FROM the miniscule to the massive, Manchester has venues of all shapes and sizes to cater for performers and gig-goers a like.

If you are talking about sheer capacity and potential pulling power, then there is only one place to start – the M.E.N. Arena .

Situated at the Bury New Road end of Deansgate, this monolith 18,000 capacity hanger-like venue was recently crowned the ‘world’s top selling venue’ after a stellar few years, which has seen multiple shows from the reformed Take That (they return for 11 more dates this winter), bona fide megastar Barbra Streisand, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2.

Tickets can be bought online via the website or at the box office situated at the Victoria Station entrance.

Understandably, catching your favourite act in such impersonal surroundings is not to everyone’s taste with many preferring to stick to the less salubrious and more intimate venues around town.

The pick of these are handily clustered in the Northern Quarter – with Oldham Street's Night & Day  (pictured), Dry Bar and The Castle pub regular purveyors of live music.

For those of you with live jazz leanings the nearby Matt & Phred’s bar is a perennial favourite with laid back musos.

Neatly situated a short walk from Piccadilly Station, Newton Street’s The Roadhouse is the archetypal sweatpit, a must-see stop off for any burgeoning act worth their salt – Kasabian, The White Stripes, Keane and Hard-Fi are just a handful of acts to have showcased their wares before going stratospheric.

For those of you who prefer a little more faded glamour with your gin and tonic, Whitworth Street West’s The Ritz is a real gem.

Now featuring a beefed up calendar of live music, the venue has a huge mirrorball and a sprung dancefloor – so you can po-go and sparkle to your heart’s desire.

Heading out of the city and in student territory, Oxford Road’s Academy is a four-for-the-price-of-one establishment.

Situated in Manchester University’s Student Union building, Academy 1, 2, 3 and Club Academy features bands performing virtually every night of the term, from the NME roadshows in the 1,500 capacity Academy 1 (set to re-open in October after a recent refurb) to one-off dates by rising stars in the downstairs club venue (Corinne Bailey Rae made an early appearance).

And if you fancy bumping into a few rock stars before or after the show, the nearby Big Hands venue is a regular calling point of cheeky pre/post show beverage - plus their are occasional gigs too.

Finally, heading east Ardwick’s Apollo venue is another local favourite.

Utilised by bands too big for the Academy and too small or too wise for the Arena, the 4,000 capacity theatre has a sloping floor, which means you can nurse a pint at the back of the venue and not miss a minute of the action.

For those of you who prefer to purchase your gig tickets in person rather than contract RSI on the phone, St Ann’s Square’s Piccadilly Box Office is a great one-stop shop, which sells for venues across the city.

One thing’s for sure, Manchester is second only to London for quantity and quality of live music this country has to offer.

Click here to see our Now Booking section for all the big gigs.