Gig: Sounds From The Other City, Chapel Street, 5 May 3pm until late
This May bank holiday sees the return of Sounds From The Other City, a celebration of the national and international emerging music scene. The eighth incarnation of the festival will see music from Parenthetical Girls, Stealing Sheep, Letters to Fiesta, and Daedelus, along with Manchester Scenewipe’s ‘Manchester SceneSkype’ who will transmit live sessions from all corners of the globe direct to Islington Mill’s gallery. Red Deer Club’s ‘Secret Sessions’ will showcase bands performing from undisclosed locations, with the details still remaining very hush hush. The festival will take place over a number of venues including; The Kings Arms, The Crescent and the Black Lion, St Philips and Sacred Trinity Churches with Islington Mill as the main venue.
Tickets cost £18 and more information is available here.
Kings Arms by Ross Phillips
Market: Castlefield Market, Duke Street, 5 May 10 – 4pm
This weekend marks the first weekly Castlefield Market, featuring over 70 stalls showcasing artisan food, crafts and vintage goods. Locally sourced, handmade produce will be on offer until 4pm with music from The Rocket at 11am, and The Cotton Town Hot Club at midday. Get down early for a wide range of free samples, and to snap up some delicious deals.
More information is available here.
Castlefield Market
Gig: May Day Extravaganza, The Printworks, 5 May 12-7pm
Manchester Printworks brings you a full day of free music in conjunction with charity Forever Manchester. Support Manchester’s local music scene with performances from a number of up and coming acts in Tiger Tiger, Waxy O’Connors and a host of others. All venues and stages are free entry, with no age restrictions
Further information of acts and times is available here.
Printworks
Club: Silent Disco With Headphones
Retro is Manchester's new regular Silent Disco night. The organisers lend you a pair of special headphones on entry, and you can flip between three channels of classic hits. Hit the blue channel for disco, glam and cheesy 70s. Red is the colour for the new wave and new romantics of the 80s. And make it green for the boybands, britpop and dance classics of the 90s. Whenever you hear a song you're not into, just flip your headphone switch and change decades. Be part of three tribes on the dancefloor, singing and dancing to separate songs. Join us under the Retro mirror ball in the smart new loft upstairs at Revolution Oxford Road.Tickets are £8 on the door or £7 in advance Skiddle.
Event: Free Comic Book Day, Travelling Man, 4 May 8.30am onwards
If graphic novels are your thing, then head down to Travelling Man in the Northern Quarter for a treat. Get your hands on some specially released comics for free from DC, Marvel and other favourites. Doors open from 8.30 am.
More information is available here.
Free Comic Day
Music: Spinfest at The Oast House, Manchester
Following on from the success of last year's Best of British extravaganza,
the line-up this Bank Holiday will be every bit as entertaining. Adding another dimension to the day will be a bright green double decker 'fun-time' activity bus parked alongside the Courtyard in Spinningfields
between 1pm and 5 pm. Providing high quality child-care for children from 2½ - 11 yrs in a safe, secure environment and completely free of charge, this children only space will be run by qualified child-minding staff. As well as offering amusement for the younger members of the family, it will give parents a chance to relax over a spot of lunch and live entertainment - click here.
Oast House
Exhibition: The Print Shop Exhibition, 2022NQ, Dale Street
2022NQ will be showing some of Manchester’s emerging and established artists print work from May 3, and will be selling exclusive artwork from their website. View pieces from up and coming artists, such as Will Berry, Thomas Clegg and Philip Pittam, along with more well-known names such as award winning Matthew Comer and Barney Ibbotson, with French artist Greg Guillemin. Following a solo exhibition in February, BCN:MCR will also be displaying six exclusive prints, which will be available to buy with profits going to the MS Society. Entry is free.
2022 Nq Print Fair
Food: Food Festival, Lowry Outlet, Salford, 4-6 May
Join celebrity chefs James Martin and Paul Hollywood for three days of edible excess at Salford’s food festival. Take a tour of the artisan market, featuring over 80 producers displaying a variety of delicacies. Top local musicians and nosh from home baked cakes to locally produced cheeses. Find out what one of festivals main attractions, Paul Hollywood, had to say when he spoke to Manchester Confidential’s Ruth Allen here.
Entry is free, and more information is available here.
Man with crumbs in his beard
Tour: Haunted Underworld Tour, starts at the War Memorial St Ann’s Square, 4 May, 1.30pm
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's ancient chambers. 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.
Spooky
Tour: CBBC Interactive Tour, Media City, Salford, 4 and 5 May at 13.15, 13.30, 15.15 and 15.30
Treat your kids to a behind the scenes tour of their favourite TV shows at Media City. Discover CBBC’s new home, and get interactive with some of your favourite shows such as Blue Peter and Newsround. Try your hand at being a presenter, or even read the news and weather in this one and a half hour tour. Tours are not suitable for children under the age of six, and cost £9 for adults and £6 for children.
Book tickets here.
Northern Quarter Festival Take Over, Oak Street, Edge Street, High Street, Turner Street, 5 May 12- 9pm
Some of the Northern Quarters biggest names spill out into the streets this Sunday, with takeovers happening on Oak Street, Edge Street, High Street and Turner Street. Solita in the Street makes its second appearance for an old school afternoon, featuring sets from Jamie Scahill (Funkademia), Gareth Brooks (Xfm), Hungry Hoss and Manchester Confidential’s very own Gordo. Great British Menu winner Aiden Byrne will open proceedings, as well as judging the ‘chicken hot wing roulette’ a man verses food style competition for chilli enthusiasts. Find out more about Solita in the Street II here.
Over on Edge Street, Home Sweet Home, Common and latest addition Terrace will have a variety of stalls along with the Common Knowledge quiz, as well as live music and DJ’s. Home sweet Home will also be hosting a dog show, with their friends from Simple and the RSPCA, with prizes for best trick, waggiest tale, and best six legs.
On the High Street; Almost Famous, Lust Liquor and Burn, Keko Moku and a host of others will have their very own Red Bull Hummer and ‘Gincident bar’, courtesy of the Liquorists. Whilst Odd Bar will have activities for the kids including face painting and games along with music from Beat Boutique and Revolver vs Your Mama’s Cookin’.
Meanwhile on Thomas Street; Apotheca and TV21 and Trof will be hosting a stage for DJs and live music, whilst The Bay Horse will have art and crafts for sale designed by the Generic Greetings collective, along with a BBQ featuring tasty treats for meat eaters and veggies alike. Each bar will be donating a portion of their profits to a number of charities including; We Love Mcr, Wood Street Mission, Mind and Water Aid.
Entry is free and a suggested donation of £1 to RSPCA, payable on the day, is requested to enter the dog show, more information available here.
Edge Street Takeover
Film: Iron Man 3 (12A)
Robert Downey Jr returns as the eponymous superhero in the third instalment of Iron Man. After the events of Avengers Assemble, billionaire playboy Tony Stark is a shadow of his former self shying from the public and neglecting his faithful assistant/girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). With the appearance of super villain The Mandarin (acting legend Sir Ben Kingsley) Stark is forced to go head to head with one of his toughest foes to fight to save those he loves.
Find out what Rachel Winterbottom thought of the action packed film here.
Iron Man 3 is general release.
Iron Man 3
Theatre: Abigail’s Party, The Lowry, 3-5 May
Mike Leigh’s comedy heads to Salford, after a phenomenally successful West End run. Featuring former Eastender, Hannah Waterman, Abigail’s Party is a scathing observation of a world obsessed with class, and taste. Originally a Play for the Day in 1977, Oscar winning director Leigh presents an evening of suburban pretentiousness ruled over by the domineering Beverley.
Ticket cost between £19-29, and are available here.
Abigail's Party
Exhibition: 'You Are My Only Hope': A Star Wars Art Event, Generation Gallery, New York Street, 4 May
Indulge your inner geek at Generation Gallery this Star Wars day, with an artistic take on George Lucas’ creations. Feast your eyes on some of your favourite characters in a new light, with steam punk Chewbacca and R2D2 to name just a few.
Entry is free and more information is available here.
LEGO Star Wars Mini land Model Display, LEGO Discovery Centre, Trafford Centre, open every day between 10-7pm
Continue May the Fourth with a family trip to LEGO Star Wars Mini Land Model Display at the Trafford Centre. See some of the film's famous landscapes replaced by the beloved blocks, take part in interactive activities and even compete in a pod race. A fun filled day for the whole family especially the bigger kids.
Entry starts at £8.10, and tickets are available here.
Thirsty work messing about in space ships
Gig: Live Music @ 47 King Street West, King Street, 3 May
Treat yourself to an evening of music and food at 47 King Street West as they present the first of many future act nights starting this Friday. Enjoy an acoustic set from songstress Rebecca Tate as you tuck into your meal, and soak up the atmosphere in the king street bistro.
Booking is essential, reservations can be made here or alternatively by calling 0161 839 1929.
47 King Street
Museum: VE Day Street Party, Imperial War Museum North, Salford, 4 may 11-12.30 pm and 3-4.30pm
Celebrate May Day with a look into the past at Imperial War Museum North. Join in the VE day street party, and enjoy craft activities, music, and real archive footage. Learn about rationing with ‘This Weigh to Sweet Heaven’ and find out what your weekly sweet portions would have been.
Entry is free, and more information is available here.
Iwm VE Street Party
Festival: Dulcimer Ale and Cider Festival, Chorlton, May 3-6
Enjoy a long weekend's worth of live music, beer and cider with this showcase of some of the UK’s best breweries. There will be over 30 selections of ale, cider and perries on offer from the Wild Beer Co, Hardknott, Hawkshead and Kernel as well as a number of others. There will be live performances and DJ sets throughout the weekend, including a set on Sunday from acoustic sensation Stilts Foster, with support from James Hattersley.
The full line up for the weekend is available here.
Dulcimer Ale Festival
