FREE | SUMMER 2018
BEES BEERS & BEATS
© Copyright and TM 2018 I Love MCR Ltd All rights reserved. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the information in this publication is accurate, the publisher cannot accept any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior permission of the publisher. Managing Director Chris Greenhalgh Editors Louise Rhind-Tutt Stephen Lewis Commercial Director Amar Chana Writers Ray King Emily Oldfield Charlie Hooson-Sykes Georgina Pellant Charlie Spargo Elise Gallagher Glenn Meads Biddy Harrison-Draper Jonny Swindlehurst Ana Iliescu Matthew Turner Jon Taylor Lee Bennett
Bees, Beers and Beats It looks like it’s going to be a long, hot summer.
July and September as part of the Bee in the City art trail.
The weather’s been more Marbella than Manchester this year. May was the hottest since records began, with temperatures well into the 20s instead of the usual 15.
On Sunday June 17th, there’s the annual Manchester Day parade and an afternoon of entertainment, food and drink.
Photography Attila Keményfi Carl Sukonik Mark Waugh
It was a whopping 26 degrees on May Bank Holiday Sunday, and it’s still only the beginning of June.
Published by I Love MCR Ltd 447-449 Royal Exchange St Ann’s Square Manchester M2 7EP 0161 710 2665 hello@ilovemanchester.com www.ilovemanchester.com
We’re looking forward to more of the same for the next couple of months at least.
Follow us on Twitter @ILoveMCR I Love MCR magazine is printed on Edixion Offset, uncoated paper with ISO 14001 environmental certification and covered by the European EMAS standard, produced from sustainable forests. Printed locally at Manchester Printers Ltd
It’s perfect weather for shorts - we’ll have a Three Rivers Manchester Gin over ice, with just a splash of tonic and small nick of lemon rind if you’re asking, thanks. Whether the fine weather lasts or not, one thing is certain. There’s so much going on over the next couple of months that we’ll need a holiday by the time the summer’s over. We won’t just be enjoying plenty of beers and beats this year (check out the festival guide inside), but bee-spotting too. Eighty giant bee sculptures will appear on streets and in parks and public spaces between
And there’s a chance to experience a weekend of la dolce vita without having to fork out for a costly flight to Naples when Festa Italiana comes to Cathedral Gardens in July. This year, there’s all the excitement of the World Cup, too. Can England beat Tunisia and Panama and progress beyond the group stage? How far they can go before they are knocked out by Iceland or Germany on penalties? Whether you’re soaking up the sun or dodging the rain, planning a vacation or a staycation, we hope you have a great one. If you’re staying at home, get the barbie out, slap on the sun cream, and make the most of it. But have your brolly handy just in case. Because remember, this isn’t Marbella, this is Manchester. ILOVEMCR.COM 1
Manchester reunited The Arena bomb remembered one year on Words: Louise Rhind-Tutt Pictures: Attila Keményfi
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cathedral service, a mass singalong and a national minute’s silence were some of the events which marked one year since the attack at Ariana Grande’s Manchester Arena concert.
People showed their support and solidarity in many ways. Hundreds of tributes, flowers and messages of support were left across the city as well as 7,000 knitted and crocheted hearts. A trail of 28 Japanese maple trees made from last year’s memorial flowers led from the station to the Cathedral Gardens for people to hang a message of hope on their branches, and song lyrics were projected onto St Ann’s Church. Those invited to the 2pm service at Manchester Cathedral included survivors of the arena attack along with their families and friends, first-responders and those who helped in the immediate aftermath. The leaders of all the main political parties attended the service as well as Prince William, who read a passage from the Book of Corinthians.
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The remembrance service was broadcast to crowds via a big screen in Cathedral Gardens, as well as York Minster, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Glasgow Cathedral. Opening the multi-faith service, the Dean of Manchester told the congregation: “In this service we come together as people of different faiths and none, as we remember with love before God those whose lives were lost, and those whose lives have been changed forever and have to live with the terrible memories of that day 12 months ago. “There is a land of the living and a land of the dead, and the bridge between them is love: the only survival, the only meaning.” As well as hymns and prayers, the service included readings by pupils of Chetham’s School of Music and Whalley Range High School for Girls, and a moving rendition of Over the Rainbow sung by the Halle Youth Choir. During the service, 22 candles fashioned from the thousands left behind at the memorial in St Ann’s Square last year were lit – one for each of the victims – and a minute’s silence was observed.
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“We are here to look after each other, care for each other and to be positive and move forward” It was an emotional atmosphere in Cathedral Gardens. Following the service, the crowd of hundreds who had gathered to watch it on the big screen broke into spontaneous applause. Many hugged their neighbours. Then a single balloon in the shape of a bee was released into the blue sky. In the evening, around 15,000 people descended on Albert Square for the Manchester Together – With One Voice concert with over 3500 singers coming together for a mass-singalong. The crowd gathered in the same spot as last year’s vigil, but the atmosphere this year was more upbeat, with people eager to celebrate the city’s strength, resilience and community spirit. Among those performing were the Emergency Services Choir, who sang Bridge Over Troubled Water, and the Manchester Survivors Choir, a group made up of people who were at the Arena on the night of the concert. “We are showing Manchester and the world that we carry on,” Survivors Choir member Cath Hill told the gathered crowds, who spilled out into the sunny streets adjoining the square. “It is so important for us to be together. We are here to look after each other, care for each other and to be positive and move forward.” Poet Tony Walsh, who read his poem This Is The Place at the public vigil last May, encouraged the crowd to make a minute’s noise rather the a minute’s silence. It was a poignant way of celebrating the first responders, the NHS staff involved and “Manchester and its spirit and its amazing people”. A half-hour communal sing-along saw crowds belting out Oasis’ Don’t Look Back In Anger, Elbow’s One Day Like This, Ariana Grande’s One Last Time, Take That’s Never Forget and The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love. At precisely 10.31pm, church bells at St Ann’s Church, Manchester Town Hall and St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church rang out to mark the exact moment of last year’s explosion at Manchester Arena, in memory of the 22 victims.
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Andy Burnham: the first 12 months Words: Ray King
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reater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has marked his first year in office by restating his bold pledge to end rough sleeping in the city region by 2020.
election, his profile went global - not in the way he or anyone would have wished - as he led a measured, dignified public response to suicide bomber Salman Abedi’s callous terrorist attack on the Manchester Arena.
He told an audience of local political and business leaders and representatives from the voluntary sector and faith groups that he was confident the commitment would be achieved.
High profile or not, the mayor was soon confronted by the reality of how national governments favour infrastructure investments in London over schemes outside the capital.
The gathering to mark the anniversary DevoDifference - was staged at the Sharp Project digital media complex in Newton Heath.
Mr Burnham acknowledged the disappointment of the Department of Transport’s downgrade of rail electrification in the north followed within days by the go ahead for Crossrail 2 in London. He said: “I agree we have been a London-centric country for as long as many of us can remember - but there are signs of change. We came back strongly. The north fought back and that is only going to grow.
History was made a year ago when voters in Greater Manchester elected their first ever executive mayor - former Labour Cabinet minister Andy Burnham. The mayor presides over a cabinet of Greater Manchester’s ten council leaders with powers over planning, housing, transport, policing and fire services and significant influence over the city region’s £6 billion a year health service budget. Sceptics at the time claimed the office had been foisted upon Greater Manchester by former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne as a quid pro quo for devolving powers to the city region to drive forward the Northern Powerhouse initiative, but would make no difference. He insisted that there could be no power without responsibility. Interviewed by I Love Manchester after the anniversary event, Mr Burnham said: “”While many expressed the view a year ago that the office of mayor would be a white elephant that would make little difference, the complete reverse is true. “Now people say to me ‘why haven’t you done this or why haven’t you done that’ about homelessness, transport, a whole list of things. I take that as a positive because it means they have accepted the role and it’s ability to do things.
“The first Convention of the North takes place in Newcastle soon and our voice will be heard loud and clear on all the key issues including transport and Brexit.” Leaving aside the disappointment over major rail investment, Mr Burnham’s transport priorities are on the move, including a key step towards delivery of smart ticketing and, from September, the halving of bus fares for 16-18 year olds - a step on the way towards provision of free passes for the age group.
“We came back strongly. The north fought back and that is only going to grow...”
“Of course I am as impatient as anyone else. I am heading a new administration which is still bedding in and not yet running at full speed. But we have made real progress on homelessness. We have built a movement with everyone pulling in the same direction. I am confident that from now on we’ll begin to see real changes.”
four R’s: reduction, respite, recovery and reconnection.
He admitted earlier this year that the rough sleeping problem had become worse since his election, having anticipated as much by saying: “I have said let’s see if we can end rough sleeping by 2020. If we can get threequarters of the way there, am I going to consider myself a failure? Well, no.”
The aim is to reduce the flow of people on to the street; deploy funds totalling £4.3 million to support respite projects; and introduce the new Housing First project across Greater Manchester to create permanent affordable housing, which currently has 200 places increasing to 500 by the end of the year.
In February he launched a new draft plan to co-ordinate efforts to tackle homelessness based on what he called the
As a former Labour government big hitter, Mr Burnham was a familiar face before he became mayor. But within three weeks of his
His appointment of Olympic gold medal winner Chris Boardman as the region’s cycling and walking guru was also a bold statement of intent. Less straightforward will be implementing his pledge to re-write the controversial Greater Manchester development masterplan for the next 20 years. It’s a classic housing and jobs versus green belt debate that is bound to upset some people however radical the rewrite. There has been, however, a unanimous welcome for Mr Burnham’s ambition to make Greater Manchester the first UK city region to ditch single use plastic by 2020 in the wake of the shocking recent revelation that the River Tame, which flows through Tameside and joins the River Goyt to form the Mersey at Stockport, is the worst plastic-polluted river in the world. But it’s the pledge to end rough sleeping that may be most difficult to deliver. Does he think he bit off more than he can chew? “Good question,” he said, acknowledging that setting the target carried some personal and political risk to himself. But he claimed the government’s 2027 target “carries no urgency to make change happen”. He added: “I have no regrets about my commitment....the challenge will galvanise action.”
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‘It’s like the Manchester wedding of the year…’ The I Love MCR App launches with a massive party at Manchester Art Gallery Words: Emily Oldfield Pictures: Carl Sukonik
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t’s not about me… it’s about all of you, the people who make this city great.” That was the resounding message from I Love MCR founder Chris Greenhalgh as the all-new I Love MCR App launched in style with a huge party at Manchester Art Gallery - complete with a prosecco arrival, DJ Clint Boon on the decks, street food and bee-themed cocktails . Journalists chatted to disc jockeys and restaurateurs rubbed shoulders with students, with high-profile guests including Mike Bushell and Naga Munchetty from BBC News, Terry Christian, Carl Austin-Behan, Mike Joyce, and Mani from The Stone Roses. It felt like the celebration of the season. Think a massive Manchester wedding, with fabulous music, HD film projections, and free food and drink all night. Downstairs, guests were greeted on arrival with a glass of fizz or a refreshing Jimmy’s NQ lager in the beautiful glass atrium. Delicious Indian-style street food was provided by Zouk Tea Bar & Grill. And that was only the beginning, as an estimated 900 people packed into the venue for this hotly-anticipated event. Upstairs in the main exhibition space, the party was in full swing. The room was bright with I Love MCR iconography including the app launch film beamed onto a big screen, as well as two buzzing bars - one from the much loved
Jimmy’s NQ, the other serving beautiful beethemed Manchester martinis made with locally distilled Three Rivers Gin, pineapple juice and honey. It certainly was sweet. With DJ Clint Boon on the decks for the first hour playing a mixture of Manchester favourites as well as classic tracks, the room quickly became a dance floor. It stayed upbeat all night with other XS Manchester stars including Sophie Sveinsson providing the tunes. The music was also a celebration of the recent partnership between I Love MCR and XS Manchester, the city’s proudly local radio station. Matty White of XS gave a speech to mark the event: “XS Manchester are proud to partner with I Love MCR - we’re practically in bed with them! We are proud to host the entertainment and celebrate our ‘marriage’, as XS is very ‘Manchester’.” I Love MCR CEO Chris Greenhalgh also gave a speech. “Ed Sheeran couldn’t make it tonight so you’ve got me - but I can’t sing. It’s not about me… it’s about all of you, the people who make this city great, and that is what the app is all about.” The Art Gallery gathering was followed by an after party at Peter Street bar Impossible, where the partying continued late into the night. This was a unique event which brought
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“...an app that is Manchester through and through...” together to celebrate an app that is Manchester through and through. It was a fitting way to celebrate the new app, which is available now and gives users access to a range of tailored offers across the city. By partnering with Manchester businesses, the app allows for the most exclusive deals and rewards. With three membership packages, there’s something for everyone, from VIP to student to industry influencer. Massive thanks to sponsors Jimmy’s NQ, Manchester Three Rivers, Zouk, Shindigger and the stunning Manchester Art Gallery. You can download the app by visiting ilovemcr.com and selecting either iOS or Android. With three membership packages, there’s something for everyone, from VIP to student to industry influencer. Enjoy...
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Manchester does Mumbai
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Meet the man behind Zouk Tea Bar & Grill
ayub Amjad and his brother Mudassar set up Zouk Tea Bar & Grill over a decade ago. Leaving a job in financial services which was making him unhappy, Tayub wanted to share their love of authentic recipes with a modern twist, served in a relaxed setting.
or somewhere further if I have longer off. Whenever I get time off now, I just think ‘I need a break’. Travelling always teaches you a lot more than anything else can, I think. What is the best advice you’ve ever been given? Whatever you’re doing, make sure you do it to the best of your ability and beyond. It was a friend of my dad who told me that. I told him I was packing in my career and I didn’t want to go down the corporate route. And he said ‘fine, but whatever you do just do it the best you can and then go beyond that’.
Zouk, which combines street food from the markets of Lahore with traditional dishes from the Indian sub-continent, has its fair share of famous fans amongst the regulars, including several footballers. But one particular celebrity guest caught Tayub off-guard. “I remember when Man City player Mario Balotelli, who was a fan of the restaurant, called me in 2012 and said he needed to book the mezzanine floor because he was bringing this guy Drake,” says Tayub. “It was Saturday night and completely booked out, and I thought he was joking. I was on my laptop at the time so I thought, ‘I’ll just look up who this guy is’. So I googled Drake. He came with his entire entourage.” The Canadian rapper became an instant fan of Zouk’s grilled dishes. “Now every time they come to Manchester they come,” says Tayub. Drake even brought his then girlfriend Rihanna to the Manchester restaurant for a romantic meal in 2014. What did they eat? “One of the things he really likes is the chilo grilled kebab, thin slices of lamb fillet marinated in spices,” says Tayub. “And they had some lobster.” The last time Drake visited, he tried the slow-cooked lamb shank. “He really likes the grill stuff that we do,” says Tayub. “And the passion fruit mojitos.” What got you started in your field of work? When I was at university doing a course on mathematics, I didn’t really like it. And I thought whatever I’m doing in my life I have to really enjoy it. I’m quite a people person and I like meeting people, it was that excitement and wanting to do something different that really got me started with my brother in Zouk. Who have been your biggest influences? The biggest influence in terms of business is my father. He had so much energy, and
he still has. He was always open to change. When I was a child growing up I used to watch him embrace things. I still remember years ago when he found out about this thing called the Internet. He wanted me to set him up on email and show him how to use it. We fell out halfway through the training process. But it was very inspiring thing to watch someone be prepared to learn new things, and to never be afraid of a challenge. When something goes wrong, to look at it as a positive. He always says every cloud has a silver lining. What is your proudest achievement so far? My greatest achievement is making Zouk as successful as it has been. It was a challenge getting it up and running, and Manchester was at the height of the recession. It was a big site. When we got the keys it suddenly dawned on us, and we said ‘God, I hope this works’. The fact that it has, and we’ve won loads of awards, and the fact people keep coming back, I think that’s a big achievement in itself. What does a typical day involve? I usually get up about 6am and go to the gym. I don’t always manage a workout but I try to. Then it’s straight into the office. Usually I go to Bradford first, then I come across to Manchester about midday. I have meetings during the day. And then about 5pm or 6pm I head out on to the shop floor and make sure everything is alright. I talk to the chefs and we try and invent new ways of doing things. How do you relax on your days off? On days off I go to the football, or I’ll spend time with family or going out. I go to other restaurants and bars. But ideally, I like to get away out of the UK. Either a weekend break somewhere like Paris or Brussels
If things hadn’t worked out, what else could you have seen yourself doing? If things hadn’t have worked out probably have gone back into finance. But it would’ve been boring. Tell us one thing about yourself people might be surprised to hear I’ve watched all of Gossip Girl. It was when I originally got my Netflix account. I wondered what it was and started watching it, and got so into it I watch the entire thing. Unfortunately, people might be surprised to hear that. Red or Blue? Red. I always have been. All my family are. But my nephew has just turned Blue. I think it’s just because they’re winning. Name your three favourite places in Manchester Old Trafford football ground and the cricket ground. And Alberts Schloss. I really like live entertainment venues, whichever night you go there’s always something taking place. It makes for a nice relaxing environment. If you could change one thing about Manchester, what would it be? It has to be the weather, doesn’t it? And finally, what do you love most about Manchester? I just think it’s a great city. It’s so cosmopolitan. I’m not a Mancunian, I’m from Yorkshire. But I love the people and the accent and everything about Manchester. I just think it’s brilliant. But don’t tell anyone that. The people back in Leeds would be horrified.
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“I was always a music fan...” Dave Haslam on music, memories and Manchester Words: Louise Rhind-Tutt
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ave Haslam arrived in Manchester in 1980. He made his debut at the legendary Hacienda on May 1st 1986, and went on to DJ there over 450 times.
“I was a student seeing bands at venues like Rafters,” he says of his arrival in the city he has called home for almost four decades. “I’d see Mark E Smith at a gig, or spot Pete Shelley in a secondhand bookshop, or Bernard Sumner in the Hacienda. I was in awe of these people.” But despite its lingering legacy, he realises just how parochial the scene was at the time. “In 1982, you could probably have put all Fall fans and New Order fans into a room and they’d have numbered less than 1% of the number of Mancunians who were buying Dire Straits records,” he says. “When the Hacienda opened it was like a social club for a tiny tribe. I remember getting a taxi there, even in 1985 or something, and the taxi driver said “The Assywhere?”. That was our nickname for the club for a while. The Assywhere.” Dave was a music fan long before his arrival in Manchester, though. “We’d get together as a family and watch Top of the Pops every week. It was a highlight of my week, especially if Slade were on. I grew up in Birmingham. They were local heroes. Led Zeppelin were, too, and Black Sabbath. I loved the heavy stuff. But also I loved black American soul acts. I remember seeing Rose Royce doing Wishing on a Star on TV, which was wonderful.” The first gig he remembers going to was Blondie at a club called Barbarella’s when he was 16. “The buzz of the crowd, the power of the music, and Debbie Harry. It was all so powerful,” he remembers.
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He was also an avid reader. “One of those adolescents hungry for culture,” he recalls.
and John Lydon and meets writers including Raymond Carver and Jonathan Franzen.
“I was very sweet, and a bit of a geek, with a mind that really never stopped whirring. I realised this, looking back, doing the book.”
He even had Morrissey come to tea.
The book he is referring to is out this summer. Sonic Youth Slept On My Floor; Music, Manchester & More is a gloriously well-written memoir of Dave’s life and work in some of the most interesting corners of contemporary culture. He documents encounters with characters including Tony Wilson, Nile Rodgers, Neneh Cherry, Tracey Thorn, John Peel, Mark E Smith and Ian Brown. He interviews Johnny Marr
“The Smiths had just released This Charming Man and he came to my flat to do an interview for my fanzine,” says Dave. “I kept a diary, so in the book there’s lots of detail about what he was wearing, what we talked about and so on. I cooked him some tea, then we went to the pub. Afterwards, he sent me a postcard from New York.” What was his motive for writing the memoir? “I knew I wanted to pay homage to people like
John Peel and Tony Wilson,” says Dave. “And to tell lots of stories and to try to capture how much I have been inspired by music - and still am.” And the most inspirational people Dave has met in his career? “I set up a night interviewing Nile Rodgers onstage at Z-Arts in Hulme six or seven years ago. His friendliness and creativity, the way he carried himself was awesome. In terms of feeling like I was in the presence of an icon? John Lydon. I was very wobbly when I met him. “But there’s someone else too - Carol Morley.
She’s a bit younger than me, we used to sit around talking about books and ideas and films and just dreaming, basically. And thirty years later, she is an award-winning filmmaker. She’s like the Shelagh Delaney of my generation.” Dave also finds himself inspired by his children. “Being a dad, giving and feeling love, supporting my family and friends - I care about this more than anything, and write about it in the book,” he says. “I think readers will get this, relate to this, and appreciate my honesty. I hope so anyway.” The book is about more than just memories.
Dave found himself humbled writing about the impact of the Manchester Arena attack and the way music can unite a city in times of crisis. “I was writing the middle section of the book, stuff about working at the Hacienda, and DJing with the Stone Roses, and then I realised when I got to writing about the Arena – I felt humbled, maybe vindicated too,” he says. “The response to the attack showed how that local music scene we’d been building had created a sense of pride everyone could draw upon, like a reservoir of positivity.” Sonic Youth Slept On My Floor is out now and available online and at all good bookshops.
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Where to eat and drink alfresco in Manchester this summer Where to soak up the rays while enjoying a drink or some food Words: Charlie Spargo
anchester’s summers may be notoriously unreliable, but when the sun’s out and skies are blue we definitely know how to make the most of it. So if you’re looking forward to soaking up the rays this summer, why not try some our favourite places for eating and drinking alfresco.
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Zouk Zouk Tea Bar & Grill offers an outside terrace and shisha lounge complete with authentic Egyptian tobaccos in addition to a vibrant range of Indian seafood, steak and grill dishes perfect for the summer months. If you’re looking to start early, take a look at the brunch menu which includes sweet and savoury dishes alongside fresh juices and smoothies, or a mimosa if you fancy something stronger.
The Wharf Castlefield is one of our favourite places to hang out in the summer and The Wharf is one of our favourite places in Castlefield. The perfect place for sun-seekers, with a vast selection of drinks including six cask ales, a decent wine list of some 50 bins and over a hundred malts which you can sample while taking in the views over the canal basin from the sun terrace.
Salvi’s If you can’t manage a Mediterranean summer on the streets of Naples, you can find the next best thing at the Corn Exchange. It’s the perfect destination to enjoy a handmade pizza or selection of bread and cheese from the deli counter and cool yourself down with a chilled Peroni or Aperol Spritz, and there’s plenty of outdoor seating.
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Hanging Ditch Hanging Ditch is the finest wine shop in town, stocking a vast range of wines, liqueurs and spirits from around the world. Take a bottle home or enjoy it in the sun outside the shop. Whatever it is you’re looking for, the team are incredibly knowledgeable and always happy to help, making it a destination for wine-lovers. And if you’d like something to eat with your Rioja, Sancerre or Malbec, they serve a small selection of classic bar snacks, too.
Atlas Bar If gin’s more your thing, at the other end of Deansgate you’ll find Atlas, where they’ve got the biggest selection of gins in town. It’s the spirit on everyone’s lips right now. Browse the extensive Gin Bible to find a blend that suits you, served with a tonic or other mixer of your choice. Perfect for after-work drinks, Atlas’s balcony is a spectacular suntrap – high-walled and comfortable, with long tables and cushions for enjoying a sociable tipple.
Mr Thomas’s Chop House
Terrace NQ
The Chop Houses offer some of the city’s most popular drinking experiences and serve up some great grub to satisfy any appetite. In summer, the outdoor seating area by St Ann’s Church is a great place to spend some time. Seasonal dishes such as the spring salad and ˜devilled” whitebait are the perfect accompaniment to sunny afternoons in the Chop House garden, and there’s also a lighter range of snacks and sandwiches.
One of the Northern Quarter’s favourites for those in the know, Thomas Street’s Terrace is a lively little bar which opens up its wonderful roof terrace when the weather’s fine. It’s the ideal destination for a long summer’s night.
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The Refinery Slip into summer in Spinningfields with The Refinery’s seasonal food and drinks menu. With a range of summer salads, sharing platters and light, fragrant spritzers to enjoy in the sunshine, the attractive outside seating area is sure to be packed as soon as the sun comes out.
El Gato Negro
Rain Bar
A great choice all year round, El Gato Negro flexes its muscles when the sun comes out. They open the roof to turn the top floor bar, The Black Cat, into a lavish terrace, and throw open the glass doors that face out onto King Street. You’d be hard pressed to find a better spot to enjoy tapas.
This former warehouse and umbrella factory is now a popular bar offering pub food and views overlooking the Bridgewater Canal. Enjoy a selection of cask ales and traditional pub grub, including a seasonal picnic sharer with Lancashire cheese and Manchester Star Ale chutney.
The Laundrette For carbs and cocktails on a sunny south facing terrace, head to The Laundrette on First Street. A range of original cocktails includes Laundrette with Love featuring Portobello Road gin, rose vodka, apricot, rhubarb bitters and whites, served with a pink fizz chaser.
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The Oast House Due to reopen ready for second bank holiday in May, the Oast House is one of Manchester’s most popular places to enjoy a summer drink and probably the busiest thanks to the generous Spinningfields space the Oast House is blessed with. Pick a long table or concrete step to settle on, sip on a freshly-poured tank beer and enjoy a famous hanging kebab.
Dukes 92 You’re guaranteed to find a hub of fashionable, fun-loving people enjoying cocktails, wine and beer out on the spacious terrace of Dukes 92 during the summer months. A wonderful place to enjoy a drink with friends while you sit back and enjoy the warm weather.
Impossible Gin fans will love Impossible’s mezzanine level which features a hidden ‘gin palace’, with 84 gins from around the world, while a cryogenic freezer will freeze spirits to minus 74 degrees to form edible frozen cocktails. There’s also a lovely outside area with a BBQ and easy access to the bar.
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King Street Townhouse This luxury baby grand hotel in the heart of the city has a stunning terrace with comfy furniture where you can take in views of the spires, chimneys and rooftops of the city whilst you enjoy a cocktail. A beautiful location as the sun goes down.
20 Stories It might not be the destination for an affordable afternoon in the sun, but the recently opened 20 Stories at the top of No. 1 Spinningfields offers a spectacular open air section where guests can take in the breathtaking aerial views of the city and relax in style. Enjoy the glorious weather from the city’s newest vantage point, surrounded by tall trees and just a short step from the brilliant bar and grill.
TNQ You can experience some of the city’s finest locally sourced, freshly cooked meals at this NQ institution, with regularly changing seasonal menus. The Northern Quarter tends to struggle for outdoor space when the mercury rises, but here you can dine, drink and relax in style next to the spectacular arches of the old wholesale fish market.
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Manchester’s favourite long haul destinations I t’s the time of year when our thoughts turn to holidays. Going somewhere with a bit more sun and a bit less rain than Manchester. That means pretty much anywhere else in the northern hemisphere - and most of the southern hemisphere, even though it’s winter down there. Luckily, we’ve got the largest airport outside London on our doorstep. Manchester Airport is a global gateway and its long haul routes bring hundreds of thousands of international tourists to the city each year. In recent years, it has added lots more destinations to its network including Beijing,
San Francisco, Boston, Muscat, Houston and Hong Kong. Many of the routes link Greater Manchester with key economic hubs and trade opportunities across the globe. And some - but by no means all of them - are holiday destinations, too.
So if you’re tired of Turkey, fed up with France, sick of Spain, and p****d off with Portugal, why not try somewhere a bit more adventurous? These are the ten most popular long haul routes chosen by the 8.3m people from Greater Manchester who flew from our local airport last year. Words: Stephen Lewis
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1. Dubai The Persian Gulf city-state is the Middle East’s capital of bling. Distance: 3,517 miles Average flight time: 7 hours Flights per week: 22 Price: Return flights from around £365 Why go? Sun, sand, shopping Prices: Pint in a bar: £9: Cocktail: £14: Lunch: £10: 20 Marlboro: £3.07: Taxi (5 miles): £5.72 Average summer temp: 40°C: Average summer rainfall: 0mm Best time to visit: November to March. There’s a reason why the summer months are cheapest Top tip: Familiarise yourself with and respect local laws and customs
2. Orlando One of the world’s most popular family destinations and home to more than a dozen theme parks. Distance: 4,222 miles Average flight time: 8h 55min Flights per week: 21 Price: Return flights from around £400 Why go? Sun, theme parks and golf Prices: Pint in a bar: £2.93: Cocktail: £6: Lunch: £11: 20 Marlboro: £4.31: Taxi (5 miles): £13 Average summer temp: 33°C: Average summer rainfall: 183mm Best time to visit: from mid-September to early November and late April to early June to avoid the summer heat, humidity and crowds Top tip: Buy theme park tickets in advance
4. Islamabad 3. New York The greatest city on earth. Apart from Manchester, of course. And one of the most expensive to visit. Unlike Manchester. Distance: 3,333 miles Average flight time: 7h 20min Flights per week: 21 Price: Return flights from around £380 Why go? Because everyone should go at least once Prices: Pint in a bar: £5.47: Cocktail: £11: Lunch £11: 20 Marlboro: £10: Taxi (5 miles): £12 Average summer temp: 26°C: Average summer rainfall: 96mm Best time to visit: April to June and September to early November when the weather is mild and pleasant and the tourist crowds are not overwhelming Top tip: Wait in the official line queue for a cab at the airport to avoid being scammed by an unlicensed vehicle
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Pakistan may be one of the most popular long haul destinations from Manchester Airport but, with a ‘high threat of terrorism, kidnap and sectarian violence’, not one for tourists, according to UK government travel advice. Distance: 3,823 miles Average flight time: 7h 45min Flights per week: 7 Price: Return flights from around £416 Why go? Cheap local prices Prices: Pint in a bar: £2.88: Cocktail: £6: Lunch: £4.85: 20 Marlboro: £0.95: Taxi (5 miles): £3.60 Average summer temp: 35°C: Average summer rainfall: 10mm Best time to visit: Spring and autumn Top tip: Take the UK government’s travel advice
5. Abu Dhabi
7. Cancun
Capital of the United Arab Emirates and Dubai’s slightly more reserved elder brother. Distance: 3,532 miles Average flight time: 7h 10min Flights per week: 15 Price: Return flights from £367 Why go? The world’s fastest rollercoaster, the world’s tallest building, the world’s most expensive cocktail Prices: Pint in a bar: £7: Cocktail: £14: Lunch: £13: 20 Marlboro: £4.10: Taxi (5 miles): £7 Average summer temp: 33°C: Average summer rainfall: 10mm Best time to visit: Spring and autumn Top tip: See Dubai
The Mexican resort on the Caribbean where American students go for spring break. Distance: 4,848 miles Average flight time: 13h 10min Flights per week: 11 Price: Return flights from around £623 Why go? Sun, sea, spas, nightlife Prices: Pint in a bar £1.52: Cocktail: 3.66: Lunch: £6: 20 Marlboro: £1.74: Taxi (5 miles): £5.17 Average summer temp: 28°C Average summer rainfall: 130mm Best time to visit: December to April. The hurricane season normally runs from June to November Top tip: Beware people selling timeshare. Just say no
6. Lahore The capital city of the Pakistani province of Punjab Distance: 3,980 miles Average flight time: 7h 40min Flights per week: 2 Price: Return flights from £309 Why go? See Islamabad Prices: Pint in a bar: £1.88: Cocktail: £3.08: Lunch: £3.41: 20 Marlboro: £1.02: Taxi (5 miles): £2.78 Average summer temp: 36°C: Average summer rainfall:110mm Best time to visit: Spring and autumn Top tip: See Islamabad
8. Hong Kong
9. Tel Aviv
Where China meets the West. It’s been called ‘New York City on steroids’ and it’s one of the world’s most expensive and most densely populated cities. Distance: 5,983 miles Average flight time: 11h 35min Flights per week: 7 Price: Return flights from £480 Why go? Food, shopping, world’s highest bar Prices: Pint in a bar: £7: Cocktail: £10: Lunch: £9: 20 Marlboro: £5.22: Taxi (5 miles): £11 Average summer temp: 28°C: Average summer rainfall: 335mm Best time to visit: October to early December. June to August is hot and rainy. Beware of typhoons in September. Top tip: Learn how to haggle before you go
The Middle Eastern city that’s the ‘Mediterranean Capital of Cool’, according to the New York Times. Distance: 2,349 miles Average flight time: 5h 10min Flights per week: 2 Price: Return flights from £337 Why go? Cool (apart from the weather), cosmopolitan, gay-friendly Prices: Pint in a bar: £5.92: Cocktail: £9: Lunch: £11: 20 Marlboro: £7: Taxi (5 miles): £14 Average summer temp: 26°C: Average summer rainfall: 10mm Best time to visit: April to September Top tip: There’s no public transport from sunset on Friday till sunset on Saturday
10. Las Vegas Desert resort for 24-hour party people. Distance: 5,079 miles Average flight time: 10h 20min Flights per week: 7 Price: Return flights from £380 Why go? Sun, shows, casinos Prices: Pint in a bar: £3.44: Cocktail: £8: Lunch: £9: 20 Marlboro: £5.10: Taxi (5 miles): £14 Average summer temp: 30°C: Average summer rainfall: 8mm Best time to visit: April to September Top tip: Get free cocktails in the casinos Sources: Expatistan, Lonely Planet
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SUMMER BEAUTY TIPS No matter where you go, look your best this summer with these top beauty tips and pampering treats
F
Words: Charlie Hooson-Sykes
orget about getting beach body ready. The beach is going to get whatever body I give it. But a holiday – or a festival getaway for that matter – is an excuse to get your preen on. Get your nails done, your hair tamed and treated, defuzz and do all the prep that means you can wander around bare faced, bare legged and fancy free.
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After all, you’ll have worked hard to save and pay for your week in the sun, or your long weekend in the music-filled fields. Treat yourself. So with a little help from my friends, I’ve pulled together a list of suggestions in case you want to get a little prep done before you go away. After all, you want to look delicious while you’re soaking up all that sun, sea and sangria, don’t you? Let’s go top to toe.
Hair If you’re heading in for a full cut and blow before you go away, all that sun and salt water isn’t great for your tresses – plus if you’re festival camping, you want everything to be as easy as possible. Lots of salons will offer extra treatments – perfect if, like me, you have coloured hair. Pierre Alexandre salons and Mai Hair Salon offer Olaplex treatments, whereas salons like Barn//It and Peter Marcus have keratin masks and deep treatments that will make your hair feel like new before you head off to catch your flight.
me too). Escape Spa in Spinningfields and Rose Beauty Salon on John Dalton Street can fix that for you. For something a little more defined, Salon by Sophie in Chorlton and the Beauty Lounge in Failsworth have both received high praise. Meaning, I know where I’m going next time.
Lashes The lash lift is the latest craze that uses your natural lashes and lasts for up to 12 weeks, so they’ll keep going all summer long. Beauty Within in Chorlton, Preened & Polished in the NQ, and Elite Nail & Beauty in Didsbury all offer this treatment which, I have to be honest, I swear by. If you need a little more oomph, then extensions will last through your holiday, and certainly that festival getaway. Then there’s no worries about losing them in a field somewhere. Eyelash Extensions by Ksenia in Heaton Moor and Lady Lash Eyelash Studio in Piccadilly both offer a great service in a relaxing environment.
If you’re heading to a festival, dry shampoo is a good friend to have – but I can also recommend getting your hair braided. Done well, a half French plait or halo plait will last a couple of days and, as a bonus, you get gorgeous waves when you finally let it down. Try Red Angel Hair Company or Fretwell Bennett for something that’ll last even when you’re flagging a bit.
Brows Even with fashion dictating bushier brows, a little tidy is sometimes what saves you from a Gallagher-esque monobrow (yes,
Wax
It’s not for everyone, but we’re not short of a spot or two to defuzz in Manchester. Paloma’s Beauty in the NQ, Body Fixers Beauty in Reddish and Ugly Betty’s in Didsbury all received massive votes of confidence – very important for something so intimate. Oh, and they can take care of that hairy back too, lads.
Tan Whether you prefer to fake or bake, getting a little colour before you go away is a great option. Personally, as paler than pale, I’m a fake-it kind of girl. Nataya Beauty offer a vegan, organic and alcohol-free Moroccan fake tan that comes highly recommended, as does the Fake Bake from Image Nails & Beauty in Chorlton, so you can fake it before you make it.
Nails I’m a slave to gel nails. They’re done quickly and easily and they last for a good couple of weeks – perfect for keeping your fingers and toes neat and tidy while you’re away. And they’ll stand up to a week of camping, too. Whether you go for Gelish from Preened & Polished in the Northern Quarter or the rather tougher sounding CND Shellac from Nataya Beauty at James Roberts, those fingers will look elegant all summer long. Both are also available for toes, too, which leads me neatly to…
Pedi We’ve hidden them away over the winter so it’s time to treat those feet to a little TLC. They do the hard work, after all. Check for deals that cover hands and nails: both Nataya and Polished & Preened offer these. The Filing Cabinet in Didsbury has a lot of fans, and for something more intense, try the callus peel from The Buddha Beauty in Chorlton – let it smooth those hard edges.
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How to holiday at home Words: Charlie Hooson-Sykes
Top tips for a summer staycation in Manchester
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W
hatever your reasons for not taking a summer holiday abroad – money, work, time – it’s all too easy to spend any time off work at home doing the same old thing: sitting on the sofa or, on those rare sunny summer days, in the sunshine on the patio with a gin and tonic.
Manchester welcomes around 119 million visitors a year, so why not follow their example and take a few days off to play tourist in your home city? In case you’re stuck for ideas, we’ve pulled some together for you. So whether it’s a day off or a week, whether the sun is shining or not, embrace your inner tourist and explore your city.
Accommodation OK, so you might not have the pennies to indulge and you may prefer to sleep in your own bed, but if you do fancy splashing the cash and making this a real staycation, check out some of our fantastic hotels. Not only will someone else cook your breakfast and do the washing up, but they’ll even make your bed for you. Sometimes it’s the little things. For an indulgent overnight stay, try King Street Townhouse, the Great John Street Hotel, or The Lowry Hotel. If something more modest will do, try the Ibis Styles Hotel on Portland Street or Abel Heywood in the Northern Quarter, both putting you right in the city centre.
or, because you can avoid the busy periods, head to Mackie Mayor and enjoy not having to queue for quite so long. Hey, sometimes it’s the little things. Afternoon teas are quintessentially British, so grab a nibble at The Midland, the Radisson Edwardian, The Living Room or Mercure Hotel - which does a Manchesterthemed tea - if you need a little cake in your life. Drinkwise, it’s all down to what you fancy. Head to the brewery taps near Piccadilly, and do a little tour – try the best of our breweries. Head to Atlas Bar to try as many Manchester gins as you can, or try some of our cocktail bars that have an international reputation, like Peggy’s Bar or The Washhouse.
Sights and Sounds If you’re really embracing your inner tourist, do what they do and visit some of our incredible museums and art galleries. There’s a reason they’re our biggest visitor attractions. And they’re free. Head to Manchester Art Gallery or The Whitworth (both of which just happen to have excellent food offerings too) to indulge your artistic side, or some of the commercial galleries dotted around the city. Manchester Museum may have one of the best Egyptian collections in the world, but it’s always the prehistoric gallery that draws me in, including Stan, our famous T-Rex. It’s not just for kids, you know.
But if spending a lot on food isn’t feasible, you can still enjoy Manchester’s food and drink scene on a budget.
Food and drink I could wax lyrical here about our restaurants and bars. But we’re imagining our city as a tourist, so I’ll stick with some of the highlights. One would be be the lunch menu at Manchester House. The set menu is always a great price and still gives you the feeling of indulgence without a hefty price tag. And, of course, it beats the hell out of a lunchtime butty at your desk. I mean that’s what everyone else will be doing. Try Adam Reid at The French, or Simon Wood’s restaurant Wood for a little fine dining, or if you prefer something more casual, VRev, Almost Famous, The Refuge
Grab a Greggs and sit in Piccadilly Gardens (OK maybe not), or pack a picnic and visit one of our stunning parks and gardens. Head to the Arndale or a Makers Market to grab supplies, put a blanket down and enjoy the summer sunshine. Which brings me neatly to…
Parks and Recreation We have so many green spaces that we take for granted. Time to pop on some comfy shoes and enjoy them. Feed the ducks, grab an ice cream in Heaton Park, spread a blanket out on Platt Fields and watch the clouds go by in the sunshine, wander the gardens and have a pub lunch at Worsley Old Hall, or head a little further out the city to Sale or Chorlton Water Parks.
Because we’re known for our football, I have to mention the National Football Museum and of course, the tours at of Old Trafford and the Etihad. If I’m mentioning them, I’ll also mention Lancashire County Cricket Club and the National Cycling Centre, because we’re not too shabby at those sports either. The Museum of Science and Industry and the Imperial War Museum North are worth a visit, too. They’re not just for kids, and if you really want to indulge the kid in you, I can definitely recommend heading up to Bury and travelling on one of the steam routes – with the added bonus of visiting Bury Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
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Hot
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drinks trends
Words: Louise Rhind-Tutt
summer
Capri Spritz or chilled Fino and tonic? 2018’s hottest summer drinks trends
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hen the sun comes out, you can’t really beat sipping a crisp gin and tonic, a frosty cold beer, or a rose wine that tastes of holidays in the south of France. But sometimes, you want to try something new. From zingy Capri Spritz to sophisticated chilled Fino via watermelonscented cocktails and grown-up alcohol-free tipples, these are the drinks that should be on everyone’s lips this summer.
Capri Spritz Last summer, we couldn’t get enough Aperol Spritz. But this summer, the future will be yellow rather than orange. Limoncello Di Capri, the 100% natural original limoncello made from certified, sun-drenched Sorrento and Capri lemons, is set to bring a touch of la dolce vita to Manchester. Try a Capri Spritz – Limoncello Di Capri served over ice with tonic and prosecco brut and garnished with strawberry and fresh mint. A zingy ray of sunshine in a glass, it’s available at Salvi’s (Corn Exchange and John Dalton Street) and at Festa Italiana, the free, weekend-long celebration of all things Italian in July. Crazy Pedro’s, meanwhile, have their own take on the spritz, using tequila. The summery Spring Break Spritz contains Agavero Tequila liqueur, Aperol, fresh lemon juice, prosecco and soda.
Sherry Once considered something undrinkable at the back of the cupboard your Nan might get tipsy on at Christmas, sherry has become cool – and lighter, drier styles are perfect for summer. “Simplicity is really helpful, even serving lighter, fresher, more summer-friendly
styles neat but from a fresh bottle and well chilled makes a world of difference to many people’s perception of what sherry is,” says Tom Higham of Northern Quarter bar Flok. “It’s also really food-friendly.” For a summery tipple, try mixing Fino dry sherry with tonic, served in a Spanish-style copa glass. Tom suggests 50ml Xeco Fino with top-quality bottled tonic (“elderflower works really well with the pear and apple notes from the sherry”), over ice, with lime or cucumber and mint to garnish.
Rum cocktails Rum is on the rise, with UK sales tipping over £1bn last year and continuing to grow. Manchester’s Turtle Bay Caribbean restaurant and bar serves 40 different Caribbean rums, from Jamaica to St Lucia, Cuba to Barbados and Bermuda. For a taste of sunny island life, try the Marley Mojito, a fresh ginger and watermelon twist on the classic mojito cocktail. Turtle Bay’s summery tipple includes Appleton signature blend rum, watermelon syrup and fresh puree, melon liqueur, ginger beer, fresh mint and lime wedges.
Grown-up soft drinks If you’d rather keep a clear head, the increasing popularity of grown-up soft drinks means you no longer need to be stuck on the boring orange juice or sugary cola all evening. Seedlip offer the world’s first distilled, non-alcoholic spirits, served in some of the world’s best cocktail bars, Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels. Garden 108 is a herbal, summery concoction with notes of fresh peas, hay, spearmint, rosemary and thyme. It’s sugar-free. Just add Indian tonic water. Luscombe’s range of 27 adult soft drinks includes fruit juices and crushes, delicate bubblies, traditional soft drinks, tonic waters and a cider, which have, to date, received 73 Great Taste Awards. Damascene Rose Bubbly is the ideal drink for the champagne moment, perfect for summer weddings and garden parties. Or their three new tonic waters, with citrusy yuzu, fragrant elderflower or pink grapefruit, can either be drunk neat or mixed with your favourite gin.
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‘We do weddings differently here.’
ENQUIRIES 07811 184 905 lawrence.hallows@vicchopco.com 14 Albert Square, Manchester M2 5PF
Albert Finney: Son of Salford HOME celebrates the career of actor Albert Finney with a comprehensive season of his films
A
lbert Finney’s Salford lad credentials are impeccable. The son of a bookmaker, he was born in the Charlestown area of Pendleton in 1936 and attended Tootal Drive Primary School and Salford Grammar School. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and received his first major role at the age of 20, playing Shakespeare’s Troilus in the Vanbrugh Theatre’s production of Ian Dallas’ play The Face of Love. After graduating from RADA , Finney joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and in 1959 he appeared at Stratford in Coriolanus, replacing a sick Laurence Olivier in the lead role. Finney’s first film appearance came a year later, coincidentally alongside Olivier, in The Entertainer, helmed by Tony Richardson, who had previously directed Finney in several plays. However, it was Finney’s performance as Arthur Seaton in Karel Reisz’s kitchen sink classic Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960) that made him a star. Based on the novel by Alan Sillitoe, the film stars Finney as a young machinist who spends his weekends drinking and partying while also carrying on with a married woman. The film gave Finney an early claim to fame, which he proudly repeated, telling people, “I was the first man to be seen sleeping with another man’s wife in an English film.” Finney’s next film, Tom Jones (1963), secured his movie star status and brought him the first of four Oscar nominations for Best Actor in addition to winning Best Picture. But his story could have been very different. In 1962, he was chosen for the lead role in David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia after a successful, four-day screen test, shot at a cost of £100,000. However, Finney ultimately turned down
the role, baulking at the multi-year contract proposed by producer Sam Spiegel and opted for the lead in Tom Jones instead.
Oscar nomination for his role as Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot in the 1974 version of Murder on the Orient Express.
Throughout the 1960s, Finney established himself as one of the world’s most versatile actors, taking very different roles in 1964’s Night Must Fall (the poster for which read “the lusty, brawling star of Tom Jones goes psycho”) and charming romcom-slash-road movie Two for the Road (1967), in which he co-starred with Audrey Hepburn.
However, he declined to reprise the role for the 1978 follow-up Poirot mystery Death on the Nile, citing the uncomfortable make-up he’d had to wear for the train interior shots and realising that the locations of the new film would mean even hotter weather.
“People really do think I am 300 pounds with a French accent” Towards the end of the decade, Finney took a stab at directing with Manchester-set comedy-drama Charlie Bubbles (1968), in which he starred opposite Billie Whitelaw and a young Liza Minnelli. The film made strong use of its Manchester setting, depicting the return of its lead character, played by Finney, to his home city after achieving success as a writer in London. During the film, Charlie watches a Manchester United match at Old Trafford, which features footage of Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. Finney’s career continued to take unexpected turns. In 1970 he took the lead in the musical Scrooge, which won him the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy / Musical in 1971. He subsequently sang in two further films: John Huston’s 1982 production of Annie (his aforementioned turn as Daddy Warbucks) and Tim Burton’s 2005 animated comedyhorror Corpse Bride, where he voiced Finis Everglot. The 1970s saw Finney stepping back from film roles to focus on his stage career, though he did pick up his second Best Actor
He also grew frustrated with the role, complaining that it led to him being typecast for several years afterwards and commenting, “People really do think I am 300 pounds with a French accent”. Finney’s third and fourth Oscar nominations came back-to-back, for Peter Yates’ The Dresser (1983), in which he starred opposite fellow kitchen sink alumnus Tom Courtenay, and Under the Volcano (1984), where he was once again directed by John Huston. Apart from a role in Alan J. Pakula’s Orphans in 1987, Finney was absent from the big screen for nearly half a decade before the Coen Brothers cast him as gangster boss Leo in Miller’s Crossing (1990) and revitalised his film career. He worked steadily on both big and small screens throughout the ‘90s before earning a fifth Oscar nomination, this time for Best Supporting Actor, for his role as lawyer Ed Masry opposite Julia Roberts in Steven Soderbergh’s Erin Brockovich (2000). Finney’s final screen appearances came in back-to-back spy thrillers in 2012, playing Dr Albert Hirsch in The Bourne Legacy and Kincade in Bond flick Skyfall. HOME’s Son of Salford season offers a welcome opportunity to revisit and celebrate some of Finney’s most iconic roles, as well as some of his lesser known turns (such as private eye spoof Gumshoe and werewolf thriller Wolfen) from across what is undoubtedly one of cinema’s most distinguished careers. Words: Matthew Turner
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Manchester Day T
Mark Waugh
his is the one. Tens of thousands of people line the streets of the city centre for the annual Manchester Day parade on Sunday, 17th June. Last year, it didn’t rain on our parade for once. In fact, it felt more like Rio than Manchester as the city baked in temperatures in the high 20s. Huge crowds created a magical atmosphere as they enjoyed the fantastic floats, amazing costumes and musicians, and more than 80 local community groups weaved their way down Deansgate, through Albert Square and performed across multiple city square locations. Expect more of the same this year. Disclaimer: sunshine not guaranteed.
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Festivals worth leaving your home comforts for this summer Summer’s nearly here, so dig out your sunglasses, grab your poncho, dust off your wellies and get ready to party at some of the best festivals in the UK, many of which are just on your doorstep
Credit Olivia Williams
Words: Biddy Harrison-Draper
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JUNE The festival that puts Irlam on the music map. Last year’s festival was blessed with superb weather and attracted more than 12,000 people. This year, acts include The Stranglers, Toyah, Go West, The South (ex Beautiful South), and Republica. There will also be a wedding. Local residents Sharon Johnson and Geoff Blay will be tying the knot just over the road at St John’s Church on the Saturday at 11am June before heading to Irlam Live for their wedding breakfast and reception. Eat your hearts out Harry and Meghan. For Fans Of: 80s music/90s music/weddings Where? Prince’s Park, Irlam When? Friday 1 June 6-9.30pm and Saturday 2nd June 2018 Price? From £20 Where can I buy tickets? The Irlam Live website
Envirolution If saving the planet whilst having a good time is your thing, then Envirolution is the festival for you. Bringing the best in local music, Envirolution 2018 promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Have to babysit your nieces or nephews that day? Don’t worry because Envirolution is child-friendly and there’ll be plenty of fun workshops to keep them entertained. For Fans Of: Saving the planet/free festivals/local music Where? Platt Fields Park, Manchester When? Saturday 2nd June 2018 Price? It’s free! Yippee! Where can I buy tickets? Head to their Facebook page to sign up for a paperless ticket
Pangaea It all began back in 2006 when a group of University of Manchester students decided to throw a massive all nighter. Students, eh? 12 years later, Pangaea Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Manchester and the student calendar. Although they haven’t released the line-up yet, past guests have included Groove Armada, Everything Everything and Sister Sledge. If you aren’t a student, you need to attend the festival with someone who is. Them’s the rules. For Fans Of: Techno/student life/wanting to relive student life/those who don’t work on Fridays Where? University of Manchester Students Union, Oxford Road, Manchester When? Thursday 7th June 2018 Price? Around £28 Where can I buy tickets? Online from Skiddle or from UoM Student Union in person.
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Credit Jenna Foxton
Irlam Live
Parklife Parklife, the festival we have to thank for the biggest queues for the Bury line tram. It’s quickly become one of the biggest festivals in the UK and it’s on our doorstep. Lucky us, eh? Parklife sees the likes of The XX and Liam Gallagher (aka R Kid) headline the two day festival as well as some of the best upcoming DJ’s, musicians and producers from across the world. Get your best frock out for this festival - it’s all about the wavy garms and wearing your old (or a relative’s) raving gear. For Fans Of: Any sort of music (but be prepared to watch a few DJ sets before LG)/ Warehouse Project/queuing for the loo Where? Heaton Park, Manchester When? Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th June 2018 Price? Prices vary the closer it gets to the festival but it can cost you around £120 General Admission Weekend, Saturday/Sunday Ticket £65. You can also upgrade to VIP tickets (less queuing for loos, fancy bars) for an extra £20 Where can I buy tickets? The Parklife website
JULY Wigan International Jazz Festival The home of jazz may be New Orleans but for a couple of days it’s going on holiday to Wigan. The line-up includes Curtis Stigers & Ronnie Scott’s Big Band who will be performing Sinatra at the Sands as well as the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra and New York Brass Band. For Fans Of: Jazz/pies/eating pies whilst listening to jazz Where? Robin Park Sports Centre, Wigan When? Thursday 12th July till Sunday 15th July 2018 Price? A Rover ticket costs £110 and includes reserved seating. A ticket to watch three bands will cost £15. Evening concert ticket will cost £25. A ticket for Curtis Stigers & Ronnie Scott’s performance will cost £29.50. Where can I buy tickets? The Wigan Jazz Festival website.
Beat-Herder
A brand new two day festival with a full day of comedy and a full day of music. Featuring a wide variety of well-known headline performers, including Scouting for Girls, and a children’s area full of adventures and activities aimed at engaging and inspiring children’s imaginations.
Herding up the crowds since 2006, BeatHerder brings the best in alternative music over a weekend in July. This year sees the likes of Soulwax, The Lancashire Hotpots, Django Django and plenty more to keep you busy throughout the weekend. Beat-Herder is also known for all the other events that happen throughout the festival, the wide range of festival shops and cracking tea makers.
For Fans Of: Family-friendly festivals Where? Abbotsfield Park, Urmston When? Saturday 30th June and Sunday 1st July Price? From £35 for a day ticket. Free for children aged four and under Where can I buy tickets? The Festival 41 website
For Fans Of: Alternative music/not actually herding sheep Where? Near Sawley, Ribble Valley When? Friday 13th July till Sunday 15th July Price? £1447.70 including booking fees with discounts for the kids Where can I buy tickets? The Beat-Herder website.
Festival 41
Bluedot
Manchester Jazz Festival
Festwich
Celebrating science and music together, Bluedot has been educating, entertaining and inspiring guests for years. This year is one special line-up including, appropriately enough, The Chemical Brothers plus Gary Numan, Slowdive and The Flaming Lips.
Music festivals aren’t all just long-haired lads in bands or someone spinning discs. The award- winning Manchester Jazz Festival is a not-for-profit affair that’s all about keeping jazz alive and accessible for everyone
For Fans Of: Science/ambient music/massive radio telescopes Where? Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire When? Friday 20th July till Sunday 22nd July 2018 Price? Weekend tickets are £169. Individual day tickets will be available to buy soon Where can I buy tickets? The Bluedot Festival website.
For Fans Of: Jazz /Hobgoblin (they sponsor one of the stages) Where? Venues across the city centre including a stage in Albert Square When? Friday 20th July till Saturday 28th July 2018 Price? Some events are free whilst others require a donation. Where can I buy tickets? The Manchester Jazz Festival website.
Ever fancied seeing Queen, Metallica, Pink Floyd and The Smiths together? Well now you can, thanks to Festwich. The only disclaimer is that they’re not the real deal, but they’re as close as you will get to seeing them on the same bill. Festwich brings the best tribute acts from across the world for a weekend festival like no other and this year sees some cracking acts you would be silly to miss out on having a singalong to.
It all started as a leaving party for a friend going to university. Now Blackthorn Music Festival has some of the best performers in the music industry. This year’s line-up includes Peter Hook & The Light, Twisted Wheel and The Blinders. For Fans Of: Madchester past and present/ camping on farms Where? Whitebottom Farm, Stockport When? Friday 20th July till Sunday 22nd July 2018 Price? Weekend admission costs £76.30. If you want to camp it costs an extra £16.35. Where can I buy tickets? The Blackthorn Music Festival website.
Macclesfield Festival If a fun-filled, family friendly festival is up your street, then you best get over to Macclesfield Festival. The line-up includes Happy Mondays, Manchester Ska Foundation and CBeebies’ favourite gardener, Mr Bloom. For Fans Of: 90’s chart toppers/child-friendly gardening Where? Macclesfield RUFC, Macclesfield When? Saturday 21st July Price? £27.50 for adults. £13.75 for the kids. Where can I buy tickets? The Macclesfield Festival website or Macclesfield Visitor Information Centre.
AUGUST Rewind North It’s their 10th birthday and it’s time to party! Rewind is all about celebrating your favourite performers from the golden age of music and this year is going to be bigger than ever. The line-up includes The Jacksons, OMD, Billy Ocean, The Boomtown Rats and many more. For Fans Of: Musicians who appear on Top of The Pops 2/singalong hits Where? Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire When? Friday 3rd August till Sunday 5th August 2018 Price? Weekend camping costs £135. Weekend admission costs £115. Day tickets cost £65. Cheaper tickets are available for kids Where can I buy tickets? The Rewind North website.
Cotton Clouds Festival Following on from the success of last year’s festival, Cotton Clouds returns with an even bigger line-up with Sister Sledge, Toploader and Fuzzy Sun taking to the stage. It’s not just about the music, though, because Cotton Clouds is the place to head to if you dig decent festival grub and a good pint.
Credit Gobinder Jhitta
Blackthorn Music Festival
For Fans Of: Tribute acts/better tribute acts than the ones you see in Blackpool or Benidorm Where? St Mary’s Park, Prestwich When? Saturday 28th July and Sunday 29th July 2018 Price? Free (but you need to pay a £3.50 booking fee) Where can I buy tickets? Online from Ticketline or at Piccadilly Records
For Fans Of: All sorts of music/decent priced booze/festivals held at a cricket club Where? Saddleworth Cricket Club, Saddleworth When? Saturday 18th August 2018 Price? £49.50 for grown-ups. £27.50 for kids. Under fives go for free. Woo. Where can I buy tickets? The Cotton Clouds website.
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Credit currentstate
Rochdale Feel Good Festival
Creamfields
Oldham Live
Last year saw Razorlight take to the stage in Rochdale town centre. This year, headliners are Feeder and Cast, with more bands to be announced closer to the festival. There’ll be plenty of family fun and top food in the food court.
Creamfields has been going since 2008 when Kasabian headlined the festival. Ten years later, the festival brings the best in dance music to the fields including the likes of Chase, Status, Fatboy Slim and Hannah Wants.
For Fans Of: Free festivals/Rochdale/festivals near a canal Where? Rochdale town centre When? Saturday 18th August 2018 Price? Free. Woohoo Where can I buy tickets? Just turn up on the day.
For Fans Of: Dance music/waking up with a banging headache from the bass Where? Daresbury near Warrington When? Thursday 23rd August till Sunday 26th August 2018 Price? Prices range from a four day camping ticket costing £230 to a day ticket costing £85+. Where can I buy tickets? The Creamfields website.
Oldham’s biggest free music festival returns for 2018 and they’re promising it’s going to be bigger and better than ever - so don’t blame us if it’s not. The line-up is yet to be announced, but if you’re up for supporting your local music scene during the August bank holiday then get yourself down to Oldham town centre.
Just So Festival An internationally renowned not-for-profit arts festival for families. With a love of stories and childhood escapades at its heart, it’s a wonderland of literature, arts, theatre, dance, music, comedy and creative pursuits and the Tribal Tournament, the most bonkers competition in the land. It’s set in woodland clearings, rolling parkland, arboreal amphitheatres and lakeside spots on the Rode Hall Estate, one of the most stunning landscapes in the UK. There’s even a beautiful lakeside beach. The ticket price includes all entertainment and programming across the festival site, with capacity capped at 5,000 to ensure a magical, relaxing and safe environment for all. For Fans Of: Magical midnight feasts/curious creatures/raucous pillow fights Where? Rode Hall Estate, Cheshire When? 17–19 August 2018 Price? Various prices. Check website for details Where can I buy tickets? The Just So Festival website
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For Fans Of: Local music/Oldham/fried chicken takeaways Where? Parliament Square, Oldham When? Saturday 25th August 2018 Price? Free. Woohoo Where can I buy tickets? Just turn up.
SEPTEMBER Head For The Hills It all began in 2011 when The Waterboys and Badly Drawn Boy kicked off what would be one of the biggest small festivals in the north. It returns this year with a line-up like never before including The Selecter, The Beat, The Bluetones, The Boomtown Rats and Ramona Flowers. For Fans Of: Any kind of music/dancing in the hills Where? Ramsbottom Cricket Ground, Ramsbottom When? Friday 15th September till Sunday 16th September 2018 Price? Full festival admission £85. Day tickets vary between £30-£34. Cheaper tickets for the kids Where can I buy tickets? Head for the Head For The Hills website.
Festa Italiana esta Italiana, Manchester’s first festival of Italian food, drink and culture, is back in July. Manchester’s Italian community will once again transform Cathedral Gardens into Little Italy, creating a city centre oasis of la dolce vita with masterclasses, chef demonstrations, producers’ stalls and Italian street food.
Words: Louise Rhind-Tutt
A taste of Naples on the streets of Manchester
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Last year, over 26,000 people descended on Cathedral Gardens for the festival, and this year looks to be even bigger.
almost boiling water. It is spun and the pieces are hardened in special containers filled with cold water, then subjected to salting by immersion in brine.
Established to showcase truly authentic Italian culture and produce, the Festival is all about bringing the most glorious and extraordinary Italian food and drink to Manchester – something which Maurizio Cecco, Festa Italiana founder and owner of Salvi’s restaurants, is passionate about.
Milder than buffalo mozzarella, fior di latte is a traditional component of calzoni and panzerotti as well as mozzarella in carrozza, a delicious deep-fried local speciality. And, of course, it’s a familiar topping for pizza. Neapolitan pizza is rightly world famous. It has long been an essential part of Italian culture, and last year the Naples art of pizza-making received world heritage status from UNESCO.
Salvi’s is the only Italian restaurant in Manchester to be honoured at last year’s Marchio Ospitalita Italiana awards that acknowledge the most authentic and best Italian restaurants in the world.
Pizza is a serious business here. Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (True Neapolitan Pizza Association) was founded in Naples in 1984 to promote and protect true Neapolitan pizza in Italy and worldwide.
“We have an amazing foundation this time on which to build,” says Maurizio, who makes regular trips home to ensure he’s getting the very best of the best from the artisan growers and suppliers he knows so well.
We headed to Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba to learn more about the pizza-making tradition. Established in 1738, it is the oldest pizzeria-tavern in Naples and - according to some - the world. It began as a snack stall for pedlars and in 1830 became a proper pizzeria-tavern with seating. Since then, the eatery’s ovens have been lined with lava rocks from nearby Mount Vesuvius.
“Last year we were starting from scratch, we were creating something new, and we had no idea how popular the event was going to be. To see so many people come and enjoy our Festa was staggering. “This year we are back with so much more for visitors to enjoy – from the live music to the number of producers involved, it’s going to be much bigger and even better. We only just got started last year.” To discover more about the inspiration behind Festa Italiana, I accompanied Maurizio on a trip to Naples, Pompeii and Sorrento. This year the Festival will be serving up an exclusive and authentic taste of Capri, the stunning island in the Bay of Naples, as they bring what is set to be the drink of the summer to the city - Limoncello Di Capri, a 100% natural original limoncello made from certified, sun-drenched Sorrento and Capri lemons. Limoncello was first created over a century ago on this sunny island by hotel proprietor Vincenza Canale. She created and served up the first limoncello using the lemons from her garden. Her descendants continued to develop the product and eventually trademarked the name Limoncello Di Capri. We visited the Limoncello di Capri factory in Meta, panoramically positioned on the Gulf of Sorrento, to learn how limoncello is produced, from the selection of the best Sorrento lemons to the bottling process. Limoncello di Capri has remained the same since its first serve back in the last century by Vincenza, using the very best lemons exclusively grown on Capri and Sorrento. Both lemon growing regions have been awarded geographical protection status.
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The lemon peel is carefully removed using traditional methods and infused in grain alcohol, imparting a delicious lemon flavour with none of the sourness usually associated with lemon juice. The lemons themselves are cultivated with a specialist ‘pagliarelle’ technique to protect the trees.
A traditional Neapolitan pizza is roundish, with a diameter of 30-35cm, soft and elastic with a raised edge (the famous “cornicione”). The dough is made using 00 flour and leavened twice.
100% natural, Limoncello di Capri is nothing more than a cold infusion of Sorrento lemons (ovale di Sorrento), without any preservatives, stabilisers, artificial colourings or flavourings.
The base must be prepared by hand – the use of a rolling pin and mechanical presses are not allowed – and garnished with ingredients from the Campania region. The cooking must be done in a wood-fired oven which has reached a temperature between 430-480°C and takes just 60-90 seconds.
Until now, limoncello of this quality has been a luxury enjoyed mainly by Italians. Now it has arrived in the UK - Manchester is the first place is to get a taste thanks to Festa Italiana.
Pizza lovers eager to grab an authentic slice of Naples can do so at Manchester pizzerias such as Rudy’s and Honest Crust, and, of course, at Salvi’s, where the pizzas are made by genuine Neapolitans.
Mozzarella is another local product Maurizio is passionate about.
And Festa Italiana will host two unique Festa Feasts involving the city’s top Italian brands, producers, restaurants and bars.
The family-run Caseificio Cascone factory in the province of Salerno specializes in producing fior di latte, the whole cows’ milk mozzarella native to Campania. To guarantee freshness, milk delivery at the cheese factory takes place within 24 hours of milking. Raw milk is brought to a temperature of 38 degrees celsius, and whey and rennet are added. The curd is then matured through a natural fermentation process. The curd is reduced into strips in containers where it is processed with the addition of
The Italian Adventure on 13th July will see Salvi’s, San Carlo and Lupo Caffè Italiano join forces to create a course each for an extraordinary banquet. The following day, Buca’s Bottomless Banquet with Buca di Pizza will be a non-stop gourmet pizza feast - with bottomless prosecco, too. “Manchester has a long history of Italy and Italian culture,” says Maurizio. “This festival will be one, big, delicious celebration of that.” Festa Italiana takes place 13th–15th July in Cathedral Gardens.
Maurizio Cecco of Salvi’s and Marcello Distefano of San Carlo
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Six festivals for foodies Words: Louise Rhind-Tutt
Festivals aren’t just about live music, mud and queuing for dodgy portaloos in fields. These celebrations of food and drink are guaranteed to delight the city’s food fans
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Manchester Beer Week 10 days of events designed to celebrate the best of beer and pub culture including a variety of tastings, talks, walking tours and beer-focused meals. Unlike most beer festivals which take place at one specific venue, Manchester Beer Week features a series of different events at venues across the city, including pubs, bars, breweries and restaurants. Please enjoy responsibly. Where and when: various venues, 29th June-8th July.
Bolton Food & Drink Festival Voted the best food market by the National Association of British Market Authorities, the Bolton Food and Drink Festival runs over August Bank Holiday weekend and attracted over 270,000 visitors last year. Star chefs appearing this year include James Martin, Ainsley Harriott, Michael Caines and Nadiya Hussain. Where and when: Bolton, 24th-27th August.
The Big Grill, Castlefield
Manchester Eats Festival
The Big Grill, Bury
Expect exhibitors from top restaurants and bars as well as workshops and Q&A sessions with the country’s hottest celebrity chefs when this brand new festival comes to Heaton Park. Their official charity partner is the Diane Modahl Sports Foundation, which supports young people across the North West to achieve their goals and improve their lives through sport and nutrition. Where and when: Heaton Park, 7th-8th July
Foodies Festival
Burrs Park in Bury will be transformed into a meat lovers’ paradise this summer, with epic scale barbecues and meat smokers, sizzling street food vendors, craft ales and quirky cocktail bars. There are also a series of eating challenges, from a chicken wing competition to a ‘grim reaper’ chilli challenge, with profits going to Christies. Where and when: Burrs Park, 14th-15th July.
A beast of a feast, Castlefield Bowl will be home to low and slow barbecue, street food stalls, craft beers and cocktails for a weekend in September. There’s a barbecue competition where teams form across the North West will compete to be crowned Lord of the Flames, as well as a series of eating challenges. Where and when: Castlefield Bowl, 8th-9th September
Foodies Festival, the UK’s biggest food festival, returns to Tatton Park, Cheshire with a mouth-watering summer festival and the launch of a brand new Musicians Against Homelessness music stage. There are over 30 street food stalls, prosecco and Parmesan masterclasses, and guest chefs this year include Simon Rimmer and The French’s Adam Reid. Where and when: Tatton Park, 13th-15th July
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Experience the magic of Transylvania right in the centre of Manchester Words: Ana Iliescu
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eep in the heart of Romania is a land shrouded in mystery and folk songs about vampires.
Here, the forests are still virgin and the rivers run wild. Locals make sure they have a garlic string hung at their front door to keep the evil spirits away. Although everyone has heard the legend of Dracula, not many people know much about Transylvania. If you want to find out more, the UK’s only Transylvanian festival of arts and culture, returns to Manchester this summer. Góbéfest promises to be a unique celebration, offering a dazzling extravaganza of music, dance, cuisine and multicultural activities, and the authentic and diverse sounds, tastes and flavours of Transylvania and the Carpathian Basin. It celebrates the little known culture and traditions of the Székler people – a group of ethnic Hungarians living in Transylvania. A Góbé is a friendly word for a ‘crafty Székely’.
rich velvet forests, its natural wonders, the lakes, the rivers, the wildlife.’
celebrated singer from the Budapest Operetta Theatre and many more.
“It’s a healthy, organic place and it’s also very diverse in culture, which is really nice.”
“The feedback has been brilliant and people have come to the festival from all over the UK. Mancunians love the mystery of the ‘land beyond the forest’..
Last year, 10,000 revellers put their best foot forward to try out traditional folk dancing, soak up the unique sounds of a zither orchestra, and sample Transylvanian craft beer and delicacies including chimney cake and lángos.
She says the most popular food choices at last year’s festival were the traditional Szekler chimney cake – a sweet doughy cake cooked on a spit and coated in cinnamon sugar and the lángos – a fried flatbread, often topped with creme fraiche and cheese.
The free event in Albert Square promises a larger outdoor stage and extended programme this year, and will shine a light on the culture and folklore of other European countries, including Bulgaria, Turkey, Lithuania, Croatia, Hungary, Greece and Slovakia.
New additions this year include a bar selling pálinka, a traditional spirit drink from the Carpathian Basin region that can be anything up to 86% proof. Mancunians will also be able to sample mititei for the first time, a highly spiced and skinless sausage that is a BBQ favourite across Romania.
Festival founder Ottilia Ördög is a Székely Hungarian from Transylvania who moved to the UK 30 years ago. She says it’s difficult to pick one favourite thing about Transylvania but she loves ‘its
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Main stage acts promise to span every genre and draw from across the Carpathian Basin region of eastern and central Europe and include the Harghita National Székler Folk Ensemble and Annamari Dancs - a
“They love the craft beer, the organic jams and honeys, the music and the dancing. “The audience last year loved getting involved with the varied and folk dancing from Transylvania and exploring all the unusual instruments,” she says. Ottilia says that although there is a big Transylvanian Hungarian community in Manchester, the festival isn’t just for them. “I was born in Transylvania and I wanted to share the beauty of this magical place with my home city, where I have lived since I came to university at 18.” Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th June, Albert Square.
Roll up, roll up for Manchester Pride’s Circus of Acceptance
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very year, Manchester Pride brings some of the world’s biggest international artists to our great city for an epic festival to celebrate LGBT+ life. This year is no exception. Headlining this year’s Big Weekend Festival on the Thomas Cook Airlines stage is international pop sensation Rita Ora, who will perform a medley of her biggest hits, including her aptly named single, Proud, which was released earlier this year. The Hot Right Now singer will be joined by American singer-songwriter and lead singer of the Scissor Sisters, Jake Shears, who will be making one of his first solo performances in the UK Also taking to the stage will be renowned DJ and producer Sigala, whose chart-topping hits include Came Here for Love and Lullaby.
Having made history as the first British female solo artist to bag a million-selling single, and making it into the finals of the
BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing is X Factor winner Alexandra Burke. She will be behind the mic again following a six-year break from singing, performing songs from her third studio album, The Trust Is. Joining this star-studded line-up over the course of the weekend are Louise Redknapp, Nadine Coyle, Gok Wan, Heather Peace, Big Freedia, Guilty Pleasures, Sink the Pink, Bright Light Bright Light, Youngr, KelliLeigh, Angie Brown, and Lucy Spraggon, who will be performing at her 10th Manchester Pride, having wowed audiences playing on every stage at the event in her singing career. Some of the biggest names in the DJ world will also be joining the festival, with the Gaydio Dance Arena welcoming acts including TCTS, Danny Howard, Ana Matronic, Pete Tong, Jon Pleased Wimmin, Jamie Bull, Kriss Herbert, DJ Paulette, Nicky Siano, and Jellybean Benitez. Joining Manchester Pride for the first time will be bingo rave sensation Bongo’s Bingo,
hosting an event on the Sackville Gardens stage. This party version of the classic game features regular rave intervals, on-stage dance offs, and prizes that put every other prize bingo to shame. It’s set to be one of this year’s most popular attractions. And making triumphant returns will be Sing-along-Cinema and Silent Disco, letting festival goers put on their own shows. Closing the festival on Monday 27th August, the annual Candlelit Vigil will be held in Sackville Gardens. A tribute to those who are no longer with us, the vigil recognises all who have lost their lives to the HIV virus, and the challenges the LGBT+ community still face today, both in the UK and worldwide. Known as the heart of the Manchester Pride festival, it is a truly extraordinary moment of contemplation which perfectly embodies what this celebration is all about. Friday 24th – Monday 27th August. Tickets are priced at £28 for the full weekend and £20 for day tickets. For more information visit the Manchester Pride website.
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Take the Manchester
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The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and every last piece of greenery Manchester has on offer is covered with sun bathers fresh from the office. The sun will also be giving the perfect spotlight to Manchester’s public art. So whether you fancy taking a history lesson on foot or a quirky Instagram snap, here’s a tour of some of Manchester’s most iconic sculptures.
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We start in Piccadilly Gardens, home to the statue of Queen Victoria, who reigned for over 60 years. The sculptor Edward Onslow Ford was chosen to create the tribute to Victoria but it wasn’t unveiled until after her death.
A newly installed statue of Jesus the Homeless by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz depicts a figure lying on a bench. Its pierced feet indicate it is Jesus, and the near life-size bronze statue has been blessed by the Bishop of Manchester. The aim of the homeless Jesus artwork is to challenge passers-by to question their attitude towards the homeless and marginalised, and the statue follows similar pieces in Glasgow, Rome and the US.
Queen Victoria
Homeless Jesus
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Make your way down Market Street to St Ann’s Square where you’ll find the South African War Memorial The Last Shot. Created by Hamo Thornycroft, this statue recognises those who lost their lives during the Boer War in South Africa.
From St Ann’s Square, head down Deansgate towards Spinningfields, where you’ll find the Chopin Memorial. The monument, designed by Polish sculptor Robert Sobocinski, depicts the musician seated at his piano gazing across to his muse Baroness Aurore Lucile Dupon.
The Last Shot
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The Chopin Memorial
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John Bright
John Bright was a Radical and Liberal statesman who was born in Rochdale in 1811. He sat in the House of Commons from 1843 to 1889 where he promoted free trade, electoral reform, and religious freedom.
sculpture trail
Words: Elise Gallagher Pictures: Attila Keményfi
06 Adrift
Head towards Central Library where you’ll find the statue Adrift in St Peter’s Square. This bronze sculpture was created by John Cassidy in 1908, and depicts a family clinging to a raft in stormy sea.
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Friedrich Engels
Engels spent over two decades in the city after he was sent here to work in a textile mill his father owned. During his time here, he took a keen interest in the conditions of the working class and met Karl Marx. Together they wrote The Communist Manifesto.
07 Life Cycle
George Wylie’s Life Cycle is a giant silver bike. Commissioned to coincide with an environmental conference hosted in Manchester in 1995, this statue originally stood in Albert Square before being moved to its current location. A quirky addition to the city.
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Best known for helping crack the Enigma code during the Second World War, Alan Turing is considered the father of computer science. After the war he designed the ACE – among the first designs for a computer – and while in Manchester worked on one of the world’s first computers: the Manchester Mark I.
A giant statue dedicated to Manchester’s greatest non-alcoholic beverage. It was carved by Kerry Morrison and installed in 1992 on the site of the factory in which the first batch of Vimto was made by John Noel Nichols in 1908.
Alan Turing
Vimto
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Where to watch the World Cup finals Words: Jonny Swindlehurst
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eople of Manchester, it’s time to do away with the Red and Blue rivalry for a few weeks this summer and join together in collective football hope with your fellow Mancunians when the World Cup kicks off on June 14th followed by disappointment when England get knocked out in the quarter finals.
So let’s dust off those shiny Italia 90 shirts, remind ourselves of the lyrics of Three Lions and get behind the boys. If you’re planning on getting out and about for the matches, here’s where you should be spending your time. When they get knocked out at least we can just enjoy some decent footy, hopefully some sun and definitely a few beers.
Tib Street Tavern England’s second game in the group sees them face off against the plucky Panamanians. Apparently they’re filthy, so this one could be pretty lively. Thing is, it’s 1 o’clock on a Sunday, so we’re thinking a Sunday session with a big scran thrown in. Tib Street Tavern caters for your Sunday World Cup needs with eight good size screens across two floors, and a plentiful food menu with burgers, nachos, skewers and the rest. When we win? A few pints round the rest of the Northern Quarter.
Dive Bar England kick off their latest tilt at regaining their 1966 crown with an intriguing encounter against north African hotshots Tunisia. While the game itself doesn’t scream classic, it’s the World Cup, it’s England, and we’re pumped. It’s also a Monday night, so we’re not going too hard. Dive ticks all the Monday night football boxes. According to Sky Sports and Carling, it’s the best place to watch live sport in Manchester. There’s 11 screens and the food is decent with sliders, tacos, nachos, fried chicken and some dirty burgers on the menu. Grab a booth and make the most of the worst day of the week. And surely England will beat Tunisia?
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Soccer Aid Back of the net! Sports stars and celebs team up for a charity football match like no other
Shooters As one of four bars in Bierkeller, this is technically a German-themed bar but look past that. And just imagine how good it will be when we smash Germany in the final. We can’t guarantee that, but what we can guarantee here is 20 HDTVs and a 3m x 3m projector screen. The atmosphere will be big too. This is a great shout for England’s biggest match in the group. The big one against Belgium is Thursday night with a 7pm kick off. Get down early after work, it’s gonna be huge. PS we’ll probably lose and Lukaku will score the winner, but you get what we mean.
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occer Aid for Unicef is perhaps the biggest charity football event in the world, and it’s coming to Old Trafford this summer.
Launched and co-founded in 2006 by Unicef UK Ambassador Robbie Williams and Jonathan Wilkes, Soccer Aid teams up football superstars with global celebrities to play a match in front of 75,000 fans, watched by millions more live on ITV in the UK and around the world. Legends of football and world-famous names from film, music and TV will join forces to raise money to help children around the world. The event has previously featured A-list stars such as Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, Mike Myers and Niall Horan, plus footballing royalty including Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ronaldinho. The line-up of celebrities and former sportsmen confirmed for this year includes former United players Eric Cantona, Jaap Stam, Edwin van der Sar, Phil Neville, and Michael Owen, plus Kevin Pietersen, David Seaman, Patrick Kluivert, Robbie Williams, Usain Bolt, Sir Mo Farah, Gordon Ramsay, Olly Murs, Mark Wright, Paddy McGuinness, Brendan Cole, Joe Wicks, Clarence Seedorf, Robert Pirès, Yaya Touré, Jamie Redknapp, Danny Murphy, Dan Carter and Robbie Fowler.
Walkabout You’ll find a selection of cocktails, soft drinks, beers and ciders as well as some Australian specialities. Snack boards, sharers, BBQ and desserts, there’s loads of great food on offer. The number of screens alone make it a firm favourite for football fans whatever their allegiance – there won’t be a bad seat in the house. The big choice of food makes it ideal for an afternoon spent eating, drinking and watching live sport.
100% of all public donations to Soccer Aid for Unicef will be doubled by the UK government, up to a total of £5 million, and will go towards supporting vital work protecting children across the globe. So far, £24 million has already been raised through Soccer Aid over the last 12 years. Soccer Aid for Unicef 2018 will take place at Old Trafford on Sunday 10th June, kick-off 8pm. Tickets are priced from £10 to £50 from socceraid.org.uk.
The best of the rest If England manage to scrape through the group and then God forbid actually win a knock-out match, a couple of other decent options include Black Dog Ballroom on New Wakefield Street where the big screen and terrace combo is perfect for the heavenly combination of good weather and decent football. Just keep your tops on lads. Try Café Football at the National Football Museum for some 1966 nostalgia and football-themed grub and pre-match pies.
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Bees. Here. Now.
Manchester will host one of its most spectacular public art events ever this summer
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ommunity arts organisation Wild in Art and Manchester city council are bringing Manchester’s communities together to create Bee in the City – a stunning public art trail of more than 80 individually designed giant bee sculptures. Crafted by regional professional and emerging artists, with styles encompassing fine art, illustration, graffiti and mosaic, the trail will weave its way across the city for nine weeks.
The bee emblem has been part of Manchester’s heraldry for over 150 years and is synonymous with the hard-working people of the city, their social cohesion and sense of community, and the city’s pioneering and creatively industrious spirit. When the public art trail closes, the sponsored bee sculptures will be auctioned off to raise funds for The Lord Mayor of Manchester’s Charity We Love MCR. A further 15 bees created by community
groups working collaboratively with artists and arts organisations will remain within the communities that helped create them to serve as a legacy. Organisers hope the bee trail will attract in excess of 1 million visitors to the city across nine weeks and raise in the region of £300,000 for local charitable causes. The bee trail will run across the city from July until September. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s bound to create a buzz.
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Protest, democracy and freedom of speech First look at Manchester Histories’ festival programme
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ne of the most bizarre episodes in the city’s recent past will be revisited during Manchester Histories’ long-weekender festival in June, writes Ray King.
The fifth biennial festival will feature archive film footage of Sri Lankan asylum seeker Viraj Mendis speaking from inside the Church of the Ascension in Hulme where he claimed sanctuary for two years in the 1980s. Mendis became a cause celebre for campaigners and won the support of Manchester city council during what city centre boss Pat Karney now likes to call the town hall’s “Maoist period”. A former student at UMIST, Mendis had arrived in the UK in 1973 on a one-year visa and overstayed. Although he was Sinhalese, he was an active supporter of the Tamil cause and claimed that he would be killed if he was deported back to Sri Lanka. Following a march protesting against his impending deportation in 1986, Mendis ran into the Church of the Ascension with the support of its then incumbent cleric, the late Father John Methuen. The church then became the focus of the Viraj Mendis Defence Campaign, but the issue was hugely divisive. Some Labour councillors later admitted that the Mendis affair had been “poison” on the doorstep. Supporters at the town hall at the time gave Mendis a job, but others ridiculed the notion of a Sri Lankan member of the Revolutionary Communist Party attempting to invoke long-defunct mediaeval laws of sanctuary in defiance of a Home Office deportation order.
Eventually, what Mendis described as “riot police” raided the church and used bolt cutters to release him from the radiator to which he had handcuffed himself . After a short spell in Pentonville, he was deported to Sri Lanka where nothing happened to him, as the country’s High Commissioner had repeatedly insisted. Mendis later moved to Germany and became chair of the International Human Rights Association in Bremen. Film footage is from the archive of the Workers’ Film Association formerly based in Lucy Street, Hulme and closed since last year. Other clips selected for screening by journalist Bob Dickinson include Buzzcocks’ founder member Pete Shelley explaining why punk rock in Manchester was so different. The films, now in the care of the North West
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Film Archive, will be screened between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday 9th June at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Business School, All Saints Campus. Admission is free. The festival’s theme of protest, democracy and freedom of speech marks the 100th anniversary of The Representation of the People’s Act, brought in to reform the electoral system in Britain and pioneer votes for women - a movement which began in Manchester - and the 150th anniversary of the formation of the TUC (Trades Union Congress) in Manchester and Salford in 1868. A whole day of tours, screenings and events is scheduled for TUC Day, culminating in an In-Conversation event with the general secretary, and first female leader of the TUC, Frances O’Grady hosted by Dave Haslam.
Other festival highlights include: Manchester Music Day - A day of panel discussions chaired by Jennifer Lucy Allan, curated by Annex Agency and Project 13 exploring the often-hidden stories of working class electronic music in Manchester.
Angel Meadow: Victorian Britain’s Most Savage Slum - Re-christened by Friedrich Engels ‘hell upon earth’. Step into the underworld of Angel Meadow with author and researcher Dean Kirby.
Manchester Histories Celebration Day - Manchester Histories Celebration Day will take place at Central Library and coincide with the Library’s Family Fun Day. Featuring over 70 exhibition stands from histories and heritage organisations from across Greater Manchester, performances from renowned choirs such as the Hallé Youth Choir, talks, screenings and discussions, plus fun activities for children – there will be something for all the family.
‘Close Up’ Featuring Pete Shelley
Dave Haslam interviews the legendary Pete Shelley about his life, ideas, and music, including his iconic work with Buzzcocks and solo releases.
Debating Day
Manchester Histories presents a day of debating at Manchester Central Library. Anyone can host a debate or join in the conversation via social media from cafés, offices, schools, museums and galleries, shopping centres or their front room.
Diamond
Manchester Histories Festival 2018 concludes with the opening night of Diamond by avant-garde cabaret performance artist, singer, actor, comedian and film director, David Hoyle at HOME. Commissioned by Contact, Diamond explores LGBT history spanning the 60-year period from 1957 to 2017 through the personal biography of Hoyle. Weaving together intimate personal accounts and landmark events, the show charts David’s rise from gay adolescent in Blackpool in the north of England, to Channel 4 anti-drag queen cult phenomena. Details of dates, timings and ticketing are available via manchesterhistories.co.uk The full programme will be announced midMay also via the website.
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10 weird and wonderful shows to see at the Greater Manchester Fringe 2018
T
he Manchester International Festival takes place every two years. There isn’t one this year. But there is a Greater Manchester Fringe. We do things differently here. With over 100 events, ranging from the serious to the surreal via the downright wacky, taking place at venues across the region, there’s bound to be something to tickle your fancy. There’s drama, stand-up comedy, children’s shows, clowns, mime, poetry, puppetry, musicals and live music. There’s exBenidorm star Hannah Hobley in a brand new comedy spoof which takes place in a pop-up saloon in the car park of 53two. There’s even a play by a 16 year-old Salford schoolgirl. Here’s a selection of some of the wackier sounding shows, in no particular order. They’re not necessarily the best shows. We just like the sound of them.
Come ‘ere You Daft Cow Come ‘ere you Daft Cow explores female friendships, mental health, crappy sexual encounters and the fact everything can be solved with pizza and margaritas. Winner of this year’s I Love MCR Award for the Greater Manchester Fringe Show with the Best Title. Monday 30 July and Tues 31 July, 9pm, £8. King’s Arms Theatre, 11 Bloom Street, Salford M3 6AN
Blackpool, What a Shit Place to Die Billy Costello is a young, gay, depressed, autistic actor with a drug problem. He is a man on the brink. It’s 5am. The sea is slowly rising up his body. The lights have just gone out on Blackpool Prom behind him. Billy looks back on his life and laughs at the tragedies and cries at the happy times. Is
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this it? I Love MCR Award for the Greater Manchester Fringe Show with the Best Title runner-up. Thursday 19 and Friday 20 July, 8pm, £10/£7. Three Minute Theatre, Affleck’s Arcade 3539 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JG
Trollope HG Wells, Caesar, Nostradamus, Wordsworth, Sid Vicious, and many more are all brought together courtesy of Percy and his time travelling wheelchair. May contain nuts and foul language. Monday 2 July, 7pm, £8. 53two, 8 Albion St, Manchester M1 5LN
Confessions of a Wordpress Fanatic
Got Wordpress? Evert forgotten your password? Uploaded images the wrong size? Is there a nasty widget in your footer? Do you suffer from unresponsive design? An hour of niche comedy about the world’s most popular online software web app thing. Thursday 5 July, 6pm and 8pm, £5. King’s Arms Studio 1, 11 Bloom Street, Salford M3 6AN
Cherry Pickings Enjoy a night out in the gay village at a fraction of the cost as you follow the escapades of a group of queer women on a night out. Featuring drunken pep talks, a cat fight in the toilets, and a feverish search for Lindy’s friends (who may or may not be imaginary). Friday 6, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 July, 7pm, £6/£4. Eagle Inn, 18 Collier St, Salford M3 7DW
Garry Starr Performs Everything Save money on expensive theatre productions by watching Garry Starr perform every single genre of theatre in under 60 minutes following his recent dismissal from the Royal Shakespeare Company due to ‘artistic differences’. Friday 6, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 July, 9pm, £10/£8. King’s Arms Theatre, 11 Bloom Street, Salford M3 6AN
Westernized! Four storytellers wearing western outfits sourced from charity shops and eBay (see pic) tell the ultimate Wild West story in the car park of 53two with a live sound track of original country & western songs. Members of the audience who turn up in Western outfits get a prize. 18-28 July, 53two, 8 Albion Street, Manchester, M1 5NZ.
Janet Part kitchen table drama, part B-movie horror. The show follows the life of a young woman - Janet – who constantly tries to abscond from her destiny in the oven and follow her dreams against all odds. Members of the cast are represented by a 1950s milk churn, a packet of French flour and a rather handsome rolling pin. Janet is portrayed by 1.5 kg of uncooked bread dough. Probably a better actor than Emma Watson. Monday 9 July – Thursday 12 July, 1.30pm, £8/£6. King’s Arms Theatre, 11 Bloom Street, Salford M3 6AN
Coccinellidae A 6 foot woman and a sex doll take on femininity. In a world where femininity obsesses over smallness in size, voice, opinion, ambition, one 6-foot woman and a sex doll converted into a feminist robot, smash through walls and ceilings to explore how women can embrace bigness in a big physical romp. Thursday 12 July, 7.30pm, £6/£4. King’s Arms Theatre, 11 Bloom Street, Salford M3 6AN
Romeo and Juliet
Westernized!
We all know deep down that Shakespeare can be, well, a little bit boring. Shakespeare’s classic tale of young star crossed lovers is made less boring by the Rubbish Shakespeare Company. Ideal for the whole family (4+). Friday 13 July, 6.30pm, £10/£6. Salford Arts Theatre, Kemsing Walk Off Liverpool St Salford M5 4BS For more information visit the Greater Manchester Fringe website.
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Words: Glenn Meads
S
The best of the city’s summer theatre shows
ummer was once a time when regional theatres went dark. But this year, Manchester’s theatres promise to bring some sunshine into your life - perfect for those rainy summer days.
They don’t come much sunnier than Summer Holiday (Octagon Theatre Bolton 31 May – 23 June), based on the classic Cliff Richard film. The first act takes place aboard a bus as you sing your way to the venue. Want something even hotter? The famous Abba musical Mamma Mia (Palace Theatre 3–14 July) is set in Greece and features classic hits Waterloo and The Winner Takes It All. Nobody has a sunnier disposition than wannabe lawyer Elle Woods, and the musical Legally Blonde (Palace Theatre 25 – 30 June) returns with Eastenders star Rita Simons and Eurovision Song Contest entrant Lucie Jones. If you have never been to Ancoats to visit the beautiful Hope Mill Theatre, summer is a great time to go. Two musicals will be staged there: one classic and one new. First up is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Aspects of Love (5 July – 9 August), which features the
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well-known song Love Changes Everything. Next is LGBTQ musical Closets (14 – 23 August), which features a lad called Henry and a time travelling closet. Three shows at The Lowry will also appeal to music lovers. Dusty (24 – 28 July) and Cilla (28 August – 1 September) both feature hits you will be humming all the way home, whilst Sting’s musical The Last Ship starring Manchester’s Richard Fleeshman. Docks from 3 – 7 July. And if you fondly remember Richard Gere carrying Debra Winger in the hit film An Officer and a Gentleman, the musical version is coming to The Opera House (13 – 18 August). If you fancy a classic, how about these? Jane Eyre was recently staged at the Octagon Theatre to great acclaim, and Northern Ballet are bringing this classic to The Lowry (6 – 9 June) following great reviews on tour. If dance is not your thing, and you missed the National Theatre’s hit War Horse the last time it was at The Lowry, it’s back (12 – 30 June). And believe me, this is a stunning piece of theatre.
Maxine Peake stars in Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days at the Royal Exchange Theatre (25 May – 23 June), following her sold-out performances there in A Streetcar Named Desire, Hamlet and The Skriker. If you are a Maxine fan, she is also staging her own play Queens of the Coal Age at the Royal Exchange (28 June – 28 July). It’s a true story about four women who fight back against coal pit closures. If you prefer an Agatha Christie page-turner then maybe Love From A Stranger at The Lowry (10 – 14 July) is for you. And don’t forget the Greater Manchester Fringe runs from 1 – 31 July at theatres and other venues across Greater Manchester. For something that will keep the kids entertained during the holidays, you can choose between dinosaurs, a ladybird or a famous pig this summer. Walking with Dinosaurs is at the Manchester Arena from 3 – 4 August, Peppa Pig’s Adventure is at The Lowry from 16 – 18 August, and the same venue is hosting Julia Donaldson and Linda Monks’ classic What the Ladybird Heard from 1 – 26 August.
W
Films to check out this summer
hen we think of summer we think eating and drinking alfresco, enjoying long hot summer nights and eating ice cream by the bucket. But this is Manchester, remember, so the reality could be rather different. Luckily, there’s plenty to see at the pictures.
Book Club Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen star in this comedy about four lifelong friends who have their lives changed forever after reading Fifty Shades Of Grey at their monthly book club.
McQueen A documentary celebrating the life of the late, great fashion designer, Alexander McQueen. Expect stunning visuals and an insight into what made this visionary creative tick. Showing at HOME.
Mary Shelley This biopic stars Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams, Elle Fanning, and Douglas Booth and focuses on the love affair between Percy Shelley and 18-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, author of Frankenstein. Catch it at HOME.
Christopher Robin Ewan McGregor stars as the grown-up famous friend of Winnie the Pooh, who is coaxed back to One Hundred Acre Wood to help find the bear’s lost friends. A beloved family classic revisited.
The House That Jack Built Fancy something a bit darker? A film by Lars Von Trier about a serial killer, but shot from the perspective of the murderer as opposed to his victims. Uma Thurman and Matt Dillon star in a film which will shock and appal as many as it will please. If none of those give you the urge to leave Netflix, what about these big hitters?
Ocean’s Eight Like the recent Ghostbusters film, this sequel features sisters doing it for themselves, and stars Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Anne Hathaway, Sarah Paulson and Helena Bonham Carter. Expect a cameo from George Clooney, with Bullock playing his risk-taking sister.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Chris Pratt was the standout star of Jurassic World (apart from the T-Rex), but even he is likely to be upstaged by the return of Jeff Goldblum as audience favourite, the dry, sardonic Dr Ian Malcolm. Expect more dinos, more laughs and scares a-plenty.
Incredibles 2 Pixar are on the comeback trail following their huge success with the beautiful Day of the Dead comedy Coco, a delightful look at memory and the part it plays in shaping our lives. Their sequels to Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc may have been unnecessary, but this superhero family have been away
Words: Glenn Meads
From arthouse to blockbuster
for too long. Many will welcome them back with open arms and a big bucket of popcorn.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Meryl Streep returns with her friends to sing loads of Abba songs and help us dream of places where it doesn’t chuck it down in summer. Cher has a cameo as Donna’s (Meryl Streep) mother, so expect this to be as camp as Christmas.
Mission Impossible: Fallout This will be the sixth outing for Tom Cruise and his famous run. These films have become truly welcome at this time of year as they have pace, pyrotechnics, with tongue planted firmly in cheek. Cruise has assembled a cracking supporting cast, with many reuniting from the last film including Rebecca Ferguson and Alec Baldwin. Newcomers include Henry Cavill and onetime Bolton Octagon actress Vanessa Kirby.
Ant-Man and the Wasp Nothing to do with the cheeky Geordie who’s been in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. Ant-Man might not be Marvel’s biggest character in terms of box office stature, but Paul Rudd brings so much charm to the role that you can’t help being enamoured. Also along for the ride is brilliant scene stealer Michelle Pfeiffer, fresh from her success aboard the Orient Express. Evangeline Lilly and Michael Douglas are both back too. This looks set to be a funny and frantic throwback to the ‘shrinking man’ movies we grew up with.
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Words: Jon Taylor and Emily Oldfield
9 gigs and concerts to see this summer
M
anchester is one of the best cities in the UK for live music, hands down.
In 2016 it was named the best live music city in the UK with more shows per head than any other city in the country. And the scene continues to blossom. Here’s a selection of gigs and concerts, international stars or local legends, guaranteed to leave an impression this summer. Truly supersonic.
Patti Smith And Her Band
A rare opportunity to see the legendary New York punk rocker play to a Manchester crowd. Nicknamed the ‘punk poet laureate’, Patti Smith gained widespread acclaim for her 1975 debut album Horses. Her work often combines rock with verse for powerful performances. She is sure to leave an impression when she plays The Apollo on 5th June.
The Rolling Stones
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s The Rolling Stones, playing what is likely be a sell-out gig at Old Trafford on Tuesday 5th June. The first time they played Manchester was 16 October 1963. The last time was 14 years ago. Who knows if they’ll ever play here again? Can you really afford not to see one of the defining bands of the past fifty years? No, didn’t think so.
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The Blinders
This three-piece alternative group now based in Manchester burst onto the scene with their loud, often political punk rock which combines poetic lyrics with powerful sound - a kind of ‘punkadelic’ punchiness. They are performing at Gorilla on Friday 8th June along with the Afghan Sand Gang. An event to check out for sure.
Nouvelle Vague
There are cover bands and then there’s Nouvelle Vague. They take absolute classics and some lesser known tracks and apply French bossa nova for an enchanting effect. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t heard of the band, you’ll know the songs. Check them out at the Royal Northern College of Music on Sunday 10th June.
ILL
Manchester’s all-woman post-punk pioneers are launching their debut album We Are ILL at The Deaf Institute on 16th June. It’s wild, wondrous music, with dancing shoes encouraged and prizes available for the best nun and monster outfits. Special guests include art rockers MOLD and the raw energy of Glove. Don’t miss out.
Foo Fighters
The Foo Fighters 2018 UK Tour follows on the back of their number one album Concrete and Gold. The band will play three huge shows, the first of which is at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 19th June before
they head to London. The band last played Manchester back in 2016 at Old Trafford cricket ground, so their upcoming visit is hotly anticipated. Don’t miss out.
The Hallé Orchestra
Head to the Last Night of The Hallé Proms at the Bridgewater Hall on 28th July for The Last Night of The Proms and fan favourites including Rule, Britannia!, Jerusalem, and Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No 1. Expect plenty of swaying, flag-waving and fanfare in a triumphant end to the summer season.
Samory - I
This is an opportunity to catch one of reggae’s hottest new acts following the success of his album Black Gold. Samory-I is recognised for his innovative ‘black dub’ sound, drawing on a distinct Jamaican influence. This is his first headline UK tour. He’ll be at Band On The Wall on 8th August along with The Black Heart Band. this is an artist moving on to big things, with memorable tunes such as Take me on Jah and African Daughter.
Liam Gallagher
There’s no maybe about it. Our lad Liam is definitely playing what will be a full to the brim 50,000 capacity open air arena at the Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday 18th August. Liam is gonna smash it, playing old songs and new in his home town. Why not share it with him? Bringin’ it home, our kid.
Manchester’s brimming with musical talent. Always has been. tch out for Up-and-coming Manchester musicians to wa So said Tony Wilson, the man behind Factory Records, legendary for reshaping Manchester’s musical history and (dare we say) redefining attitudes towards clubbing with the notorious nightclub, The Hacienda. He had a point. Manchester has a welldeserved reputation as one of the world’s greatest music cities, but sometimes the overwhelming nostalgia for days gone by
means that we may forget the city is also brimming with new musical talent. Right here. Right now. From the new wave of hip-hop, grime and soul artists redefining the UK’s understanding of so-called ‘urban music’, to rock and roll, neo-post-punk and country singers, plus a party production collective churning out four-to-the-floor house beats like no man’s business, we’ve pulled together a selection of our favourite local up-andcomers for you to cast your eye over.
Words: Georgina Pellant
“N
ostalgia is crap.”
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Cul De Sac First coming into the spotlight in 2016 with the single Know We Now taken from their debut EP Stems, upcoming local hip-hop collective Cul De Sac are comprised of four sprightly emcees: Truce, Layfullstop, Kid Katharsis and Berry Blacc. Producing warm and soulful hip-hop ram packed with potential, the four-piece have just dropped new single This Time on trailblazing local hip-hop label Room2 Records. Part of the new wave of young up-and-comers redefining Manchester’s hip-hop and soul scene, we look forward to seeing what they pull out of their sleeve next.
Mali Hayes Mason Collective We’ve had our eyes on this Manchesterbased DJ and production trio for a little while now, closely following their explosive sets around the city and the success of their high profile MVSON events. After recently catching them at the Hatch x Parklife pre-party on Oxford Road, we can confirm their distinctive, four-to-the-floor groovedriven productions are not only unique but guaranteed to get the crowd moving. With some big major label releases in the pipeline for this year, get ready to see a whole lot more from this lot this year.
Cabbage Described by The Guardian in 2016 as “hell-bent on filling the current vacancy for rock’n’roll commentator on Brexit Britain”, Mancunian five-piece Cabbage have been on industry to-watch lists for a few years now since dropping their first EP in 2016, notoriously lambasting the “web of hate” Sun on Twitter for championing them as a top tip for 2017. Hailed by many inside and out of the city as “Manchester’s most exciting new band”, their music serves up an idiosyncratic, satirical attack in the form of discordant neo-post-punk rock music.
Robbie Cavanagh Hailing from Wigan, Robbie Cavanagh has been steadily making an impact on the country/ Americana scene since the release of his debut album The State Of Maine in April 2014. The singer-songwriter is known up and down the country for creating hauntingly beautiful music that combines intricate guitar playing with powerful and emotive lyrics. With some interesting
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collaborations in the pipeline for this year, we look forward to hearing some new stuff from him soon.
PINS Formed in Manchester in 2011, PINS are a five-piece, all-girl rock band who cite the likes of My Bloody Valentine and Jesus and Mary Chain as influences. Loved for their noisy, pop-influenced and guitar-led music, catch them performing the festival circuit this summer at Kendal Calling and BeatHerder.
Definitely one to be keeping an eye on in 2018, singer-songwriter Mali Haye’s sweet and soulful vocals also manage to come across sassy and strong. No mean feat. Her uplifting and fun-filled 2017 track Hate on Me became the perfect anthem for strength, community and togetherness after a traumatic summer that shook Manchester to its core. With support coming from local icon Zed Bias, who quickly followed the release of Hate On Me with a remix under his Maddslinky moniker, we fully expect to hear big things from Mali this year.
Children of Zeus Children of Zeus have been on our radar for
a very long time - seven or eight years now by our count. Following nearly a decade of listening to their super slinky neo-soul/hiphop tracks on Soundcloud, we were chuffed when they finally got around to putting out this music as a ‘proper’ LP release last year. Since making it on to Spotify, the duo – comprised of soul singer Tyler Daley and emcee Konny Kon – have been skyrocketing to the acclaim they deserve. Look out for their new single Slow Down/All Night to be followed by their hotly anticipated second album in June. The pair will be all over the festival circuit this summer, too, so if you fancy checking them out live - which we highly recommend - head over to their social media to keep an eye on their upcoming listings.
IAMDDB LayFullStop LayFullStop is considered by some to be Manchester’s very own neo-soul queen. First catching the eye as part of Manchester collectives Roots Raddix and Cul De Sac, her solo work blends the sounds of jazz and soul with old-school and UK hip-hop influences Not only can she hold down a tune with pzazz, she is an impressive MC, too. If we were to compare her to somebody, we’d have to say Lauryn Hill. But that probably wouldn’t do either of them justice. If you’re not already au-fait with IAMDDB, let us get you acquainted. Blending the disparate sounds of trap and jazz into her own uncompromising style, her track Shade was undoubtedly the biggest tune to come out of Manchester last year. It’s currently at 9 million views on Youtube and counting. Named Giles Peterson’s breakthrough artist of 2018, she came third on the BBC’s Sound of 2018 list and looks set for an incredible year ahead.
[KSR] aka Roosevelt [KSR] sprung onto the Manchester scene last year pretty much out of nowhere – gaining popularity through a handful of hard-to-find videos on Facebook - and took our breath away with his incredible soulful vocals. Oozing soul over a chilledout mixture of mellow and trap-style beats, there’s still that undeniable air of Mancunian swagger about him. At only 19 he’s already accumulating fans-aplenty by way of The Mouse Outfit and Children of Zeus and, with some interesting collaborations already in the pipeline, we look forward to hearing more from him this year.
Blind Mic
HMD Rapper, singer and producer HMD was born in Somalia and comes from a clan renowned for its lyricism. Drawing from a range of influences, including time spent growing up in Denmark before moving to Manchester in 2001, his debut project W16NTER offers up a fusion of potent writing, pop sensibilities and hard-hitting urban production. Gaining shine on the local scene with the help of the likes of BPM, BiPolar Sunshine, Sleazy and Abnormal Sleepz, we look forward to hearing more from him this year.
Stef Smith
Part of the Free Wize Men collective with fellow Manc rappers Kiva Bey and Afro Sam, Blind Mic aka Skrrt Cobain has a really cutting way of writing rhymes. His lyrics cut straight down the line. Rapping over beats that mix together hazy melodics with tight trap and hip-hop drum beats, he’s all about the grind, and also puts out music as part of Budget Boyz (with Sangy and Berry Blacc) and Lychee (with LayFullStop and Don Zulu). With some big projects planned for later in the year, including something with Future Bubblers, keep your eye on him.
Another artist we’re keen to hear more from this year. Hailing from Old Trafford, Stef Smith’s sound blends influences from grime, trap and southern American hip-hop to create what is becoming a distinctly Mancunian sound. Maybe this is helped by the fact that he works with producer Deiago, who has also helped craft the sound of IAMDDB (notably creating the beat for Shade), Sleazy F, Black Josh and BiPolar Sunshine over the past few years. Last year, Stef was asked to make a specially commissioned song for BBC 1Xtra called Manchester Live.
Kinkai
Tobi Sunmola
Since dropping his stellar sophomore project Mellow Mermaids and Malibu last year, Manchester rapper Kinkai has wasted no time building up a strong fanbase. He’s spent the past few months tearing up shows the countrywide and jumping in the studio with established local hip-hop crew The Mouse Outfit. Keep your eyes peeled for his contribution to their new album, always a great indicator of Manchester’s upand-coming musicians, which is set to drop later in the year.
Nigerian-British artist Tobi started catching some shine in Manchester when he headlined the Iluvlive x MOBO Unsung tour up here last year. A hip-hop and spoken word artist, his musical style weaves together rich African rhythms with urban beats, whilst his lyrics tackle important social and racial issues plaguing society. Ending 2017 with the release of his new EP City Of Dreams - which is, coincidentally, all about his love for Manchester - we are expecting great things this year.
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Words: Biddy Harrison-Draper
Manchester’s
Musical Women
A
sk someone to name the best bands in the world and they’ll probably say one from Manchester. The Stone Roses, The Smiths, Oasis, Take That. We know their names and we know their stories. But what about Manchester’s female musicians? It’s time to celebrate 100 years of Manchester women who have had a notable input into the music industry. Take a look through the decades and you realise Manchester isn’t just about the boys. The 1920’s was a dazzling decade for Manchester’s female musicians. Louise Kirby Lunn was a leading contralto who trained with the choir at All Saints Church before appearing in concerts across the city. She went on to perform globally and sang regularly with the British National Opera Company in Covent Garden. Frances Peralta was also a notable opera singer born in Manchester. She emigrated to California as a child, but will always be a Manc to us. Peralta toured America, performing with the likes of the Chicago Opera Association and the New York Metropolitan Opera. 1930’s Manchester was the place to watch upcoming singers perform heartwarming classics. Born in Rochdale, Gracie Fields became a star of the music hall performing songs such as Wish Me Luck (As You Wave Me Goodbye) and Sing As We Go for troops in France. Olive Zorian, a classical violinist,
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also helped put Manchester’s name on the musical map. By 22, Zorian became a concertmaster and rose to fame in the classical world, performing five times at The Proms in London. Recovering from the disasters of World War II, the local music scene saw female musicians giving their all to raise the spirits of Manchester. In the 1940’s, Pat Kirkwood from Pendleton rose to fame an an actress and singer, famously performing in Top of the World at the London Palladium as German bombs fell in the capital. Kirkwood later became the first woman to have her own television series, The Pat Kirkwood Show, on the BBC. Whilst Kirkwood rose to fame in London’s dance halls and theatres, Betty Driver from West Didsbury stuck to her roots. Driver sang from the age of 10 and went on to play the lead in the revival of Mr Tower of London, originally performed by Gracie Fields. But we best remember her as Betty Turpin in Coronation Street, a role she played for 42 years. Manchester may be known as the home of indie music, but it’s also the home of classical. In the 1950’s, Hilda Collens planted the roots. The founder and principal of The Northern School of Music, she met with the principal of the Royal Manchester College of Music, Frederic Cox, in 1955. 17 years later, the institutions merged to form the Royal Northern College of Music.
As the swinging 60’s got into full force, it wasn’t just The Hollies and Herman’s Hermits pumping music into Manchester’s veins. Samantha Juste was a popular co-host on Top of The Pops, making sure everybody was hearing the best new music at the time. 1970’s Manchester will always be remembered for Northern Soul and The Sex Pistols’ infamous Lesser Free Trade Hall gig. But what you don’t hear so much about are the women who made some of the best music. Una Baines was a member of the original line-up of The Fall. If it wasn’t for Baines’ feminist ideas, many of your favourite Fall songs wouldn’t have existed, and her political views helped shape the band as leaders of new wave music. Bolton-born Annie Haslam, lead singer of Renaissance, gave progressive rock a home in Manchester, and Broughton-born Elkie Brooks pushed boundaries with her critically acclaimed album Rich Man’s Woman. The 1980’s was the decade for Manchester’s musical women. Julia Adamson, from Stockport, proved that women can do anything in the music industry. She played guitar in Blackout, played synthesiser in Illustration, was a sound engineer at Strawberry Studios, and currently manages record label Invisible. Rochdale’s Lisa Stansfield continues to sell out shows across the world with her unique voice and chart topping hits. And Gillian Gilbert, from
Whalley Range, is the keyboardist for iconic Manchester band New Order. But it wasn’t just pop music that Manchester women promoted. Claire Moore, from Over Hulton, has been voted “favourite Christine” by the Phantom Appreciation society for her performance as Christine in The Phantom of The Opera. She has also played Ellen in Miss Saigon and performed in a James Bond special for the BBC Proms. 1990’s Manchester was a notable era for Manchester music and has been the subject of films, exhibitions and TV shows. Rowetta Satchell joined Happy Mondays in 1990 and features on several of their tracks including the acclaimed Step On. She has gone on to bring the Hacienda back to life with Hacienda Classical, performed at Glastonbury whilst David Bowie watched from the side, and toured with Joy Division/ New Order bassist Peter Hook on his Unknown Pleasures tour. Speaking about Manchester’s music scene, Rowetta said: “It’s undeniable that there are far more successful and known Mancunian male artists than female artists, so it’s really important for me to be respected and recognised for the music I write and sing and for all the work I do”. Cleopatra also pushed popular music into the streets of Manchester with their memorable debut hit Cleopatra’s Theme, which hit number 3 on the UK singles chart.
“It’s undeniable that there are far more successful and known Mancunian male artists than female artists...” As the millennium started, popular music boomed in Manchester with the likes of Atomic Kitten bringing some guilty pleasures. But if pop music isn’t your thing, look to Manchester-based musician Sara Lowes. Lowes has performed with a range
of alternative acts including Tindersticks, who invited her to support them after hearing her on BBC 6 Music. 2010 onwards gave birth to more and more talent from Manchester’s female musicians. Stockport born Findlay created her own label, Mint Records, and has released various EP’s and a debut album. Lonelady from Ashton-Under-Lyne brought post punk-inspired sounds back to the city with her critically acclaimed albums Nerve Up and Hinterland. And Mancunian Misha B rose to fame as a semi-finalist on The X Factor, supporting Nicki Minaj on her UK Tour. Revolution is in the air in Manchester as you read this. Female fronted bands, solo artists and collectives are making their voices heard, and they won’t be silenced. We don’t blame them. Manchester has a lot of talent coming out of the city, and we have many female musicians to thank for that. Alternative musicians such as PINS, WITCH FEVER, Family Ranks and Fuzzy Sun are keeping indie in its place in Manchester, while LayFullStop, IAMDDB and PERiiSU are making sure grime and rap are having an impact on the streets. Manchester isn’t just your Gallaghers, Browns, Sumners and Marrs. It’s your Fields, Stansfields, Collens and Drivers. Manchester is about diversity and equality, and that doesn’t stop when it comes to the sound of the city.
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