MU R M UR
IS S U E
18
APR I L
2019
Manchester’s monthly newsletter
MURMUR
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 u r
issue eighteen // April 2019 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 u r
Editors: Olivia Havercrof t, Nicole Peeters Huw Spencer, Tom Waring & George Odysseos Design: Lisa Lorenz Print: Team Trident Press
Illustration: Martha Walmsley is a Manchester based illustrator and textile designer. In her artwork nodding to surrealist masters, she explores body image & mind culture.
Get in touch: hello@murmurmcr.com
Follow her @marthaoliviaart
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 u r
Welcome to MURMUR, Manchester’s monthly guide to radical, independent & inclusive goings-on.
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive extended articles, reviews on gigs, zines, places to eat & literary surprises. www.murmurmcr.com
L I S T E N WED 03 04 Mich Cota + currentmoodgirl @ FUEL
Full body performances is guaranteed by this stellar line up brought to you by Grey Lantern and Comfortable On A Tightrope. Canadian Mich Cota is the raw super diamond you should have on your radar in 2019. In her debut Kijà she sings, in both the First Nation language Algonquin and English, about her journey as a two-spirit trans person. Supported by our favourite vocalist mondiale currentmoodgirl! £5, 7.30 - 10.30pm
WED 03 04 Dennis Bovell & Friends @ The Carlton Club
Dub Reggae lovers! The legend that is Dennis Bovell is coming to leafy Whalley Range to bring you songs from his Matumbi song book. Best known for his work with The Slits and Linton Kwesi Johnson, Bovell has been busy in the past 50 years, rubbing backs with Sade, Arcade Fire...Expect the unexpected! £10, 7.30 - 10.30pm
SUN 14 04 Porridge Radio & The Early Mornings @ The Eagle Inn
Lo-fi lovers, this one’s for you!
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Porridge Radio take bedroom recordings to another level. The ground floor outdoor garden shed level! Melodic, honest pop with nittygritty, witty lyrics. Make sure you tune in from the start to catch The Early Mornings - also wicked! £6 , 7.30 - 10.30pm
SAT 20 04 SK Records Presents: Mastersounds @ SK1 Records
Whaaa! SK1 powerhouse Mastersounds DJs B2B2B! The clue’s in the name MasterSounds will entice you audibly with Linear 4V mixer, FX Unit, custom MasterSounds SL turntables and Clarity audio system. A great chance to check out their award winning equipment close up. FREE, 6 - 11pm
SUN 21 04 Nina: An Orchestral Evening of Nina Simone @ NIAMOS
It’s 28 years ago miss Nina Simone re-opened the Playhouse Theatre in Hulme as the NIA Centre (now NIAMOS), and also sadly exactly 16 years after her death. To commemorate, the Untold Orchestra will be recreating some of her most popular and lesser known songs, joined by six guest singers. At the time this was written, there were only VIP tickets left for this event (including a meal) but keep an eye out for any updates! £7/22, 7 - 11pm
D A N C E THU 11 04 High Hoops present: Motor City Drum Ensemble @ Soup Kitchen
Manchester’s brilliant High Hoops are hosting MCDE, who will be playing a set of pure techno, with all proceeds to Stonewall. SOLD OUT but check out on the day for additional tix! £6, 9pm - 3am
FRI 12 04 Fatty Acid #2 @ Partisan
Wholesome queerness galore, served up with an extra portion of radical tenderness! Think drag! Think curry! Think extravagant decorations! Think Fatty Acid! Partisan’s in-house queer club night left us completely flabbergasted and we can’t wait to see what they have in stock this time! Free/£10, 6pm - 4am
SAT 13 04 Partisan Day Party #7 w/ 80 Decibel, RUF DUG, Ladybeige, Andi Hanley & AHOD @ Partisan
Almost decadent, what a stellar line-up! Another one of these now infamous all-dayers curated by our favourite arts and social space Partisan. From midday until 5pm, family, kids and their carers can play, dance and cuddle to healthy 80 decibels on both floors indulging in tunes that won’t grate on your ears! In the evening your body and soul will be invigorated by local music selector favourites that will, no doubt, make everyone boogie until the moon rises high and the clock strikes midnight. Was it all but a dream? Free Members/£5, 12pm - 12am
FRI 26 04 Burbotheque @ The Klondyke
Disco your heart out for Macmillan Cancer support to tunes by locals Kiss Me Again. Needs no big explanation really. You know it - glorious vibes, nice and early start, and the possibility to rave on elsewhere from the turn of the day. £5, 7pm - midnight
SAT 27 04 Banana Hill w/ Habibi Funk @ Soup Kitchen
Yallah! Get your act together, pack the tropical fruits and glide down into the depths of soulful Middle Eastern funk! Jakarta Records co-founder Jannis has brought you some 50-year old Arab gems from Tunisia, Lebanon,
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Syria. The label does not only share their amazing finds with us but also support the original artists, their families and charitable causes from profits of their merch range. Habibi, what are you waiting for? £8/10, 11pm - 4am
SAT 27 04 W.O.M: Terrence Dixon (live) w/ Vendel & Nova @ The White Hotel
White Hotel resident DJs Nova and Vendel are back from their year-and-abit long sabbatical as W.O.M. and have recruited Detroit native Terrence Dixon to headline their comeback night. Dixon aka Population One is one of the pioneers of the minimal Detroit sound. He rarely leaves the States, so techno fans, make sure you don’t miss this! £10, 11.59pm - 7am
D O MON 01 04 The Big Ol’ Finale: Share the Wealth for Mental Health @ Indigo
Withington start-of-the-week boogie anyone? Get on down before heading home-ways for Easter in support of the Mental Health Foundation. All proceeds of the night will go to this good cause. £4, 10pm - 2am
TUE 02 04 Drone Yoga @ Partisan
A complete new way of yoga-ing. Let the drone and ambient sounds help you relax and drift off into calmer states, centre yourself, regain energy. This session is suitable for both beginners and intermediates. PAYF £1.50/£10, 6 - 7pm
THUR 04 04 All Hands On Deck @ Common
All Hands On Deck are back with their monthly (common) instalment bringing you the crème-de-la-creme of womxn, non-binary and gender nonconforming DJs in town. Boobs, bops and bangers. FREE, 7 - 11pm
SAT 06 04 Mitzi Cunliffe: An American in Manchester @ Manchester Piccadilly
Local enthusi-experts all things Modernist, Twentieth Century Society and the Modernist Society bring you a special Mitzi Cunliffe bus tour experience. Soak up the Mitzi knowledge whilst following her
footsteps, and artwork, in Manchester (and Bury). Sculptor and artist Mitzi lived in the Big Apple before moving to Didsbury in 1949. Mitzi’s daughter Antonia and leading Cunliffe scholar Professor Ann Sumner will tell you all about the artist’s journey, her life and legacy. The tour ticket includes some beautifully designed printed matter: hand-out notes by Ann Sumner and a trail guide of Cunliffe’s work in the region. £15, 10.30am - 5pm
FRI 12 04 Brewherher @ Takk NQ
A platform for all self-identifying womxn brewers in Manchester. During their inaugural meet-up Brewherher will unravel the gendergap issues of the coffee industry in Manchester and the UK. Share your experiences and start collaborate! FREE, 6 pm
SAT 27 04 Who is Manchester For?: Big Capital Vs. The People @ Central Methodist Hall
It’s hard not to notice the changes in the Manchester skyline amid the growing number of homeless people on the street. To make sense of it all (and fight back!) join urban geographer Jon Silver for a »Follow the Money« walking tour of the city’s changing landscape. Once your blood is sufficiently boiled, head to the panel discussion featuring Dr Desiree Fields, ACORN’S Kat Wright, and Manchester Momentum’s Beth Redmond to find out what you can do address the situation! Organised by the good people at Greater Manchester Housing Action. FREE, 1.30pm & 3pm respectively
A R T 29 March – 9 June 2019 Joy for Ever @ The Whitworth
Over the next few months, the exhibition Joy for Ever aims to revisit the Whitworth’s origins as an Institute founded on civic purpose and the use of art in a mission of social change, whilst combining this with radical new approaches to the role of museums and art in the world today. FREE, everyday 10am - 5pm
FRI 04 04 Binary: Art Exhibition @ Partisan
For one night only: An eclectic mix of young artists from Manchester and
beyond examine the term binary. Musical support comes from Glows, free bevvies will be provided by Zymurgorium. £3, 6 - 10pm
SUN 07 04 Autism Friendly Art Sunday @ The Whitworth
The Whitworth launch their monthly Autism Friendly Art Sunday for all age families living with autism.An artist led workshop will be held in their learning studio with activities and access to a range of playful materials to help encourage everyone to get creative, with a quiet space available. FREE, 11am - 2pm
W A T C H WED 03 04 M.Powerhouse : A/V SS [rp-2203] @ The Whiskey Jar Join the dark side - of electronic music. M.Powerhouse is a platform for emerging and established electronic music performers and digital visual artists, aiming to connect people from all backgrounds and abilities. Our highlight: Idiotbox Visuals make a rare appearance to bring you hypersaturated live feeds, vibrating floors and a feast for the digitalophiles. Keep your eyes peeled for the POWERHOUSE podcast to get and stay tuned in. FREE, 7 - 11pm
SUN 07 04 Above the Line #9: Manchester By the Sea + Paris, Texas @ YES
What better way to spend a Sunday than by reveling in these masterful explorations of family trauma and personal self-discovery. Above the Line presents the modern masterpiece of Manchester by the Sea (2016) followed by the classic Paris, Texas (1984). Grab a drink, grab a pizza and enjoy! FREE, 5.30 and 8pm
SUN 07 04 El silencio de otros + post-screening discussion @ HOME
The award-winning documentary from Spanish filmmaker Carracedo, El silencio de otros attempts to bring to justice those accused of political crimes committed during General Franco’s dictatorship in Spain. Victims of re-education camps, child abduction and torture come together to confront the perpetrators, as well as state-sanctioned collective forgetting of the dictatorship, in a powerful and affecting rallying cry for justice. Part of ¡Viva! Festival. £5/9.50, 6pm
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SUN 28 04 LevFlix presents:Boom For Real @ Levenshulme Old Library
LevFlix are a non-profit, community cinema in Levenshulme. This month they will be screening Sara Driver’s 2017 documentary “Boom For Real: The Late Teenage Years of JeanMichel Basquiat” about Basquiat’s pre-fame years as a graffiti artist in New York and how the city and its people shaped him as an artist. £3/6, 6 - 8.30pm
W O R D SAT 06 04 Feminist Book Club @ Common
The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson Explore Maggie Nelson’s illuminating novel The Argonauts, which explores gender, sex, children, death and the modern family. Everyone is welcome - feel free to go and join the chat. If you can’t afford the book, copies are available at Manchester public libraries (and can be found quite easily online). FREE, 7 - 10pm
SAT 06 04 Peter Barlow’s Cigarette #31 @ Waterstones Deansgate
Another mouth-watering bag of poetry pick-a-mix filled with four sorts of literary lavishness with Gilbert Adair: Sub-Voicive co-founder and curator and author of “h c e” (Joycey Pidgen-Hawaiian CreoleEnglish!); Sarah-Clare Conlon: Literary Editor of Creative Tourist, copywriter for Manchester Wire and Confidentials; Patricia Farrell: poet AND visual artist with a PhD on poetic artifice in philosophical writing to her name; Colin Herd: poet and lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, also edits adjacentpineapple.com FREE, 4 - 7pm
SUN 14 04 Murmur #8 @ Common
Finally, Murmur (the reading series) are back with the perfect Sunday afternoon gift. A heavenly line-up featuring Londoner Richard Scott, Daniella Valz Gen hailing from Lima, seamstress and graphic designer SS Whetton, founder of Temporal Drag the re-publishing house of copyright free texts to put them in conversation with new ones. Bonnie Hancell, a trans/queer artist, autodidact, and writer from the North of England. FREE, 6 - 8pm
THU 18 04 A Sting In The Tale @ FUEL
Ready for something entirely new yet warmly familiar? This first night of traditional storytelling - that’s right: exciting old tales from around the world - brought to you by Young Storyteller of the Year Iris Skipworth. There’s a chance for stories from the floor. Practice your best to flabbergast the audience. £5/7, 7 - 10pm
THU 25 04 Women of Poetry @ The Art of Tea
A poetry appreciation night that was called into existence to celebrate the work of female poets throughout history, from Sappho to Carol Ann Duffy and everyone in between. Get in touch with vitamincmcr@gmail. com to bring and discuss a poem by a female writer you admire and/ or come and read some of your own work. PAYF, 7.30 - 11pm
E A T Pizza Giro @ Electrik
Every Wednesday - Friday, £5 Bottomless pizza? Yes, please! Chorlton’s Electrik brings you the return of their popular pizza nights, kids (under 12s) eat FREE!
Gaskell Garden Permaculture Cafe @ The Old Abbey Tap House
Every Sunday 4 - 7pm, Pay As You Feel This weekly pop-up brings you healthy delicious meals made from homegrown produce. All ingredients come from the Gaskell Garden Project, less than a mile away from the Old Abbey Tap House, or is sourced surplus food saved from landfill. All the money raised goes towards supporting local refuge seekers with their asylum applications. Your meal will be cooked by 6 regular chefs: 2 UK citizens and 4 people seeking asylum.
Become a MURMUR patron to support our mission at: patreon.com/murmurmcr or murmurmcr.bigcartel.com
Review: Erst
9 Murray St, Ancoats, M4 6HS Wed to Fri 4 - 10.30pm Sat 1 - 10.30pm, Sun 1 - 8PM Erst from the ingenious minds of bakery ‘Trove’, has recently opened in up-and-already-come Ancoats. — First impression: the space is elegant — but not imposing. Agreed: soft lighting, a friendly hello and lovely low level murmur (!). We were then faced with an intriguing menu of small plates in gorgeous font. Appetites were whet straight off the bat. — Yes, and sated. Some dishes are perfection: flatbread with gremolata was 10/10, ricotta dumplings with wild garlic faultless (nb / the sauce was beyond anything I had eaten before: I would have drunk a pint of it: recommend saving some flatbread to dip in). Early highlights for me included pickled clams capped with the ubiquitous spicy sausage ’nduja: these were quite something. It was all looking inventive without being overly wanky. — Though delicious, I felt the ’nduja slightly overpowered those clams. Also, after the success of the first, we had another flatbread with whipped lardo, but the taste wasn’t quite strong enough to necessitate its addition for me. I felt they missed the mark slightly with that. Agreed. Overall there was a nice level of invention and I was constantly intrigued, but sometimes it felt like missing attention to detail, such as hard pickled fennel, or muddled flavours: a salt cod dish was sharp and zingy, but the poor cod was pushed into the background. — Drinks were great across the board though. The menu is extensive but accessible; the punchy English Davenport was superb; the softs great, too. And the staff were interested in what we thought of the drinks, which was nice. Yes – until the place got rammed come 9 o’clock the staff were faultless. Attentive and friendly in the best possible way; no squatting on their haunches and asking »how’s it going guys!« here. — All in all, Erst is a wonderful addition to the Ancoats family: an elegant execution of simplicity.
@erst_mcr // erst_mcr.co.uk
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