What's On

All the Manchester Pride music events happening this week

The city will be buzzing with Pride events this week.

Hannah Starkie Hannah Starkie - 24th August 2021

It’s been touch and go whether Manchester Pride weekend would go ahead this year. But with the lifting of restrictions and the mass roll out the vaccine programme we can safely say it’s game on by now.

Despite the annual Pride parade becoming another victim of COVID-19 after being cancelled down to safety concerns, the city has still got us covered with a range of other events starting as soon as Wednesday to really get us in the Pride mood.  

So, if you’re not heading to the official Manchester Pride Live festival down at Homeground or are keen to experience Pride outside of the village this year, here is our hefty roundup of music events happening across the city centre. 

Escape to Freight Island 

A dancer poses adorned in pink flowers, beads and flame shaped sunglasses.
Escape to Freight Island are set to embark on a five day Pride extravaganza. Image credit: Escape to Freight Island.

Really making the most of the weekend is Escape to Freight Island which is kicking off its Pride celebrations from Wednesday 25 August.  

Across a whopping five days, the popular al fresco dining and drinking hotspot is putting on a full jam-packed programme of music, DJs, live performances, drag shows and more to coincide with Manchester Pride Festival.  

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Renowned UK party starters High Hoops will be opening the show on the Wednesday. Expect to hear the signature disco, acid, psychedelic house and electro sounds that High Hoops are known for.

Then the funky vibes will continue into weekend from Friday with a takeover from Manchester collective Rebecca Never Becky who are all about championing emerging and LGBTQ+ artists.  

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Whilst on Saturday, the soul, reggae and afrobeat sounds of the So Flute DJs will switch things up, before Katbrownsugar and special guests take control. 

Freight Island’s very own Amuse Bouche will take over on Sunday as well. Hosted by Mix-Stress, the day will see a whole load more DJs followed by a special drag show courtesy of Performance is Power.  

To book, head here.  

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Escape to Freight Island | 25 – 30 August | 11 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PZ 

‘Something For Everyone’ at Ducie Street Warehouse

Also kicking Pride off early at Native Manchester on 26 August is the ‘Something For Everyone’ event presented by Ducie Street Warehouse.

There’s a whole five-day programme in place. It’ll be packed with performers, artists, live music and DJs in what will be Ducie Street’s first Pride Weekend event.

Mix-Stress and Friends will take care of the music on the Thursday, followed by four days of parties curated by Kiss Me Again, with takeovers from some familiar LGBTQ+ collectives.  

Marking the midway point in the festivities on Saturday will be Manchester’s own Gina Breeze, Luke Solomon and Krysko who will expertly soundtrack the evening with their years-worth of DJing experience. 

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Ducie Street Warehouse | 26 – 30 August | 51 Ducie Street, Manchester, M1 2TP 

The Refuge’s Come As You Are Weekender

The crowd enjoying the music at The Refuge.
The Refuge’s Come As You Are event has become a Pride weekend institution. Credit: The Refuge

The Refuge’s annual ‘Come As You Are’ event is not to be missed – and this year the weekender is back and bigger than ever. 

The venue’s stunning spaces will be opened up for a three-day and three-night spectacular from Friday to Sunday. 

Local legend DJ Paulette, Abigail Ward, Queer Latifah and Jamie Bull will provide all your house and disco mixes and everything in between across the weekend. 

It’s all free and walk-in only too so no need book tickets, just get yourself down there. 

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The Refuge | 27 – 30 August | Oxford St, Manchester M60 7HA  

Feel Good Club  

Northern Quarter café and bar, Feel Good Club, have announced their own plans for the weekend, too.  

Kicking things off on Thursday will be the launch of their monthly LOUDER music residency. It’ll focus purely on celebrating LGBTQ+ musicians making Pride the perfect time to launch the series. The inaugural evening will be in collaboration with Incantation Records, and will see SOFT LAD, The Elephant Trees and HUSK with The KTNA headlining.

Other Feel Good Club highlights across the weekend include a rebrand of their greenhouse to ‘Queen House’, which will become a safe space to meet and chat with likeminded individuals. And on Sunday afternoon, get some Pride pre-drinking in from 12pm-4pm. 

Feel Good Club | 26 – 29 August | 26-28 Hilton St, Manchester M1 2EH 

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Cottonopolis 

People enjoy drinks at Cottonopolis
There’ll be music, food and dancing at Cottonopolis all weekend. Credit: Cottonopolis

It’s full-on party mode at Cottonopolis this bank holiday. From Friday to Monday there’s is something different going on each day.  

Music highlights include live DJs, bongos and live sax players as they dust off the disco ball and transform the venue into a glittering extravaganza on Saturday.  

All the music and festivities will be accompanied by some cracking Japanese-inspired food, including a drag brunch, dining experiences, bottomless booze options and all of those famous Cottonopolis small plates and more.  

Head here to book a table.

Cottonopolis | 27 – 30 August | 16 Newton St, Manchester M1 2AE 

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Square One’s Pride Weekender

The crowd dancing at Square One.
Square One will host a special Pride weekender with High Hoops on Saturday. Credit: Square One/IG

Outdoor venue Square One have a class string of DJs lined up for their one-off Pride Weekender on Saturday 28 August.  

High Hoops, Midland, Niks, DJ City, Michael Upson and Supernature Disco will be responsible for spinning the tunes.  

The venue at the end of the Mancunian way has been putting on some incredible parties over the summer and this one’s set to follow suit.  

Tickets still available here.  

Square One | 28 August | Cakebread Street, M12 6HF | 2pm-11pm 

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Garden Party at Afflecks 

There’s even more fun to be had at Afflecks, too.

With a nod to the original Pride parade theme for this year, Manchester’s iconic emporium will be hosting their very own ‘Garden of Freedom’ party celebration in its place on Saturday 28 August. 

The whole building will be looking the part, adorned in heaps of glitter, decorations and all things garden party.

Meanwhile inside, drag DJs and queens will be roaming the venue for our entertainment throughout the day.

Afflecks | 28 August | 52 Church St, Manchester M4 1PW | 10am-6pm 

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StreamGM and The Manc have teamed up to show some serious love and support to the region’s renowned theatres, nightclubs, and live-music venues with the launch of SeeGM – a digital campaign to shine a bright spotlight on many of the amazing events, club nights, gigs and shows in our region. 

You can find out more here. 

#SeeGM 

Featured Image: The Refuge

What's On

The UK’s biggest fashion thrift market returns to Manchester this weekend

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A huge pop-up fashion fair full of vintage, pre-loved, and small business clothing is back in Manchester this weekend.

Clothes Cycle is the UK’s biggest curated second-hand clothing market.

With a focus on championing sustainable clothing and helping fashion fans find a gem they’ll treasure forever, each pop-up market organised by the student-led initiative sees dozens of carefully-curated sellers offering a wide range of styles and items – including plus-sized, gender-neutral, male and female – come together all under one roof.

Taking over the unique space inside the historic Victoria Baths this Sunday (12 May), Clothes Cycle will welcome more than 100 different sellers showcasing everything from bargain vintage finds and designer pieces, to pre-loved wardrobes and picks from local small businesses.

Organisers say the Manchester event will be a combination of in-person thrift shopping, a filtered car boot sale, and the best of sustainable high street stores.

Sellers on the day will be offering up something for everyone on every budget.

With plenty of bargains under £5 up for grabs, you can expect to find vintage clothing of all kinds, alongside the best of streetwear, y2k, retro, archive pieces, luxury brands, current trends, and handmade clothing if you head down on the day, as well as bags, shoes, jewellery, and lots of other accessories.

The UK’s biggest fashion thrift market returns to Manchester this weekend / Credit: Clothes Cycle Markets

If that wasn’t enough, there’ll also be vendors selling home decor, art and prints, greeting cards, plants, ceramics, and so much more, as well as tooth gem and nail art stalls to get involved with.

There’ll even be three DJs blasting out tunes in various rooms throughout the day.

And if all that shopping gets you a bit peckish, there’ll even be some of the city’s best-loved independent street food vendors pitching up to serve a wide range of mouthwatering grub – including pizza, burgers, dumplings, gyros, streak sandwiches, and ice cream, alongside freshly-brewed coffee, and other alcoholic drinks and cocktails.

Read more:

Clothes Cycle is coming to Victoria Baths in Manchester on Sunday 12 May from 11am-5pm, and tickets are now on sale from £5 online or on the door – with several concessions and VIP ticket options also available.

Find out more and book your tickets here.

Featured Image – Clothes Cycle Markets

What's On

Dozens of life-sized animatronic dinosaurs are descending on Heaton Park again this summer

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Dinosaurs in the Park

Dozens of life-sized animatronic dinosaurs are set to take over the grounds of Heaton Park once again this summer.

Manchester will become the closest thing to Jurassic Park in real life in a couple of months time.

Back by popular demand after proving to be a smash-hit success when it was here last year, our region will transform into “a palaeontologist’s playground” once again, as around 40 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs are descending on the popular park to give dino fans of all ages the chance to get up close and personal with the big beasts.

Dinosaurs in the Park will arrive in Greater Manchester from mid-July and stay until early August, with dinosaurs expected around every corner.

Just as they did last year, visitors can expect an “an educational and enjoyable day out for the whole family” this summer.

Among the dozens of dinos which have all been designed with “meticulous attention to detail” are well-known favourites such as the Stegosaurus, Triceratops and Velociraptor, as well as the lesser-known Dilophosaurus, Kentrosaurus, and Hypacrosaurus.

Explorers will be able to make their way through Heaton Park‘s interactive trail made up of dozens of moving dinosaurs, all while solving puzzles and making the most of a range of hands-on activities along the way.

Dinosaurs in the Park
Dinosaurs in the Park
Dozens of life-sized animatronic dinosaurs to descend on Heaton Park this summer / Credit: Dinosaurs in the Park

There’ll be a palaeontologist tent so you can learn all about dinosaur behaviour, habitats, and the fascinating process of fossilisation, and a ‘Dinosaur Dentist’ section where kids can have a go at brushing the teeth of a T-Rex, while the ‘Dino Dig Pit’ will give young explorers a chance to unearth ancient fossils at an interactive dig site.

Not only that, but there’ll also be a ‘Fun Zone’ with lots of other free attractions and thrilling fairground rides, and a ‘Food Zone’ where explorers can either grab a well-earned bite to eat from the food court or use the space for a picnic after a day of hard work.

Dinosaurs in the Park
Dinosaurs in the Park is “an educational and enjoyable day out for the whole family” / Credit: Dinosaurs in the Park

Dinosaurs in the Park will be taking over Heaton Park from Friday 19 July – Sunday 4 August 2024.

Tickets are now on sale and cost adults and children over three £12 each, while a family ticket costs £46 for a group of four, and children under three go free – and, if you book any time slot after 3pm, you’ll get 20% off your ticket price too.

Read more:

Find out more and grab your tickets here.

Featured Image – Dinosaurs in the Park

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