Manchester Histories Festival
The second Manchester Histories Festival begins with a huge array of events covering ten days and across a vast selection of venues.
On Saturday 25 February, there's a free event at Whitworth Art Gallery based on Cotton: Global Threads exhibition, starting at 7.30pm.
On Sunday North West Film Archive are holding All About Music at Band on the Wall from 2.30pm-4.30pm. Both these events are free as is from 1pm-4pm a day school on Slavery and Abolition: Manchester Connections at the Zion Arts Centre.
Guided walks include Mirth in the Mill with Terry Wyke and Alan Flower starting at the People's History Museum at 2.30pm on Sat 25 Feb, free.
Sunday has a self guided canal tour of Ancoats canal from 11am, pick up the audio equipment at Piccadilly Basin archway on Dale Street.
There's also Medical Manchester from Green Badge Guide Anne Beswick at 11.30am, meet Manchester Town Hall, and there's a Discover Manchester tour from 1pm meet at the Visitor's Centre, junction of Portland Street and Parker Street.
Emma Fox, another qualified Green Badge Guide, conducts The Gangs of Manchester tour starting inside the Barton Arcade at 1pm, focussing on Victorian Gangs and turf wars.
The Green Badge tours carry a modest charge but deliver expert, informed and entertaining opinion.
For booking on these events please click on this site: Manchester Histories Festival
Confidential will be highlighting events throughout the week.
Concert
Round off the weekend with a concert at The Deaf Institute where the up and coming British folk and rock band To Kill A King is playing on Monday, 27 February.
Tickets cost £7, click here to buy tickets. Click here to listen to their song 'Bloody Shirt'.
Museum
Chen Man is a leading fashion photographer in China and one of best known female Chinese photographers of the twenty first century. Chen Mans' first UK solo exhibition is now being held at the Chinese Arts Centre. The exhibition is on display from 19 February–7 April 2012. Admission is free.
Click here for more information on the exhibition and the Chinese Arts Centre.
Live Show
The X Factor Live 2012 tour starts at the Manchester Arena this weekend with three shows. All nine finalists from the competition including Manchester´s own Misha B will perform along with the X Factor winners Little Mix.
Tickets are £32.50. Click here for tickets and information.
Click here to watch the X Factor Live advert.
Misha
Film
Young Adult is a story of a woman (Charlize Theron) who returns to her home town to relive her glory days and to reclaim her now married high school sweetheart. The movie is written by Cody Diablo (Juno) and directed by Jason Reitman (Up in the Air).
Click here to view the trailer.
Club
Off with Their Heads meets Fat Out til you Pass Out at the Islington Mill on Saturday night. These two promoters return to close the End of Winter season.
Tickets are £5. Click here for more information.
Comedy
Scottish comedian Billy Connolly is on at the Apollo from Monday to Wednesday. Stretch the weekend out a little to catch his show The Man on Monday.
Tickets are £35. Click here for tickets.
Family
Head on over to the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) on Sunday with the kids and enjoy the view of the stars and planets in their Planetarium. Children must be six years old to go in. Click here for more information.
Art
Exposures is the UK's leading student film festival. It takes place at Cornerhouse and the final night is on Thursday, for those willing to start the weekend a bit early. Thursday holds the Festival's Best of the Fest Award Ceremony and Party at Museum of Science and Industry as well as a master class in Cinematography and a networking event. Click here for more information on the festival.
Eat
Go for a cracking breakfast at Sam's Chop House on Saturday morning. Get the full on Sam's Best of British Breakfast or the Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Egg to start off your day the proper way. The black pudding is homemade on the Full English with this as well. Gorgeous stuff.
Click here to check out the menu.
Drink
For a cocktail opt for the new Jamie's Italian on King Street. The just opened restaurant is set in absolutely stunning surroundings of an old bank on King Street. The restaurant offers a full list of cocktails and the Espresso Martini promises to be a real pick me up.
Click here for restaurant details.
Jamie's
