An art exhibition and all-day rave showcasing underground, queer clubbing culture and more is going on show at Manchester’s newest music venue, The Loft.
Set inside a warehouse-style nightclub on an industrial estate in Miles Platting, PALOMA will be part exhibition, part rave: shining a light on the young local talent busy capturing the world of underground clubbing – as well as day-to-day life in and around Manchester.
Sound-tracked by a special line-up of DJs including Unity Radio’s Adele Tondu, multi-disciplinary artist Jordan K Joseph (whose artwork will also be on show), Zuri, and Manami B2B UK techno bass fusionist selector INGI, here music fans can explore images captured on blurry nights and dark rooms whilst vibing to meandering beats.
As for the artwork on show, those heading down can expect to see works from DJ curator Jordan K Joseph, Stockport-based photographer, Annie Woodall, Documcr AKA Harry Flaherty, Abbie Fowler, Rhianna Austin, and Egle Bidvaite.
Rhianna Austin will be bringing her varied style of photography, focusing on people in places whether that be incorporated within landscapes or nightclubs. Image: Supplied
Manami will go B2B with UK techno bass fusionist selector INGI
From work by Lithuanian native Egle Bidvaite, known for capturing the extraordinary fashion of underground queer raves and hidden moments of blurry nights, to photographs from Jordan K Joseph, whose style and artistic direction are informed by his love for music and the underground clubbing world, music and art lovers will find plenty to explore across the day.
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Elsewhere, there will be work on display by Annie Woodall, who captures scenes from her day-to-day life in South Manchester, and signature postcards from Abbie Fowler exploring the realms of photojournalism and landscape photography, all captured exclusively in film.
Documcr, AKA Harry Flaherty (the first collaborator of PALOMA.) creates art that brings to life familiarities of places and faces we know, and experiences we share, whilst Rhianna Austin will be bringing her varied style of photography, focusing on people in places whether that be incorporated within landscapes or nightclubs. Her main goal, to highlight a sense of beauty in any setting.
Taking place on 26 November, The Loft will be transformed for the day with one hundred free Paloma cocktails on offer to those first through the door, courtesy of tequila brand El Jimador.
Tickets are available to purchase for £7 on Resident Advisor or Skiddle, which admits entry to the exhibition and day party. Tickets can be purchased on Resident Advisor or Skiddle. The Loft is located in Unit 1, New Street, M40 8AW.
Feature image – The Loft
News
Hundreds of staff at four Greater Manchester hospitals to strike AGAIN next week
Emily Sergeant
Another round of strikes has been called at a handful of major Greater Manchester hospitals.
Amid ongoing disputes following the first set of strikes at the end of last month, it has now been announced that more than 350 Northern Care Alliance Foundation Trust (NCA) employees – including nurses, clinical support workers and housekeepers – who are members of the union UNISON will once again walk out for three days next week.
According to the union, the dispute centres on the NCA’s use of an outside agency called NHS Professionals (NHSP) to manage overtime.
When covering staff shortages, workers are entitled to time-and-a-half pay – however in some cases, staff earn less than they would on a normal shift, and some have even been missing out on more than £80 per shift, the union added.
Operating theatre staff were previously on picket lines in June, and although an option to resolve the row was initially tabled by NCA bosses, this has now fallen through.
Hundreds of staff at four of Greater Manchester’s hospitals are set to strike next week / Credit: Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
This means that staff at Salford Royal Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, and Fairfield Hospital in Bury are walking out next week on Monday 14, Tuesday 15, and Thursday 17 September.
The union’s North West regional organiser, Kevin Dolan, said the trust had given ‘no indication’ that it’s willing to re-enter negotiations, adding that operating theatre services were ‘chronically under-staffed’ and staff were choosing to work extra shifts to cover shortages.
Ahead of the August strikes, the trust declared a critical incident to help it secure extra support and keep urgent surgery running, while also announcing that some procedures would have to be postponed.
Understandably, some disruption is expected at each of the hospitals on strike days.
But Gertie Nic Philib, who is the chief people and strategy officer at the Northern Care Alliance, said that the trust will do ‘everything we can to minimise the impact on patients’ and ‘maintain high standards of care and quality at all times.’
“We also have contingency plans in place for emergency situations,” they concluded.
Featured Image – Pxhere
News
Stockport man jailed for life after kidnapping and sexually assaulting teenage girl
Emily Sergeant
A Stockport man has been sentenced to life in prison after kidnapping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl on her way home from the library.
Paul Sharpe has been sentenced to life imprisonment with an eight-year minimum term in prison after being convicted of a number of offences when subjected a teenage girl to what police called a ‘terrifying ordeal’ that lasted several hours back in May 2026.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) confirmed that the victim had been studying at Sale Library before beginning her journey home with friends at around 5:50pm and contacting her parents at 6:10pm to let them know she was on her way.
Twenty minutes later, she spoke to her boyfriend on the phone and said she was approximately five minutes away from home, but that her phone battery was about to die.
This was the last contact received from the victim that evening.
While walking along Bradgate Road in Altrincham, the victim noticed a grey Ford parked nearby and a man wearing a high-visibility jacket pressing doorbells in the area.
As she walked past, Sharpe approached her from behind, placed her in a headlock and threatened to stab her if she did not get into his vehicle.
Concerned that their daughter had not returned home, the victim’s family contacted police at 9:22pm to report her missing, and officers immediately launched an investigation to locate her.
Over the next several hours, the victim was subjected to and placed in a number of terrifying situations.
Sharpe drove the victim to several locations across Greater Manchester and Cheshire, before police located and arrested him at around 3:40am on 19 May 2026.
Following his arrested, 56-year-old Sharpe was convicted of kidnap, committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, threats with a bladed article, and administering a noxious substance with intent to injure, annoy or aggrieve.
“This was a terrifying ordeal for a young girl who was simply making her way home,” explained Detective Inspector Karl Perry, from GMP’s Criminal Investigation Department.
“Sharpe targeted a vulnerable victim, subjected her to hours of fear and intimidation, and went on to sexually assault her.
“The victim has shown immense courage throughout the investigation and court proceedings. Through her bravery and actions, she no doubt made it harder for Sharpe to carry out whatever acts he had planned.”
Georgina Pellant -
22nd November 2022 
