Indy Man Beer Con
Thursday 28th – Sunday 1st October
It’s mostly sold out so I don’t know why I’m bothering putting it on here but I didn’t want people thinking I didn’t have my finger firmly on the Manchester events pulse – especially when it involves real ale and beer – which I know people can get very passionate about. There are still a few tickets knocking about though – primarily for Sunday, or you could just hang around outside Victoria Baths and wait for someone to offer you a ticket that they’re not using. Either way you will be rewarded with beers made by big blokes with beards as well as some mighty fine street food.
Pop Bubble Rock! 11th Birthday
Saturday 30th September, 9pm
There’s going to be loads of free stuff at Pop Bubble Rock’s 11th birthday this weekend – well, free pizza and free cake. There will also be the usual selection of great cocktails, top tunes and mental dancing. There will also be an unusually high proportion of attractive people there – which is why I like it so much. I put a more detailed piece up earlier this week so it’s probably best to read than rather than what I’m going on about now. Here you go!
Joshua Brooks, 106 Princess St, Manchester M1 6NG
0161 273 7336
joshuabrooks.co.uk/
Art Battle Manchester – Battle Royal @ Albert Hall
Saturday 30th September, 7pm
Give artists 30 minutes in which to create some form of art and you’ve gone and got yourself an Art Battle. Have them competing, with people watching, whooping and baying for some aggression and you’ve got yourself a Battle Royal. Get yourself down to Albert Hall this Saturday and you can get involved and vote for the winner – who will receive a grand prize of £36 and a trip for two to Alton Towers. More accurate information can be found here.
Albert Hall, 27 Peter St, City Centre, Manchester M2 5QR
0844 858 8521
Giants Live @ Manchester Arena
Saturday 30th September
Being able to lift two VW camper vans is a skill that all men should possess and luckily for myself – it’s something I’ve practised and honed throughout my 32 years on Earth. It’s also something these ‘strong’ blokes are good at too – as well as carrying big concrete balls, slapping chalk everywhere and bursting blood vessels in their face. The World’s Strongest Man is in town and who it is depends on the ridiculous challenges set out on Saturday night. If it was me organising it I’d get each one to try opening a jar of Patak’s Tikka Masala sauce after 6 pints – truly a more accurate indication of strength and dedication.
Manchester Arena, Victoria Station, Hunts Bank, Manchester M3 1AR
www.manchester-arena.com/
The Refuge Is One
Saturday 30th September, All Day
I’ve been banging on about this party ever since it was announced but it’s not because The Refuge have promised me a year’s worth of their Manchester Kebab, or even a free pint of Brooklyn next time I’m in – no, it’s because it looks set to a bloody corker of a day and night, which shouldn’t be missed. Now that I’ve mentioned it though, if anyone from The Refuge, perhaps one of the Unabombers lads want to sort me out with a free pint next time I’m in – I am always open to this. Maybe a kebab too. Cheers.
The Refuge, Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA
0161 233 5151
refugemcr.co.uk
Recipe for Success @ Central Library
Tuesday 3rd October, 6pm
There’s a free food and drink seminar being held at the spectacular Central Library this week, which will hopefully provide any budding foodies with the knowledge and inspiration to go out there and get cooking and selling. There will be Jason Bailey from GRUB, Jim Morgan from Rudy’s Pizza, Dave Rigby from Manchester Three Rivers and Andy & Oliver from Black Milk – all providing the info, know-how and anecdotes for anyone willing to give them a listen. I’ve always wanted to own and run a Tibetan Cafe, complete with Momo’s, Tibetan tea and that weird booze that they make themselves using Yak Milk – so I reckon I should head on down and get some pointers.
Performance Space, Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, M2 5PD
Noughties Quiz & Mean Girls @ Black Dog Ballroom NWS
Tuesday 3rd October
Loads of things went on in the Noughties. I turned 16, finished school, went to Sixth Form, lost 7 stone in darby weight, went to University, met Darren Beattie, went to China, went to America, ate a Lasagne sandwich from Tesco and drank out of a random blokes’ shoe in Robinski’s. None of these things will be in the 00’s quiz at Black Dog though – mostly because they are not very interesting at all, and also because nobody gives enough of a shit to want to write questions about it. But there will be plenty of actual, decent questions revolving around things that happened in the decade that screwed everyone over.
Black Dog Ballroom NWS, 11-13 New Wakefield St, Manchester M1 5NP
0161 236 4899
https://blackdogballroom.co.uk/nws/
The Kite Runner
From Tuesday 3rd October
This book is absolutely bloody mental, and not really something I should attempt to deconstruct while inebriated on a Spanish island. I read it a fair few years ago, and unlike many of the books I’ve read (usually a book a week), I actually remember most of it – mostly for its harrowing story of friendship and terror in Afghanistan. I’m sure the play will feature all the best bits from the book – perhaps not the greatest first date idea to try this week. Stick to Pizza Express (with a voucher) and some very basic foreplay back at yours.
The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford M50 3AZ
0843 208 6000
Climate of Fear @ Contact Theatre
From Tuesday 3rd October
We’re not really a political platform, and bringing anything up concerning politics or those idiots in Westminster is a bit of a tight rope in terms of the potential to alienate or offend. Usually I just do that by opening my mouth. Not today though. People are free to think and believe what they want – but I have decided to include this show at Contact regardless. Climate of Fear looks to explore climate justice and social inequality using the perspective of 3 seemingly unrelated people. Again, probably not one for a first date.
Contact Theatre, Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6JA
0161 274 0600
https://contactmcr.com/
