bigger venues at Academy 1

The indie rock six piece are disappointingly truncated and slightly disjointed at Academy 3.

Three tweedy guys playing caustic, harmonious post-punk cause much fun and frolics at Night and Day.

Kelly and the boys show they've still got it as they rock out the Arena, with support from The Enemy

Tom Chaplin battles illness and Peter Kay turns up for a charity show at the Apollo.

The "E numbers of the rock world" make a show of pure pomp and circumstance at Academy 3.

Purveying rock that's high on greatness and low on bombast, The National thrill Academy 2.

The Stockholm three piece bring a lot more fire than most people would expect to Academy 2.

Aim offers a chance to re-discover his excellence by re-issuing his first two albums.

The 19 year old blew the crowd away with her original and quirky style at Matt and Phreds.

Lou Rhodes brings a selection of songs filled with splendour and magic to the Lowry.

Nine Black Alps' difficult second is a triumph of pop sensibilities and West Coast rock.

There's no heartbreaking ballads, just a stomping set of tunes from Pigeon Detectives at Academy 1.

Things go haywire as thunderous elation crashes on the hard rock of Enter Shikari at the Apollo.

Cold War Kids put so much into their Academy gig, they looked like "scarily possessed and manic men"

The Night and Day is taken on a strange southern Americana tour by the brilliant Jim White.

The sound of Madchester gets an updating by young upstarts International One at Academy 3.

Karl Hyde proves their life in the old dance yet, as Underworld push out the big beats at the Apollo

The insanely upbeat Los Campesinos! turn out to be "rather despicably lovable" at Night and Day.

The Roadhouse hosts a sweaty, seriously loud head-to-head between Raging Speedhorn and Grand Volume.

The Apollo is a bowl of brooding tunes and dark intentions for the arrival of the epic Editors.

The heart-warming Irishman takes the step up to the Arena in his stride with a thrilling show.

The sweat flies and the rock signs are unleashed as Fightstar hit Club Academy.

The enormous majesty of Oceansize make a shuddering homecoming at Academy 3.

Kenny Anderson leaves the crowd "grinning and breathless" with a fine show at the Academy 3.

The North-Easterners apply some pressure to a rabid audience for a storming show at the Apollo.

Is the re-issue of Joy Division's albums, re-packaged and enhanced, a good or bad thing?

The rocking four piece showcase their new album with real power and style at Academy 3.

There's "natural class and fierce finesse" in abundance for the arrival of Kid Voodoo at Dry Bar.

The singer-songwriter does just about enough to prove he's worth a Best Of tour at Academy 3.

Kate Rusby and her familiar band of merry men are a "palatable breath of fresh air" at the Lowry.

It's a case of "just pure, unadulterated, unashamed uplift" as Turin Brakes play Academy 2.

The soundtrack of Anton Corbijn's Ian Curtis bio-pic is every bit as good as the film itself.

The Academy 2 falls for the underdogs once again as Turin Brakes crank up the tempo.

Shimmering and shining, the Canadian popsters are a sheer delight at the Night and Day.

Divas in the making or two more twinkling stars? Laura Critchley and Lauren Rose hit the Apollo.

Local heroes (We Are) Performance battle it out with punk tearaways We Start Fires at Night and Day.

Things may be exciting but they sound all too familiar as Foals make Night and Day hot and sweaty.

Oceansize continue along their self-pleasing path with a third album of mighty post-rock monoliths.

Rachel Unthank's show at the RNCM is equally haunting and hilarious, thanks to her Winterset.

Plenty of dry humour and easy listening as the wonderful Puppini Sisters enthrall the Ritz.