[Updated: 09/04/2026} Spring is properly here. The days are stretching out beautifully. The North West is absolutely bursting with things to see, do, eat, and experience this weekend. Whether you’re planning a full family day out, a night out with friends, or something a little more cultural, we’ve rounded up the very best of what’s on across Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Merseyside from Friday evening through to Sunday night. Go on, get your coat!
Friday Night
Jessie J at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall: Friday 10 April, 7pm
If you’re after a proper Friday night out, this is the one. Jessie J at the Phil is a combination that really shouldn’t work, a powerhouse pop voice in one of the most elegant concert halls in the country, and yet it absolutely does. The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall has some of the finest acoustics in the UK, and Jessie J has one of the finest voices in British pop. Expect ‘Price Tag‘, ‘Domino’, and plenty of vocal fireworks. A genuinely brilliant way to start the weekend.
Shreya Ghoshal at the AO Arena, Manchester: Friday 10 April, 6:30pm
One of the most celebrated voices in Indian music brings her Unstoppable Tour to Manchester’s biggest indoor arena this Friday. Shreya Ghoshal has sold out venues worldwide, and the AO Arena will be rocking. If you’ve never seen her live, this is the event that will convert you. Expect an enormous, passionate crowd and a performance that will leave you genuinely stunned.
Judi Love at Storyhouse, Chester: Friday 10 April
Chester’s gorgeous Storyhouse, one of the best arts venues in the North West (and criminally underrated) hosts comedian and Loose Women star Judi Love on Friday night. Sharp, warm, and wickedly funny, she’s exactly the tonic after a long week. Chester is well worth the trip in its own right, so make a night of it. Grab dinner on the Rows before the show.
Henry Moodie at O2 Ritz Manchester: Friday 10 April, 7pm
The rising British singer-songwriter brings his tender, hook-laden indie-pop to one of Manchester’s most atmospheric mid-size venues. If you know drunk text or pick up the phone, you already know why this one is worth your Friday evening. The Ritz has a wonderfully intimate feel for a venue of its size. Get there early for a good spot.
Saturday Night
Happy Mondays at the O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester: Saturday 11 April, 6:30pm
Shaun Ryder and the lads are back, celebrating 35 years of ‘Pills ‘N’ Thrills and Bellyaches’ and bringing all the baggy swagger and kaleidoscopic chaos you’d expect from the Madchester legends. The Victoria Warehouse is the perfect setting. A big, atmospheric space that suits the Mondays’ sound down to the ground. Bez will be on the maracas. Of course he will. This one is going to be loud, loose, and utterly brilliant.
Belle and Sebastian at the Albert Hall, Manchester: Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 April
Two nights of the beloved Scottish indie legends at one of Manchester’s most stunning venues. The Albert Hall with its soaring vaulted ceilings and incredible acoustics, is one of the best places in the country to see a band. Belle and Sebastian fill those nights with warmth, wit, and an enormous back catalogue. Support from the lovely Liana Flores. Whether you’re going Saturday, Sunday, or both, you’re in for a genuinely special evening.
The Ferret, Preston: Saturday 11 April
Preston’s favourite independent venue is doing what it does best this weekend. The Great Pop-Culture Revue, featuring Blues Harvest and The Puppet Folk Experience, kicks off at 7pm. It is eclectic, fun, and exactly why The Ferret has been a cornerstone of the local scene for years. And if you fancy something a bit more polished for your Saturday night, the Five-0: The Police Tribute is running at the New Continental from 8pm, a first-rate celebration of one of the great British bands.
Aisling Bea at Storyhouse, Chester: Saturday 11 April
After Judi Love on Friday, Chester’s Storyhouse follows up with another comedy star on Saturday as the brilliant Aisling Bea takes to the stage. Witty, clever, and entirely impossible not to love; this is the kind of show you’ll still be quoting on Sunday morning. Two nights of top-tier comedy at Storyhouse? Chester is having quite the weekend.
Theatre & the Arts
Easter Panto at the Empire, Fleetwood: Sunday 12 April
Tom Rolfe Productions, the same team behind last year’s smash-hit Snow White panto, are back with a brand-new spring spectacular at The Empire. A Tale as Old as Time promises dazzling costumes, catchy songs, and laugh-out-loud comedy for the whole family. Book ahead; this one is bound to be popular with families across the Fylde coast.
Moments of Pleasure: The Music of Kate Bush: Friday 10 April, Hangar 34, Liverpool
A celebration of Kate Bush’s extraordinary catalogue at one of Liverpool’s most loved music venues. If you’ve been swept up in the Running Up That Hill revival over the past few years and want to experience her music performed live in an intimate, atmospheric setting, this is the one for you. Hangar 34 is a wonderful space, and this promises to be a genuinely moving evening.
Family Days Out
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston: All Weekend
With spring firmly in the air, Brockholes is one of the most beautiful and genuinely enriching days out in all of Lancashire. Perched on a stunning wetland site just off the M6, the reserve is alive with wildlife right now. The café is excellent, the views across the lagoons are lovely, and for the kids there are trails and activities galore. Entry to the car park is the main cost. The reserve itself is free to explore.
East Lancashire Railway, Bury: All Weekend
If you haven’t taken the kids on a proper heritage steam train yet, this is your weekend. The ELR runs full services between Bury Bolton Street and Rawtenstall, and there is truly nothing quite like watching a steam locomotive puffing through the Lancashire countryside. Pack a picnic, hop on at Bury, and let the journey do the rest. Check their website for timetables and advance booking.
Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Burscough: All Weekend
WWT Martin Mere is one of Lancashire’s great treasures. It is a vast, beautiful wetland that feels a world away from everyday life. Spring is genuinely one of the very best times to visit, with migrating birds and the whole reserve bursting with new life. The flamingos are always a crowd-pleaser, and there are activities, trails, and a lovely café to keep everyone happy.
Worth Noting
Shreya Ghoshal at AO Arena on Friday means the Northern Quarter will be particularly buzzing early evening. This is a great excuse to grab dinner in Manchester before heading over. And with the Grand National at Aintree just around the corner next week, Liverpool is in fine, celebratory form all weekend. The bars and restaurants around the waterfront and the Georgian Quarter are absolutely worth exploring.
Whatever you get up to this weekend, enjoy every minute of it. The North West never disappoints!
All event details correct at time of publication. Always check venue websites for the latest information before heading out.
