A singalong screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Showis coming to Manchester next month – and you can still grab some tickets.
Event company ‘Project Popups’ is beaming the horror-comedy up on the big screen at Revolution Oxford Road in just a few weeks time, and is serving up an endless supply of drinks and snacks for the occasion, with audience members invited to belt own their own renditions of the soundtrack – and fancy dress is firmly encouraged.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show was originally released in 1975 and has become known as the quintessential ‘midnight movie’, in which viewers would shout back at the screen during theatre showings.
This new event in Manchester is inspired by the spirit of those boisterous screenings, and invites ticket-holders to join in with the wild action taking place on film.
The event synopsis reads: “On a wild and rain-swept late-November evening, somewhere at an empty stretch of road outside Ohio’s merry Denton, the blissfully-affianced, prudish, and boringly innocent young pair of Brad Majors and Janet Weiss find themselves stranded on their way to visit an ex-tutor.
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“Instead, the couple will inadvertently unearth the cross-dressing Dr Frank-N-Furter’s spooky lair of inexhaustible oddities, just in time to partake in the out-of-this-world mad scientist’s proud unveiling of his latest, delightfully extravagant, and most daring creation–the ultimate male and the perfect sex symbol: the flaxen-haired, Rocky Horror.
Audience members are invited to belt own their own renditions of the film musical’s iconic soundtrack/ Credit: 20th Century Studios | Pxhere
“But, little by little, as the effervescent transgressive force gobbles up whole the unsuspecting visitors of the night, Brad and Janet slowly begin to embrace the potent fascinations of seduction, while an idolised Rocky roams free in the mansion.
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“Who can interrupt man’s union with the absolute pleasure?”
The Rocky Horror Picture screening comes with two options: ‘Bottomless popcorn’ or ‘Bottomless popcorn with alcohol’.
If you’re going for the latter – Aperol Spritz, Ketel V&T, Blank Canvas, Amstel, Prosecco, Bloody Mary, Heineken 0.0% and selected soft drinks will all be available to order from the menu.
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The official screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show will be hosted at Revolution Oxford Road on 15 August 2021.
This is guaranteed to be a good ‘un – and tickets are available online here.
Featured Image – 20th Century Studios
What's On
Stretford’s free neighourhood festival returns this weekend
Danny Jones
Stretford’s still fledgling and completely free all-day festival is BACK for 2026 and is happening this coming weekend.
So, if you didn’t have plans this Saturday, you do now.
Simply named StretFest, this is the third edition of the now annual celebration in one of Manchester’s fastest growing neighbourhoods – and an increasingly up-and-coming one at that.
Kicking off in the morning and running right into the wee small hours thanks to a healthy dose of varied daytime activities, evening events and de facto afterparties, there’s plenty on the cards.
🎉 It's the big one on Saturday! Stretfest is back & we're thrilled to have a fab selection of LIVE Music on from 3pm – 8pm for it!
We can't wait to greet loads of faces, old and new. #Stretford will be buzzing with activity so come on down & make a day of it ! 🍻 pic.twitter.com/16Rnn5w1qj
StretFest only started back in July 2024, but it has quickly grown into a cult favourite not only among locals living in and around the Trafford town, but also among plenty of people from all over Greater Manchester, with last year seeing more visitors than ever.
Based not just over at Stretford Mall but the surrounding parks, Public Hall, across the bridge and an area they dub ‘The Beach’, there are several distinct but equally vibrant hubs, all offering something different.
For instance, venues like Longford Tap, Head Bar and Stretford Canteen are all involved, as are the likes of the Library and Martin Luther Church, but also recently opened cafes like Swig and Cuppello’s, as well as many, many more.
To be honest, we’ll probably be popping over for all the food and drink alone.
And, of course, there’s going to be plenty of live music, DJ sets, other bits of entertainment, and all-around fun to be enjoyed; there’s even going to be everything from arts, crafts and workshops, to pirates and boat rides.
Getting underway from as early 9am – thanks to the likes of the regular Stretford parkrun crew teaming up with the festival, and Mr & Mrs hosting a coffee morning for their first birthday – there really is going to be something for everyone from start to finish.
You can see the full StretFest schedule or build your own personal day-into-night programme HERE.
As for what else is on the cards for the final few days of March (give or take a couple), you can find out what else is on in and around the ten boroughs down below.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures/Adrian Michael (supplied)/The Manc Group
What's On
Embrace announce intimate live show in beloved Bury music venue
Danny Jones
British alternative veterans Embrace have announced another intimate show here in Greater Manchester, only this time it’s over in Bury at a stunning small-cap arts venue.
It’s not often you get to see such a long-standing band play outside of the city centre so far into their career, especially in gorgeous grassroots spaces like this one.
A fellow Northern outfit, they’ve often been lumped in with that ‘post-Britpop’ era of music, and plenty throw around the so-called ‘dad rock’ label, but honestly, we couldn’t care either way: they remain among the UK’s perennially underappreciated underdogs that never get old, as far as we’re concerned.
Revealing a handful of new live dates for their album launch this summer, they’ll be making just two appearances in the North West on the run.
Writing in the post, the group said: “We’ve lined up a run of exclusive UK dates in venues that are some of the smallest we’ve played in years. It’s going to be special, but capacity is extremely limited.”
As you can see, besides the Jacaranda Baltic in Liverpool, the only other place in this region where they’re set to play for this mini tour is The Met over in Bury.
One of the most beautiful gig spots, not just in the town but in all the 10 boroughs, for our money, the room only holds around 400 standing and roughly 250 seats.
For seasoned artists like this lot, who are more used to playing big festival stages and big domestic headline tours – which they’re also doing later this year – it’s sure to be a special night.
Toasting the release of their ninth studio LP, Avalanche, this spin-off on the tried and tested in-store format wouldn’t be possible without the help of local record store, Wax and Beans, who are promoting and hosting the show.
But we can’t lie, there’s something about the idea of seeing them decades on from when they first tightly-packed out crowds of this size.
If you want to be part of the Embrace album launch tour, you can get ready to grab your tickets at 10am this Friday, 27 March, right HERE. And speaking of great record shops…
The Manc -
22nd July 2021 
