What's On North 14-21 Jul: Brazilica Festival
This week we're celebrating creative women with the Women in Print exhibition, the diversity of Arab culture at Liverpool Arab Arts Festival and the region's rising names at Shiny New Festival at The Lantern, along with a big ol' party at Brazilica Fest.
Each week The Skinny team hand-pick a selection of the best events from the North's cultural calendar to provide you with this here top ten guide to the most exciting goings-on for the week ahead. From gigs, plays and exhibitions to spoken word, pop-up foodie events and one-off film screenings, we give you the insider's guide to things to do in Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds every Thursday morning.
1. Brazilica Festival
Various venues, Liverpool. Fri 15-Sun 17 Jul, times vary
It's time for a taste of Rio ahead of this year's Olympic Games, as Brazilica Festival gets the fiesta fired up this weekend. Between Friday and Sunday you'll be able to immerse yourself in Brazilian cinema, an exhibition from photographer Joao Marcos Rosa and, of course, the core parade day on Sat 16 Jul, which will see thousands line the streets of Liverpool to the sounds of samba bands from across the world. And if you're still going at 10pm, you can always go and check out the after party at Arts Club.
Photo: David Munn
2. Women in Print
Rudy's Pizza, Manchester. Mon 18 Jul-Tue 30 Aug
Celebrating the life and achievements of 16 iconic women who've helped shaped Manchester into the thriving city it is today, Women in Print is an exhibition of work by local designers, print-makers and illustrators including Helen Musselwhite, Angela Roche, Ellie Thomas and Tash Willcocks, curated by the brilliant Jane Bowyer. Each has depicted a heroine of Manchester's history, with the likes of Emmeline Pankhurst and Victoria Wood brought to life through some of the best creative skills in the region.
Image: Jane Bowyer
3. Liverpool Arab Arts Festival
Various venues, Liverpool. Fri 15-Sun 24 Jul, times vary
Aiming to represent both traditional and contemporary Arab culture in a positive way, Liverpool Arab Arts Festival returns this week for 10 days of dance, theatre, music, film and more. From a retelling of a Greek tragedy by a group of Syrian refugees (Queens of Syria, pictured) to 'meditational drawing' from artist Nazir Tanbouli, there's a lot worth catching – too much to write here, in fact – but luckily we've already done the hard work for you and compiled a guide of what we're most looking forward to.
4. ZiferBBQ
Ziferblat, Manchester. Sat 16 Jul, 6pm
The skies outside may not be particularly blue, but it is summer! Apparently. Stepping up to the plate to prove it, Ziferblat are throwing a BBQ round theirs, joined by Manchester meat maestros Bangers and Bacon out on the balcony serving up pulled pork, brisket, ribs and sliders. Wash these down with beers from local brewers ShinDigger (who also recently launched their pretty ingenious beer delivery service), while kicking back to tunes spun by Bolts.
5. Shiny New Festival
The Lantern, Liverpool. Fri 15-Sun 24 Jul, times vary
A great chance not only to see some Edinburgh previews, but also to wave a final 'cheerio' to a well-loved venue, the 10-day Shiny New Festival returns for its fifth outing – this time to mark the closure of the Lantern theatre. Showcasing new writing in theatre and comedy from across the Northwest and beyond, highlights include The Brink (pictured), a 40-minute monologue exploring post-natal illness; How We Lost it, a blend of comedy, dance and theatre from Cheap Dance Company; and comedy from the likes of Harriet Dyer, Kriss Foster, Foxdog Studios and the Lantern's in-house compere, Alastair Clarke.
ADVERTISEMENT | B.EAT STREET
Deansgate Mews (Great Northern), Manchester. Open every day from Sat 16 Jul, 11am-late
Opening this weekend, a jumble of new bars, micro diners, art spaces, sun decks and ’weird sh*t’, B.EAT STREET is set to take over the Great Northern’s Deansgate Mews indefinitely from Sat 16 Jul. The brand new street will offer food from seven of Manchester’s foodie legends – from Indonesian to Dutch dining – as well as three unique late-night bars and space for indoor and outdoor seating. If that alone isn’t worth a visit, maybe a 7ft T-REX art installation, Andy Murray’s old wine rack and a collectable art deco lamp worth more than your TV will swing your opinion.
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6. Skyliner Field Trip: Street art of the Northern Quarter
Northern Quarter, Manchester. Sat 16 Jul-Sun 25 Sep, 11am
You may have stumbled across Hayley Flynn's award-winning blog, Skyliner (if you haven't, you'll want to rectify that here), which functions as her mission to shine light on rare and fascinating art, architecture and the hidden histories contained within the concrete of the city. The good news is that she's bringing back her street art tours of the Northern Quarter, exploring how modern art movements continue to drive creativity in the bustling neighbourhood, including the recent Cities of Hope project (pictured). Be warned that last year these sold out, so get a wriggle on.
Flight of the Refugees clip from elias matar on Vimeo.
7. Flight of the Refugees
24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool. Sat 16 Jul, 3pm
A fundraiser event for United to Assist Refugees UK (a grassroots organisation supporting Syrian refugees, setting up sustainable women's co-operatives, safeguarding children and providing medical aid), Flight of the Refugees promises an eclectic melting pot of live music, film, poetry, performance, art, samba dancing and fire shows. Along with the UK premiere of Elias Matar's film Flight of the Refugees (clip above) and touring exhibition From Syria with Love, which features drawings by Syrian refugee children, there will also be music from SeaWitches and Moxie.
8. Channel One Soundsystem
Hidden, Manchester. Fri 15 Jul, 10pm
One of the world's leading dub and reggae sound systems storms into town this weekend, as Channel One (repped by Mikey Dread and Ras Kayleb) go head to head with Red Eye HiFi at Hidden, refereed by Fox. Reserve those energy stores; you're going to need all you've got to truly appreciate a two-and-a-half hour set from Channel One's legendary, hand-built custom speaker system.
9. The Tempest
Temple Newsam, Leeds. Fri 15-Sun 17 Jul, 6.30pm/7.30pm (Sunday matinee 2pm)
Heartbreak Productions present an outdoor performance of The Tempest, taking to the serene setting of Temple Newsam to bring Shakespeare's stormy final play to life, in which powerful sorcerer Prospero plots a huge tempest to sweep his usurping brother ashore. This musical rendition will be alive with masks, dance and a live band... Fingers crossed the weather plays ball, eh?
Photo: Stephen Bowler
10. Chris Kehoe
Gullivers, Manchester. Thu 14 Jul, 8pm
Well it's been a bit of a shitstorm lately – and that's putting it politely. Best replace those bad vibes with some funny (and free) ones, as Boltonian satirist and Skinny Spotlight comedian Chris Kehoe presents a work-in-progress performance of his new comedy show, The Second Coming of Chris. And speaking of comedians called Chris dishing out the free LOLs, Chris Ramsey's also in town on the same day with his Comedy Hotspot show for Manchester, joined by Hayley Ellis, Bilal Zafar and Carl Hutchinson.
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