Art & Culture

Manchester City’s Nathan Aké donates piano to grassroots music venue

How wholesome is this?

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia - 2nd April 2025

Footballer and Manchester City star Nathan Aké has donated a piano to an iconic city centre grassroots venue in Manchester.

To celebrate ‘International Piano Day’, the Dutch defender has teamed up with legendary instrument-makers Casio by donating a state-of-the-art piano in one very lucky music venue.

Aké and Casio are donating pianos across the UK through their joint project titled ‘Playing For Change’.

The iconic grassroots venue that’s receiving this prestigious instrument is none other than Band on the Wall, which has been pumping out live music under this name since 1975.

Processed with VSCO with kp5 preset
Processed with VSCO with kp5 preset
Credit: Supplied

This new addition will help the venue as a whole, but more importantly, it will come in very handy for their Saturday Music Club.

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Running every weekend, this session helps young people discover music and develop their skills, now via the fantastic PX-S7000 Casio piano.

Band on the Wall is a much-loved and adored Manchester city centre music institution, and they aren’t the only place benefitting from the Manchester city star and Casio.

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So far, 12 disadvantaged schools in the UK have benefitted from this joint effort from Aké and Casio, all of which were surprised with their very own digital piano.

This newest partnership won’t come as a surprise to fans of the Man City centre-back, as he’s been known to play the piano since teaching himself in 2020, and now he’s spreading his love of music to communities nationwide.

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Neil Evans, Head of Casio EMI, commented: “It’s exciting for us to support Band on the Wall with a gift of a brand new Privia piano.”

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“We’re hoping it’s used often and inspires people into learning the piano and increasing their access to the joys of music, which is at the core of Playing For Change.”

As for Aké, while he might be sidelined for the foreseeable following surgery on a fractured foot, the Netherlands international will hopefully be able to get lots of practice playing those keys.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Publicity Picture (via Supplied)/pantkiewicz (via Flickr)

Art & Culture

Science and Industry Museum reveals CGIs of iconic Power Hall that’s been closed for years

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Science and Industry Museum reveals CGIs of iconic Power Hall that's been closed for years

One of the Science and Industry Museum’s most iconic attractions will reopen this summer – and the beloved museum has revealed a sneak peak of how things will look.

The museum has shared CGIs of the reimagined Power Hall: The Law Family Gallery, where visitors will be able to explore a lively working gallery full of engines and rail vehicles.

The popular part of the museum closed for urgent repairs in 2019 and has since been undergoing conservation work and a new look created by award-winning designers Studio MUTT.

The sounds, smells and sights of Manchester’s past and present industry will be brought to the Power Hall when it reopens.

Visitors will soon again be able to rediscover objects and learn the stories behind those who powered Manchester’s industry.

There’ll be three main themes within the Power Hall – Making More, which will explore how engines helped people make more, faster, with steam engines installed at factories and mills.

Then there’ll be Powering Lives, which will examine how engines power the electricity network we all plug into every day.

And also Connecting Places, which looks at how locomotives have connected communities around the world, starting at the site of the museum which sparked a transport revolution in 1830.

Science and Industry Museum reveals CGIs of iconic Power Hall that’s been closed for years

Kate Chatfield, Interpretation and Content Manager at the Science and Industry Museum, said: “Power Hall: The Law Family Gallery will be a must-see Manchester experience – a living gallery that showcases a unique collection of historic 19th and early 20th century working engines to tell the story of Manchester as an epicentre for the engine-driven ideas and industry that shaped the world as we know it today.

“Our most iconic objects will be available to explore like never before as we bring to life the people behind the power through stories of the engineers, makers and technicians who use their skills and senses to create and care for engines, both today and in the past.”

The work on the Power Hall is part of a multi-million-pound regeneration project across the Science and Industry Museum, which is conserving and reimagining these historic buildings.

The Power Hall has been future-proofed in the six years it’s been closed to the public, including urgent roof and timber repairs.

Further information about what to see and do and the Power Hall’s opening date will be announced in the coming weeks. Sign up to the museum’s mailing list to be among the first to hear more.

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Power Hall: The Law Family Gallery project has been made possible with support from The Law Family Charitable Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Headley Trust, Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, Atmos International, The Beaverbrooks Charitable Trust, The Zochonis Charitable Trust and other donors who choose to remain anonymous.

Special thanks to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for their significant contribution to the gallery, and to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for funding the decarbonisation of the Power Hall through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, delivered by Salix Finance.

Featured image: Supplied

Art & Culture

A charity auction is selling memorabilia from the ACTUAL Peaky Blinders set

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

Peaky Blinders super-fans get ready, because there’s a charity auction is currently open and items worn by the stars of the iconic TV series are up for grabs.

This exclusive event gives bidders the chance to own a piece of modern-day TV history in the form of not just merchandise but authentic memorabilia.

Let’s be honest, we’ve all wanted to pull on a flat cap and pretend we were a gangster at one point in our lives, and what better way to do so and relive your Peaky Blinders fantasy than by doing so with one from the show? Especially since you know your money is going towards a good cause.

Whether you want to look as dapper as Tommy Shelby, or you just want to add a culture-soaked collector’s item to your, well, collection, you might want to check this one if you’re a big Peaky fan.

Maybe you could own something from this very picture at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Maybe you could own something from this very picture at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Walk away feeling dapper as ever with exclusive merchandise up for grabs at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Walk away feeling dapper as ever with exclusive merchandise up for grabs at the Peaky Blinders charity auction event.
Credit: BBC

Anyone planning on going to the Peaky Blinders charity auction event can bid in person or even register to bid online now if you won’t be free during the proceedings.

As for what is on the table, you could raise your virtual paddle for everything from a full suit worn by Cillian Murphy himself to Sam Claflin’s homburg hat, a pair of Michael Gray (Finn Cole) shiny shoes and much more.

You can find a full list of the items available for auction online, as the bidding commenced this month and will officially close on 20 May with a special tie-in event.

And where else to hold said event and than Manchester’s very own Peaky Blinders bar on Peter Street just off the main Deansgate strip, where the action will culminate in a flamboyant and free-to-all event.

Those attending in person will be greeted with a welcome drink before being encouraged to join in with the final day of the auction – guests are encouraged to turn up in ‘true Shelby style’ of course.

All the funds raised will go towards the much-loved NHS foundation and specialist hospital, The Christie, Europe’s largest cancer centre, right here in Manchester.

Peaky Blinders bar on Peter St in Manchester city centre.
Everyone knows the Peaky Blinders like a drink.

Tickets for this event cost nothing, but there is an option to add an additional donation if you wish, and bidding on items taken from the cult favourite TV show is open to everyone.

This isn’t the only claim to fame this Manchester-based centre has as just last month a breast cancer study at The Christie set up by Girls Aloud star and Stockport-born, Sarah Harding, helped save 80 women. Now that’s leaving a legacy.

Once again, the final day of the Peaky Blinders charity auction event is taking place on Tuesday, 20 May from 6-10pm, and tickets are completely free.

Sign up for yours below HERE.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — GoodFon/BBC

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