What's On

There’s a FREE family wellbeing festival happening at Trafford Palazzo this weekend

There's meditation workshops, aerobic dance classes, and more on the lineup.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 31st January 2024

Meditation workshops, aerobic dance classes, and sound baths are just some of the things you could be getting up to at Trafford Palazzo this weekend.

That’s because the retail complex is bringing back its TP Feelgood Weekender festival.

Back by popular demand, and already sounding set to be weekend full of “fun and energising activities” for visitors of all ages to enjoy, the TP Feelgood Weekender will be taking over Trafford Palazzo‘s tipi space on both Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 February.

Open for all to attend, there’ll be a wide range of family-friendly workshops happening across the two days of the festival, all with a focus on health and wellness.

Some of the feel-good activities you can get involved with are yoga sessions, aerobic and dance classes, and relaxing sound baths, alongside guided meditation and ‘breath work’ workshops from Greater Manchester at the wider North West region’s most renowned wellness brands and professionals.

And the best bit about it all? Everyone can take part in all of these sessions without paying a penny, as the full festival is completely FREE.

On the Saturday (3 February), you can start your day out on a positive note with an ‘Ecstatic Dance’ class led by Transcend Tribe that’s designed to help you cope with stress and achieve serenity, or take part in a ‘Breath Workshop’ with experts Illumin8te to “steady your breath, steady your mind, and reap all the benefits” in the afternoon.

There’s a free family wellbeing festival happening at Trafford Palazzo this weekend / Credit: Trafford Palazzo

Or, how does an ‘Angst Aerobics’ class with Girl Gang MCR to let off some steam with an alternative excursive routine sound instead?

Then, on the Sunday (4 February), Girl Gang MCR are back to kick-start the day from 11am, but this time with their Taylor Swift-inspired fun aerobic dance session ‘Shake It Off’.

After this, little Mancs can then get stuck into a ‘Kids Meditation and Yoga’ class with The Conscious Classroom to help them move away from anxiety and stress, and toward “increased concentration over their mind”, while grown-ups try out an innovative ‘Sound Bath’ session with Gong Hollistic to renew their mind, body, and soul. 

There’s meditation workshops, aerobic dance classes, sound baths, and more on the lineup / Credit: Trafford Palazzo

Fancy it then? The TP Feelgood Weekender is happening this Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 February down at Trafford Palazzo, and it’s free to head on down to – but advanced booking of the classed you want to take part in is advised.

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You can find out more and book your place on the workshops here.

Featured Image – Trafford Palazzo

What's On

Rochdale will be hosting its FIRST EVER comedy festival later this year

Thomas Melia 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 the comedy 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 and Lou Conran are just two of the acts listed for Rochdale Comedy Festival / Credit: Supplied
Tez Ilyaz and Lou Conran are just two of the acts listed for Rochdale Comedy Festival / Credit: Supplied
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 Mick Miller / Credit: Supplied
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. 

Book tickets and view the full-line up HERE. 

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Featured Images – Supplied (via Publicity Pictures)

What's On

Salford Red Devils supporters group outline plans for the next major protest march

Danny Jones 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.

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?

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Featured Images — Ben Whitehurst (supplied via X)

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