BEACHED
Ian Brown once said that 'Manchester has everything except a beach'. Well, now it has, for a bit at least. Until 7 September Heaton Park offers all the trimmings of the beach, without the sea, 'orrible cold wet thing anyway. There'll be deck chairs, ice cream, face painting, water walkerz, a fun fair, beach games, Punch and Judy - and possibly a bigger boy to kick sand in your face.
Come to the Beach/Heaton Park/Sat 19 July to Sun 7 Sept/12–5pm/Free Entry/More here
PEDAL POWER
Twenty years after the Velodrome opened in Manchester, Britain has achieved an unprecedented amount of success on two wheels. However, the city’s affiliation with cycling has its roots in the very earliest days of sport. From the ‘boneshaker’, one of the first British bikes manufactured in Salford in 1868, to 1934 Empire Games medals, contemporary track bikes and British Cycling kit, Pedal Power is a celebration of track cycling, technology and teamwork.
Pedal Power/MOSI/Castlefield/Until Mar 2015/FREE/More here
GOLDEN OLDIE
See Marilyn Monroe in her element in late 50s classic Some Like It Hot, showing for one week only at the Cornerhouse. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon star as two hard-out-of-luck musicians who take the opportunity to work as the back-up band for an all-girl group heading to Florida. It isn’t long before they end up head-over-heels for the groups desirable lead singer, Sugar Cane (Monroe).
Some Like It Hot/The Cornerhouse/Fri 25 July to Thurs 31 July/Tickets £8.00
Some Like It Hot
REGGAE RABBIT
Band on the Wall present Bob Marley's bandmate and childhood friend, founding member of the Wailers and three time Grammy award winner, Bunny Wailer, live at the Ritz. Aside from tearing apart Snoop Dogg's dip into rastafarianism, Bunny has been holder of the reggae flame since Bob and the rest of the Wailers pegged it. A rare chance to see the last of the original Kingston tribe.
Bunny Wailer/The Ritz/Fri 25 July/7pm to 11pm/Tickets £25 to £30 here
JSKY
Young gun around town and persistent little bugger (Jay you're on the listings, now stop collaring me in the street - DB) returns to ClubLIV with another episode of Jsky Chat Live. There'll be live performances from 2che, Carolynne Poole, Jsky, Platnum, RIO, Sasha Pannu plus live interviews with special guests.
Jsky Chat Live/ClubLIV/Peter Street/Sat 26 July/Doors 8pm
RULE BRITANNIA
Bruntwood Prize winning play returns for a second stint at the Royal Exchange. Carl doesn't fit in at home. He doesn’t fit in anywhere. When he signs up for the army, he sees it as a chance to escape the grim reality of life in his hometown. But the army takes him to Afghanistan. And when he comes home, it’s not as a war hero but as a changed man.
Britannia Rules The Waves/Royal Exchange/Fri 25 & Sat 26 July/Times and tickets £12, concs £10 here
Bunny Wailer
DIG IT
A full night brimming with Funk, Soul, Disco & Latin in all its forms shapes as Captain Diesler & Lieutenant Simon 'Hammy' Hamm unload their full vinyl arsenal all over Soup Kitchen. Special guests this week are Bodie (Vinyl Miners/Extra Unseen) and Fraser Funk (Trailer Trash/Idle Moments).
You Dig?/Soup Kitchen/Northern Quarter/Sat 26 July/11pm-4am/Tickets £3-£5
MANC-AMPING
Blackthorn Music Festival, started only last year on Whitebottom Farm in Etherow Country Park, Stockport, is Manchester's only camping music festival. Set in the Cheshire countryside, Blackthorn is a celebration of both music and local produce. Better yet, a weekend ticket is ony £40 or £25 for the day. Line-up here.
Blackthorn Music Festival/Etherow Country Park/Stockport/Fri 25 to Sun 27 July/More info here
HAUNTED MCR
Fancy injecting a spot of fear into your weekend?Then the Haunted Underworld tour, by Confidential editor Jonathan Schofield, will be your thing. In a dark and mysterious undercroft of the city centre old stories come alive. Tales might include those of dead artists, sinister magicians, tragic lovers and body-snatchers. Expect the unexpected and also lots of laughs. People who are brave enough to come on the tour should try not to faint (something that has happened). Not recommended for children under ten, unless they're 'well 'ard'.
The Haunted Underworld/St Ann’s Square /Sat 26 July/Meet by the War Memorial 1:30pm /£8.00 tickets here
Haunted Underworld guests emerge from the dark last week
GRUB IN THE HUB
Manchester Jazz Festival's 'hub' in Albert Square has been basking in glorious sunshine all week long and the weekend looks set to follow suit. They're serving some fantastic grub in that 'hub' so it's definitely worth a visit even if you're 'as into jazz as you are into collecting asbestos fibres'. Read all about it here.
MJF Hub/Albert Square/Until Sun 27 July/More info here
BY THE RINGS OF SATURN
Bernhard Schobinger’s Rings of Saturn show exhibits some rather unusual choices of jewellery, all in the name of art. Schobinger, aside from having the world's most robust surname, spends his time rolling around in sustainable materials and recycling. Sourcing from everywhere imaginable, including knicker elastic (we'll pass on that one) it's an odd collection worth a trip if you're into design and sculpture. You never know, you might become inspired and turn that discarded plug into a necklace, or a shoe, or a car.
Rings of Saturn/Manchester Art Gallery/Until Sun 19 Oct/Free Entry/More here
LOU-IE, LOU-IE, OHH BABY, YOU GOTTA GO
Winner of Best Vintage Fair in the UK, Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair makes a return to Manchester. Taking place in the newly restored Whitworth Hall, shoppers can indulge in a variety of items including clothes, home wares and jewellery. Get spruced up at the beauty salon, offering make-overs in the style of any era of your choice. Befitting of the atmosphere; tea and cakes are also on offer from what is promised to be a picturesque onsite café.
Lou Lou’s Vintage Fair/Whitworth Hall/Sun 27 July/11am to 4pm /£2 Entry/More here
Lou Lou Vintage
DISARONNO ON THE ROAD
Following a four-week London run, the Disaronno Terrace will pitch up in Manchester on Wed 30 July for a month of merriment. Located in Spinningfields, Disaronno are filling Wednesdays with live music, art and cocktail masterclasses. The drinks brand have roped in bands like The Cribs, Pins and Little Comets to perform.
The Disaronno Terrace/Spinningfields/Opens Wed 30 July/From 7:00pm/More here
CHOP CHOP
Following a packed out Lawns for the last showing of Stand By Me, this week's Screenfields outdoor cinema will screen Tim Burton's cult 1990 classic, Edward Scissorhands, with Johnny Depp. Edward is a shy and isolated boy with shears for hands, the handiwork of an aging inventor who dies before he can give Edwards real hands. Adopted by a maternal Avon Lady Edward becomes a local celebrity and an accomplished poodle trimmer and garden artist.
Edward Scissorhands/Screenfields/Thurs 31 July/Tickets £3/More here
