What's On

There’s an online horror film festival happening in Manchester later this year

GRIMMFEST is back for its 12th year and is becoming a virtual event for the first time ever in October.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 16th July 2020
GRIMMFEST

Manchester’s very own annual horror film festival will be taking place online later this year and tickets are available to get your hands on now.

GRIMMFEST: Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Films is becoming a virtual event for the first time ever in October.

The 12th edition of the ever-popular annual event was due to take place at ODEON Great Northern, but of course, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the decision has been taken to transform it into a virtual festival and postpone the next live event to April 2021.

Horror film fans need fear not though, because a tantalising selection of feature film premieres, movie shorts and more will all be available to stream on a new online platform that audiences can enjoy from home.

Just like the festival is known to usually play out, viewing events will run from a schedule of advertised times, but this year, they’ll also be available for a longer window of time too, so you have the opportunity to watch them all at your leisure.

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So, what screenings are in store for the virtual event then?

There’s the UK premiere of Unearth – a horror confronting a Faustian pact with a fracking company, the #MeToo era-influenced vampire experience film in Ten Minutes To Midnight, and a tale of biker vengeance in Revenge Ride, to name only a few.

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As well as online screenings of 20 feature films and two short film showcases, there will also be plenty of Q&As to take part in, an exclusive talk with filmmaker Mick Garris – most-know for Masters of Horror & Stephen King’s The Stand – who will also be receiving a Lifetime achievement award, and also a special live-hosted panel session on Iconic Women in Horror.

It’s going to be a jam-packed five days of film.

Tickets for individual films will go on sale in August, but full film festival passes are available now.

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GRIMMFEST

Steve Balshaw, Chief Programmer of GRIMMFEST, said: “We are selecting some fantastic genre movie premieres that people can enjoy from the safety of their own home.”

“With so many titles already confirmed, this is shaping up to be a fine alternative.”

Simeon Halligan, Festival Director of GRIMMFEST, added: “We are indebted to the ODEON, who have worked with us to offer alternative ways to present the festival and are pulling out all the stops to help us make sure Grimmfest 2020/21 is a success.”

“We are also pleased that our key Sponsor ‘Horror Channel’ are able to continue their support throughout 2020, enabling us to put on an amazing post lockdown celebration of genre cinema”.

It sounds like it really will be GRIMM up north in October then.

GRIMMFEST: Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Films is taking place online from 7th – 11th October 2020. For more information on schedules, film guides and to buy your tickets/passes to the online festival, visit the GRIMMFEST website here.

What's On

Manchester to commemorate our armed forces with ceremony and parade this Remembrance Sunday

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester is set to fall silent and remember the fallen during this year’s annual Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

Just as it does each year, Manchester City Council has now revealed the details of how the city will mark Remembrance Sunday this weekend, and has confirmed that the annual Remembrance Sunday Parade will set off at 10:25am from John Dalton Street.

Civic dignitaries, servicemen and women, service and ex-service organisations, faith leaders, emergency services, and other uniformed organisations, have all been invited to lay traditional poppy wreaths and pay their respects at the Cenotaph in St. Peter’s Square, along with members of the public.

Proceedings will start at 10:25am, and run through until midday.

Plans to mark Remembrance Sunday in Manchester have been announced / Credit: David Dixon (via Geograph)

Veterans and military personnel will march from John Dalton Street to the Cenotaph, where a service will be held at 11am, along with a two-minute silence, all before a short march to Peter Street across St Peter’s Square then takes place to close out the commemorations.

The two-minute silence will be observed at 11am, and the start and finish of this silence marked by the firing of a maroon.

In order for necessary security checks and safeguards to be carried out, Manchester City Council has confirmed that a series of road closures will be implemented on Sunday 10 November between 7am and 1pm.

The following road closures will be in place:

  • John Dalton Street (Deansgate to Cross Street)  
  • Princess Street (Cross Street to Portland Street) with a ‘hard closure’ at Back George Street 
  • Cross Street (Princess Street to King Street)  
  • Peter Street (Deansgate to Oxford Street) with a ‘hard closure’ at Watson street and Hale Street 
  • Mount Street (Windmill Street to Albert Square)  
  • Museum Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)  
  • Southmill Street (Windmill Street to Albert Square)  
  • Bootle Street (Deansgate to Mount Street)  
  • Lloyd Street (Deansgate to Southmill)  
  • Jackson Row (Deansgate to Southmill)  
  • Central Street (Southmill to Mount Street) 
  • Cooper Street (Kennedy to Princess Street)  
  • West Mosely Street (Booth Street to princess Street) 
  • Bow Lane (Clarence Street to Princess Street)  
  • St James’s Square (South King Street to John Dalton Street)  
  • Ridgefield (Mulberry Street to John Dalton Street)
All the road closures for the ceremony have been confirmed too / Credit: Manchester City Council

As well as road closures, there will also be a number of parking restrictions set to apply on the day too.

It has been confirmed that all parking bays – including accessible parking bays – will be suspended from 8pm on Saturday 9 November, right through to 2pm on Sunday 10 November.

The roads where parking restrictions will apply are:

  • Lloyd Street (Deansgate to Southmill Street)
  • Jackson Row (Deansgate to Southmill Street)
  • Bootle Street (Deansgate to Mount Street)
  • Mount Street (Windmill Street to Albert Square)
  • Museum Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
  • Southmill Street (Windmill Street to Albert Square)
  • Peter Street (Deansgate to Oxford Street)
  • Oxford Street (Peter Street to Chepstow)
  • Princess Street (Albert Square to Portland Street)
  • John Dalton Street (Deansgate to Albert Square)
  • Ridgefield Street (John Dalton Street to South King Street)
  • Central Street (Southmill Street to Mount Street)
  • St James’ Square (South King Street to John Dalton)​
  • Windmill Street (Mount Street to Watson Street)​
  • Cross Street (Princess Street to King Street)​
  • Cooper Street (Kennedy to Princess Street)​
  • West Mosely Street (Booth Street to Princess Street)​
  • Bow Lane (Clarence Street to Princess Street)

When it comes to other forms of public transport, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that no trams will run through St Peter’s Square between 10am and 12:30pm on Sunday 10 November.

Read more:

More updates on this can be found at tfgm.com/remembrance-sunday, and then for real-time travel information on the day, you’ll want to check the the TfGM website.

Featured Image – Manchester City Council

What's On

StreamGM launch brand new livestreamed DJ series, ‘Room Two’, at The Yard

Emily Johnson Emily Johnson

Starting this Friday, 8 November, StreamGM and Audio North are bringing the next big names in dance music directly to fans through ‘Room Two‘ – a weekly DJ series broadcasting from StreamGM HQ, The Yard, over in Cheetham Hill.

This new initiative champions the freshest talents from Greater Manchester’s dynamic underground dance scene, giving viewers worldwide a chance to experience exclusive, high-energy sets across house, garage, jungle, techno, dubstep, bassline and more.

Every Friday at 7pm for the next six weeks, you can tune in for an hour-long, genre-defying mix featuring six standout artists and collectives — all handpicked for their unique takes on the UK dance scene.

Here’s their debut lineup:

StreamGM events lineup
StreamGM x Audio North + The Yard = ‘Room Two’, a.k.a. the Manc music scene’s best-kept new secret.

For fans of raw talent and boundary-pushing beats, Room Two promises a weekly showcase of Manchester’s most exciting rising stars — completely free to watch on StreamGM’s website and social channels.

Let’s get to know the talent.

Meet the artists taking over Room Two

Room Two StreamGM The Yard Manchester
Credit: Press Images (supplied)

Shimrise

Kicking off the series, Shimrise is the female duo who’ve made waves in Manchester’s house music scene, known for their fearless high-energy performances and risk-taking setlists.

Recently featured at Parklife and supporting the likes of Tarsza (NTS, 6 Music), Vanessa Maria (Foundation FM), and Kennedy Taylor (Capital Xtra), Shimrise’s sets blend dance classics with unexpected twists, creating a nostalgic yet electrifying vibe.

Prepare for a captivating opener as they set the tone for Room Two. You can watch our interview with the impressive pair of DJs down below:

Oldboy

Renowned for his mastery of grime, garage, bassline and house, Oldboy merges authentic UK sounds with modern twists, capturing the gritty energy of pirate radio and evolving it for today’s club scene.

His sets, steeped in UK bass culture, showcase explosive productions on labels like Untitled Dist. and his own Front Toward Enemy, making him a perfect choice to bring the classic Manchester rave vibe to Room Two.

A top talent well worth keeping your eyes on.

Old Boy The Yard StreamGM Room Two
oldboy manchester DJ
One of the most exciting names coming to the new StreamGM event at The Yard. (Credit: Press Images/The Manc Group)

Lapalace

With dreamy synths and classic drum breaks, Lapalace’s ambient dance project combines nostalgia with cutting-edge soundscapes.

Since launching in 2020, this Manchester-based artist has built a loyal following, recently crafting a new EP that expands her sonic palette beyond breaks, ambient, and jungle, creating an introspective yet powerful listening experience.

Genre-bending and certainly one to watch.

lapalace music
Credit: Supplied

Ghoulish

Speaking of which, as one of UKF and Mixmag’s ‘Ones to Watch’, Ghoulish is also setting the UK club scene alight with genre-blurring productions and intense DJ sets.

From euphoric dance to core-rattling dubstep, he blends a broad spectrum of sounds, recently earning a release on Skream’s label I FEEL and a spot on Warehouse Project Records.

Expect a high-octane set that defies genres and pushes boundaries.

ghoulish DJ
Credit: Press Images (supplied)

Me Gusta Collective

Taking fans on a global musical journey, Me Gusta Collective brings a rhythmic mix of Latin house, reggaeton, broken Beat, Gqom, afro-techno and house.

Known for uniting diverse sounds and creating an inclusive dance floor atmosphere, Me Gusta Collective’s sets resonate with anyone looking for beats that transcend borders.

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Also, goes without saying but… great f***ing name, isn’t it?

me gusta collective music
Credit: Press Images (supplied)

Finn

Inspired by both Manchester’s electric dance scene and US West Coast influences, Finn has cultivated a reputation for soulful, high-energy tracks.

With hits like ‘Keep Calling’ and ‘Do What You Want Forever’, his releases have become dancefloor staples.

A regular on NTS and a curator at SOUP and A Party Called, Finn’s sets are a celebration of Manchester’s underground energy with global appeal.

finn DJ
Finn rounds out the first wave of Room 2 acts set to play for StreamGM at The Yard (Credit: Supplied)

Read more:

Join the launch this Friday, 8 November, at 7 pm with Shimrise, and catch all upcoming sets on StreamGM’s website and the Facebook pages of The Manc and StreamGM.

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With an exhilarating line-up set to redefine Manchester’s underground scene, Room Two is where the future of dance music begins.

Let’s see out a great year for music in style.

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

Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/The Manc Group

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