Below you'll find fifteen great things to do in Manchester this month, including the return of Art Battle Manchester, a mudfest in Heaton Park and the barmy Comic Con. You can also find our monthly Top 10 gigs and concerts, theatre and comedy shows and art events and exhibitions within our Arts & Entertainment section.
BATTLE OF THE SOMME EVENING CONCERT | Heaton Park | Friday 1 July
A hundred years since one of the bloodiest battles in history - when more than one million men were killed or injured fighting against the German Empire - Heaton Park commemorates the bravery of our WW1 soldiers with a centenary concert featuring wartime songs performed by a national children's choir, interwoven with archive film. The evening will also feature a dance piece inspired by the Pals Battalions, evocative tunes from the Hallé Orchestra and a specially-commissioned poem read by Lemn Sissay MBE. Free, registration required.
Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Higher Blackley, M25 2SW (7.30pm; register here).
SOUNDS OF THE CITY | Castlefield Bowl | 1-8 July
Previously called Summer in the City, this now sounds strangely similar to Salford’s Sounds from the Other City, which took place earlier this year. No matter as SOTC easily holds its own, with an impressive line up including; Stereophonics, Guy Garvey, Haçienda Classical, James Bay and Walking on Cars - all staged in the atmospheric Castlefield Bowl.
Castlefield Bowl, 101 Liverpool Road, Castlefield, M3 4JN (5pm; tickets from £35.75 at gigsandtours.com).
Castlefield BowlGREATER MANCHESTER FRINGE FESTIVAL | Citywide | 1-31 July
There aren’t many places you can find Bafta winners jostling alongside emerging talent, but the Greater Manchester Fringe is one of them. Now in its fifth year, the festival offers the rare chance to see both debut performances and established artists at a snip. Theatre highlights this year include The Invention of Acting, I’m Standing Next To You and Typecast’s Millionaires Anonymous, whilst comedy buffs can enjoy the likes of Justin Moorhouse, Robin Ince and the Funny Women Awards. There’s even a dash of flamenco - and some Scottish sock puppets...
Various; check the website.
LONDON ROAD FIRE STATION TOURS | London Road | 2 July-28 August
One of the most extraordinary testaments to civic pride in Europe, London Road Fire Station became a neglected shell at the hands of previous owners, Britannia Hotels. Fortunately, the grand Grade II-listed edifice and 'festival of terracotta' has now been rescued by property developers Allied London and can once again look forward to the future as an integral city landmark. For the first time in decades, visitors can see inside the iconic structure as Confidential’s Jonathan Schofield reveals a story of personal tragedies and architectural triumphs. More info here.
Meeting point WHSmith, Piccadilly Station, M60 7RA (various times; tickets £10 at jonathanschofieldtours.com).
London Road Fire StationSPARKLE WEEKEND | The Village | 8-10 July
Not content with one of the country’s biggest Pride celebrations, Manchester’s LGBT community also boasts a number of other glittery events throughout the year. Taking place in Sackville Gardens, Sparkle Weekend hosts live entertainment, colourful stalls, a family zone, extravagant pageants and even a fully catered picnic. Like Pride, it’s fully inclusive so - whether trans or not - all visitors can join in the fun.
Sackville Gardens, M1 3BH (various times; most events free).
ART BATTLE MANCHESTER | Mantra Live | Saturday 9 July
The ever popular Art Battle returns this month, with episode VII making its home in Ancoats’ new subterranean space, Mantra Warehouse. We’re promised the biggest and best Art Battle yet, as ten artists fight to create a winning masterpiece in half an hour, watched by a discerning audience. Some of the UK’s most famed graffitists’ will emerge from their cover of darkness, whilst battle-goers can additionally expect music and a few ‘random surprises’. Plus a licensed bar of course. All work created on the night will be auctioned off, with proceeds split between the artists and a local charity.
Mantra Warehouse, Pollard Street East, M40 7FS (7-11pm; tickets £10 at skiddle.com).
Art Battle ManchesterFOODIES FESTIVAL | Tatton Park | 15-17 July
Ok it’s not in Manchester but Tatton Park is a worthwhile day trip, particularly when the Foodies Festival is on. The Tudor estate’s resident deer herd will be joined by some the nation’s top chefs for one special weekend; with the likes of Aiden Byrne, Mary Ellen Mctague and Simon Wood all cooking up a storm in the chef’s theatre. That’s not all the fest will be serving up, however, with other lip-smacking highlights including: pop up restaurants, street food avenue, vintage tea tent, brew your own beer, mojito galleon ship, chilli eating comp...and even a jungle bug eating challenge. More info here.
Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6QN (Fri-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm; tickets from £10 at seetickets.com).
PRETTY MUDDY | Heaton Park | Saturday 16 July
Tackling a giant pink obstacle course, covered in mud and having a great (if slippery) time - what better way to show cancer that hell hath no fury than a woman in pink? Cancer Research’s pioneering research means that survival rates have doubled in the last 40 years to 50% - yet the fight is still on and, since the charity receives no government funding, every pound donated is essential in supporting the work of over 4000 medical professionals. Fancy something a little less messy? Race for Life takes place the following day, with both 5K and 10K options.
Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Higher Blackley, M25 2SW (various times; tickets from £10 at raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org).
Pretty MuddyBROKEN | Salford Quays | Saturday 16 July
Quays Festival opens in MediaCityUK this summer with a unique (surprisingly free), one-off performance of acclaimed stage show Broken. Presented outdoors for the first time, the 70-minute performance from globally renowned UK dance theatre company Motionhouse combines jaw-dropping aerial acrobatics, dance and circus with digital imagery, stunning set design and a gripping narrative set to a thunderous, searing soundtrack. Hanging in suspense and scrambling to safety, the dancers will negotiate the cracks and craters of a world of illusions where nothing is quite as it seems…
MediaCityUK Piazza, Salford, M50 2EQ (9.30pm; free).
BLUEDOT FESTIVAL | Jodrell Bank | 22-24 July
Having played a key role in the research of everything from meteors to masers, cosmic rays to space probes, it’s fitting that Jodrell Bank should host a stellar festival of Discovery. The inaugural Bluedot promises a winning equation of music, science, arts, technology, culture, food and film; more here. Headlined by the likes of veteran electronic artist Jean-Michel Jarre and Professor Brian Cox, highlights include an immersive luminarium and a stratospheric seven-course banquet with Manchester House’s Aiden Bryne.
Jodrell Bank, The University of Manchester, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9DL (various times; tickets from £35 at discoverthebluedot.com).
Bluedot Festival is coming to Jodrell BankEUROPEAN CITY OF SCIENCE | Citywide | 22-29 July
The discovery continues this summer with a citywide science programme, celebrating Manchester’s designation as Europe’s first City of Science. Bringing together many of the world’s foremost scientific thinkers, innovators and scholars to discuss nine key themes, this FREE festival spans everything from sensory workshops to whizz-pops. Highlights include a robotic orchestra, allotment of the future and an exclusive series of science lates. More info here.
Various times and locations; free.
MANCHESTER JAZZ FESTIVAL | Citywide | 22-31 July
MJF turns 21 this year and is celebrating adulthood with a programme more ambitious than ever before: from the first major performance by Alexandra Ridout, BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year, to Ben Cottrell’s New Seeing; an illustrated talk looking at the brain’s response to improvisation to a late night concert at St Ann’s Church and a special season of films. With ten days of live music, over 500 musicians and 80 events - many of them free - even those with relatively little interest in the genre will find something to tickle their fancy. And all that jazz indeed.
Various; check the website.
Dana Ali Band @ RyatesphotoNORTHERN GRIP FESTIVAL | Ramsbottom | 23-24 July
As one of the UK’s sunniest months (well, theoretically), there’s never a better time to hit the countryside. From Ramsbottom in the North to the Peak District in the South, Manchester is prime territory for hopping on mountain bike and exploring. Northern Grip has plenty of inspiration, from chats with extraordinary riders to major brand showcases and rides out into the surrounding hills. The festival opens with Funkademia DJs - taking in ‘proper Northern food’, pop up shops and tips from the pros - before closing with a hearty breakfast.
Ramsbottom Civic Hall, Market Place, BL0 9AJ (various times; tickets £25 from northerngrip.co.uk).
FESTWICH | St Mary’s Park | 30-31 July
The UK’s biggest free tribute festival returns with all guns blazing, this year celebrating recently fallen legends like David Bowie and Motörhead Lemmy. With an anticipated 20,000 revellers, expect chorus-chanting and crowd-surfing aplenty; alongside thrill rides, local traders, food stalls and bars. All your favourite anthems for a measly £2.90 booking fee? No wonder it’s an annual sell-out.
St Mary's Park, Prestwich, M25 1AP (11.30am-10.30pm; register here).
MANCHESTER COMIC CON | Manchester Central | 30-31 July
As if there weren’t already enough spectacles to be going on with this month, Comic Con is entering the festival fray with more wacky outfits than Lady Gaga’s wardrobe (see last year's Best Dressed here). As well as a comprehensive merchandise marketplace and cosplay masquerades, 2016’s episode also sees an impressive medley of special guests including Musketeer Luke Pasqualino and Star Wars’ Warwick Davis.
Manchester Central, Windmill Street, M2 3GX (various times; tickets from £11 at mcmexpostore.com).
Comic Con
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