From Richard Ashcroft to Andre Rieu - what's on across Greater Manchester this week

From Britpop hero Richard Ashcroft to classical music legend Andre Rieu, there is something for everyone.

Here's our guide to the best of what's on...

GIGS

THE TWANG — Manchester Ritz, Thursday, December 20

ORBITAL — Manchester Apollo, Thursday, December 20

808 STATE — Manchester Academy, Friday, December 21

JOOLS HOLLAND AND HIS RHYTHM AND BLUES ORCHESTRA — Manchester Apollo, Friday, December 21

SKA FACE — King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Saturday, December 22

MACC LADS — Manchester Ritz, Saturday, December 22

SLADE — Manchester Academy, Saturday, December 22

RICHARD ASHCROFT — Albert Hall, Manchester, Sunday, December 23

SHOWADDYWADDY — Albert Halls, Bolton, Saturday, January 5

EDWINA HAYES — Bury Met, Friday, January 11

IQ — Bury Met, Saturday, January 12

CHRIS SMITHER — Bury Met, Thursday, January 17

THE HUNNA — Manchester Academy, Wednesday, January 16 to Friday, January 18

MERRY HELL — Darwen Library Theatre, Friday, January 18

THE SKIDS and BIG COUNTRY — Preston Guild Hall, Saturday, January 19

NATHANIEL RATELIFF AND THE NIGHTSWEATS — Manchester Academy, Saturday, January 19

SKID ROW — Manchester Ritz, Tuesday, January 22

YOUNG FATHERS — Albert Hall, Manchester, Wednesday, January 23

THE 1975 — Manchester Arena, Thursday, January 24

AZEALIA BANKS — Manchester Ritz, Thursday, January 24

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE — Albert Hall, Manchester, Friday, January 25

ULTIMATE POWER — Manchester Ritz, Friday, January 25

MAT WALKLATE — Bury Met, Friday, January 25

VISHTEN — Bury Met, Friday, January 25

THE VACCINES — King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Monday, January 28

MASSIVE ATTACK — Manchester Arena, Tuesday, January 29

SNOW PATROL — Manchester Arena, Wednesday, January 30

KAISER CHIEFS — King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Thursday, January 31

THE DANDY WARHOLS — Albert Hall, Manchester, Thursday, January 31

THE DELINES — Bury Met, Friday, February 1

GORGO CITY — Albert Hall, Manchester, Friday, February 1

BOYZONE — Manchester Arena, Saturday, February 2

DODGY — Manchester Ritz, Saturday, February 2

RICHARD HAWLEY — Bury Met, Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3

THE SEARCHERS — Albert Halls, Bolton, Sunday, February 3

THE CHURCHFITTERS — Darwen Library Theatre, Sunday, February 3

ENTER SHIKARI — Manchester Academy, Sunday, February 3

OZZY OSBOURNE — Manchester Arena, Sunday, February 3

BUCKCHERRY — Manchester Ritz, Tuesday, February 5

FM —Preston Live, Friday, February 8

RED SKY COVEN — Bury Met, Friday, February 8

BEHEMOTH — Manchester Ritz, Saturday, February 9

JACKIE OATES — Bury Met, Saturday, February 9

JOHN GRANT — Albert Hall, Manchester, Sunday, February 10

THE LEMONHEADS — Manchester Ritz, Tuesday, February 12

RUTS DC — Manchester Ritz, Wednesday, February 13

BARBARA DICKSON — Albert Halls, Bolton, Wednesday, February 13

NENEH CHERRY — Albert Hall, Manchester, Wednesday, February 13

BETH ROWLEY — Bury Met, Thursday, February 14

WHITE DENIM — Albert Hall, Manchester, Friday, February 15

COMEDY

LAUGH OUT LOUD COMEDY CLUB — Albert Halls, Bolton, Monday, December 31

GEORGE’S COMEDY CLUB — King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Friday, January 4

COMEDY CLUB — Darwen Library Theatre, Saturday, January 5

OUR RITA’S COMEDY ROADSHOW — Palace Theatre, Manchester, Friday, January 11

LOL COMEDY CLUB — Palace Theatre, Manchester, Saturday, January 12

LOVE LETTERS FROM BLACKPOOL — Bury Met, Thursday, January 24

COMEDY CLUB — Darwen Library Theatre, Saturday, February 2

THEATRE

THE PRODUCERS — Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, until Saturday, January 26

NT LIVE: ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA — Darwen Library Theatre, Saturday, January 12

RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE — Albert Halls, Bolton, Thursday, January 24 to Saturday, February 2

TRIAL BY LAUGHTER — the Lowry, Salford Quays, Tuesday, January 29 to Saturday, February 2

BALLET

THE NUTCRACKER — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Tuesday, Wednesday, January 2 and Thursday, January 3

MOSCOW CITY BALLET — Palace Theatre, Manchester, Thursday, January 17 to Saturday, January 19

CLASSICAL

ANDRE RIEU — Manchester Arena, Thursday, December 20

HALLE YOUTH ORCHESTRA — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Saturday, December 22

HALLE: ABBA — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Sunday, December 30

NEW YEAR’S EVE CHAMPAGNE CONCERT — Blackburn Cathedral, Monday, December 31

NEW YEAR’ S EVE AT THE MOVIES — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Monday, December 31

NEW YEAR’S DAY VIENNESE GALA — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Tuesday, January 1

HALLE NEW YEAR IN VIENNA — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Saturday, January 5

DANCE

STRICTLY COME DANCING LIVE — Manchester Arena, Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27

FAMILY

STICK MAN — the Lowry, Salford Quays, until Sunday, January 6

LILY AND THE CHRISTMAS SNOW BEAR — Bury Met, Thursday, December 20

LITTLE GIFT — the Lowry, Salford Quays, until Monday, December 31

BING LIVE — the Lowry, Salford Quays, Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13

BILLIONAIRE BOY: THE MUSICAL — the Lowry, Salford Quays, Thursday, February 14 to Sunday, February 17

FESTIVE

CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Thursday, December 20

HALLE CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Friday, December 21

HALLE CAROL CONCERT — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Sunday, December 23

CHRISTMAS CAROL SINGALONG — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Monday, December 24

LAST NIGHT OF THE CHRISTMAS PROMS — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Wednesday, December 26

MUSICALS

WICKED — Palace Theatre, Manchester, until Saturday, January 5

DOCTOR DOLITTLE THE MUSICAL — the Lowry, Salford Quays, until Saturday, January 5

ROCKY HORROR SHOW — Manchester Opera House, Wednesday, January 9 to Saturday, January 26

THE BAND — the Lowry, Salford Quays, Wednesday, January 16 to Saturday, January 26

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER — Palace Theatre, Manchester, Tuesday, January 22 to Saturday, January 26

JERSEY BOYS — Palace Theatre, Manchester, Tuesday, January 29 to Saturday, February 16

PANTOMIME

CINDERELLA — Oldham Coliseum, Saturday, until Saturday, January 12

SHOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS — Albert Halls, Bolton, until Sunday, December 30

CINDERELLA — Manchester Opera House until Sunday, December 30

SLEEPING BEAUTY — King George’s Hall, Blackburn until Monday, December 31

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK — Darwen Library Theatre, until Monday, December 24

ALADDIN — Dancehouse, Manchester, Friday, December 14 to Monday, December 31

TRIBUTE

DEFINITELY MIGHTBE — Manchester Ritz, Friday, December 21

PIANO LEGENDS — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Thursday, December 27

ELO EXPERIENCE — Albert Halls, Bolton,Thursday, January 10

BOWIE CELEBRATION — Manchester Ritz, Friday, January 11

GAGA — Bury Met, Friday, January 18

SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN — Bury Met, Saturday, January 19

VARIETY

ERIC AND ERN AT CHRISTMAS — the Lowry, Salford Quays, until Sunday, January 6

ADULT PANTO: JACK AND HIS GIANT BEANSTALK — Albert Halls, Bolton, Friday, January 18 and Saturday, January 19

JEAN GENIE — Bury Met, Saturday, January 26