Each week The Skinny team hand-pick a selection of the best events from the North's cultural calendar to provide you with this 'ere 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.

SLÁINTE!

Time to celebrate our tenuous links to the Emerald Isle ("I'm one-eighth Irish!") because, it seems, we love any excuse for a good knees-up – and it's not like we can rely on the non-starter that is our own national day, let's face it.

Instead, piggyback onto St Patrick's Day this week with our guide to the best events across the North, including an all-day festival in Leeds, a 20th anniversary screening of The Butcher Boy at Hyde Park Picture House, a parade and an Independent Liverpool weekender, plus a four-course dinner at Koffee Pot and a special Levenshulme Night Market in Manchester.

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Lunchtime read | The Skinny Goes Packaging-Free

Why don't people actually recycle? Try living without packaging for a week, and then you just might... Grab a brew and have a read here. Illustration: Sonny Ross

Manchester International Festival line-up announced

The full programme for Manchester International Festival 2017 has been unveiled, including a collaboration between New Order and visual artist Liam Gillick, a series of live music events curated by Mary Anne Hobbs and more. Photo: Monika Lukasik

Who's on the GIT Award shortlist?

The shortlist for this year's GIT Award has been announced, once again showcasing an eclectic mix of music from the Merseyside region, including Louis Berry, Immix Ensemble, XamVolo, The Coral and Baltic Fleet. Photo: Claudia Arnold

Also this week:

Fat Out's 10(9)th Birthday
Islington Mill, Salford. Sat 18 Mar, 4pm

To celebrate their 10th birthday, Salford DIY promoters Fat Out managed to wrangle a great line-up of Manatees, Gnod, Ghold, Bilge Pump, Locean (pictured), The Death of Money, Poppycock, Atatat and Suttey and The End of the Worlds for an all-day party at the Mill. Only thing is, turns out they're actually turning nine, but the party goes ahead regardless... Just with one less candle. Photo: Alexander Bell

Scope Plus
Bates Mill, Huddersfield. Sat 18-Sun 19 Mar, 2pm

Exploring the wide spectrum of what live electronic music can be, Scope Plus features music from Visionist (DJ set), Giuseppe Ielasi, LOFT, Clerk 37 & Zeale, Mike Drones, Us&It, SGNL and BFTT, plus art from Peter Breitenbach, Helge Ebinger & Sebastian Russ, Maximilian Kreis, Tom Wilson and Richard Bates, and workshops with Jo Anne, Ben Eyes and Hoot Music. Art: Verbalspicks

Connected
Kosmonaut, Manchester. Thu 16 Mar, 5pm

A collective of Staffordshire University's Graphic Design and Illustration students head to Manchester this week for a pop-up exhibition and social, exploring the theme of 'Connected' through paper cut, typography, modelling, illustration, embroidery and more. You can also grab some free bevs on arrival from Three Rivers Gin, which is always nice. Embroidery by Louise Smith

Play It Loud: Gig Poster Goodness
Gallery at Munro House, Leeds. Launches Thu 16 Mar, 6pm (exhibition until 27 Apr)

Celebrating the union of music and art, this exhibition showcases hand-screenprinted works by Manchester-based illustrator and printer New Analog. The launch night will also see New Analog live screenprinting with Moderate Realism, along with beers from North Brewing Co. Art: Limited edition screen print for Lee Scratch Perry.

Northern Restaurant and Bar
Manchester Central. Tue 21-Wed 22 Mar, times vary

The North's largest hospitality trade exhibition, NRB returns to host 300 exhibitors, 65 live demos and a debate with Gary Neville and Michael O'Hare. The event itself is only for those working in the restaurant and bar industry, but others can also get a slice of the action with fringe events around the city centre.

Gigs in Liverpool

In Liverpool this week it's all about Fela Kuti's son Seun at Invisible WInd Factory, local fave Natalie McCool at 24 Kitchen Street and the usual smattering of great gigs at Maguire's Pizza Bar. Photo: Andy Sawyer

Gigs in Manchester

Meanwhile, this week in Manchester you can go catch locals Luxury Death at The Castle, London duo Factory Floor at The White Hotel, conceptual punk bros The Garden at Soup Kitchen and *even* Macy Gray at Manchester Academy 2. Photo: Laura Merrill

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Read more news from across the Northwest cultural scene at theskinny.co.uk/news
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