It’s finally the end of the heatwave that’s been plaguing us for what feels like a whole year. I’m honestly relieved to have an evening without the whirr of an Argos fan and to be back underneath the duvet – it’s almost the time of year where pumpkin spiced lattes are starting to call my name.
As the rain re-enters our so-called rainy city this week, you’ll probably be looking to move away from the beer gardens and spend a bit more time back indoors and if you’re into art, there’s so much to choose from this weekend, spanning Rusholme, Northern Quarter and Chorlton.
There’s also a huge party taking place at Wood & Co with £1 drinks available all night and some cracking discounts on food at The Bay Horse too. That’s two places at least where you’ll know you’ll be kept warm, dry, fed and watered. What more could you want?
Don Mak’s Exhibition at Saan1
ALL WEEK
Don Mak’s first ever UK exhibition, ‘I Go To School By Us’ launched at Saan1 over the weekend and is available to view until Sunday 11th September. It explores two sets of Mak’s paintings; the first set is called “Once Upon a Hong Kong“, an illustration series for the same-named picture book published in 2019, depicting the sceneries of Hong Kong around 2018; the second set are England scenery paintings, created during Mak’s relocation.
His work is bold and reminiscent of bubblegum anime with a Westernised approach to design. The exhibition is available to visit Thursday – Sunday between 12pm and 6pm, but if you want to pop down between Monday and Wednesday you must book an appointment by contacting the gallery’s Instagram.
50% OFF at The Bay Horse Tavern
ALL WEEK
Northern Quarter’s Victorian retreat, The Bay Horse Tavern has recently launch a brand-new menu of pub classics, and this week and next you can grab 50% off your food bill when dining in Monday – Friday. When we popped down to try out the menu update, our favourite dishes included the Whole Rotisserie Baby Chicken, which will cost you just £9 with the discount, Crispy Cod Cheeks (just £4.50 for the next couple of weeks), and the fluffy Roast Potato side dish, a mere £2.50 with the 50% discount.
An Evening with WITCH (We Intend to Cause Havoc) at YES
Monday 15th August
The 2019 film that documents the formation of WITCH, one of Zambia’s most popular rock bands of the 70s is being screened at YES this evening, alongside a live performance and Q&A with the film’s Director, Gio Arlotta. The documentary explores the life of Africa’s forgotten rockstar and the excitement that surrounded the rediscovery of his music through a new wave of Western fans. This evening is a chance for you to deep dive into one of rock’s greatest untold stories in one of Manchester’s greatest bars.
Asha’s 75 Years of Indian Independence Feast
Monday 15th August
Asha’s will invite guests to join them tonight to commemorate India’s 75th Year of Independence. Commencing at 6pm, welcome drinks will be provided in The Peterman bar, a stylish haven of opulence and luxury. Here, guests are also invited to take-in the traditional Indian music from Dhol players and presented with beautiful Gajra flower garlands. At 7pm, guests will be led through to Asha’s, where they will enjoy a three-course feasting experience, with delicious and flavourful dishes curated by Asha’s new head chef, Rajesh Bhatt.
New Normal 2022: A Trail of Queer Art Expressions
Wednesday 17th August – Sunday 21st August
Off the back of a very successful 2021 programme, New Normal is back with a line-up of Manchester’s best LGBTQIA+ artists who will perform at various venues across the city in the lead up to Manchester Pride 2022. The various exhibitions will reflect the personal stories, struggles and strength of the Manchester community through a range of art mediums including; spoken work, poetry, music, dance, DJ sets, karaoke and illustrations. Check out the full programme here.
In Conversation with Feel Good Club at Deansgate’s Waterstones
Thursday 18th August
Founders of Feel Good Club, an online community of positive people and, more recently, Northern Quarter’s newest laid-back brunch hangout, Aimie & Kiera Lawlor Skillen celebrate the release of their new book this week. On Thursday, you can join the couple at Deansgate’s Waterstones for an in conversation and signing of their book, which aims to continue the mission of wanting to make people feel good through positivity, love and normalising the way that we share how we feel.
Find Love at Ducie Street Warehouse with Thursday
Thursday 18th August
In collaboration with dating app ‘Thursday’, Ducie Street Warehouse will host the city’s biggest dating event this Thursday welcoming almost 500 singletons to meet and mingle on the warehouse’s romantic sunny terrace. Thursday promises to be more than a ‘shitty dating app’, hosting regular in real life events across the UK in the hope of uniting soul mates, taking dating back to its traditional roots.
YAANG at Band On The Wall
Thursday 18th August
As part of Band On The Wall’s series of free gigs, Thursday will see electronic post-punk trio YAANG take to its stages with another chaotic, often unpredictable live show. The band formed as students at Salford University, and have since had coveted spots at the likes of Bluedot Festival, Fair Play Fest and across BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 1 after the release of ‘White Socks Yellow’. The band will also be joined by seven local DJs who will soundtrack the party late into the evening.
Cate Le Bon at Albert Hall
Thursday 18th August
Welsh musician and producer, Cate Le Bon has been a firm favourite of ours since her early enigmatic album ‘Me Oh My’. She has gone onto tour and work with artists including John Grant, St Vincent and Tim Presley and returns to Manchester this week to tour her sixth studio album, Pompeii, which was released earlier in the year. “Pompeii was written and recorded in a quagmire of unease. Solo. In a time warp. In a house I had a life in 15 years ago,” Le Bon recalled in a statement. “I grappled with existence, resignation and faith. I felt culpable for the mess but it smacked hard of the collective guilt imposed by religion and original sin.”
Wood & Co’s £1 Cocktail Party
Thursday 18th August
If you fancy spending your Thursday evening sipping £1 cocktails all night, then you’ll want to be at Wood & Co this week, as the bar is celebrating the launch of its cocktail menu with a huge party and you’re all invited! Taking place from 6pm, your first arrival cocktail will cost you nothing and then after that drinks will cost you just £1 all night long. You can sign up now via the article below.
Identical at The Lowry Theatre
Friday 19th August
A classic tale to take the kids to this week, Identical starts at The Lowry Theatre on Friday. A musical tale that takes inspiration from Erich Kästner’s novel, The Parent Trap, Identical tells the story of two twin girls separated at birth and reunited by chance at a summer camp ten years later. To get to know their parents and reconcile the two halves of their family, they decide to swap places and live each other’s lives.
Sprechen Presents: The Utopia Strong (live) & Psychederek (live) + FreakOUT DJs at The Carlton Club
Friday 19th August
Get ready to zoom off into the world of psychedelia and electronica with an evening of performance from The Utopia Strong – a trio of modular synth wizards and ex professional snooker players fusing their talents to create a joyous celebration of music, and Psychederek – Stretford’s very own cosmic cosmonaut. This time he returns with his band to perform a set of self penned mushroom balearica and low slung electronic pumpers!
David Rey, Larboonz & RagoLoco at Low Four Studios
Friday 19th August
Mic Check Live once again returns to Low Four Studios with a line-up of Manchester’s underground rap stars this week. Joining the evening this time round is; Ragoloco, David Rey, D Jordan, Gilly Mcr, Feeemo, Larboonz and a guest DJ straight from Paris DJ Squal – with rum-based drinks available all evening from OG Rum Club.
SOUP 12th Birthday Part 2
Friday 19th August
Showcasing a stellar mix of Manchester’s current best DJs this Friday, SOUP will celebrate 12 years of its iconic basement parties. Getting things grooving, Sonny Bliss, Hayley Suviste, Elsa and Hyperdawn sound out their signature styles, and following up into the small hours, Henzo, Florentino, High Hoops, Ayy Den and Tom Boogizm lay down the gauntlet of unfettered head spinners across the newly launched two room basement arrangement!
Breaking Barz at Old Abbey Taphouse
Friday 19th August
Next up in the Breaking Barz calendar, Sleazy F Baby, Ragoloco, Renee Stormz, Shoa and Meduulla will take to the stage at The Old Abbey Taphouse for an evening celebrating the life and legacy of Len Johnson. The monthly event showcases the best of the city’s underground musical talent in a venue that has become a pioneering social, progressive space for the local community. The event is £5 OTD.
Ample Provisions at Rag Gallery
Friday 19th August
Inspired by Mexico City’s ‘La Noche Del Cisne’, Chorlton’s Rag Gallery will be transformed this week with live art, music and performance. The traditional Cisne invites queer creatives and artists to takeover a space in order to bring together the local communtiy, and Friday will see just that take place in Chorlton, with a range of dreamscape stage set ups, drag artists and queer cabaret performances lead the evening.
Shingri-La with Alexander Nut at Adelphi Lads Club
Saturday 20th August
Next up as part of Shindigger’s free takeover of Salford’s other legendary lads club, Alexander Nut, Mafalda, Cervo, Levi Love and DJ Gardener are up on the decks in the hidden courtyard. The beer garden catches the sun all day long, with Moroccan influenced rich blue walls and green foliage that creates the perfect summer oasis. Later into the evening, the DJ booth moves indoors with a more rustic rave feel.
Freedom To Be with Gok Wan at Ducie Street Warehouse
Saturday 20th August
Ducie Street Warehouse and Native Manchester are hosting two weekends of ‘Freedom To Be’ pride parties to celebrate pride and bank holiday weekend in the city. The parties will kick off this Saturday 20th August from 5pm until late, where the warehouse will welcome a very special headliner – the sensational national presenter and DJ Gok Wan and supporting act from Manchester queer collective Queer Latifah.
So Flute Terrace Takeover at The Refuge
Saturday 20th August
This weekend, So Flute is bringing the groove to The Refuge’s terrace as its takes over the decks for the day one again with Danuka, Yadava and Baloo. Emerging almost a decade ago, So Flute is best known for recruiting eclectic selectors and DJs including Gilles Peterson, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Andres and Floating Points to join the collective in its late nights sessions of soulful worldwide sounds.
Over Here Zine Fest at The People’s History Museum
Saturday 20th August
Over Here Zine Fest is a not-for-profit event showcasing the work of Black / Asian / POC / global majority zine makers, artists, writers and activists. The aim is to build self-sustaining alternative models for publishing, art, activism and collaboration throughout the local community, all organised by a group of people identifying as Black / Asian / POC / global majority who are based in Manchester. Saturday’s event will be focused on zines, talks, workshops and spaces to hang around to chat and collaborate with other likeminded creatives. The festival is free and runs from 10am – 4pm.
British Art Show Tour with Luca Shaw
Saturday 20th August
Co-creator of Underbank Studios and Ulita Theatre, Luca Shaw will take you through an immersive and interactive tour of HOME’s British Art Show this Saturday. It’s a great opportunity to explore the show whether you’re familiar with it or not, as Luca’s hands-on expertise will allow you to interpret each piece in new and intriguing ways. Tickets are free, but need to be pre-booked online before the show!
West Art Collective’s All Day Art Party
Saturday 20th August
This weekend Antwerp Mansion will once again welcome over 20 artists, alongside DJs, performers and stalls for a huge takeover by West Art Collective. Starting at 2pm and running until late, Bloc2Bloc will be taking over the Union Sound & Dankashire soundsystem all day, Dance Policy will be setting up an exhibition with a focus on rave culture inside and a tattoo artist specialising in hand drawn art will be creating unique pieces for your skin in Antwerps Checkerboard room! As well as this, there’ll be some incredible art to view and purchase as stalls will be set up throughout the space from morning until late.
size?sessions Festival at Victoria Warehouse
Saturday 20th August
A huge full day of festivities takes place at Victoria Warehouse on Saturday between 2pm and 11pm, featuring some of the UK’s current best live performers. AJ Tracey, Nines and Knucks are all part of this year’s bill, which also sees a huge list of local and global DJs keep crowds hyped throughout the day, which is also sponsored by some of the biggest names in the sneaker and clothing industry right now.
Slowpo Sound System X size? sessions Festival Official Afterparty
Saturday 20th August
Stalwart selector Slowpo offers up his next foray as “Slowpo Soundsystem” – an amassing force of Dancehall, Rap, UK Funky, Future Beats & Amapiano. Teaming up with size? for their official sessions festival afterparty, the event at Canvas will feature live performances Backroad Gee & Rushy. In demand DJs such as Kennedy Taylor, G33, Sham Steele & Turna with renowned artist & host Chunky on the mic hosting the event.
Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival
Saturday 20th August & Sunday 21st August
Brand-new for 2022, artisan food and drink vendors will descend on Prestwich’s Heaton Park this weekend for two whole days of independent, delicious food and beverages! There’ll be produce stalls where you can stock up on ingredients, live music and cookery classes, as well as local art collaborations and, of course, a diverse range of stalls bringing street food and flavours from across the globe.
WORKINONIT Monthly Beat Maker Social at The Hip Hop Chip Shop
Sunday 21st August
This monthly free event gives DJs, producers and performers a chance to showcase their music and connect with the community. Whether it’s a spoken word or multi-instrumentalist performance, the aim is for the event to be as open as possible – creating a welcome and accessible creative space. Sunday’s line-up is still TBA, but the event is totally free!
