The 10 Most iconic and influential gigs ever to take place in Manchester

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

With festival season well underway, it's the time of year music fans will be basking in the sunshine - or braving the wash out - to catch their favourite bands and artists play live.

Of course, music is part of the cultural fabric of Manchester. A city that's produced some of Britain's most celebrated musical acts - and has long boasted top venues that host concerts by the superstars of the music world.

There's no doubt Manchester is a gig city. As well as the AO Arena, and the newly opened Co op Arena, there are host of other venues specialising in live music - Manchester Academy, o2 Apollo, The Ritz, Night & Day and Band on the Wall to name but a few. READ MORE: The 'concrete washing machine' estate where Manchester's homeless wound up READ MORE: Hundreds of faces and the biggest stars at Manchester's lost Virgin Megastores From the groups of the 1960s to bands like The Smiths, the Stone Roses and Oasis - right through to the rave revolution - Manchester has had an enduring impact on music history.

So to celebrate Manchester music, we've taken a look back at the most iconic, and influential, gigs to have taken place in the city.