The Brit Awards are being held in Manchester for the first time on Saturday.
Stars including Harry Styles are set to perform at the ceremony being staged at the Co-op Live.
As well as the city hosting the Brits for the first time and intimate gigs with the likes of Robbie Williams and Olivia Dean, Manchester will also be staging the first Brits Fringe event as part of the build-up.
Find out all you need to know about the events taking place in the city as excitement builds for Saturday.
Organisers say the event involves masterclasses from industry experts and live sets from emerging stars in the lead-up to the Brits.
Under the banner ‘Manchester Seen and Heard’, it promises to “amplify grassroots creativity, elevate local voices and shine a light on emerging talent”.
What events are taking place?
There is a three-part series called First Steps delivered by music charity Brighter Sound and Manchester Music City which supports young creatives aged 16-25 to develop skills required to build sustainable careers in music as well as a one-day event – Fringe Lab – at New Century Hall.
The Fringe Lab will be followed by a music showcase featuring live performances from Chloe Slater, Meduulla, Nxdia and Third Kulture, alongside DJ sets “that reflect the breadth and energy of Greater Manchester’s contemporary music scene”.
What are the First Steps sessions about?
First Steps into Songwriting, at Band on the Wall (in partnership with The Manchester College) takes place on Monday between 17:00 GMT and 22:00.
First Steps into Building an Audience, at Manchester School of Art (Holden Gallery), in partnership with the School of Digital Arts (SODA) at Manchester Metropolitan University takes place on Wednesday between 09:30 and 16:00.
First Steps into Selling Your Music at the Royal Northern College of Music from 09:30 until 16:00.
What is Fringe Lab about?
This brings artists, executives and creatives together at New Century Hall between 10:00 and 17:00 for talks, masterclasses and conversations about the industry.
When is the music showcase and do you need tickets?
The music showcase starts at 19:00 on Friday, and yes you need tickets, which are free and available here.
Organisers said event is for people over the age of 16 only.
There are a number of big artists playing intimate charity gigs in Manchester during the city’s Brits Week celebrations.
Artists performing in support of War Child. which supports children affected by conflict include Josh Baker to YES on Wednesday and Rossi at the same venue on Thursday.
Olivia Dean also takes the stage at Albert Hall on Thursday with Robbie Williams playing at Aviva Studios Manchester on Friday.
There is also a Brit Awards art trail across Manchester city centre with colourful murals and billboard takeovers by local artists.
A retrospective pop up exhibition is also on display at Manchester Piccadilly railway station celebrating over three decades of British music artwork and design.
Microdot Design by Brian Cannon, takes over the station’s concourse between 12:00 and 18:00 until 1 March.
Designed and built by Manchester based design company M3 Industries, it showcases designer and art director Cannon’s visual legacy through work created for some of the most influential artists of the era, including Oasis, The Verve and the Inspiral Carpets.
