LET'S be honest now. Manchester International Festival (MIF) isn't for everyone. And of the 250,000 people expected to turn-out for the festival between 2-19 July, the majority will never see Bjork go bip-de-bop, or Douglas Gordon make love to that wolf, or be utterly mind-screwed by 'visual alchemist' (eh?) Jesse Kanda vs a Venezuela hip hop producer.
A handpicked selection of DJs will be playing in the Pavilion every evening from 9pm 'til late
You see, the majority of festival-goers will be down at the heart of the festival in Albert Square, basking in sweet sunlight (keep the faith) with a cold one and a polystyrene tray of something warm, sloppy and bad for you. Nothing wrong with that. Culture is culture is culture, even drink culture (last time around MIF poured a whopping 67,000 pints). Plus nearly all the live music and late-night DJ sets over in Festival Square are free. Free shows, beer AND sausage? It's a wonder anyone ever leaves...
So here's what to expect from the food, drink and everything else in Festival Square:
FOOD & DRINK
Chef PAUL HEATHCOTE MBE and his team from Preston's Heathcote & Co will return to MIF this year with the Heathcote & Co Bar & Grill in the Festival Square Glass House. Heathcote and his brigrade will be serving up burgers and hot dogs. Never mind. Heathcote will also be serving up a roast beef sharing platter on Sundays.
THWAITES will also be back with a hefty range of lagers and ales, including another specially produced Festival Ale, in Albert Square's Festival Pavillion teepee, alongside wines hand-picked by Cheadle-based wine merchants BOUTINOT.
Altrincham Market favourites HONEST CRUST pizzas will take up residence in Festival Square for the entirety of the festival, as will the ubiquitous GINGER'S COMFORT EMPORIUM ice creams.
Chef Paul HeathcoteFISH & (3-5 & 17-19 July) - Winners of Best Main Dish and the 2014 British StreetFood Awards. Expect light, crisp and exquisitely flavoured batters wrapped around sustainable fish, there's sea salt & cracked black pepper, lemon zest and the famous chilli flaked batter.
THE BALLERS (3-5 July) - The latest concept from Sela Bar in Leeds, following The Pizza Bus and Boozy Q, The Ballers will be coming to Manchester in their bright red 1980 Bedford Camper. On the menu will be meatballs, fishballs & vegballs. Mac & Cheese sides, Beer candied bacon and lots of homemade sauces.
BOOK THE LAST FEW MIF TICKETS HERE
DEAD FLAT BREAD (6-9 July) - Serving west coast style flatbreads with a Californian influence, all fresh, all ethical, all bursting with flavour. Menu will include - Char grilled tequila & lime chicken with pineapple pickle and fresh coriander, roast free range pork, feta, olives, preserved lemon, oregano and Paneer, tomato salsa, pickled cucumber, grilled mango. One for the meatless folk.
Honest CrustSPANISH CARAVAN (6-9 July) - Packed full of all the spicy, sweet, salty flavours of Spain, Spanish Caravan's Tapas and Paella are cooked from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local independents and Spanish suppliers.
HUNGRY GECKO (10-12 July) - Chorlton's Jackie Kearney is Head Chef and propriter of The Hungry Gecko - with a menu inspired by Asian streetfood and regional dishes, using seasonal local produce to create innovative and contemporary dishes. Her menu includes Maylaysian Rendang, Pad Thai, Tom Yum, Masala Dosa, Vietnamese Crispy Rolls, Indian Pakoras and Some Tum - all served from a stunning Silver Bullet.
MUMMA SCHNITZEL (10-12 July) - Swiped straight from Full Moon beach of Koh Phangnan, Thailand, where this duo tasted, 'the (second) best chicken sandwich ever', Mumma Schnitzel will take their experience at Altrincham market with one eye on where it all began, we will be doing an asian inspired burger: Spiced chicken thigh twice fried in corn starch, house pickled fennel & cucumber, wasabi yoghurt, sriracha, shredded spring onion, crispy shallots.
Manjit's KitchenCAFE HORCHATA (13-16 July) - Built on a traditional telera bread roll, these Mexican sandwiches are stuffed with delicious traditional fillings and are probably one of the tastiest sandwiches you’ll ever eat.
MANJIT'S KITCHEN (13-16 July) - Manjit Kaur was taught to cook Punjabi food by her grandmother who came to Leeds before Manjit was born. Manjits Kitchen began in 2009 and provides authentic and freshly prepared, homemade Punjabi Vegetarian food.
STOMPING GROUNDS (17-19 July) - Serving hot filled wraps, using their signature Bazlama Flatbreads – a Turkish style flatbread with a similar taste and texture to a soft English Muffin. Each flatbread is handmade with stoneground flour from Walk Mill in Cheshire and stuffed with a variety of delicious seasonal fillings.
EVERYTHING ELSE...
LIVE MUSIC - As always Festival Square will feature a live acoustic stage (12-7.30pm) featuring an eclectic range of terrific local acts on our Acoustic Stage; everything from folk bands and kora players to gospel choirs and even a solo harpist. All performances are free and you don’t need a ticket. See the full Acoustic Stage line-up here.
DJs - A handpicked selection of DJs will be playing in the Pavilion every evening (9pm-late). Expect everything from chillout tunes to fierce funk, from ‘80s classics to the newest in new disco – plus podium dancing and other late-night skullduggery. See the full Pavilion DJs line-up here.
Festival Square 2013THE MANCORALIST - Throughout MIF15, local photoblogger Mancorialist will be roaming the city and capturing on camera the city’s vital streetlife. The best images will appear on their Festival Square photo wall and on screens in the Pavilion – come along to see if you’ve made the cut #festivalsquare
BBC @ Festival Square - The BBC are making Festival Square their home at MIF15 with an exciting programme of events and shows across TV, Radio and online. BBC shows will broadcast live for the first week of the Festival from a purpose built studio in the heart of the city - see here (free tickets are available).
MANCHESTER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2015 - News, reviews, tickets and info
