Northwest Festival Watch – July 2015

First up, it’s your final call for Manchester International Festival (2-19 Jul); tickets are still available for the contemporary classical strand, including the debut of clarinettist and composer Mark Simpson’s new piece The Immortal at The Bridgewater Hall (4 Jul), while Gerhard Richter and Arvo Pärt’s presentation of work inspired by each other at the Whitworth Art Gallery is free. Pärt’s Drei Hirtenkinder aus Fátima will be performed live throughout the day from Thu 9 to Sat 11 Jul by Estonian choir Vox Clamantis, and thereafter (until 19 Jul) by local choirs. Times of the choir performances are to be announced nearer the time; watch mif.co.uk. Later in the month, Manchester Jazz Festival will suit those who, in the wake of MIF, are pining hard for the opportunity to sit in a pavilion in a square (31 Jul-9 Aug).

Liverpool comes to vibrant life across 17-19 Jul with the annual Brazilica Festival, a celebration of the sights, sounds and energy of Brazil. Over three days of costume, music and samba, the centrepiece of course remains the carnival parade (Sat 18 Jul), which promises to bring the flavour of Rio to Merseyside.

Offering a similarly upbeat alternative to the sold-out Kendal Calling is Beat-Herder, with its now-fabled surprises and themed, er, bits (last year there was a swimming pool in the woods! No need to queue, trembling in the drizzle, for a portacabin shower). Situated in Lancashire’s lovely Ribble Valley over 17-19 Jul, the festival’s tenth instalment features Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Basement Jaxx and a live set from Nightmares on Wax, while the trustworthy Erol Alkan, Daniel Avery and Trevino help out on the party side of things.

Sheffield’s Tramlines (24-26 Jul) remains one of the North’s finest programmes, with a staggering array of bookings across the city. Highlights from this ludicrously cheap weekender include Evian Christ, Romare and Benjamin John Power of Fuck Buttons’ solo project, Blanck Mass – watch out also for further Skinny favourites Kate Tempest, Errors and James Holden.

Bringing up the rear, two folky, family-friendly affairs might be more your cuppa if you’re saving your energy for the big blowouts of August/September. Boasting Rozi Plain, The Wave Pictures, Jane Weaver and Dutch Uncles, Cloudspotting is a happy little beaut – snuggle up in the Gisburn Forest, Lancashire, and enjoy outdoors shows from The Fabularium travelling performance company and family arts in the Cloud Cuckoo Land area (24-26 Jul). The same weekend, Kate Rusby’s own festival, Underneath the Stars,  makes use of Cannon Hall Farm’s beautiful grounds with a fine lineup of songwriters and rootin’ tootin, good-time bands – though Phil Selway, Eddi Reader and Rusby herself are the main draws at this South Yorkshire shindig.