Club Night: Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club, Band on the Wall, 27 April
Band on the Wall presents another installation of its club night Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club with the DJ and actor manning the decks until the early hours. This month will also feature a performance from Israeli acid jazz enthusiasts The Apples, who will be bringing their own brand of Middle Eastern jazz and funk to one of the fastest growing nights in Manchester.
Tickets are available here. Watch The Apples' version of Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name Of' video below.
Gig : James with support from Echo and the Bunnymen, Manchester Arena, 26 April
James returns to Manchester for their first gig in the city since 2010, with support from special guests Echo and the Bunnymen. Hot on the heels of his Comic Relief performance of ‘Sit Down’, Tim Booth will be returning to his hometown for a night of the band’s biggest crowd pleasers, and reworkings of some of their classic releases.
Ticket prices start at £38.50, and are available here.
Film: Evil Dead (18)
Evil Dead is the first of many horror remakes slated for this summer; with Carrie and Pet Sematary on the way later this year.
Director Fede Alvarez is at the helm for this reworking of Sam Raimi’s supernatural gore-fest, with performances from Jane Levy in Bruce Campbell’s cult role, and Shiloh Fernandez. The story follows along the same lines as the original with a group of teenagers taking to an isolated cabin in the woods, where they happen upon a suspicious book with predictably disastrous consequences.
Evil Dead is showing at AMC, ODEON, Cineworld, and VUE cinemas.
Read what Rachel Winterbottom thought of the remake here.
Shopping: Bridesmaid Party at Lace Bridal, Hale, 28 April, 10am-4pm
This weekend, the North West’s leading bridal retailer will celebrate its first ever bridesmaid collection - British label, ButtonBelle. The party on Sunday is for brides to get together with their bridesmaids, sip a glass of bubbly and devour cake, whilst indulging in a first look of the ButtonBelle bridesmaid dresses. The collection encompasses vintage inspired style bridesmaid’s dresses in a mix of lightweight chiffons and georgettes in soft silhouettes. For more information please visit www.lacebridal.co.uk.
Food: Pie and Ale, The Hive, NQ
Head to the Northern Quarter for a taste of Pie and Ale, the newest venture from the Bakerie family. Indulge your carb cravings with a variety of pastry delights from steak and yippie pie ale, to the veggie friendly Moroccan spiced sweet potato and chick pea. Their weekend offerings include a special breakfast pie on Saturdays which consists of Cumberland sausage, smoked bacon, egg, Heinz baked beans, homemade tomato sauce, and finished with a hash brown.
Find out what Jonathan Schofield thought of Pie and Ale here.
Workshop: Build a book, John Rylands Library, 26 April
Join designer and artist Guy Begbie for a special workshop on the art of books. Discover the ins and outs of books and binding as you create your own hard back book, complete with concertina style fold out pages. The workshop is most suitable for adults and those aged 16 plus, and booking is essential.
To book your place email: jrl.events@manchester.ac.uk or telephone John Rylands customer service team on: 0161 306 0555.
Club: VOX at Cinnabar, 27 April
If French House/Nu-Disco is your groove thang, then VOX, set up by electronic music enthusiasts Manzur Iqbal, Leon Riley, Marine Bezault and Martin Krauel, could be for you. The new club night will be at Cinnabar on the last Saturday of each month and is described as ‘more of an event rather than a rave, promoting good electronic music.’ This Saturday Alan Braxe will be unleashing his spectacular brand of electronic music supported by resident DJ Martin Krauel and Futurecop!, a synth-pop collaboration with Manzur Iqbal and Peter Carrol.
The event will also be streamed live at www.datatransmission.co.uk. Advanced tickets cost £5. Get them here.
Event: Greater Manchester Marathon, 28 April, 9am
This weekend sees the return of the Greater Manchester marathon, starting in Trafford and heading around the city. This is the 37th Greater Manchester Marathon. It will be taking place at 9am, with a number of easily accessible spectator points along the route.
More information is available here.
Shopping: Spring/summer fashion show in association with HELLO! Magazine, Trafford Centre, 28-29 April
HELLO! will be showcasing the latest trends at the Trafford Centre on both Saturday and Sunday. The Orient stage will play host to a range of retailers spring/summer collections to give you bags of inspiration for the months ahead.
Tour: Haunted Underworld Tour, starts at the War Memorial St Ann’s Square, 26 April, 5.30pm
Brave the high and lows of Manchester’s underworld, on a tour to discover its haunted past. Hear tales of its ghouls and spooks as you explore Deansgate ancient chambers, and see St Ann’s Square unknown heights. Tours last 75 minutes and are for adults and children over the age of 12. Tours cost £8 more information and how to book tickets go here.
Theatre: Carmen, Opera House, 27 April 7.30pm
The international mezzo, Nadia Stoianova, stars as the eponymous Carmen in the latest production of Georges Bizet’s lustful opera. The emotions and suffering of the characters are carried through its enchanting arias, as the tale of soldier Don Jose and gypsy Carmen destructive affair unfolds. The critically acclaimed drama-filled piece comes to Manchester Opera house for one night only.
Tickets cost £10-39.50 and are available here.
Exhibition: Bench Self Made Gallery, Church Street, Northern Quarter, 10am – 7pm
The Manchester School of Art will take over the Northern Quarter this April, exhibiting their work in Bench’s Self Made Gallery. Some of the city’s well known designers will be displaying their work, showing the evolution of posters, flyers, and digital arts for the major events and festivals which take place in Manchester. There will be a series of major installations by Parklife campaign producer Pin, Now Wave, The Warehouse Project and Electric Elephant. Another exhibition taking place comes courtesy of BCN:MCR curator David Sedgwick and David Bailey, both of whom will display their work for the Sounds From The Other City festival.
Events will be taking place throughout April, including a series of lunch time live performances from local bands.
More information on the gallery, and upcoming events is available here.
Tour: The Great Northern Tunnel Tours, starts outside Bridgewater Hall, 27 April 4pm
Go beneath Manchester’s surface to discover it’s unseen past. From secret canals to World War II bomb shelters the tours provide an insight to the long forgotten depths of the city. The underground adventures are dark and chilly so be sure to dress appropriately, torches and sturdy shoes or wellies are recommended. Tours last approximately 75 minutes and are suitable for Adults and children over the age of ten.
Tours cost just £8, for more information and book tickets go here.
