A new exhibition exploring our relationship with the natural world is opening at Manchester Museum next week.
Ready to take a trip to some of the world’s wildest places, all without having to leave Manchester?
If you answered yes to that, then you’ll definitely want to get yourself down to the Manchester Museum next week, as there’s a groundbreaking new exhibition called Wild opening at the city centre-based museum to coincide with World Environment Day on Wednesday 5 June.
Not only will it explore our relationship with the world around us, but it will also look at how people are creating, rebuilding, and repairing connections with nature, and how the natural world has traditionally been presented and idealised through Western art, as well as looking at some unique approaches to environmental recovery too.
A new exhibition exploring our relationship with the natural world is opening in Manchester / Credit: Supplied (via Manchester Museum)
The exhibition will also crucially look at how we can tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis by making the world more wild.
Visitors will be introduced to five remote – or, should we say, ‘wild’ – places across the globe, and hear from a diverse range of voices to discover how they’re all looking to ‘wild’ for a more positive future.
Featuring an immersive installation, audio, film, and interactive elements, alongside natural history collections and artworks, the exhibition will be encouraging visitors to notice the biodiversity and heritage of wild places, and invite people to question relationships with the natural world.
Wild will also look at how we can tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis / Credit: Supplied (via Manchester Museum)
Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran, and Yellowstone National Park in the US state of Wyoming, are just a couple of the places featured.
“Wild aims to provide hope in the face of a situation that often leaves many of us feeling pessimistic,” explained David Gelsthorpe, who is the Curator of Earth Science Collections.
“The exhibition highlights work being done by communities right now, to build stronger relationships with nature and shape their world for the better, and aims to encourage everyone to see that they can make a difference, no matter how big or small.”
The exhibition is opening at Manchester Museum to coincide with World Environment Day / Credit: Chris Bull (via Manchester Museum)
Mr Gelsthorpe says the exhibition is as “relevant” for local families in Manchester as it is for researchers and policy-makers.
“The ultimate goal is to “ask the public what kind of world we want to live in, and what we’re willing to do to realise that vision,” he concluded.
Wild opens to the public on Wednesday 5 June, and will be at Manchester Museum right through until June 2025.
Featured Image – Supplied
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Olivia Dean has announced a special intimate show in Manchester
Danny Jones
Soulful singing sensation Olivia Dean has set the UK music scene alight by announcing a number of intimate shows up and down the nation, including one right here in Manchester.
The fast-rising solo artist, who blends everything from pop and jazz to neo-soul as well as R’n’B, is one of the best and up-and-coming artists in Britain right now, with her highly anticipated sophomore album, The Art of Loving, set to release at the start of autumn.
As well as releasing her smash hit new single ‘Nice To Each Other’, the 26-year-old recently delighted even more music fans by joining Sam Fender on stage in London for a live twist on his track ‘Rein Me In’, which was instantly adored by millions and has now been shared as an official studio version.
Safe to say she’s flying high right now, and the second LP isn’t even out yet, which makes this small handful of gigs even more special and tickets super sought-after.
Revealing just seven pared-back shows across the country, Olivia said on her socials: “The art of loving in person! We’re doing some intimate shows, playing some songs acoustically and talking about making the album”, which is due to release on Friday, 26 September.
Partnering up with music shop chain and independent artist champions Rough Trade for the event, she’s set to play the just over 500-capacity gem that is Manchester’s Gorilla.
Other gigs up north include Liverpool at The Jacaranda and over at The Wardrobe in Leeds, where beloved local legends Crash Records will be helping host the show.
With the debut single already out, along with an already viral music video and accompanying dance alongside it, there’s plenty of excitement surrounding this project.
We’d pay virtually anything to see Olivia Dean and a group of backing singers do this at an intimate gig in Manchester.
We think we speak for pretty much everyone when we say that not only are we excited to hear The Art of Loving once it’s out, but hear it live and in this special acoustic format
Playing smaller acoustic album launch shows is nothing new, but they are sometimes the only chance fans will get to hear their favourite musicians play their songs in such a way, so Olivia Dean die-hards are understandably going to be scrambling for these tickets.
Once again, her second album is available to pre-order now, and tickets for her show on Friday, 19 September, will go live tomorrow (Wednesday, 5 June) at 10am.
You can get ready to grab yours HERE, and for now, why not read our review of the last time she came to Manchester for what was a truly magical headline slot?
Manchester Cathedral will be hosting a series of huge concerts this year
Daisy Jackson
Manchester is famed for its music venues, from the tiny (The Peer Hat) to the massive (The Co-op Live) – and now our beautiful cathedral is getting in on the concert action too.
Manchester Cathedral will be the host of a captivating concert series this year as the Echoes live music series comes to town.
The packed programme of concerts ranges from pop music to soul and reggae, all set against the backdrop of the Grade I-listed landmark.
Running from September all the way into November, Echoes will bring together live entertainment with timeless architecture in the city’s most majestic setting.
The line-up includes nostalgic pop royalty like Peter Andre, B*Witched, and Vengaboys, who’ll be bringing pure party energy to the Manchester Cathedral.
Some of the world’s most soulful voices will also be filling the grand building, with performances from Tunde of Lighthouse Family, Heather Small of M People, and Sister Sledge.
There’ll be more 90s energy with Noughties Baby, as JLS’s Marvin Humes brings Dappy as a special guest.
Completing the line-up this autumn are indie rockers The Feeling and a night of reggae with Maxi Priest and David Rodigan.
Expect nostalgia, energy and soul beneath the historic vaulted ceilings and sandstone arches of the Manchester Cathedral.
Whether you’re reliving the soundtrack of your youth, soaking in some proper anthems, or just basking in the acoustics of the magnificent cathedral, Echoes will have something for you.
The concert series is brought to you by JBM Music with tickets on sale on Friday 27 June from 9am HERE.
You can see the full line-up with dates below.
Echoes at Manchester Cathedral concert line-up in full
Thursday 25 September – Sister Sledge
Friday 26 September – Tunde Of Lighthouse Family
Saturday 27 September – B*Witched
Thursday 2 October – Peter Andre
Saturday 4 October – Marvin Humes Presents Noughties Baby with special guest Dappy
Friday 31 October – The Feeling
Saturday 1 November – Boney M
Thursday 27 November – Maxi Priest & David Rodigan
Friday 28 November – Vengaboys
Saturday 29 November – Heather Small – The Voice Of M People
Emily Sergeant -
30th May 2024 
