After a rough old year, The Deaf Institute is finally back doing what it does best – boasting a jam-packed calendar with music performances, quizzes, screenings and DJ sets.
A five-week, socially-distanced schedule is commencing from 17 May – and there’s something going on every single day of the week.
There’ll be gigs, comedy and arts events featuring some top Manchester DJs and bands – as well as venue takeovers from the city’s labels and music brands.
Deaf Institute’s doors have been closed since March last year when lockdown first began – but the team are making up for lost time with this huge lineup of events titled the ‘Good Mood Interlude’ to welcome everyone back.
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Alongside music and good times, there’ll be some cracking food from Koffee Pot – which is taking over the kitchen to provide hangover cures by day and DD’s Burgers by night.
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Here’s what to expect from the schedule:
Mondays
Kicking off each week is a screening of a classic British comedy TV programme. Starting with the Mighty Boosh on 17 May and followed by Peter Kay’s iconic Phoenix Nights on 31 June, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for a good nostalgic belly laugh to start things off right.
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17 May – Mighty Boosh 24 May – Alan Partridge 31 June – Phoenix Nights 7 June – Peep Show 14 June – Nighty Night
Tuesdays
Each Tuesday from 8pm, Sav will make a comeback with the weekly ‘Quiz That Came from Space’. It’s all free, but book a table to avoid disappointment.
Now’s the time to brush up on your general knowledge!
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Wednesdays
Mid-week will be dedicated to music documentaries.
On 26 May, there’ll be a screening of I Am A Cliché, which tells the story of Poly Styrene – the first woman of colour in the UK to front a successful rock band.
16 June will see a screening of Montage of Heck, a film all about Kurt Cobain which brings together never-before-seen footage and interviews from his family and friends. Some very interesting stuff to get stuck into on Wednesdays!
19 May – Dig! 26 May – I Am A Cliché 2 June – Decline of the Civilisation – Part 2 9 June – White Riot 16 June – Montage of Heck
Thursdays
Thursdays bring a mash up of arts and music events.
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From the interactive art club Overdrawn on 3 June, to International Teachers of Pop’s live show on 10 June (where they’ll finally get to play their latest album ‘Pop Gossip’ live in the flesh), there’s loads to experience and explore.
20 May – Speedy Wunderground Takeover 27 May – TBA 3 June – Overdrawn – Interactive Art Club! 10 June – International Teachers of Pop album playback and DJ set 17 June – Heavenly Records takeover
Fridays
A whole host of gigs and DJ sets will be taking place across weekends at Deaf Institute, including Halifax band The Orielles on 21 May, plus DJ sets from collectives All Hands On Deck and Left, Right & Centre a week later who will deliver a more experimental vibe to Fridays.
Mix-Stress from the Rebecca Never Becky will play mid-June. The collective are huge on putting a spotlight on LGBT+ talent in Manchester – go and check them out.
21 May – The Orielles + The Beat Chics 28 May – All Hands On Deck + Left Right & Centre 4 June – Girls On Film + Hannah O’Gorman 11 June – Rebecca Never Becky + Bloom 18 June – Dutch Uncles + Howling Rhythm
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Saturdays
The music continues on Saturdays with a heavily punk and rock influenced lineup each week.
Cabbage, the post-punk rock band from Mossley, will play a special DJ set on 5 June, whilst fellow Manc band Loose Articles will take to the stage on 12 June.
Plus, three-piece rock band Pins will be doing a DJ set on 19 June as well. There are some great nights lined up here if you fancy something different.
22 May – Liines + Super Electric 29 May – Bollox + What She Said 5 June – Cabbage DJ set + Suck It and Spin 12 June – Up The Disco w/ Loose Articles + Hot Singles Club 19 June – Pins + Outernational Yorkshire
Sundays
The bottomless “Get Stuffed” brunch, with scran courtesy of Koffee Pot, will round the week off perfectly – as well as cure the hangovers.
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Events are free and walk-ins will be available if you fancy popping down on a whim. But it’s best to book to avoid disappoint. Secure your table online or via[email protected].
Stay up-to-date with music and events in Manchester with The Manc Audio.
Featured image: The Deaf Institute
Art & Culture
A candlelit Queen tribute concert is returning to Manchester
Danny Jones
Yes, you read that right: a candlelit tribute concert to the one and only Queen is coming to Manchester city centre.
In fact, it’s coming home, as this wonderful event started right here in 0161 back in 2021.
Concerts by Candlelight themselves host concerts up and down the country at various points throughout the year, but their much-loved ‘Queen by Candlelight‘ special knows all about lighting up Manc venues.
Having since gone on to become an internationally acclaimed live concert experience, we’re glad we still get to see the ‘Princes of the Universe’ on our doorstep.
Credit: Concerts by Candlelight (supplied)
With the likes of Bridgewater Hall and the magical Manchester Monastery all having played host to the promotion on many ocassions, this time Queen by Candlelight is coming to the legendary Manchester Opera House in the new year.
One of our most historic and legendary theatres, it’s only fitting, really, that they be chosen to welcome a night of equally iconic tunes.
But it’s worth reminding more casual fans that these aren’t just British rock and pop anthems; Queen‘s discography is one that still has global recognition to this day.
That’s why this specific show has been taken to virtually every corner of the world, with the incredibly talented cast of singers and musicians delighting audiences in Dubai, Australia, New Zealand and New York, to domestic crowds here in town and down in London’s West End.
‘Queenies’ or ‘Darlings’, as Freddie Mercury used to call them, can expect all the big hits, from ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘We Are The Champions’, to ‘It’s a Kind of Magic’ and ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ and plenty more from the back catalogue.
Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store this coming January:
With tickets already flying out fast, we really would recommend securing your seats early before they inevitably sell out.
To quote the promoters themselves, “this spectacular celebration of Queen’s biggest hits is guaranteed to rock you.”
Coming to the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, 6 January, you can book your tickets for Queen by Candlelight right HERE.
And if you’ve never been to one of their candlelit events before, you only need to see how much of a ball we had at their country event earlier this year to find out how much fun they are…
Featured Images — Concerts by Candlelight (supplied)
Art & Culture
An ‘extraordinary’ new Live Aid musical is coming to Manchester on its UK tour
Emily Sergeant
An ‘extraordinary’ new musical based on Live Aid is coming to Manchester as part of an upcoming UK and Ireland tour.
Producers Jamie Wilson Productions say they’re ‘thrilled’ to announce that Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical will head out on a big UK and Ireland tour starting out in March 2027, and visiting loads of major cities along the way – including Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Nottingham, and plenty more.
The production take us back to 13 July 1985 – the day music united the world.
Live Aid was an unprecedented global music event that brought 1.5 billion people together, and they all have a story to tell about ‘the day rock ‘n’ roll changed the world’.
Now, more than 40 years on from that famous day, audiences in Manchester will get to discover the behind-the-scenes story of Live Aid in a whole new way, as Just For One Day – The Live Aid Musical is the story behind the greatest gig in music history.
What makes Just For One Day special? Nostalgia, relevance to today and a message for the new generation 🤘 pic.twitter.com/wRBV4Ar1Hv
— Just For One Day | The Live Aid Musical (@liveaidmusical) June 9, 2025
With hit songs by Bob Dylan, David Bowie, The Who, U2, Queen, Madonna, The Police, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, and more all featuring, these iconic artists made history at simultaneous charitable concerts in London and Philadelphia.
The musical is written by John O’Farrell and directed by Luke Sheppard, with musical supervision, arrangements and orchestration by Matthew Brind, choreography by Ebony Molina, and casting by Stuart Burt.
“Just For One Day brilliantly reimagines why Live Aid worked then and why the humanity of that day still matters now,” commented Bob Geldoff.
“I’m delighted that more of the UK and Ireland will finally get to see this extraordinary and compelling musical. The reaction the show gets continually surprises and amazes me, standing ovations and people come back time and again, introducing the Live Aid story to new generations.”
Hannah Starkie -
5th May 2021 
