FRIDAY 31
Music / Sounds of Manchester
If you’ve yet to visit Yerrrr Bar, Manchester’s newest music and events space (located just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Station), then here’s the perfect excuse: a terrific showcase of homegrown music talent featuring The Pine Jackets, The Verdict, Alana, Alice and Kealeighh.
Yerrrr Bar, Crusader Mill / facebook.com/yerrrrbar / Friday, May 31, 7pm / £6
Music / Hell Hath No Fury Festival 2.0
Get ready to headband furiously as Hell Hath No Fury Festival (organised by the Bristol-based label of the same name) returns to Manchester for two days of female/non-binary/queer-led punk-rock mayhem. The epic line-up includes War On Women, Mobina Galone, Petrol Girls, Drones, Cultdreams, Ms Mohammed, The Baby Seals and more.
The Bread Shed / bread-shed.co.uk / 0161 273 1471 / Friday, May 31 May and Saturday, June 1 / £20 (full weekend), £10 (Friday), £15 (Saturday)
Music / Roni Size
20 years have passed since Roni Size teamed up with the Bristol collective Reprazent to release New Forms, the seminal drum’n’bass album that beat Radiohead and The Prodigy to the Mercury Prize. Still proudly retaining his status as the global king of drum’n’bass, he returns to Manchester for an intimate show at Band On The Wall – prepare for full-on dancefloor carnage when the bassline drops on his classic tune ‘Brown Paper Bag’.
Band On The Wall / bandonthewall.org / 0161 834 1786 / Friday, May 31, 10pm / £12.50
Music / Irlam Live
There’s a strong retro flavour to this annual music spectacular at Irlam’s Prince’s Park. Friday’s line-up is a Madchester-themed affair with tribute bands The Clone Roses and Oaces (no prizes for working out who they are); Saturday’s line-up includes Marc Almond, 5ive and The Christians; while Sunday’s finale has From The Jam, The Farm and Toploader.
Prince’s Park, Irlam / Friday, May 31 to Sunday, June 2 / £55 weekend ticket, £15-£38.50 day tickets, more info at – irlamlive.co.uk
Theatre / Hobson’s Choice
Adapted by the award-winning Tanika Gupta, this brilliantly fresh take on Harold Brighouse’s classic comedy relocates the action to Manchester’s Northern Quarter during the 1980s. The director is Atri Banerjee, while Tony Jayawardena (Ackley Bridge) plays the lead role of Hobson.
Royal Exchange Theatre / royalexchange.co.uk / 0161 833 9833 / Friday, May 31 to Saturday, July 6 / £18.50
Clubbing / Under The Archway
Manchester party heroes Transmission Funk are fully embracing the summer spirit with this massive outdoor event featuring DJs, craft beers, cultural activities and art installations. The exact venue is being kept hush hush for now (it’s being held under a city centre archway, that’s all we know), but we can reveal the excellent DJ line-up which includes Hidden Spheres, Sofie K, Anna & Abena, Egg On Toast and Groove Parliament.
Secret location, city centre / Friday, May 31, 3pm-midnight / £15
Clubbing / RONG
Manchester’s leading authority when it comes to trance music, clubbing giants RONG return with a three-hour headline set from Irish DJ John O’Callaghan, plus stellar support from Craig Connelly and Liam Wilson.
Gorilla / thisisgorilla.com / 0161 826 2998 / Friday, May 31, 11pm-4am / £23.50
Visual arts / Jenny Walker: Pattern and Resonance
How vividly do you remember the wallpaper from your childhood home? Manchester-based Jenny Walker’s fascinating new exhibition – opening at HOME this weekend – explores how wallpaper can resonate with ideas of home, evoking a sense of time, place and atmosphere.
HOME / homemcr.org / 0161 200 1500 / Preview on Friday 31 May, 6pm-9pm; exhibition runs from Saturday 1 June to Sunday 21 July / Free
Literature / Lindsey Kelk, Paige Toon and Louise Pentland
Three of the UK’s bestselling authors are teaming up for this intimate evening of discussion and debate at Central Library. Lindsey Kelk, best known for her I Heart series; Paige Toon, whose new book If You Could Go Anywhere has been tipped as 2019’s big summer read; and Louise Pentland, award-winning parent vlogger and author of Wilde About The Girl.
Central Library / manchester.gov.uk/centrallibrary / 0161 234 1983 / Friday, May 31, 6.30pm / £8
SATURDAY 1
Comedy / Daniel Sloss
Still only 28, acclaimed Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss is currently touring his tenth solo show – entitled ‘X’, it deals with toxic masculinity and the #MeToo movement in his typically robust manner.
Manchester Academy / manchesteracademy.net / 0161 832 1111 / Saturday, June 1, 7pm / £19.50
Clubbing / Spice Girls On Film
Finish off the Manchester Spice Girls weekend with DJ Hattie Pearson (Hits Radio) and her team of go-go dancers for a special Spice Girl-themed after-party featuring all the best pop, girl power and guilty pleasure anthems from 1980 to 1999.
The Deaf Institute / thedeafinstitute.co.uk / 0161 276 9350 / Saturday, June 1, 11pm-3am / £4
Clubbing / Lovely Dubbly
Before they head off on their summer break, dub/reggae specialists Lovely Dubbly are hosting a massive farewell party with special guests Mark XTC, DJ Sappo, Dub Smugglers, Kuntri Ranks, Motiv and Killamanjaro.
Joshua Brooks / joshuabrooks.co.uk / 0161 273 7336 / Saturday, June 1, 11pm-4am / £3.50
Music / LIINES
Fresh from supporting Sleaford Mods on tour, brilliant Manchester post-punk trio LIINES are back for an intimate hometown shindig at YES. Support comes from Derby garage-rockers Pet Crow and hotly-tipped Manc punkers Blanketman.
YES / yes-manchester.com / Saturday, June 1, 7pm / £8
Theatre / Not Yours, Mine
Manchester-based newcomers Fine Comb Theatre have been building an impressive reputation with their thought-provoking, issue-led productions. Their latest work, written and directed by company co-founder Rachel McMurray, examines the family court system from the perspective of a young man named Adam who has separated from his pregnant girlfriend.
Oldham Coliseum / coliseum.org.uk / 0161 624 2829 / June 1, June 4, June 6, June 7, 7.30pm / £8
SUNDAY 2
Comedy / Funny Women Awards
Providing a launchpad for the likes of Katherine Ryan, Sarah Millican and Sara Pascoe early on in their careers, the annual Funny Women Awards touches down in Manchester with a terrific double-bill. At 4pm, it’s the regional heat with a host of up-and-coming talent vying for a place in the grand final; then, at 7pm, there’s a special ‘alumni showcase’ of previous participants featuring Louise Young, Steff Todd, Katharine Ferns, Amy Gledhill and Rachel Fairburn.
Frog and Bucket / frogandbucket.com / 0161 236 9805 / June 2, 4pm and 7pm / £7 (regional heat), £12 (alumni showcase), £15.50 (both shows)
MONDAY 3
Theatre / Club Tropicana
Set on a crumbling Spanish holiday resort during the 1980s, this brand new jukebox musical is stuffed with pop classics from that decade – Take On Me, Relax, The Look of Love, Girls Just Wanna Fun et al. The cast includes X Factor winner Joe McElderry, EastEnders star Neil McDermott and former Sugababes member Amelle Berrabah.
Opera House / atgtickets.com / 0844 871 3018 / Monday, June 3 to Saturday, June 8 / £13
Film / In Fabric screening and Peter Strickland Q&A
Ahead of its general release later this month, comedy horror In Fabric - the much-anticipated new feature from British film-maker Peter Strickland (The Duke of Burgundy, Berberian Sound Studio) - is receiving a special preview screening at HOME, followed by a Q&A with the director himself.
HOME / homemcr.org / 0161 200 1500 / Monday, June 3, 5.50pm / £9.50
TUESDAY 4
Theatre / Dressed
At the age of 19, Lydia Higginson was stripped and sexually assaulted at gunpoint by a group of men. In this powerful, award-winning show from This Egg, Higginson (and her three best friends) uses choreography, monologue and music to explain how she coped in the aftermath of that traumatic incident.
HOME / homemcr.org / 0161 200 1500 / Tuesday, June 4 to Saturday, June 8 / £12.50
Literature / Jessica Andrews
One of 2019’s most eagerly-anticipated debut novels, Jessica Andrews’ Saltwater is a gripping coming-of-age story exploring class identity and mother-daughter relationships. Join her at Waterstones Deansgate as she discusses the novel in the company of fellow author Daisy Johnson.
Waterstones Deansgate / waterstones.com / 0161 837 3000 / Tuesday, June 4, 6.30pm / £4
WEDNESDAY 5
Comedy / Reginald D. Hunter
It’s been 20 years since Georgia-born Reginald D. Hunter first settled in the UK and pursued a career in comedy. His latest show, Facing The Beast, looks back on those two eventful decades – all the highs and lows, delivered with his trademark acerbic wit.
The Lowry / thelowry.com / 0843 208 6000 / Wednesday, June 5, 8pm / £26.50
Preview – Talk / Ian McKellen
“I tend to discourage people from calling me ‘Sir Ian,’” the great Ian McKellen once said of his knighthood status. “I don’t like being separated out from the rest of the population.”
With that statement in mind, it’s perhaps no surprise that the legendary actor and all-round national treasure should choose to mark a hugely significant milestone in the company of his adoring public. To celebrate his 80 birthday, Sir Ian has come up with the brilliant (not to mention hugely exhausting) idea of an 80-date tour of the UK. His one-man show – entitled On Stage with Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and You – is a witty and entertaining journey into Sir Ian’s life and career, from his humble beginnings in Lancashire to his famous acting roles to his passionate gay rights activism. Most impressively, all profits from the shows will be donated to each theatre’s charitable projects or restoration funds.
If any proof were needed that his affection is returned, the vast majority of those 80 shows – including two dates at Manchester arts hub HOME – sold out in double-quick time. Beg, steal or borrow a ticket if you’re one of the unlucky ones.
HOME / homemcr.org / 0161 200 1500 / Wednesday, June 5 and Thursday, June 6 / Sold out
THURSDAY 6
Music / Mumford & Sons
Originally scheduled to perform in November last year (before postponing due to “unforeseen logistical and technical challenges”), Marcus Mumford and co finally arrive in Manchester to showcase their banjo-picking, foot-stomping folk-rock anthems.
Manchester Arena / manchester-arena.com / 0844 847 8000 / Thursday, June 6, 6pm / £37.50
Comedy / The Horne Section
Best known as the creator of panel show Taskmaster, funnyman Alex Horne is also the host of a brilliant jazz-accompanied comedy party called ‘The Horne Section’. If you’re a fan of crowd participation, you’ll love the show’s inspired blend of quizzes, challenges and special guests.
The Lowry / thelowry.com / 0843 208 6000 / Thursday, June 6, 8pm / £28.50
Theatre / Yvette
Based on personal experience, Urielle Klein-Mekongo’s one-woman show is a powerful and traumatic examination of race, abuse and power. Hugely acclaimed at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe, the show now makes its Manchester debut with this three-night run in the Royal Exchange’s studio space.
Royal Exchange Theatre / royalexchange.co.uk / 0161 833 9833 / Thursday, June 6 to Saturday, June 8 / £13
Visual arts / Louise Giovanelli
A recent Manchester School of Art graduate, exciting young painter Louise Giovanelli has a long-standing fascination with art history. For her latest solo show, opening at Manchester Art Gallery this week, she’ll be exhibiting new work created in response to early Renaissance panel paintings – a selection of which will be displayed to create an intriguing dialogue between past and present.
Manchester Art Gallery / manchesterartgallery.org / 0161 235 8888 / Starts Thursday June 6, runs until April 2020 / Free
Preview – Theatre / The Book of Mormon
At a time when debate has been raging as to whether political correctness is killing comedy, it seems fitting that The Book of Mormon should now embark on its first major UK tour.
Put simply: here’s a musical theatre show that wears its political incorrectness proudly on its sleeve. Conceived by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, alongside Oscar-winning songwriter Robert Lopez, The Book of Mormon has garnered near-universal praise and massive commercial success since it first opened on Broadway in 2011. To date, it’s won nine Tony Awards, four Oliviers and grossed over $500 million in ticket sales, placing it alongside Les Miserables and The Phantom Of The Opera as one of the most successful musicals of all time.
The show’s success is all the more remarkable, of course, given its considerable shock value. Set in an impoverished Ugandan village, where a mismatched pair of Utah-raised Mormons are sent for their mandatory two-year evangelical mission, it's a show stuffed with gags about racial stereotypes, religion and sexual depravity. Add some super-catchy Broadway tunes, masterful choreography and seamless storytelling, and you’ve got the most intriguing bunch of ingredients for a smash hit musical.
Now, finally, after several acclaimed runs in the West End, the show is embarking on its first UK tour, including a two-month stint at Manchester’s Palace Theatre. For those who aren’t so easily offended, it’s surely one of the hottest theatre tickets of the summer.
Palace Theatre / atgtickets.com / 0844 871 3019 / Thursday 6 June to Saturday 10 August / £13
