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New streaming platform launches to showcase Greater Manchester’s best talent

Greater Manchester’s trailblazing United We Stream project is launching a streaming platform for the region’s talent.

The Manc The Manc - 24th March 2021

The minds behind Greater Manchester’s trailblazing United We Stream (UWS) have launched a streaming platform to showcase region’s emerging and established talent to the world. 

Hosted at Digital City Festival on April 12, StreamGM aims to build on the incredible achievements of UWS – which was launched in lockdown to raise funds for the creative sector.

The platform proved to be a wild success – reeling in millions of viewers and raising £583,000 throughout its run.

StreamGM will be picking up where UWS left off – offering a soapbox for singers, dancers, musicians, poets and artists across GM.

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Andy Burnham – an early backer of the project – said that Stream GM would “play an essential role in our recovery throughout 2021.”

The Mayor of Greater Manchester stated: “Many venues will not be able to reopen fully until the second half of the year.

“So, by prioritising digital development such as this, we can continue to support our culture sector so they can later support us all through our personal recoveries from what we have experienced through the pandemic.”

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Poet Tony Walsh performing in Our City Speaks on United We Stream

Whilst showcasing local talent, StreamGM will also include specialised ‘hands on’ industry experience for young people in the production and promotion of digital broadcasting.

Greater Manchester Night Time Economy Adviser, Sacha Lord said: “In an incredibly hard year for many, United We Stream Greater Manchester provided moments of escape and joy and I’m incredibly proud of all we achieved.

“It’s now time to look to the future and, as we start to gradually unlock, how some of the partnerships and projects developed during 2020 adapt to complement live events. 

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“StreamGM is a perfect example of this, providing a platform for emerging Greater Manchester talent to perform to global audiences, taking talent beyond venue walls, helping our amazing city-region emerge from the pandemic in the strongest possible position.”

Driven by a shared love of music and culture, StreamGM will continue to “bang the drum” for Greater Manchester from its launch at Digital City Festival – an annual event series exploring what makes a leading digital city. 

Production for the festival is based at state-of-the-art studios in Salford’s Media City with all events broadcast online.

DJ Woody – United We Stream 24 hr The Hacienda House Party 

StreamGM will kick off proceedings at Digital City Festival on April 12 with a thrilling audio-visual DJ set from DJ Woody – who wowed audiences with his performance during UWS’ NYE Hacienda House Party.

Manchester Jazz Festival, Showhawk Duo and Jodrell Bank’s Blue Dot festival favourites ’Science in the House’ will also be turning in performances on the StreamGM virtual stage.

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A StreamGM panel will be hosted on April 13 – featuring UWS Global founder Lutz Leichsenring; Hacienda legend Graeme Park; Tom Besford from English Folk Expo, DJ Rebecca Swarray, Artistic Director of the Met David Agnew and United We Stream/StreamGM’s producer Marie-Claire Daly.

The festival finale on April 22 will host the first ever StreamGM talent showcase.

Digital City Festival Director, Martyn Collins said: “We’re delighted to have StreamGM curating the entertainment for our delegates at Digital City Festival. Despite lockdown, the amazing United We Stream project showed that innovation, creativity, music and performance could still be created, shared and enjoyed by all. 

“Using digital as the core platform and reaching a global audience, StreamGM is perfectly in sync with Manchester’s digital city status and also recognising that people are at the heart of everything we do.”

To join Digital City Festival, register for access here.

For more information about StreamGM, visit the official website.

News

Question Time audience stunned as first-time buyer says mortgage quote DOUBLED

Danny Jones Danny Jones Question Time audience member mortgage quote 10.5%

Thursday night’s Question Time audience could be heard audibly gasping after a fellow crowd member revealed that her mortgage quote had doubled followed the recent mini-budget.

Taping in Manchester on 29 September, the current events and politics programme was discussing property when would-be first-time buyer Rabia revealed that her mortgage offer had jumped from an initial amount of 4.5% interest to a shocking 10.5% in just a matter of days.

As you can see in the incredible clip, both the audience and the panel are taken aback at the revelation.

The Greater Manchester resident said she is desperate to know what the government’s plan for mortgages is as following the latest revision, she says she simply cannot afford to put the money down on her first home.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer weighed in on the social media reaction, quote tweeting the clip from his party’s own account and stating that “the Tories must get back to Parliament and reverse their kamikaze budget” as the current economic mess is being “paid for by working people”.

To make matters worse, Rabia was given no clarification from her lenders, only that they were pulling her offers. Conservative MP and Minister for Local Government, Faith and Communities, Paul Scully had little information to offer her either, simply stating it is a short-term effect and that the market will stabilise.

Scully was subject to an entirely different reaction from the audience as well after his blind attempts to defend Prime Minister Liz Truss and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng were met with laughter. Conversely, Richard Bacon was met with applause after he labelled the mini-budget “absurd”.

Read more:

As if the anti-Tory sentiment wasn’t already at a high, the chancellor’s mini-budget – which saw the corporations, bankers and the generally wealthy benefit ahead of the working class – has seen fresh calls for a general election to be held as soon as possible.

Beyond declaring a so-called £2,500 limit on energy bills (which many have warned isn’t a guaranteed cap), there was seemingly very little in the way of policy that

For those still unclear as to what was announced in the divisive mini-budget, here is a quick summary:

Everything you need to know about Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget 2022

Speaking in a speech at the Labour conference in Liverpool on Tuesday, Starmer said that the government “haven’t just failed to fix the roof, they’ve ripped out the foundations, smashed the windows and now they’ve blown the doors off for good measure.

You can watch the full episode of Question Time back on BBC iPlayer.

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

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The new restaurants and bars opening in Manchester this month | October 2022

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant

Another month, another round of new openings – and there’s plenty to get stuck into.

Whether you’re into glitzy late-night hang outs, casual dining turnarounds or award-winning burritos, let’s just say there’s something on the list for you this October.

From the brand new Shogun Ramen and Bar, which sees beloved Chorlton restaurant Peck & Yard give it ‘one more shot’ with a ramen and sushi concept, to Mayfair celeb haunt Mnky Hse, keep reading to discover where to put on your list this month.

Shogun Ramen and Bar 

Image: Shogun Ramen and Bar
Image: Shogun Ramen and Bar

Fans and staff alike were heartbroken when Chorlton restaurant Peck & Yard announced it was closing its doors for good in August, so we’re all happy to see the team return under a new guise.

Switching from baskets of fried chicken to steaming bowls of ramen and handrolled sushi, bosses will try something entirely new as they delve into the world of Japanese cuisine.

The concept is something they had originally considered before opening Peck & Yard, and they said that  “with the times we’re in” they thought “why not go back to the original idea and give this one last shot”.

Soft launch 1 October from 5pm, open from 6 October.

Mnky Hse

Image: Mnky Hse
Image: Mnky Hse

Late-night bar and restaurant Mnky Hse (pronounced “monkey house”) is set to be taking over a space in Lloyd House this month.

First opened in Mayfair, London, in 2016, it will be the second UK site for the restaurant and its first in the north of England when it opens its doors this September.

Known for its ‘hidden entrance’, Instagram-friendly interiors, live music, extensive cocktail menu and Latin American dishes, here you’ll find a great range of tacos – both soft and crunchy – alongside a range of sushi, ceviche and grill dishes.

14 October

Tortilla, Oxford Road

Image: Tortilla
Image: Tortilla

Mexican food chain Tortilla has arrived in Manchester, bringing a new burrito shop to the Oxford Road student stretch this month.

Offering a range of award-winning burritos, nachos and tacos, you’ll also find quesadillas, chips and salsa, salad bowls and more on the menu.

Open now

Read more: Full English breakfasts in a loaf of bread are coming to Spinningfields

Federal Cafe Bar, Oxford Road

The most hyped brunch restaurant in the city is opening a third site at the Circle Square development on Oxford Road at the end of this month.

With a later license allowing it to stay open longer and serve cocktails, beers and natural wines into the night, Federal Cafe & Bar will look to host occassional events at its new home

Plans for the new site include a new cafe set up, the addition of a corner shop, as well as a late alcohol license.

TBC

Read more: Federal Cafe & Bar is opening a third restaurant in Manchester city centre

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Fell Bistro, Longridge

Image: Fell Bistro
Image: Fell Bistro

A new arrival in Longridge, Fell Bistro comes from former Masterchef the Professional finalist Oli Martin who previously spent eight years at four AA rosette restaurant Hipping Hall.

With head chef Rikki Hughes, previousl of Tom Kerridge’s Michelin pub The Hand and Flowers in Marlow, heading up the kitchen we expect great things.

The menu offers a selection of classic dishes with their wood fired oven and grill featuring prominently. Elsewhere, find hearty Sunday lunches and light bites.

Open now

Bread and Bowl, Spinningfields

There are carb overloads, and then there is Bread & Bowls‘ Full English breakfast in a hollowed-out loaf.

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First launched in February 2020, these ginormous loaves of sourdough – stuffed with fry-up favourites like high-grade local sausages, crispy streaky bacon, beans, cheese, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes and hash browns – became something of a hungover lockdown sensation.

Now, you can find them at the new Spinningfields coffee shop 92 Degrees, housed inside the no.1 Spinningfields building Served between 8am and 4pm every day.

Open now

Bold Street Coffee, Oxford Road

Liverpool-born Bold Street Coffee has just opened its second shop here in the space of a few months.

Moving into the universities territory, the new site is found at University Green just off Oxford Road.

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Serving the same menu as its Cross Street site, head down for egg boxes, signature BSC frys, and hearty bowls of super porridge and granola.

Open now

Feature image – Federal / Tortilla / The Manc Eats

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