October is flying. The temperatures are dropping, the rain has returned with a vengeance and we’re looking for the best places to be indoors outside of our own homes.
Lucky for you, you live in Manchester where there is always plenty of stuff going on and, as per, we thought we’d do a round-up of the best gigs and events on this month.
With that in mind, let’s not waste any more time, shall we?
Hit and Run vs White Peach — Hidden (18+)
WHEN: Friday 14th October 2022, 11:00pm til 4:00am (Last entry 1:00am)
As far as we’re concerned, the weekend starts at 5pm on Friday and if you’re in search of late-night plans after that first pint goes down, a night of drum, bass, techno and more until 4am should do just fine.
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If you fancy seeing two duelling record labels, DJs like ADHD and Thys make their Manchester debuts and a whole host of other artists take over two full rooms, this one is for you.
Another over-18s-only event, Defected’s famous spot at Depot Mayfield is next up for this year’s Warehouse Project and the line-up will have you partying until the early hours as per.
Offering up everything from electronic, house and disco, including the likes of Glitterbox, Bob Sinclar, a Groove Armada DJ set and dozens more, WHP is well and truly getting into its stride.
WHEN: Saturday 22nd October 2022, 7:00pm til 11:00pm (14+)
Popping up at one of the city centre’s coolest new venues, the R&B/soul group Gabriels are rocking up for the second night in Manchester to christen the newly minted New Century, fresh from supporting Harry Styles on tour.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CikFRyVNfB3/?hl=en
One of the best-looking spaces anywhere in town, the slick 70s surround of the new space will is the perfect setting for frontman Jacob Lusk’s smooth vocals. You don’t want to miss this one.
The ragga legend himself General Levy is hosting a night of jungle and drum and bass in the Joshua Brooks basement. Say no more.
We can’t even hear his name without thinking of that legendary MistaJam moment on Radio One and you’ll be pleased to know his sets go off even bigger than that every time, without fail. Best of all, tickets are just a fiver. You’d be crazy to pass it up.
WHEN: Saturday 29th – Sunday 30th October 2022, 2:00pm til 11:00pm (Last entry 7:30pm)
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Credit: Dock 53Credit: AC/DC Experience’s sold-out crowd for Festwich
If you’re after slightly creepier vibes as the spook season nears, then look no further. The ‘Festival of Fear’ over near Piccadilly is Dock 53’s inaugural Halloween event and will see some of the best rock tribute acts in the UK descend on Manchester.
Hosted in the transformed cargo park and event space, you’ll be treated to the likes of Megadeth UK (Megadeth), Hi On Maiden (Iron Maiden), Ozzbest (Black Sabbath) and more. Rock lovers, get it in your diary.
Now, if you’re not one for fancy dress parties or going out on the town, but still want to enjoy Halloween 2022, this special screening of the horror classic Nosferatu (a.k.a. the original vampire) should be right up your street.
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Hosted at the Carlton Club over in Whalley Range, the German expressionist film adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula will be scored live by Chris Massey and Richie V from the Manchester daytime club Supernature. Better still, tickets include a free vegan meal and complimentary ‘dark beer’. Tidy.
Don’t sleepwalk into November and a winter full of buying Christmas presents on the few pennies you have left after watching every England game at the pub — get this stuff booked, people!
You can find plenty more gigs, club nights and special events going in Manchester this October via Skiddle.
Featured Image — The Warehouse Project (via Instagram)
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Rochdale’s incredible fire festival will bring blazing sculptures and fiery displays to town this month
Daisy Jackson
Rochdale will be filled with dazzling pyrotechnic displays later this month when the Ignite Fire Festival returns to town.
The spectacular free event will see the gardens opposite the Rochdale Town Hall – which reopened to the public earlier this year – transformed with fiery displays, blazing sculptures and illuminated installations.
The smash hit event debuted last year, attracting more than 10,500 people, and this year’s will be even bigger with three nights of magical family entertainment.
And the festival will culminate on the Sunday with the Rochdale Christmas lights switch-on.
Ignite Fire Festival comes from Walk the Plank, the outdoor arts specialists behind some of the UK’s biggest and best outdoor arts events, who have called upon artists and pyro technicians to create the many installations on show.
Between 5pm and 8pm each night, visitors will be able to walk past fire-based sculptures like goblets of fire, a daisy chain of flaming flowers, a fire bird with blazing eyes, and smaller birds circling a flaming nest – to name just a few.
There’ll also be sculptures that twist, flap and erupt with balls of fire, and ‘In The Balance’ will be a festival highlight, where rotating globes of flame seemingly defy the laws of physics.
Ignite Fire Festival is back in Rochdale this month. Credit: Supplied
Each evening, a fire drawing designed and made by local residents will be ignited alongside flaming hot performances from some of the UK’s top talent including Flame Oz – a thrilling fire dancing and juggling show.
There’ll also be performances from Liverpool’s Bring the Fire Project, local favourites Skylight Circus Arts, and street theatre and interactive arts group Travelling Light Circus.
Visitors should look out for Drum Machine, a 20-strong drumming collective, The Fire Man Dave performing a live fire show with fire eating and juggling, and Astro Aliens, a trio of cosmic beings that will entertain all ages.
The incredible event, sponsored by car supermarket The Trade Centre UK, is set to take place between Friday 22 and Sunday 24 November.
Ignite Fire Festival takes place in the gardens opposite the Rochdale Town HallThere’ll be performers as well as pyrotechnic sculptures. Credit; SuppliedIgnite Fire Festival is back for a second year. Credit: Supplied
After exploring the gardens, you’ll be able to pick up hot food, mulled wine and other seasonal drinks served each night.
On Sunday, Father Christmas will be in town to switch on the Christmas lights at 5.30pm in front of the town hall.
Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council said: “Last year’s Ignite Fire Festival and Christmas Light’s Switch On was a fantastic event and an instant hit with audiences from across Greater Manchester.
“It’s an exciting and unique event and the perfect addition to our big switch-on, providing family entertainment across the weekend.”
Mark Bailey, founder and owner of sponsor Trade Centre UK added: “Our partnership with Ignite Fire Festival and the Rochdale Christmas Lights Switch On is a fantastic opportunity to give back to a community that has welcomed us so warmly.
“At Trade Centre UK, we believe in more than just selling cars; we believe in being part of the fabric of the local area. Supporting events like this, which bring people together to celebrate in the heart of Rochdale, aligns perfectly with our core values of community and connection.”
The event is free, and no tickets are required. Ignite is organised by Rochdale Borough Council in partnership with Walk the Plank and Culture Co-op, a ‘Creative People and Places’ programme, funded by Arts Council England.
Find out more and plan your visit to Ignite Fire Festival HERE.
Science and Industry Museum to transform into immersive ‘Light Lab’ as part of 2024 festive events programme
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s most popular museums will be transformed into an immersive ‘Light Lab’ for the festive season.
As the temperatures begin to drop and Christmas creeps closer, this is your chance to escape the cold and brighten up the winter holidays with an adventure though light and colour, as the Science and Industry Museum has now unveiled its upcoming festive events programme.
You can also explore a gaming extravaganza, and be engrossed by festive-themed science shows at the city centre-based museum this December.
Back by popular demand, after enchanting visitors of all ages in previous years, the museum’s free Light Lab will be making a return for 2024 – with everyone invited to discover the secrets of light through illuminating activities, special shows, and immersive experiences.
The Science and Industry Museum will transform into immersive ‘Light Lab’ this winter / Credit: Jason Lock (via Science Museum Group)
As Greater Manchester is known for its grey winter days, a series of illuminating experiments will bring colour to your lives in the interactive Light Lab, where you can explore a hall of mirrors, discover how to bend light, and even take a dance break in the rave room, before taking a journey from the Sun back to the Earth during special science shows led by the museum’s team of expert Explainers.
You’ll be able to discover how light travels through our atmosphere, explore the science of solar flares, and even marvel at a mesmerising display of the Northern Lights – with real NASA footage of the Aurora Borealis.
If all that exploring has got you tired out, then you can slow things down in the Recharge Retreat and get comfortable with a picture book, or explore the relationship between colour and mood and why nature is so important to our health.
You can escape from the cold, and learn a thing or two while you’re at it / Credit: Science Museum Group
But if you’re looking for a change of pace, you can also enjoy the museum‘s ultimate gaming experience, Power Up, to immerse yourself in a whole host of different digital worlds by working your way through five decades of video games, or learn about how what we eat can have a huge effect on our brains and bodies at the Operation Ouch! exhibition.
Then, for something a little different all together this festive season, you can grab a ticket for the first of the 2024 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures being screened live at the museum on Tuesday 10 December, ahead of the broadcast on the BBC.
The Winter Holiday Programme at the Science and Industry Museum runs from 14 December 2024 through to 5 January 2025.
Danny Jones -
14th October 2022 
