The Afghan Whigs

The Afghan Whigs bring their blend of alternative rock, soul and rhythm and blues to O2 Ritz Manchester on 23 September 2026. Formed in Cincinnati in 1986 by singer-guitarist Greg Dulli and bassist John Curley, the band first emerged on Sub Pop with Up in It and Congregation, carving a groove-led approach while the grunge wave was breaking. The 90s delivered Gentlemen and Black Love, records that set the template: tense guitars, pulse-heavy rhythms and narratives that circle desire, guilt and the fractures of relationships. After 1965 closed that chapter, the group paused before returning in the 2010s with Do to the Beast, In Spades and How Do You Burn?, carrying a darker, soulful thread into the present.

On stage, The Afghan Whigs draw freely across their catalogue, folding newer tracks into longtime staples. Dulli’s grainy vocal presence and the band’s supple rhythm section keep the songs close to their R&B roots while pushing them into heavier terrain. The result is a live arc that moves between slow-burn tension and tighter, driving cuts, with storytelling front and center in a set built for listeners who follow the lyrics as much as the groove.