Music: Riot Jazz, Antwerp Mansion 8 March
If you want to support homegrown musical talent, Riot Jazz is a must-see. The 11-piece brass ensemble have been doing the rounds for years now and never fail to amaze live. Just take a look at the video below. This time Riot Jazz return to Manchester’s Antwerp Mansion in Rusholme from 10pm-3am, with hip-hop troubadours The Mouse Outfit and local DJ Rich Reason on the decks. Tickets cost £6.50 and are available here.
Food: The Sugarcraft, Cake Decorating & Baking Show, EventCity 8-10 March
Have your cake and eat it this weekend at the first cake show of its kind to visit Manchester. Baking legend Mary Berry, 2012’s Great British Bake Off winner John Whaite, Sunday Brunch star Simon Rimmer and cake decorating extraordinaire Mich Turner will be at EventCity in Urmston this weekend to answer questions and give tips in the Bakery Theatre. You can also browse the sugarcraft, cake decorating and baking supplies from over 80 exhibitors and watch delicious demonstrations. Tickets cost £12 for adults. Children are free if accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Book tickets online at www.ichf.co.uk or phone the ticket hotline on 01425 277988.
Shopping: Fatz K Pop-Up Shop, Thomas Restaurant & Bar 9-10 March
Fatz KFor one weekend only, Project Catwalk designer Fatz Kassim will be peddling her wares at a temporary shop in the club room of Thomas Restaurant & bar in the Northern Quarter. Take your mum along to peruse the beautiful assortment of handmade jewellery at 50 per cent off. Look out for Fatz’s statement necklaces featuring religious themes and vintage jewels you won’t see anywhere else. Fatz K’s pop-up shop will be open on Saturday 9 March 1pm-6pm and Sunday 10 March 12pm-5pm.
Beauty: Mother’s Day treats and treatments at Selfridges Exchange Square, 10 March
After some mother-daughter bonding this Sunday? As part of their Mother & Daughter Day Pamper Package, any brow shape booking at Blink Brow Bar in Selfridges Exchange Square receives a complimentary brow shape or ‘Polish & Go’ for your mother this Sunday. Then over on the perfume counters, Selfridges have hired an in-store engraver to personalise purchased bottles with meaningful messages. Awww. Clarins will also be offering free hot mitt anti ageing facials for mums or hot mitt skin energising facials followed by a Clarins touch of colour all weekend. Finally, Giorgio Armani will be giving free make up master classes with complimentary champagne and cupcakes.
Spanish speaking session: Cafe Cervantes at the Cornerhouse, 10 March
You speaka de good Spanish? Café Cervantes is your chance to practice your Spanish language skills while learning about Spanish films and meeting new people on Sunday 10 March at 4pm. The event is free but reserve your place here. The event will be led by Iñaki Abad and Kepa González from Instituto Cervantes on Deansgate.
Cinema: Spanish and Latin American Film Festival, Del lado del verano 9 March
Cafe Cervantes (see above) will mark the start of ¡Viva!, the 19th Spanish and Latin American Film Festival (Friday 8 – Sunday 24 March). There’s no better time to enjoy the variety of Spanish films on offer at the Cornerhouse, starting with Del lado del verano (The Summer Side). The comedy from the Canary Islands is showing at 6pm on Saturday 9 March and centres on the trials and tribulations of a wonderfully dysfunctional family. See the trailer below. Click here to buy tickets.
Mother’s Day: Free photoshoots for mums and daughters at Corn Exchange, 9-10 March
On Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 March, from 12-4pm, mums and daughters can have a complimentary mini photo shoot together at the Corn Exchange – sorry boys, this one is just for the ladies.
Mums and daughters will receive a hair and makeup touch-up just before their moment in front of the camera - plus they’ll receive one free photo to take home too. Ladies are then invited over to the stylish Salvi’s Deli Pop Up Prosecco Bar on the lower ground floor, to relax and enjoy a free glass of Prosecco with some delicious Italian cake.
Theatre: Sophie Willan ‘An Audience Without You’, Contact Theatre 9 March
Performance artist and local girl Sophie Willan shares her own story in this interactive solo show about fantasy, desire and connecting the dots. Her father is missing. She has a crumpled photo of a faceless man wearing a red beret, a pop album dedicated to her and a very determined, slightly psychic Grandma. Mixing theatre, storytelling, stand-up and clowning, Sophie tells an autobiographical tale that is heart-warming, heart-breaking, ridiculous … and sort of true. Join her on Saturday 9 March at 7.30pm. Entry is free.
Gig: Egyptian Hip Hop at Gorilla, 8 March
Genre defying indie oddsters Egyptian Hip Hop have been causing a welcome stink since they first burst onto the Manchester music scene. This six date tour accompanies their debut album Good Dont Sleep. Tickets cost £9. Click here for tickets.
Antiques: Flog It! at MOSI, 8 March
BBC antiques programme Flog It! is coming to Manchester and holding valuation day events at The Museum of Science & Industry on Friday 8 March between 9.30am and 4pm. Turn up with your dusty old antiques and collectables and have them valued free of charge by the Flog It! team of experts. If selected for filming, you could even make some money by selling your items at Frank Marshall Auctioneers in Knutsford.
Cathedral: Three Choirs' Evensong, Manchester Cathedral, 9 March
Three choirs will join forces this Saturday, 9 March at Manchester Cathedral in an enhanced version of the popular Choral Evensong service. Manchester Cathedral Choir is hosting its counterparts from Liverpool Anglican and Chester Cathedral and all three choirs will lead this service of prayer as part of the Cathedral’s daily pattern of worship.
During the service, it is customary for the choir to sing an anthem and on this occasion, it will be Parry’s well-known piece for a double choir, ‘Blest Pair of Sirens.’
This special choral evensong will start at the usual time of 3.30pm. It will be followed afterwards by a short organ recital at 4.30pm given by Christopher Stokes, Organist and Master of Choristers at Manchester Cathedral. All are welcome to this free service.
