Some of the UK’s “most exciting” comedians are bringing their shows to a new mini comedy festival in Manchester city centre this summer.
Taking over Manchester’s home of cult cinema, video games, and “cool nerdy events”, Cultplex – which is tucked away within the award-winning venue GRUB in Cheetham Hill – for one-day only next month, A Lovely Day is a brand-new mini comedy festival that’s set to bring all the laughs.
A handful of the funniest and upcoming names on the comedy circuit will take to the stage to perform their new work-in-progress shows.
The new festival is the brainchild of Manchester’s hotly-tipped comedy production power couple, John Stansfield and Chris Cantrill – who together created A Lovely Time, which brings tour shows to audiences right here in Manchester, and is known and loved for developing a range of unique comedy concepts.
Those making their way down to GRUB on Saturday 3 June will be able to see new shows from Spencer Jones (Upstart Crow), Rachel Fairburn (All Killa No Filla), and Vittorio Angelone (Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee).
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William Stone (Moth Club), and Erika Ehler (Comedians Giving Lectures) are some of the other exciting names on the lineup.
“We’re so thrilled to be launching Manchester’s first day-long comedy festival bringing together our favourite comics,” said organiser Chris Cantrill.
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“It’s a unique opportunity for comedy fans, rarely seen outside the capital.”
Spencer Jones & Rachel Fairburn are two comedians set to take to the stage in Manchester next month / Credit: Spencer Jones (via Instagram) | Kayla Wren Photography (via Instagram – @rachelfairburn)
Organisers hope A Lovely Day will provide Mancs with an alternative to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
As the world’s largest performance arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is enduringly popular and is known to take over the Scottish capital city for a month of eclectic shows every August – but as the years go on, the event is becoming increasingly more expensive, which sadly means many comedy fans miss out on the action due to finances.
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“Edinburgh is getting quite expensive for outside punters, so we thought we’d bring some of our favourites to Manchester so we can all have a lovely day without having to pay through the nose for accommodation,” organiser John Stansfield added.
Cultplex at GRUB / Credit: GRUB MCR
A Lovely Day is taking over Cultplex at GRUB from 1pm onwards on Saturday 3 June, and tickets are now available to get your hands on – with individual shows priced from £6.
You can also buy a day pass for £20, which gets you into all five shows on the day.
Loyle Carner announces special headline show at The Warehouse Project 2024
Danny Jones
The Warehouse Project lineup just keeps getting better as Loyle Carner has just been announced as the latest addition to the 2024 calendar.
One of the biggest hip-hop artists in Britain, Loyle Carner is heading back to Manchester just a few months on from smashing his outdoor gig at Castlefield Bowl to play an even more iconic local venue.
Set to land at Depot Mayfield this autumn, the show has been specially curated by the London-born rapper himself, featuring some of his favourite up-and-coming artists and putting on a much later performance than you’d be treated to at one of his usual tour shows.
Loyle until late followed by more music, DJ sets and partying until the early hours. Need we say more?
The 29-year-old won’t be taking to the stage until around 11pm and, in many ways, most of the fun is still yet to come longer after he exits the stage.
As you can see, the poetic musician is set to be joined by Brighton-based and thisisnq-managed duo, Frankie Stew and Harvey Gunn, but that is just the tip of the iceberg.
The Concourse stage will also hosted by Deviation with Benji B & Judah, Children of Zeus, and a number of other special guests – you’ll just have to wait and find out who they are like the rest of us.
But perhaps the biggest artist crashing the lineup is the legendary Yasiin Bey: real name Dante Terrell Smith, a.k.a. the iconic Brooklyn rapper, actor and hip-hop icon formerly known as Mos Def.
Yes, this night will see the old school collide with the genre’s next generation for an unforgettable night over in Mayfield and you do not want to miss it.
We also just can’t wait to see the Manc crowds giving off this energy again:
Pre-sale for Loyle Carner at WHP goes live on Thursday, 5 September from 10am, with general admission available from the same time on the following Friday, 6 September.
Sign up for early access online and you can be ready to grab your tickets for what we’re sure will be another magical night of live music Manchester show HERE.
And if you want to know what we made of his last visit to 0161, you can read all about it below.
Featured Images — Sirus Gahan/Jody Hartley (supplied)
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Three legendary Manchester venues to be ‘resurrected’ for special Halloween club night at Victoria Baths
Emily Sergeant
Three of Manchester’s most legendary old nightclubs are to “resurrected” for one night only this Halloween.
Returning for a “fright night of thrills” after a sell-out debut in 2023, this is your chance to travel back to a time when South, Jilly’s Rockworld, and The Tiger Lounge were still standing, as the three iconic venues will unite for The Silence of the Baths: Back from the Dead.
Manchester icon Clint Boon will be joined by Mikee Diablo and Max Oblivion for the one-off event at Victoria Baths in October.
The stunning Grade II-listed building is set to “show its darker side”, as the pool halls, Turkish Baths, and labyrinth of spaces undergo an epic Halloween makeover – with 100 spine-tingling skeletons, nine-foot high unearthly ghosts, a cauldron of 1,500 bats, and 500 watchful eyes.
Three legendary Manchester venues are to be ‘resurrected’ for a special Halloween club night at Victoria Baths / Credit: Chris Payne (via Supplied)
In case you’re unfamiliar with the three venues, Jilly’s Rockworld was institution with a reputation that went way beyond the city before it closed in 2010, while The Tiger Lounge was described as more of a movement than a club night, and the nights at South were often deemed “unforgettable”… and now, they’re back for more.
The trio of DJs will “manifest the spirit of Manchester’s past club scene” in a silent disco from the balcony above the Sports Hall on the night, each with their own channel.
While you relive your youth and dance the night away, a selection of “terrifying elixirs” will be bubbling on the Victoria Baths’ bar to choose from, including beers, spirits, and creepy cocktails, and for those with the ‘monster munchies’, there’ll also be plenty of tuck-shop style snacks to tuck into.
Fancy dress is encouraged, and there’ll be ‘spooky swag bag prizes’ for those who impress.
Tickets are now on sale for the special one-off spooky event / Credit: Chris Payne (via Supplied)
The Silence of the Baths: Back from the Dead will take over Victoria Baths on Saturday 26 October, with doors creaking open from 7pm, and tickets are now on sale here and setting you back £16 each (plus a booking fee).
The event sold out last year, so early ticket purchase is recommended.
All ticket purchases for Halloween events support the work of Victoria Baths Trust to preserve Victoria Baths, so that communities can continue to enjoy this inspiring building.