After a rough old year, The Deaf Institute is finally back doing what it does best – boasting a jam-packed calendar with music performances, quizzes, screenings and DJ sets.
A five-week, socially-distanced schedule is commencing from 17 May – and there’s something going on every single day of the week.
There’ll be gigs, comedy and arts events featuring some top Manchester DJs and bands – as well as venue takeovers from the city’s labels and music brands.
Deaf Institute’s doors have been closed since March last year when lockdown first began – but the team are making up for lost time with this huge lineup of events titled the ‘Good Mood Interlude’ to welcome everyone back.
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Alongside music and good times, there’ll be some cracking food from Koffee Pot – which is taking over the kitchen to provide hangover cures by day and DD’s Burgers by night.
Here’s what to expect from the schedule:
Mondays
Kicking off each week is a screening of a classic British comedy TV programme. Starting with the Mighty Boosh on 17 May and followed by Peter Kay’s iconic Phoenix Nights on 31 June, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for a good nostalgic belly laugh to start things off right.
17 May – Mighty Boosh 24 May – Alan Partridge 31 June – Phoenix Nights 7 June – Peep Show 14 June – Nighty Night
Tuesdays
Each Tuesday from 8pm, Sav will make a comeback with the weekly ‘Quiz That Came from Space’. It’s all free, but book a table to avoid disappointment.
Now’s the time to brush up on your general knowledge!
Wednesdays
Mid-week will be dedicated to music documentaries.
On 26 May, there’ll be a screening of I Am A Cliché, which tells the story of Poly Styrene – the first woman of colour in the UK to front a successful rock band.
16 June will see a screening of Montage of Heck, a film all about Kurt Cobain which brings together never-before-seen footage and interviews from his family and friends. Some very interesting stuff to get stuck into on Wednesdays!
19 May – Dig! 26 May – I Am A Cliché 2 June – Decline of the Civilisation – Part 2 9 June – White Riot 16 June – Montage of Heck
Thursdays
Thursdays bring a mash up of arts and music events.
From the interactive art club Overdrawn on 3 June, to International Teachers of Pop’s live show on 10 June (where they’ll finally get to play their latest album ‘Pop Gossip’ live in the flesh), there’s loads to experience and explore.
20 May – Speedy Wunderground Takeover 27 May – TBA 3 June – Overdrawn – Interactive Art Club! 10 June – International Teachers of Pop album playback and DJ set 17 June – Heavenly Records takeover
Fridays
A whole host of gigs and DJ sets will be taking place across weekends at Deaf Institute, including Halifax band The Orielles on 21 May, plus DJ sets from collectives All Hands On Deck and Left, Right & Centre a week later who will deliver a more experimental vibe to Fridays.
Mix-Stress from the Rebecca Never Becky will play mid-June. The collective are huge on putting a spotlight on LGBT+ talent in Manchester – go and check them out.
21 May – The Orielles + The Beat Chics 28 May – All Hands On Deck + Left Right & Centre 4 June – Girls On Film + Hannah O’Gorman 11 June – Rebecca Never Becky + Bloom 18 June – Dutch Uncles + Howling Rhythm
Saturdays
The music continues on Saturdays with a heavily punk and rock influenced lineup each week.
Cabbage, the post-punk rock band from Mossley, will play a special DJ set on 5 June, whilst fellow Manc band Loose Articles will take to the stage on 12 June.
Plus, three-piece rock band Pins will be doing a DJ set on 19 June as well. There are some great nights lined up here if you fancy something different.
22 May – Liines + Super Electric 29 May – Bollox + What She Said 5 June – Cabbage DJ set + Suck It and Spin 12 June – Up The Disco w/ Loose Articles + Hot Singles Club 19 June – Pins + Outernational Yorkshire
Sundays
The bottomless “Get Stuffed” brunch, with scran courtesy of Koffee Pot, will round the week off perfectly – as well as cure the hangovers.
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Events are free and walk-ins will be available if you fancy popping down on a whim. But it’s best to book to avoid disappoint. Secure your table online or via[email protected].
Stay up-to-date with music and events in Manchester with The Manc Audio.
Featured image: The Deaf Institute
Art & Culture
Manchester’s very own Jamie Hutchinson announces new stand-up tour dates
Danny Jones
Manchester comedian Jamie Hutchinson has just announced arguably his biggest domestic tour yet, and despite plenty of gigs around the North, he’s playing just one hometown headline slot.
So you’d best be quick about grabbing tickets.
The local stand-up has seen a huge rise in popularity over the last few years, not only thanks to his regular gigging on the live circuit, but numerous standout podcast performances and, in short, by being one of the most amusing comic storytellers around – at least as far as we’re concerned.
Now set to embark on an extensive run of UK shows early next year, Jamie Hutchinson is getting back on the road with his latest material very soon.
Taking his new hour, Can My Mate Come, He’s Sound (see, even his titles are low-key genuinely funny) on tour, the crown prince of Gorton, a.k.a. ‘Mash’ himself, is playing venues up and down the country, including plenty here in the North West.
After all, he can’t drive, so best keep the long train journeys to a minimum, eh?
To quote Broadway Baby, who shared their positive words only recently, their newest project promises a “brand-new hour of unfiltered mayhem, questionable logic and emotional chaos held together by takeaway boxes and blind optimism.”
If that isn’t a glowing review, then we don’t know what is..
The Hot Water’s Green Room host and regular Have A Word podcast favourite delighted his crowds and newcomers alike with his record-breaking Waterslide tour, which ran from 2023 all the way into last year, and now he’s looking to repeat that same success. As it happens, multiple dates have sold out already.
With more than 700 tickets sold within the first hour of presale alone, it’s no surprise that the likes of Chorley, Chester (already gone) and soon both of his Liverpool shows are soon to be sold out.
As for his Academy One show on Sunday, 24 May 2026 – which is just about the biggest Manc venue he’s played to date – we expect it won’t be long before that one books up too.
We can always hope he tacks on extra dates on the UK tour, but if you’re a Jamie Hutchinson fan, you’re still best just making sure you secure your seat while you can. Grab yours HERE.
Let’s just pray he makes it home in time for his appointment with ‘Dr Catford’…
He’s yet to record a live taping of a special, but this is the kind of charming nonsense you can expect.
Final few tickets remaining for Manchester’s mega-hit comedy festival Laughterama 2025
Emily Sergeant
The final few tickets are still up for grabs as Manchester’s most popular comedy festival returns next month.
After what was a smash-hit success in its inaugural year back in 2022, and after several other successful runs in each of the years following, Laughterama is back in Manchester for more next month time, and will once again be taking over the iconic Castlefield Bowl in the heart of the city centre for five days of fun.
Thousands of comedy lovers attend Laughterama each year to enjoy countless sell-out stand-up sets, and this year will be no different, as festivalgoers are in for an ‘explosive series of shows‘ from some of the hottest names on the comedy circuit.
Multi award-winning comedians Frankie Boyle, Ed Gamble, Rosie Jones, and Phil Wang are just some of the famous names on this year’s jam-packed lineup.
They’ll be joined by other household names like Russell Kane, Fern Brady, Rob Delaney, Lou Sanders, and Tim Key when they all take to the Castlefield Bowl stage over the five-day festival from Wednesday 3 – Sunday 7 September.
Some of the other names you can expect are Taskmaster treasures Sam Campbell and Bridget Christie, BAFTA nominee Lucy Beaumont, stand-up phenomenon Sarah Keyworth, King Gary star Tom Davis, Viceland’s Jamali Maddix, and viral sensation Jen Brister.
Manchester’s very own comedy heroes Rachel Fairburn and Stephen Bailey are also on the lineup.
Manchester’s mega-hit comedy festival Laughterama is making a 2025 return later this year / Credit: Supplied
It wouldn’t be Laughterama without some newcomers either, and some of the breakthrough stars not-to-be-missed this year include Edinburgh Fringe Award nominee Jin Hao Li, fast-rising talents Sharon Wanjohi and Dane Buckley, the razor-sharp Lara Ricote, and so many more to discover.
And aside from the comedy, as always, you can expect the very-best eats from Manchester’s street food scene will also be on site to tuck into, as well as an exciting selection of bars serving signature beers, cocktails, and more.
Hannah Starkie -
5th May 2021 
