Community: Irish World Heritage Centre, Cheetham Hill: 18 January Onwards
The recently relocated Irish World Heritage Centre has now opened its swanky new doors to its improved site complete a 5,000 year old bit of wood. The ‘wood’ in question is actually a piece of ancient Irish sculptured timber which is on display in the open-for-business Guinness supplying bar. The overall project has moved 200 yards from its previous base and is set to grow with a 270-bed hotel, 11 football pitches and museum areas still in progress. With the bar and first phase of construction completed stout and old tree enthusiasts will find plenty to occupy themselves with whilst admiring the scale of the £5m on-going development.
http://www.iwhc.com/
Irish World Heritage Centre
Music: MCR Scenewipe Presents Weird Era, Fuel Café: 18 January
Visual experimentalists and Playboys of the silver screen Manchester Scenewipe present ‘Curations No 1’ this Friday night at Fuel Café. The videophiles have invited local favourites Weird Era to curate the night’s entertainment which will take form in the shape of a live performance with support from Temple Songs and complemented by live visuals. Entrance is free to all so there’s no excuse not to take your ears and eyes along for a weekend treat. More information on Facebook here.
Weird Era
Pop-Up Cinema: Coffee Cranks Film Night, Arch 5 Corporation St: 19 January
After a Mr Wiggins crossed the finish line of the Tour de France in Paris in his yellow jersey Britain’s fondness for the push iron seemed to swell. The cycling performances in the Olympics didn’t hurt either, in fact it seemed increased enthusiasm for two wheeled transport was matched only by increased anger at the bicycle’s road presence from motorists. Pop-Up Bikes are this weekend showing a series of short films about the versatility, applications and fun of cycling. There will also be guest baristas serving coffee and home-made baked goods as well as music on throughout the night. Films are scheduled to start at 5.30pm with more information available on Facebook here.
Coffee Cranks Pop Up Cinema
Food: Market Menu, Radisson Edwardian
This sounds decent. The Market Menu is the latest dining idea to launch at restaurant and bar, Opus One, in the (breathe in) Radisson Blu Edwardian, Free Trade Hall, Manchester Hotel (and now relax). The menu is nearly as comprehensive as the name. It comprises six starters, six mains, six desserts and six sides. January mains include, oven roasted rack of lamb and braised lamb shoulder hot pot, served with red cabbage and red currant jus, or pan fried Anglesey sea bass. The new menu is served daily, from 6pm, at the Radisson. Priced from £15 for one course, £20 for two courses and £25 for three courses. Book here.
Opus One and some nosh
Art: Sir Peter Blake Pop Art Exhibition, The Lowry: 18 January – 24 February
Remember that Beatles album cover? No, the other one. What about that Paul Weller one? Oasis, yeah the one that wasn’t rubbish. Sir Peter Blake is also known as the ‘Godfather of Pop Art’ for no small reason. He has found inspiration in pop music ever since the 1950s and has created some of the most iconic musical art, none more so than The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. To celebrate his 80th birthday this major exhibition features works is displayed alongside a soundtrack of unbeatable pop music. The gallery is free to all with donations encouraged, opening times are – Sun-Fri, 11am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm. More info can be found here.
Sir Peter Blake
Music: Recentes featuring Dusky, Boddika & Eliphino, Sankeys: 19 January
Sankeys starts of a new year with a new night – Recentes. The night claims it will comprise of “forward-thinking contemporary line ups representing the heart of electronic music”. Their first showcase will see the like of London duo Dusky, genre confusing Boddika and the garage loving Eliphino who’s signed to Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label. Promising to ride the crest of the wave in everything from deep house to UK garage Recentes is hoping to firmly establish itself as a Sankey’s stalwart this year. Doors for the event are 11pm-6am with tickets at £12 and available here.
Eliphino
Art: Looking At Landscape, Gallery Oldham: 18 January-30 April
If the icy temperatures and imminent ‘threat’ of chaos inducing snow is making you think twice about venturing into the countryside on this particular weekend there is a suitably rural alternative, in not so rural Oldham. Gallery Oldham is hosting the Looking At Landscape exhibition which features a variety of beautiful paintings exploring twentieth century landscapes. It showcases some of the traditional pastoral painting pastime celebrating the countryside from artists of the late-1700s up to the present day. Pioneering landscape painters John Constable and J M W Turner will be displayed alongside contemporary local artists such as James Purdy. Oldham Gallery is open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Further information available here.
Looking At Landscape
Shopping: Record & CD Fair, Bramhall Centre Point, Stockport: 19 January
HMV is teetering on the edge of collapse and not even its famous faithful dog can help as it’s too busy browsing Amazon for One Direction CDs. The last major high street music store has started selling of it’s wares in anticipation of inevitable closure. Despite this, around the corner on Oldham Street are a handful of blossoming record stores. For the more dedicated music browser and second hand hunter the Bramhall record and CD fair will be offering a huge assortment of vinyl, CDs, DVDs, and memorabilia from sellers based all over the UK. Admission costs a paltry £2 from 10am-1pm and is completely free from 1pm-4pm. More information is available here.
Bramhall Record & CD Fair
Tour: Great Northern Tunnel Tour, Meet at Bridgewater Hall: 20 January.
Booking is essential for these very special tours where you will be led into the atmospheric underworld of Manchester beneath the Great Northern Goods Warehouse. The visually stunning amble through the picturesque tunnels is an adventure but one that tells a moving story. The tunnel contains the Manchester and Salford Junction Canal which opened in 1839 and was a construction doomed to fail. Discover the rich history of the tunnels in the dark quiet that lies 80 feet beneath Manchester’s busy streets. There are two tours taking place at 4pm and 5.30pm leaving promptly from outside Bridgewater Hall on Lower Mosely Street. Tickets are priced at £8 and are available from here along with further information.
Great Northern Tunnel Tour
Music: Shmoo, The Deaf Institute: 19 January
Last year Calvin Harris was irked with the BBC who inappropriately edited an interview which appeared to show the Scottish producer advocating DJs merely ‘pressing play’ on pre-recorded sets when performing live. Shmoo are a band who could never become embroiled in such an argument as they state: “We are not electronic musicians. We perform live with analog synthesizers and not a computer”. The electro brothers have been described by BBC Introducing as a ‘junior Orbital’ and will perform a headline slot on Saturday supported by local band The Narrows. Tickets are priced at £7 and available here.
Shmoo
