AND NOW I’M TOTALLY WIRED LIFE LEAVES YOU SURPRISED
MURMUR issue four February 2018
Manchester’s monthly newsletter
MURMUR
issue four // February 2018 Illustration: Michael Holland Insta: @keswicklemon
Editors: Olivia Havercroft Nicole Peeters Design: Lisa Lorenz
Michael works primarily in recycled materials. This year he intends to sequester as much carbon as possible and plant as many new trees as his body will allow.
murmurmanchester@gmail.com Get in touch to be featured in MURMUR.
Welcome to MURMUR: Your alternative guide to Manchester’s independent, radical & inclusive events
We’re leaving quiet January behind diving into the shortest month of the year. This MURMUR is packed with affordable gigs, workshops and radical activism to kickstart your year and make new friends.
L I S T E N 1 February Moon Duo Live @ The White Hotel
Hailing from San Francisco in wooden shjips this krautrock influenced electro outfit is going to beam you right up into space. Shoulder your synths, prep your tin foil hats, embrace intergalactic waves of love. £13.50, 8pm - 11pm
FEATURE EXHIBITION 24 & 48 At Pi, Chorlton (M21 9GA) 24 & 48 is an exhibition of collages made in distinct groups by our cover artist Michael Holland. All work was made within either 24 or 48 hour bursts since November 2017. It references the Royal Mail postage system. The imagery is taken directly from discarded colour coded cards from Royal Mail York cages. Exhibition ends in March.
1 February Andrew Savage & Jack Cooper @ Soup Kitchen
What would have happened if Parquet Courts & Ultimate Painting had a lo-fi guitar baby? Pretty sure you will find out in Soup’s basement. Careful, don’t get entangled with magnetic tape. Danger of drowning in dreaming guitar riffs and nostalgia. But no worries, Cobain’s ghost will be watching over you. £9.50, 7.30pm - 10.30pm
2 February Deco presents: Bones Shake/ Threads/Shredd/Jo Rose & Ashley Sherlock @ FUEL
Independent record shop Deco is teaming up with FUEL for a night of quality acts from Withington and beyond. All profits go to the artists performing. Big love. £5.50, 7pm-1am
3 February Fruit Merchant Release Party @ Eastern Bloc
A live instore session at Eastern Bloc Records to celebrate the launch of Hidden Spheres’ new EP ‘Wonders of the Rainforest’ on label Fruit Merchant. DJs include Hidden Spheres himself, Fruit Merchant collaborator Mattigaan & Eastern Bloc’s Tom Houghton. FREE, 7pm - 1am
3 February Shopping and Special Guests @ Eagle Inn
The »extremely punk« Shopping will be touring their album »The Official Body« with special guests. Expect to be joyously dancing from the moment they get on stage. £9, 8pm-11pm
3 February Irma Vep + dbh + The Capoeira Band @ The Castle Hotel
If you want to be so nostalgic that your brain slowly melts out onto the f loor and covers your shoes (metaphorically) Irma Vep is the one for you. Playing alongside the multi talented twangling dbh and the Capoeira Band, this will make you believe it might stop raining one day. £6, 7.30-11.30
10 February Antics x Club Canada: Her’s / Pearl City / Grimm Twins @ Night & Day Cafe Sounds like a dys-functional family holiday but might be the best musical cornucopia offered to you this February on the silver stage plate at Night&Day. Plus, who doesn’t like Canada? We love you Justin! Tudeau,... not Bieber. So sorry. £5, 8pm - 3.30am
14 February HMLTD Live @ The White Hotel
Who would you rather spend your Valentine’s Day with than with a Happy Meal? If you’re sick of reading the fast food chain menu Desire Press will sort out your intellectual, visual needs. The famous bar in the ground shall ease your thirst. Never mind the slanted Times New Roman, just enjoy the ride. £10, 8pm - 11pm
15 February Four Tet Live @ Granada Studios
The man who needs no introduction, Four Tet brings his understated and unrelenting energy to Manchester. This gig is sold out, but watch out for the official after party! 7pm-11pm
19 February Gun Outfit @ Gullivers
Not many vocalists manage to build in an »Alright« into a bridge as sophisticatedly as Dylan Sharp. Classic psychedelic Americana. A glance over the shoulder. A sky-blue convertible in the Arizona desert. The red sun going down, or is she rising? £8.50, 7.30 - 11pm
22 February Granfalloon & Jo Rose @ Strange Brew
GRANFALLOON are a Manchester band who play Folktronica featuring Richard Lomax, Peer Van See, and Oli Hughes. Come to their single launch »Ambulance« at Strange Brew, and see support from the anti nu folk americana-english-studies expert Jo Rose. Free, 7pm-11pm
m urm u r m u r m u r m ur m u r m u r m u r m u r m u r m u r m u rm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urmur mur
23 February Boudica: DUDS @ The Peer Hat
Post-punk seven-piece DUDS have released an album on Castle Face Records and are hailed by the likes of Marc Riley and Colin Newman (Wire), but describe themselves as sounding like »a slinky rolling down the stairs«. Finishing their European Jan/Feb tour in hometown Manchester tonight, expect them to be tighter than ever. £4/£8, 7pm - late
24 February MOLD »Puppetmaster« Single Launch @ Soup Kitchen
Fervent and twisted post-punk noisemakers MOLD launch their new single »Puppetmaster« at this gig hosted at Soup Kitchen. Supported by the Manchester stalwarts ILL and Slowknife, this gig will make your nerves jangle (in a good way). £5, 7pm - 11pm
D A N C E 1 February Pagoda: Szare (live) / Everett / Shān @ Texture MCR Get excited for the month ahead with this exciting Northern showcase of techno talent. Dark, dystopian industrial sounds underpinned by visuals by Mail 45. £7.50, 10pm - 2.30am.
2 February BLOOM Presents: Selector Series 001 w/ Jayda G + Donna Leake @ Joshua Brooks
Beautiful Ladies Organising Orgasmic Music. It’s true. This new South Manchester female collective has got lots of passion and tunes to share with us. Let’s be there when it happens ladies,... and gents. After all, dancing at JBs? Haven’t done that in ages! £12.00, 11pm - 4am
3 February Polarity presents: Paradox Live PA @ Soup Kitchen
Paradox aka Dev Pandya is one of the pioneers of drumfunk, a subgenre of drum and bass that uses funky drum loops and then chops and transforms them. Don’t miss his Live PA at Soup Kitchen, consisting of only him, his Amiga and synths. £9, 11pm - 4am
10 February Galentine’s Day Disco @ Texture MCR
Last year’s Galentine’s Day Disco was a delight, celebrate the women in your life and support your local Girl Gang! Heart Break Hour 10pm - 11pm for
anyone on a Valentine’s Detox. PS: Thirsty Girls Collective are spinning the best female-fronted tunes for you! £7.50, 9pm - 2.30am
masterpieces, Common will provide a pancake with every drink. Thank you Jesus for giving us this very special day. Hallelujah. FREE, 6pm - 9pm
15 February DJ Seinfeld @ The White Hotel
15 February A Galentine’s Gathering @ Chapter One Books
Fuzzy lofi early house euphoric deliciousness, head down (preferably after Four Tet) to keep the dance going forever. £8.96, 11pm-3am
16 February Partisan Presents: Lakuti @ Partisan Collective
Lakuti - DJ and Uzuri label boss - has been at the forefront of some of the most legendary underground parties in South Africa, London and Europe for over a decade. In our opinion, this is probably February’s most not-tobe-missed event. You. Will. Not. Stop. Dancing. £5 Members/£7, 9pm - 4am
28 February One Deck Wednesdays w/ Jane Weaver @ Electrik
After Maxine Peake last month, Electrik in Chorlton is welcoming psych-pop queen Jane Weaver to spin the decks! FREE, 8.30pm - 11.30pm
D O 4 February Partisan Fundraising Jumble Sale & Games Night @ Partisan Collective
Partisan invite you to this laid back event at their gaff. Non-boozy drinks and Wax the Van DJs will entertain you throughout the day with the Jumble & Vintage Sale starting 2pm - 6pm. Enjoy games & Partisan’s Quiz Night from 6 - 8pm. All funds raised will go towards Partisan’s accessibility project to open up the space to people of all abilities. DONATIONS, 2pm - 8pm
11 February Diggers Delight: Archive Record Sale @Eastern Bloc
Tested and rated DD. Double delight, digging and dining. Did you know the vegan breakfast features scrambled tofu now? Double dagger! Believe me, you can’t go wrong with this Sunday delight. Four archive records for 10 quid? Sold, mate. FREE, from Midday
13 February Colouring Club 24: Pancake Day @ Common
Come join us for some mid-week relaxed creativity in the heart of the Northern Quarter. Camille and Bryony will provide all the ingredients you’ll need to compose your visual
Take your gals or meet some new friendly faces at this very lovely gathering that includes a maker’s market, a clothes swap, loads of delicious cake and a performance by Manchester’s SHE Choir. See off the night with a screening of Thelma & Louise, the ultimate film on female friendship. FREE, 6.30pm-11pm
LEARN 2 February: Grow & Learn
@ Hulme Community Garden Centre: FREE, 10.30am - 12.30pm
17 February: DIY RISO Beginner’s Class @ Partisan Learn how to RISO-print, explore and understand how to make use of this unique printing method for your DIY projects, zines, f lyers & posters. Print your own A3 posters or A6 size zine during the session and take away a handy DIY printing guide book for future projects. from £10, 1pm - 5pm
A R T 1 February Thursday Lates: Sufi In The City @ The Whitworth
A contemporary, interdisciplinary arts project inf luenced by Sufi art forms. The ongoing project focusses on philosophies within music, dance and text. The study of these philosophies and artistic forms acts as a point of departure to ask social and personal questions about spirituality, modernity, dogma, freedom and gender. FREE, 7pm
1 February Sh/ft Launch Edition @ Partisan Collective
SHIFT »The Beginning of the End« is a night of bold, risk-taking live performance. Five artist from different disciplines - dance, music, visual, sculpture, spoken word - will come together to improvise and collaborate for 1 hour and create new performance right before your very eyes! £7, 6.30pm - 8.30pm
murm u r m u r m u r m u r m u r m u r m u r m u r m u r m u r m urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm urm ur mur mur
8 February Test Card x Meraki Sessions @ Texture MCR
Test Card and Meraki Sessions both aim to provide a platform to emerging artists working within performance art. Tonight’s theme is Ritual and artists can submit proposals engaging with the theme to take part. £6, 7.30pm onwards
MURMUR E A T S
Sidney Street Café
Opposite All Saints Park M1 7HB Mon - Fri: 11am - 4pm Confession: We’ve been going at least once a week for the past year. Sidney Street Cafe, which is part of the Joyce Layland LGBT centre, is an inclusive, relaxed space, serving quality, vegetarian food, for slim purse owners: a curry/veggie chilli with rice and salad will set you back £3.50. Breakfast options are even cheaper. There’s fresh salads, nachos and vegan brownies, too. The rice is always spot on; The food is seasoned perfectly and portions are generous; The service is welcoming and super quick. With many other options around the area, this should be your goto-gaff if you want to support the local LGBTQI+ community and enjoy your luncheon in a relaxed atmoshpere.
W A T C H 1 - 3 February Grand Finale @HOMEmcr
Part dance, part gig, part theatre, this bleak & beautiful, comedic, anarchic, frenzied show introduces a »world in freefall«. A FREE workshop with the Hofesh Shechter Company precedes the showing on 3rd February, at 10.30 am, a great opportunity for dance teachers, dancers, and students alike. From £10, 7.30pm - 22.30pm
7 February IndieFlicks Short Film Festival @ Texture Manchester
Your monthly shorts dosis with films from Germany, the U.S., Italy and the U.K. Vote for your favourite on the night, and mingle with special guests and film creatives alike. £6, 7.30pm
9 - 10 February The Village Screen’s Anti Valentine’s Weekend @The Monastery Manchester
A great reason to visit Gorton Monastery (in candlelight!) - the Village Screen will be popping up in the Grade II listed building showing Romeo & Juliet, Sister Act and Four Weddings and a Funeral. £12/£15, 7pm-11pm
10 February TransMCR Film Fest @ LGBT Foundation Richmond St
February is LGBT History Month ! And TransMCR is hosting a trans film festival at their headquarters. Learn more about Trans History and celebrate in this supportive environment. FREE, noon - 5.30pm
11 February There Will Be Blood @ HOMEmcr
Set in the late 19th and early 20th century, »There Will Be Blood« centres on a silver miner’s efforts to capitalise on the Southern California oil boom. TWBB explores themes of madness, obsession and greed. Watch this - then Paul Thomas Anderson’s newest release, »Phantom Thread«, and marvel at Jonny Greenwood’s beautiful soundtracks (in both films). £7, 3.20pm - 7.20pm
11 February Cultivate Film Club: TOXIC @ The Peer Hat
The first Cultivate of the year is showing the crime cult classic The Honeymoon Killers (1970), followed by Loon (2017), a film by underground director Fabrizio Federico that centers around a folie à deux relationship between cousins against the gloomy backdrop of Brexit Britain. FREE, 6pm
25 February
W O R D Too Punk to Be Queer @ HomeMCR
When did Punk go Queer? Rebel Dykes and Bollox invite you to an interactive afternoon all about Queers, Punk music & Punk attitude. Watch the British cinema premiere of »Queercore: How To Punk A Revolution«. Afterwards, director Yony Leyser will be in conversation w/ Susan O’Shea & Kath McDermott about queer punk history. £7, 4pm - 7pm
1 February Feminist Book Club @ Morley Cheek’s
The Feminist Book Club is gathering at the back of Morley Cheek’s in Chorlton. Anyone is welcome but bring (and make sure you read!) a copy of Audre Lorde - Sister Outsider! FREE, 7.30pm
1 February That’s What She Said MCR @Tribeca Manchester
Shortlisted for Best Spoken Word Night in the UK, That’s What She Said showcases the best new writing and
m urm u r m u r m u r m ur m u r m u r m u r m u r m u r m u r m u rm urm urm urm urm urm ur
performance by women. This time w/ punk poet Toria Garbutt & members of Manchester women’s writing collectives The Pankerchiefs and Worker Bees. £5.98, 7pm-10pm
8 February Queer Your Mind #1 @ Partisan
Queer your Mind is a new, free fortnightly space for sharing queer experiences through writing, building an inclusive and accepting space for queer people to explore their brains with words. FREE, 6 - 8pm
12 February Literature Live: Sophie Collins & Carol Mavor @ Martin Harris Centre UoM Campus
Readings from poet/translator Sophie Collins and artist/historian Carol Mavor. Mavor’s work explores photography, cinema, colour and childhood, while Collins is the cofounder of tender, an online quarterly promoting work by female-identified writers and artists. FREE, 5.30pm
14 February Outspoken @ MCR Central Library Part of Queer Contact Festival 2018, this line-up will bring you prose, poetry and spoken word by Seni Seneviratne, Jackie Hagan, Mandla Rae, Louise Wallwein and Superbia’s Chapbook project - a writing development programme for young LGBT+ writers in Manchester. £8/£5, 6.30pm-8pm
16 February Burgess 101: Ben Masters & Jim Clarke @ Intrn. A. Burgess Fndtn Ben Masters and Jim Clarke, both Burgess experts, discuss the works of writer Anthony Burgess and their impact on today’s culture. FREE, 5.30pm
17 February Peter Barlow’s Cigarette @ Town Hall Tavern
Manchester’s best kept, alternative reading series secret! This month, find PBC at the Town Hall Tavern: Zayneb Allak, James Byrne, Caitlin Doherty & Peter Mason. A bill you can’t resist. FREE, 4.40pm - 6.30pm
17 February Poets & Players @ The Whitworth
Poetry with music, dance and visual art, featuring Vahni Capildeo, Rebecca Perry and John Challis. FREE, 2.30 - 4pm
21 February The Other Room @ The Castle
Bi-monthly, experimental poetry night The Other Room is kicking off 2018 with readings by archivist poet Edmund Hardy and Zarf magazine editors/contributors Calum Gardner and Jazmine Linklater. FREE, 7pm Hello! We, the editors of MURMUR, can take no responsibility for the words said and events spiralling from any of the listing. Please stay mindful, share the love and respect the ones around you. MURMUR xoxo