Manchester’s monthly newsletter
MURMUR ISSUE FOURTEEN DECEMBER 2018
@murmurmcr
Come together, meet happy faces, and say/sing Happy Birthday to MCR’s guide to radical, independent and inclusive activities.
7 DECEMBER @ SIOP SHOP 7PM - 10PM FREE
JOIN MURMUR FOR OUR 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY!
DON’T BE A DOG! DON’T BE A SQUARE! ... JUST BE THERE!
Manchester’s monthly newsletter
MURMUR
issue fourteen // December 2018
Editors: Olivia Havercroft, Nicole Peeters Huw Spencer, Tom Waring & George Odysseos Design: Lisa Lorenz Print: Team Trident Press
Emily Mount is a Manchester based illustrator. She draws things to make you go »hmm« and »aww«. Insta: @em.mount
murmurmanchester@gmail.com
YOU’RE INVITED! This month us here at MURMUR are celebrating our 1st birthday with a little party, and yes that’s right...you’re invited! There will be free donuts from the masters of fried batter, Siop Siop, there will be oodles of free booze and who knows, you may even win a stonking g reat prize on our raff le. Friday, 7th Dec / 7-10pm Siop Shop 53 Tib St, FREE
Welcome to MURMUR: Your alternative guide to Manchester’s independent, radical & inclusive events
L I S T E N 2 December Sundays at NAM w/Annabel Fraser @ NAM downstairs
One of our favourite DJs round town is digging deep in her bag of club discordant records. Presenting you »strictly no background music« to open your mind on one of Manchester’s most aspiring sound system setups. FREE, 5pm - late
6 December Manchester Collective: 100 Demons @ The White Hotel
MCR Collective have teamed up with electronic artist Vessel to revive this critically acclaimed work by composer Daniel Elms ― a fusion of harmonies by a live string quartet, electronics and a pre-recorded tape. £8, 8 - 11.30pm
Illustration: Emily Mount
8 December Natalie Sharp aka Lone Taxidermist: BodyVice (live) @ Soup Kitchen
Enter the freaky synth-pop circus of geniality constructed by Natalie Sharp aka Lone Taxidermist and find yourself astonishingly surrounded by rubbery plastics, magnified mouths and perhaps some gelatine and cream. Sharp’s latest project BodyVice plays with the notion of body architecture and the sensory zones between audience and performer ― doesn’t sound like it’s meant for the fainthearted! £8, 7.30 - 10.15pm
8 December DUDS / Housewives / Proteus / Basic Switches vs Empress Maud / Ste Spandex / Screening of »Norteños« @ The White Hotel
Post-punk Manchester 7-piece DUDS are launching their 2nd album »Immediate« and are joined by a thrilling, eclectic array of friends for a line-up spanning post-punk and no wave, experimental loops and industrial techno. Come early not to miss the screening of the brilliant black comedy short film »Norteños« by local directors duo Grandmas. £5/8, 10pm - late
9 December Hit the Groove @ Alphabet Brewing
Hit the Groove’s new record and discussion club takes us back to the analog world (as we at Murmur love to do!). Each month they play two vinyl records in their entirety; this month premieres with Talking Heads’ »Remain in Light« and LCD Soundsystem’s »Sound of Silver«. Come listen and then discuss the sounds afterwards. It is a much needed space in the harried and frenetic digital consumption of the modern age. £5, 4 - 7pm
14 December Miho Hatori (Cibo Matto) @ Night & Day Cafe
Singer of dreamy art-pop 90s band Cibo Matto and the original voice of Noodle in Gorillaz, Miho Hatori is an understated legend. Her solo project New Optimism sounds ethereal and hypnotic yet ever unpredictable and playful, incorporating elements from pop, electro, hip-hop and even dancehall. £10, 8 - 11pm 17 December Molar & Milk Crimes @ Peer Hat Female Punk from the capital taking no hostages. Unapologetically breathtaking. £5/6, 7.30pm - late
MURMUR REVIEWS Arnold Schönberg’s Pierrot Lunaire by Manchester Collective The White Hotel 24/11/18 Sprechstimme is a vocal technique that sits somewhere between speech and singing. Commonplace in 20th century classical music, it threatens to alienate regular music lovers for the sake of a handful of the most dedicated connoisseurs. Not in the hands of Manchester Collective and director Emma Doherty. Through a vivid adaptation of Pierrot Lunaire in the White Hotel, they created an entirely modern story of trauma and isolation, all while maintaining the haunting beauty of Schönberg’s score. If this is what modern classical music can look like, Manchester has a lot to look forward to. @ ManchesterCollective manchestercollective.co.uk
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D A N C E 1 December Wet Play w/ Sven Atterton @ The White Hotel
This year’s ultimate moisturisation executed by boogie wondersynther Atterton & aaaaall your Wet Pals! Take the gum, leave the baloney ― Happy Drenchness, one and all! £7.50, 11.59pm - 7am
1 December Kiss Me Again #26: World AIDS Day @ Soup Kitchen
Our KMA heroes are raising funds for the George House Trust in memory of their - and many others’ - inspiration Arthur Russell. All profits of the night will help provide services to people living with, and affected by, HIV. Celebrate the lives and dreams of the radiant souls who came before us and the ones caring for us now with a loving dance. £5, 11pm - 4am
7 December FIVE YEAR PLAN @ YES
Our official recommendation to continue MURMUR’s birthday bash. Rejoice with all your comrades to stomping techno and industrial dance action. FREE, 11pm - 4am
15 December Deptford Northern Soul Club #2 @ YES After slots at End of the
Road and Green Man, it looks like Deptford Northern Soul Club has now got its eyes on where it all began: yep, Manchester! Last month’s party was sold out so make sure you get your tickets early for some classic backdropping action and shuffling. £5, 11pm - 3am
21 December Eastern Bloc Showcase @ The White Hotel
Prize for 2018 best Christmas staff do goes to Eastern Bloc with grand DJ sets from record wizards Means&3rd, Kerrie, Akaram, Jim Spratling and Tom Houghton. £9, 11.30pm - 7am
We wish you all a peaceful & happy festive week with your loved ones. Always remember you are loved and you are not alone. If you feel distressed talk to a friend or call the Samaritans: 116 123, for free at their 24-hour helpline.
31 December New Years Eve Music & Arts Party @ Aatma Local garage legends Fruit Tones are hosting their very own NYE party, joined by a bunch of amazing bands, artists, magazines and DJs. Get your January Murmur here, hot off the press, and come and say HNY! £4, 7pm - 3am
31 December Hot Grot New Years Eve Party 2018 Extravaganza @ FUEL Grotbags call themselves producers of »pop hits for dumb shits«, and this NYE they are teaming up with befriended soft rock band Hot Shorts. Both having an ear for catchy pop tunes, expect to be seeing in 2019 blaring along to Weezer (karaoke!) and playing party games. £4/6, 8pm - late
31 December Partisan NYE Party! @ Partisan Collective
NYE house party at your mate’s feelings expanded: Partisan are going all out this year and are opening the doors til’ 6am. Dance your way into 2019 to the disco and boogie sounds of LOFT, Alex T, Sofie K, Boygirl and George & Ed. £16/18, 9.30pm - 6am
D O 2 December MCR Live x Rotation Record Fair @ Ancoats General Store
More record digging in record-gold dusted boxes stuffed with handpicked gems by independent record connoisseurs: Dig Deep Records / Vinyl Lovers / Lord Chester’s Mood Mosaic. Watch out, come down early for some free Discogs giveaways. FREE, midday - 8pm
6 December Xmas at the Mill @ Islington Mill
To get your hands on some unique Christmas gifts this year, head over to Islington Mill to find original prints and art works, ceramics, jewellery, woodworks and more. Also worth a visit for the mulled wine, the pizza, cake and Korean street food. FREE, 4 - 9pm
8 December From Housing to Human Rights @ Methodist Church Oldham St ☞
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A public meeting on the partnership between Manchester City Council and Abu Dhabi. How will Mancunians address the human rights abuses surrounding the government of Abu Dhabi? Should the Council be involved with such a partner? What type of future does such development suggest for Manchester? These and more questions will be answered with public discussions, panels, and performances. FREE, 10.45am - 1pm
11 December Get It Done: The Greenhouse @ Fairfield Social Club
DIY arts collective Get it Done are calling for a night of protest in aid of Manchester Central Food Bank. There will be incredible arts workshops on life drawing, stencil making and T-shirt printing; chats about food waste, allotments and living sustainably; and DJs to end the night with. Meanwhile, all proceeds go towards supplying emergency Christmas food packages to struggling families. £3.50/6.50, 4pm - midnight
12 December Bang! Bang! a party by Penny Thoughts @ The Peer Hat
Penny Thoughts is coming up to its tenth issue and to celebrate they are taking things from the page to the pub - expect a night of art, spoken word, DJs and cask ale at your favourite grungy NQ pub. FREE, 7.30pm - late
13 December Open Floor w/ The Night Time Economy Advisor @ YES
Is there anything you want to change drastically about MCR’s current music and clubbing scene? This open discussion gives you the chance to share ideas or raise concerns about what’s affecting our city’s nightlife. FREE, 7 - 8.30pm
Every Saturday & Sunday »Off the Cobbles«: A Tour of Manchester by Danny @ Manchester Cenotaph Invisible (Manchester) is a social enterprise that offers training to people who have been affected by homelessness so they can become walking tour guides of their own city. Danny guides you through the streets he spent four years living on. Each stop is marked with either a poignant poetry piece, written by Danny, or an anecdote from his time on the streets. £10, Sat 11am & Sunday 2pm
A R T 6 December Formal Blunders @ Port Street Beer House
Formal Blunders is a photo exhibition capturing Manchester by Mat Unsworth. Mat’s photographs capture the quotidian moments of everyday life in beautiful clarity. Come down early for some drinks provided by Pomona Island Brew Co. FREE, 6pm - late
W A T C H 6 December Launch of the Modernist #29 Film Screening: Brasilia - Life After Design @ WeWork
The Modernist their newest visuapleasing cult mag that has seen a change in format and the introduction of colour! To celebrate the launch enjoy a screening of Brasilia, a docu that explores what it’s like living in someone else’s Brutalist utopian ideal. £2/3, 6 - 8pm
10 December Film Screening: Calais Children @ Partisan Collective
Feminist and anti-racist activist group Safety4Sisters North West are screening Calais Children to mark the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The documentary by Sue Clayton explores what happened to the 2000 refugee children who were left abandoned after the harrowing fire of the Calais »Jungle« in 2016. donations, 6 - 9pm
13 December Queer Cinema Collective: Female Trouble @ Partisan Collective
Get cosy and become divine with QCC’s second filmstalment, Saliva Films 1974 classic Female Trouble taking you on a dark tour-de-force of comedy and crime. Enjoy some firstclass rubbernecking temptation. By the way - there will be a raffle, hot drinks and popcorn! £4, 6.45pm
15 December Make A Scene: Gremlins @ The Refuge MCR’s big gay
interactive film club brings you the 1980s festive classic comedy horror. Drag queen fur balls on a sleigh? Count us in! £10, 3.30pm & 7.30pm
W O R D 3 December FLIM NITE: Shrek @ 3 Minute Theatre
Oger-d! It’s the multi-headed reincarmagination of everyone’s favourite festive season film!! Remixed and scrambled up damsell-in-no-distress-thank-you performances to be expected and much more. And you shall live happily ever after - unless you miss this! £3, 7.30 - 10.30pm
6 December Tally-Ho: Performance/ Poetry/Comedy @ The Talleyrand
Aspiring poets, actors and comedians, make your way to Levenshulme if you would like to test out new material in a welcoming space! Live musicians will score your performance. donation, 8 - 11pm
9 December Murmur #7 @ Common
14 December Ghost Stories at Christmas @ Marketplace Studios Stockport
For the Scrooges amongst you who prefer Christmas with a dark twist, this ghost story telling night in the centre of Stockport’s Old Town might be just for you. Featuring author Joe Stretch (Manchester Writing School), poet Jai Lythgoe (HAUNT Manchester) and Gothic Studies PhD candidate Alicia Edwards (Manchester Centre for Gothic Studies). FREE, 6 - 8pm
N E W YE A R ’ S R E S O L UTI O NS Be Active & Be Outdoors PROJEKTS SKATE PARK, The Pump Cage, M1 2PG
Murmur cousin shout out!: Berlin via Copenhagen avatar lover Ed Atkins’ poetry performances edge on the limits of reality, helixing the viewers to the centre of the meaning of life! Creative Writing post-grad Fatema Abdoolcarim is an Indian-Pakistani visual artist, filmmaker and writer presenting a new creative non-fiction piece. FREE, 7 - 9pm
Women & Girls Only Thurs 7 - 9pm Skate lessons for all ages and abilities. If you’ve never been on a board before but have always fancied trying - this is the perfect place for you! The lessons are trans and non-binary friendly. All equipment and coaching by at least two female coaches, normally three, provided. No ticket or pre-booking, just drop in. Connie@projektsmcr.com
10 December Smiths of Word Writer’s Performance Night @ FUEL
Love Your Body & Stay Healthy
Community United in Music (CUM) are putting on their second open mic night for writers and poets. Three special slots are reserved for power diva Queen Bayard, Seattle-based poet and activist Nikkita Oliver and also Seattle-based hip-hop artist Rell Be Free. £3, 6.30 - 11pm
12 December No Matter #4 @ The Castle Hotel
Quickly becoming one of Manchester’s best poetry nights with an always illustrious line-up, No Matter presents its fourth installment. Feat. occult poetry entity Rebecca Tamás, the prolific Emma Bolland and the erudite and irreverent Nia Davies to jolt you into the beginning of Xmas festivities. FREE, 7.30 - 10.30pm
Sex Without Shame Partisan Collecctive, M4 4FY 8th December 11am - 8pm Join LGBT Foundation for a day of eclectic workshops and activities for LGBT people to celebrate passion, pleasure and sexual identity with self-love zine making, screenprinting and more. FREE (sign up for workshop spaces) Love Is The Drug 6 - 8pm An evening in lieu of a monthly instalment on the 3rd Thursday of the month featuring performances where LGBT people and those curious, explore sex, drugs and love. Expect poetry, monologues and sexual innuendos aplenty. FREE
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