Now I lament the loss of this - very few pubs in Manchester will have free live music that appeals to anyone over 18 without a silly haircut. Used to be, on a Saturday night loads of pubs would have a shitkicking R&B* band or bit of ska. My mate lives in Horwich, on the edge of the moors near Bolton, and that town still has a high street full of pubs where you'll always find a group of mid-life crisis guys in too-tight jeans playing classic rock and blues.
*When I say R&B, I'm using the original meaning - when did the term change from meaning bluesy rock'n'roll to overproduced auto-tuned soul?