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LEGO to host more free interactive workshops for kids in Manchester this summer

You can now sign up for events at Manchester Arndale and the Trafford Centre.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 5th August 2024

Little Mancs who love LEGO can take part in a series of interactive building workshops in Manchester this summer.

Following the launch of its new campaign aimed at championing and standing up for girls’ creativity earlier this year, The LEGO Group hosted its first series of interactive workshops back in April, and now, in a bid to keeping encouraging children across Greater Manchester to “play without limits”, the next round of dates have been announced.

Aimed at young creators aged six to 12, the workshops will be focused on themes such as entertainment, space, imagination, and gaming.

Workshops will take place down at Manchester Arndale and the Trafford Centre on selected Sundays this and next month, as well as online for those who can’t make it in person.

LEGO is hosting more free interactive workshops for kids in Manchester this summer / Credit: Supplied

The in-person ‘Creativity Workshops’ – which will be held at the LEGO Toy Shop in Manchester Arndale and LEGO Store Trafford Centre on Sunday 18 August and Sunday 15 September – will have themes centred around ‘Imagination’ and ‘DREAMZzz’, which means young creators can “delve into the world of imagination” through a series of activities and tasks.

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Kids can get play a spin-the-wheel game, or have a crack at building a house, animal, vehicle, and more, with a little help from the LEGO store associates for guidance.

And the best bit? Tickets to the workshops are free.

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But you will need to make sure you book them in advance on the LEGO website here, however, as they’re expected to be snapped-up fast.

Workshops are happening down at Manchester Arndale and the Trafford Centre / Credit: Craig A Rodway (via Flickr)

For those who aren’t able to attend the workshops in person though, there’s the new ‘Creativity at Home’ series, which are online workshops hosted by creative innovators – including dancing sensation Dianne Buswell, who’ll show families how to create fun LEGO builds to decorate your home.

Some of these online build projects include a vase, memory box, and a piece of artwork, and they’re available to take part in now on www.LEGO.com/Creativity-Workshops.

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Book your place on the Greater Manchester-based workshops here.

Featured Image – Supplied

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Beloved Manchester club night Funkademia leaves Mint Lounge after 14 years

Danny Jones Danny Jones Funkademia leaves Mint Lounge and moves to The Deaf Institute

One of the best-loved and longest-standing clubbing institutions in Manchester, Funkademia, is relocating once more as it leaves Mint Lounge after 14 years.

Started all the way back in 1995, there isn’t an older weekly club night in the history of this city, but the local weekend event and raver’s rite of passage is about to leave the cult favourite Northern Quarter venue after nearly a decade and a half and set up shop in another new home.

From its infancy at the old Boardwalk on Little Peter Street and popping up in the Mint Lounge back circa 2014, to the continued residency at Exhibition on Fridays, there have been many iterations of Funkademia and now the next chapter beckons from student-central over on Oxford Road.

It’s the start of a new era and it gets started this weekend.

Credit: Mint Lounge (via Facebook)/Supplied (via Union MCR x Funkademia)

Following in the footsteps of many famous promotions before them, future Funkademia nights will now be hosted by the legendary Deaf Institute.

Celebrating with a launch party on Saturday, 21 September, the iconic event will take over all three floors of the venue; The Music Hall will spin classic funk, disco, and soul beneath the disco ball, while the main bar (a.k.a. The Boombox Room) pumps R’n’B and hip-hop throughout the night.

Then, heading downstairs to the intimate bar and private hire room – regularly used for special events and celebration space – you can expect ‘big boudoir vibes’ and pure grooves spun by an array of special guests every Saturday.

Mint Lounge home held its final blowout at the venue this past spring bank holiday and they bid a fond farewell to the venue in true Funkademia fashion, but we’re glad it’s found such a wonderful new home.

The Deaf Institute is still one of our favourite venues in Manchester and always will be; plus, with almost three decades of dancing history behind them and no sign of slowing down any time soon, the future of Funkademia is in good hands.

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Co-promoter Jamie Scahill said of the relocation: “We’re thrilled to be bringing Funkademia to The Deaf Institute, a venue we’ve all spent many late nights at and have long admired. After an incredible run at The Mint Lounge, it felt like the right time to move to a new home where we can continue to evolve and deliver the unforgettable nights that our crowd has come to love.

“There’s nowhere else quite like The Deaf Institute, and it’s the perfect place for us to start this new chapter. We can’t wait to see both familiar and new faces on all three dancefloors.”

As for the new home itself, General Manager Curtis Willson went on to add: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Funkademia to The Deaf Institute. This is a legendary night that has been a cornerstone of Manchester’s nightlife for nearly 30 years, and we’re honoured to be a part of its next phase.

“Our venue is all about celebrating music and creating memorable experiences, and we know that Funkademia will bring exactly that every Saturday night. It’s going to be something special, and we can’t wait for the party to start this September.”

Tickets for Funkademia’s opening night at Deaf and all subsequent dates are available now at just £5 via Skiddle, with 100 early-bird tickets for all September dates still priced for only £3. You can grab yours HERE.

Doors open from 7pm every week, with DJs playing “all killer, no filler, to keep the dancefloor movin’ until 4am” – and believe us, they always stay true to their word.

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

Featured Images — Press Images

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Blossoms announce massive Manchester residency with five shows at five different venues

Danny Jones Danny Jones Blossoms five Manchester gigs tickets

Stockport’s finest Blossoms puzzled everyone when they decided to skip out on any shows in Greater Manchester on their recent tour announcement – turns out they were just waiting to announce not one but FIVE massive gigs right here in the city centre.

With the fifth studio album Gary out this week, their utterly incredible gig in front of 30,000 at Wythenshawe Park still very fresh in our minds, not to mention talk of them supporting Oasis on their reunion trail also in the air, the high-flying indie five-piece are… well, doing just that.

That being said, we did double-take when Blossoms announced their brand-new UK tour last month and we couldn’t spot a single SK or even 0161-based date; safe to say we were very relieved when we realised they were just teasing us ahead of a historic Manchester residency.

August’s outdoor all-dayer might have been the biggest single show of their career so far, but revisiting some of the most iconic Manc stages they’ve played before in less than a week is something special.

Yes, while their popularity might mean they’re not able to squeeze their hordes of adoring fans into the likes of Night and Day Cafe any more, Blossoms’ will not only be playing multiple Manchester gigs, they’ll be retracing their steps and going back to the much-loved venues that put them on the map.

We’ve seen them at The Plaza and Edgeley Park on their home turf, Castlefield Bowl here in town and even at festivals such as Kendal Calling, Leeds, Glasto and more – seeing a bunch of blokes from around our way in the big leagues warms our heart – but the band and the fans never forget those early gigs.

That being said, the local lads will be playing Manchester Academy, the O2 Ritz, Albert Hall, Victoria Warehouse and O2 Apollo over the course of just five nights. Some feat – only the ones bound for greatness get to line up those kinds of billings.

With some of the support acts already announced, including Leigh’s very own The Lottery Winners, you can find the full list of additional shows down below:

  • Tuesday, 19 Nov 2024 — Manchester Academy 1 – Special guests TBA
  • Wednesday, 20 Nov 2024 — Manchester O2 Ritz – Plus special guests Neon Waltz
  • Thursday, 21 Nov 2024 — Manchester Albert Hall – Special guests TBA
  • Friday, 22 Nov 2024 — Manchester O2 Victoria Warehouse – Plus special guests The Ks
  • Saturday, 23 Nov 2024 — Manchester O2 Apollo – Plus special guests Lottery Winners
blossoms manchester shows 2024
blossoms manchester residency dates
Credit: Press Image/Sophia J Carey (supplied)

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Speaking on the five residency gigs, Blossoms said: “We wanted to do something special with the
Manchester shows for this run of gigs. We played each one of these venues on our way up, so it’s great
after our Wythenshawe Park show to go and do these venues and remember where everything started for us. It’s a love letter of shows to the city! We can’t wait x.”

Tickets for Blossoms’ Manchester shows will be released just hours after Gary is finally dropped, with general sale going live at 9:30am this Friday, 20 September.

It won’t surprise any of you to learn that tickets for the other dates on the rest of their UK tour this October and November are almost sold out, so if you’re looking to see them anywhere else other in the country you best be quick about it.

You can grab yours HERE and we’ll see you at one of the five venues we hopefully get tickets for – at least we all get five chances!

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

Featured Images — Ewan Ogden/Sophia J Carey (supplied press images)

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