What's On North 4-11 Aug: Leeds Pride

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. 

Big news! After years of sharing with our sisterly Scottish mag, The Skinny North now has its very own Facebook page... Witness the fitness for yourself HERE. Toot toot!

1. Leeds Pride
Various venues, Leeds. Fri 5-Sun 7 Aug, times vary

It's the tenth year of Leeds Pride, and to mark a decade of celebrating the city's LGBT communities, festivities for this weekend are looking suitably strong. Alexandra Burke, Mark Almond, Sarah Harding, the Viaduct show team and many more take care of the main stages, while a whole programme of fringe events, children's activities, markets and fairground stalls complete the package – alongside, of course, the parade, which departs from Millennium Square on Sun 7 Aug at 2pm.

Photo: Bryan Ledgard

2. Manchester Loves Cocktails
Various venues, Manchester. Mon 8-Sun 14 Aug, times vary

A pina colada party, an Irn Bru cocktail and an introduction to the almighty plant that gives us tequila... You can expect all that and more from Manchester's very own cocktail festival, bringing together the city's favourite bars for a programme of more than 40 events and a lotta booze-based love. Read our full preview here to see our pick of the best cocktails and events on the menu.

3. Magic Rock Food and Drink Festival
Magic Rock Tap, Huddersfield. Sun 7 Aug, 12pm

One of the North's favourite breweries brings out the big guns once more with the return of the Magic Rock Food and Drink Festival. This year promises a bigger line-up with the likes of Holy Crab, Honest Crust, Blue Caribou, Talking Pork, Chaat Cart, Unusual Chutney Company, Dark Woods Coffee, Noisette Bakehouse, Birdhouse Tea Company and Hand Made Bakery all on the bill – plus DJS and, of course, loadsa fine beer.

Photo: Sam Needham

4. International Beer Day
Everywhere, Fri 5 Aug

International Beer Day is upon us! Best get chugging them pints then. "But where?", we hear you whimper in despairing, dulcet tones. Well, what a jolly good job we've compiled definitive guides to the best beer gardens in which to sink a jar or two in Manchester and Liverpool. All we need now is that ruddy sun, eh?

Photo: Patrik Kristian

5. Margaret Dygas
Soup Kitchen, Manchester. Fri 5 Aug, 10pm

Perlon records' Poland-born, Berlin-based Margaret Dygas stops by this weekend, armed with her highly coveted record collection, which spans all things deep, dub-influenced and groove-riddled and can often be found keeping the revellers happy at Panorama Bar. Support comes from Moid, Anton Fitz and Zutekh DJs, some of whom will also be bringing the pre-party vibes at Eastern Bloc from 4pm, alongside Oi Jackson and Burton Joyce.

Photo: basic_sounds

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6. Sadler's Yard Summer Jam
Sadler's Yard, Manchester. Sat 6 Aug, 12pm

Musical jams meet edible jams this weekend, with a day of live musicians and doughnut-based fun from Blawd bakehouse. Stealing Sheep, John Haycock, Rachel Rimmer, The Lake Poets, Napoleon IIIrd and Honey Feet will keep you entertained, along with DJ sets from Dutch Uncles and SMS, while street food peddlers Honest Crust, What's Your Beef? and The Mexican Pilgrim are on board to keep hunger at bay.

7. Grrrl Power
Constellations, Liverpool. Fri 5 & Sun 7 Aug, times vary

Grrrl Power take to Constellations this weekend for a two-day event showcasing women's creativity, including the launch (on Fri 5th) of their first exhibition, featuring works by artists including Becky Currie and Elizabeth Brownsword along with flash fiction writers and music from JELL, Faux Queens and Jan Lea. Then on Sun 7th it's time for workshops, screen printing and a 'Burn Your BraBQ'.

8. Group Therapy triple headliner
Gorilla, Manchester. Sat 6 Aug, 7pm

After previewing her new show with a sellout gig at The Deaf Institute, Josie Long heads back to Mancunian soil to host Group Therapy's triple headliner show, where she'll be joined by Ivo Graham and Daniel Simonsen – who you may recognise as the youngest winner of the prestigious So You Think You're Funny award at the Fringe and for a role as Erik in Reeves and Mortimer's House of Fools, respectively.

9. Liverpool Loves
Pier Head, Liverpool. Fri 4-Sat 6 Aug, 9am

A two-day festival celebrating the best of Liverpool's cultural heritage, food and drink and local businesses, the positive-minded Liverpool Loves takes over Pier Head this weekend for a programme of culture, food and wellbeing events. There's lots of live music on the main stage with BBC Merseywise, a 'Punks for Peace' themed Morning Gloryville rave, and much more.

10. Jolt x Hustle present Mark Farina
Botanical Garden, Liverpool. Sat 6 Aug, 12pm

The longer days of summer mean you've got plenty of time to party – a whopping 17 hours for this particular one, as Jolt and Hustle bring mushroom jazz legend Mark Farina to town. The daytime session takes over the seasonally apt Botanical Garden, before things head on over to 24 Kitchen Street as the evening kicks in. Support comes from Jimmy Allen, James Morgan, Andy Ash, Lewin and others.

Image: Nick Solari

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