Community – Manchester Pride Parade
The Manchester Pride Parade takes place this Saturday afternoon, so expect a carnival atmosphere in the streets of Manchester. A great number of organisations are participating in this year’s parade – over one hundred floats will be making their way through Manchester city centre with the rainbow flag flying high. This year’s theme is ‘Queer’d Science’, in remembrance of Manchester’s own Alan Turing and also celebrating Britain.
The event starts at 1pm and is free. The parade route, which finishes just outside the Gay Village, can be found here. There are numerous other events in the city as part of this year’s Pride celebrations.
Running from the 17 to 27 August, you can find out what’s on here.
Community – Northern Quarter Street Parties
Not content with the success of The Jubilee street parties, which saw over 5000 visitors, the Northern Quarter will be hosting a street party again this Bank Holiday Sunday (26 August).
Starting at noon and continuing until 9pm, with an after-party at Cord from 10pm, this weekend’s party is set to be the biggest yet with a record eighteen venues participating. All the participating venues will be raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support and Mind (a leading mental health charity).
Coincidentally, new Northern Quarter restaurant Solita will also hold its own charity street party on the same day. Events include a chilli cook off and Man v Food challenges plus entertainment courtesy of DJs Colin Curtis, Gareth Brookes and others. The nominated charity is Wood Street Mission that helps needy families in Manchester.
Solita is located on Turner Street. The Northern Quarter Street Party will take place on High Street, Edge Street, Thomas Street, Back Turner Street and the upper section of Tib Street - which will all be pedestrianised for the event.
Entertainment – Made in Mancunia #1
This Friday, 24 August will mark the launch night for a new exhibition at 2022nq: Made in Mancunia #1.
2022nq, a licensed creative space in the Northern Quarter, plays host to a new exhibition featuring seven up and coming artists from Manchester. Made in Mancunia #1 will features photography, graphic design and illustration work by a number of different Manchester based artists such as Sarah Cowan, Jane Bowyer, Generic Greeting Collective, Micah Purnell, Steven Bullock, Nina Pang and Amy Leigh. Music will be provided by Will Orchard of Now Wave/Gorilla and a free drink is available to the first one hundred people upon arrival. Minimum age is 18 and entrance is free.
The exhibition will take place between 6-10pm this Friday. 2022nq can be found on Little Lever Street, M11EZ. Please click here for the official 2022nq site and here for Facebook page.
Nightlife – 42nd Street
42nd street nightclub, known affectionately in Manchester as ‘42's’, has events on Friday and Saturday night this weekend.
This Friday is Freak Scene, with DJs Big Steve and Tim Cocker of XFM fame playing rock, dance, and indie alternative.
If the Friday night wasn’t too heavy, you can head down to 42's again on Saturday for the Legends Night where classic 42's anthems are played all night by DJs Mike Clouds and Chris James. Also on offer is 60s motown and pop, 70s funk, plus indie, Brit pop, and alternative. There should be something for everyone, so there is no excuse.
Both nights run from 10pm to 3am. The door charge is £1 before 10.30pm with student cards and flyers. You can buy discounted tickets online at www.42ndstreetnightclub.co.uk. 42's can be found on Bootle Street, M2 5GU.
Music – Gospel Community Choir
Manchester Sing Out Choir’s ‘Time Out’ Gospel Concert takes place this Saturday. The North West’s leading gospel community choir will be performing alongside some of Manchester’s finest musicians at the Flixton Academy in Urmston.
Manchester Sing Out Choir was established in 2005 for the Manchester International Festival launch. Four concerts are held by the choir annually, giving members the opportunity to showcase their vocal development and perform. The concert will also feature the Love Alive Market, housing a variety of stalls selling home-made jewellery, cakes, clothing, arts, crafts and natural beauty products.
The theme ‘Time Out’ was chosen to encourage people to take ‘time out’ and enjoy great, uplifting music. All proceeds of this concert will be going to the Mara Foundation, which works to improve the education quality of disadvantaged secondary schools in Uganda.
The Love Alive Market opens its doors at 6pm. The concert will take place between 7pm and 9.30pm. Tickets cost between £6.50 and £8.50. For more information click here or email msoc@live.co.uk. Flixton Academy can be found on Princess Road in Urmston, M41 5SQ.
Art – ‘What Are You Looking For?’ Exhibition
This Sunday marks the opening of art exhibition ‘What are you looking for?’ at Taurus Bar and Restaurant. On display are homo erotic paintings by young emerging artist, Marcus Wemyss.
It is an exhibition of fresh, contemporary painting that explores modern sexuality through a series of provocative, painterly and expressive work. The exhibition will be a place to meet, engage in discussion and enjoy vibrant new culture in the city’s gay village.
Taurus can be found on 1 Canal Street, M1 3HE. The opening event takes place between 4pm and 7pm and the exhibition runs daily until 30 September. To join the event on Facebook click here.
Marcus Wemyss
Food and Drink – Fresco Freddo’s
If the weather is favourable in Manchester this weekend you can pop down to new Italian gelateria Fresco Freddo’s which recently opened on Oxford Road near St Peter’s Square. Along with 22 different varieties of gelatos and sorbets there are also crepes, cakes and waffles on offer. One thing you won’t find here is ice cream, so you shouldn’t feel too guilty about making a visit.
Fresco Freddo’s can be found on 83 Oxford Road, M1 6FQ. The Manchester Confidential review can be found here.
More Food and Drink: Bolton Food and Drink Festival
Bolton Food and Drink Festival (Friday 24-Monday 27 August) is starting this weekend with a fully laid table of events across the town with name chefs and loads of activities for all ages. There are three main areas, in Victoria Square events will take place in the AGA Rangemaster Cookery Theatre marquee, in Bolton Market events will take place in the demonstration kitchen, situated in the fish and meat hall, in Market Place Shopping Centre events will take place on the ground floor. There are guest appearances for chefs of the calibre of Michael Caines and Jean-Christophe Novelli. There’s even a Harvey Nichols’ antique French van, a branded Citroen HY no less that will be serving French street food. More details of the festival here.
Harvey Nichols van
Sport – Premier League Fixtures
Keen to improve after last week’s loss away to Everton, Manchester United entertain Fulham this Saturday afternoon at Old Trafford. Last season’s top scorer Robin Van Persie could make his first start for the club. United will hope their new forward makes an immediate impact as they lost on goal difference last season to the blue half of Manchester.
Speaking of City, they travel to Merseyside on Sunday to face Liverpool. After a not wholly convincing win against newly promoted Southampton, City are also looking to improve this weekend.
Music – Adam Ant
Eccentric New Romantic artist Adam Ant comes to Warrington this Saturday. His career has spanned more than 35 years, and he has performed hundreds of shows in the UK since 1977. Now is your chance to see the legend himself at the Pyramid and Parr Hall in Warrington. The support act is Johnny Normal.
If you are adamant about seeing Adam Ant, tickets cost £23.50 and can be bought online here. You can find Pyramid and Parr Hall at Palmyra Square South, Warrington WA1 1BL.
Cinema – Marley
You can learn more about the renowned Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley this weekend as Cornerhouse is showing a biographical documentary of the famous reggae artist.
Oscar-winning Kevin MacDonald (of The Last King of Scotland fame) directs. MacDonald had unprecedented access to previously unseen archive material which means the resulting film is an in-depth exploration of the timeless reggae legend.
Tickets are £7.50 for adults and £5.50 for students and can be purchased here. The film is showing at 8pm this Friday at Cornerhouse, 70 Oxford Road, M1 5NH.
Entertainment – Great Northern Tunnel Tour
This Sunday you can discover the atmospheric underworld of Manchester beneath the Great Northern Goods Warehouse. Guaranteed to spook, there are even rumours that a ghost has been spotted...
Those who dare to venture on this perilous journey into the unknown should bring a torch and wear sensible shoes as the tunnel is dark and there is some mud. But if you're in good health and capable of walking down (and back up) fifty or so stairs to access the tunnel then you're in for an unforgettable experience. The tour lasts just over an hour.
There are two tours on Sunday – one at 5.30pm and one at 7pm. Meet outside The Bridgewater Hall, Lower Mosley Street, City centre, M2 3WS. Tickets can be bought here, and cost £8.
