Hiya mate. While I'm still pretty new to Manchester, I've been to a few alright places. Jilly's Rock Hole and Caged asylum are probably the only heavier rock venues though, apart from Rock Kitchen in the MMU. Not so heavy but still very different are Dot-dash at the Scubar once a month, and the Kings Arms in Salford which puts some good alternative nights on in the psychedelic theatre upstairs. Islington Mills has a few good nights too.