It’s safe to say that Manchester is fully in the swing of a restriction-free summer, with June so far being beyond busy with events and parties.
There’s no sign of things slowing down just yet either – but in true Manc style, there’s something for everyone on the horizon this week.
There are celebrations of beer, music and a bit of both, candlelit sessions, yoga, film, and loads more.
Here are some of the best things to check out in the week ahead.
Summer Beer Thing
Kampus, 24 – 26 June
This three day festival celebrating all things beer will be taking over Kampus this week.
Summer Beer Thing is organised by the teams behind Port Street Beer House, Common and The Beagle, and is the sister festival to Indy Man Beer Con.
There’ll be a a brand new line up of breweries and food traders to go with its new waterside location, including Nell’s Pizza, Levanter and soon-to-be Kampus resident operators Madre, Pollen and Great North Pie Co.
Find out more here.
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground, 22 June
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Californian rockers Red Hot Chilli Peppers will be performing an almighty gig here in Manchester this week.
The By The Way singers will take to the stage at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground as part of their 2022 world tour.
It’s the third massive artist to perform at the venue in recent weeks, following on from shows from Harry Styles and The Killers.
Salsa, poetry and music at Lock 91
Lock 91, Various dates
Credit: The Manc Group
Manchester’s brilliant lockside local bar has loads of events on throughout the week in its converted lock keeper’s cottage building.
This week, there’s salsa dancing for all levels on Wednesday, as well as an open-mic or EP listening session from up-and-coming students from the BIMM Institute.
You can also pop down on Thursday for Punk in Drublic, a spoken word and stand-up comedy night that donates its ticket fee to Mustard Tree.
Cathedral Gardens and Exchange Square, 24 – 26 June
Credit: Gobefest
All weekend, there’ll be a celebration dedicated to the areas of Transylvania, the Carpathian Basin, and its wide-ranging traditions.
Yep, Gobefest is back for its sixth year, bringing together culinary delights like kűrtőskalács (chimney cake), mititiei (Romanian skinless sausages), Hungarian honey bread and Csiki beer, alongside folk music and dance traditions that date back hundreds of years.
For three days in June, stages in Cathedral Gardens and Exchange Square will play host to an array of bands, choirs, ensembles, orchestras, dance groups and solo performers, hailing from as far as Transylvania, Croatia, Hungary and Romania.
As we all know, getting tickets for Glastonbury is a nigh-on impossible task, but you’ll be able to get a little taste of the magical event here in Manchester.
Grub and Vocation Brewery are teaming up on GRUBstonbury, a weekend of entertainment, music, and food while the festival itself is broadcast on the big screen.
Events include a Best of Glasto Disco Bingo, a Born To Be Wild Child family party, and a Rockstar Spirits garden bar takeover, plus live DJs, a vintage clothing pop-up, and (of course) street food.
Rochdale will be hosting its FIRST EVER comedy festival later this year
Thomas Melia
There’s a comedy festival making its way to Rochdale for the first time ever, and it’s taking place over 10 days this autumn.
Rochdale is preparing for barrels of laughter, as the borough is about to host a comedy festival as part of its events programme for being crowned Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025-26.
The line-up features some well-renowned names in thecomedy world, many of whom have received awards and recognition along the way.
You can expect appearances from Lou Conran, who features as a regular support act for Sarah Millican, Tez Ilyas, from ‘Man Like Mobeen’, and TV comedy legend Mick Miller. There’s even some Britain’s Got Talent alumni in the form of last year’s finalist Alex Mitchell and 2017 semi-finalist Jonny Awsum.
Tez Ilyaz, Lou Conran and Brennan Reece are just some of the acts listed for Rochdale Comedy Festival / Credit: Supplied
Edinburgh Festival favourite Patrick Monahan will be performing along with English comedian of the year Rob Mullholland, Aaron Wood – named by Rolling Stone UK as one of the 12 rising comedy stars to see at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer, and comedy musician Alex Camp.
The lineup also includes Robin Ince, co-host and creator of Sony Gold Award winning BBC Radio 4 series The Infinite Monkey Cage, and a whole host of other stand-up acts who are all gearing up ready to make Rochdale giggle.
“Us northerners are famous for our sense of humour and there’s a big appetite for comedy,” commented Councillor Sue Smith, who is the cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council.
Rochdale Comedy Festival has an array of comedians taking part including Jonny Awsum and Daisy Earl / Credit: Supplied
“I’m happy to see Rochdale Comedy Festival launching during our year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture.
“It will bring together communities and give new comedians a chance to shine.”
So whether you’re in need of a cheer up, or you’re a comedy aficionado, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to crack a smile at Rochdale Comedy Festival, as it’s happening across 10 days from 26 September to 5 October in various venues across the Greater Manchester borough.
Featured Images – Supplied (via Publicity Pictures)
What's On
Salford Red Devils supporters group outline plans for the next major protest march
Danny Jones
Salford Red Devils supporters trust, The 1873, have outlined details of their next major march in protest over the club’s well-publicised ownership troubles and financial crisis.
The fan group, which has mobilised on multiple occasions already this year, is set to hit the streets once again this month and in larger numbers than ever, confirming another big demonstration before their next home game this weekend.
Sharing the update with fellow Red Devils on social media, 1837 leaders are demanding “truth and accountability from the top” ahead of the peaceful protest through Salford.
They have dubbed the event ‘The Last Rally’, but we can only assume there’ll be more fan action as the weeks and possibly months of uncertainty continue.
As you can see, The 1837 are calling for like-minded supporters to rally outside another nearby amateur rugby league football team, Salford City Roosters, before marching on to a second meeting point and, ultimately, the Salford Community Stadium.
Starting in Eccles, with a stop at Barley Farm, before arriving at their club’s home ground in Barton-upon-Irwell, the plan is to gather as much awareness, support and local attention as possible.
Writing in the caption of the above post, they added: “We’ve dominated headlines. We’ve exposed bad ownership. We’ve stood together.
“A history worth fighting for. A future worth protecting. Our last chance to be heard. Don’t stay silent. Make it count.”
Following a recent meeting of the RFL and the two Greater Manchester Mayors, Andy Burnham and Paul Dennett, Salford Red Devils were given somewhat of an even further stay of execution, as it was confirmed that their ‘winding up’/administration deadline has now been adjourned until October.
Nevertheless, the majority of fans are still being kept in the dark about the exact and up-to-date nature of their rugby league club’s situation at present.
Back in June, it looked like new investors could very well still be injecting vital funds to keep key players and staff on the books, but jump to now, and it looks like they don’t know if even things like the big screen even belong to them much longer.
Salford Red Devils aren’t just in debt – our very identity is up for grabs.
The badge. The name. Even the big screen. All signed off as collateral to financiers.
Once again, the march and peaceful protest will take place this Friday, 19 September, prior to the next fixture against Wakefield Trinity.
Getting points on the board will no doubt be a big plus for all, but the game looks like it will very much serve as the backdrop to the wider ongoing saga.
Are you a Red Devils fan, and if so, will you be attending the demonstration? Better still, even if not, what do you make of the circumstances surrounding your side at the moment?
Fantastic to see the fans turn out again, Salford Red Devils will never die 1873 👹🏉 pic.twitter.com/Gne5peQK6u
Daisy Jackson -
17th June 2022 
