What's on North 8-15 Jun: World Gin Day + go vote!

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.

Whatever Floats Your Vote

We're not here to tell you how to vote today, or try and sway you with sensationalism and misinformation – we'll leave that to those pesky tabloids.

What's imperative, though, is that you DO VOTE.

Sure, after the past few months you're probably feeling disillusioned by politics (and the general state of the world), but we think it's important now more than ever to stay motivated and engaged. Read our article on how vital it is to resist voter fatigue, before getting yourself down to your local polling station to do the right thing.

Artists in Leeds to create the UK's tallest mural

Street artists Nomad Clan (a duo comprising of Cbloxx and AYLO, aka Joy Gilleard and Hayley Garner) are creating an epic mural as part of citywide street art project A City Less Grey, which when completed will become UK’s tallest piece of street art at 137ft tall. Read all about it

In praise of Aki Kaurismäki's cinema of kindness

In these troubled times, we need Aki Kaurismäki's funny and hope-filled films more than ever. Our Film Editor Jamie Dunn explores the work of the great Finnish director, who's known for making some of the most original comedies in world cinema.

Also This Week:

World Gin Day
Sat 10 Jun

Ahead of World Gin Day, why not check out our guide to the best gin cocktails to make at home? You can also check out the best gin joints in the UK, as recommended by the Gin Journey's Leon Dalloway. Events-wise there's the Absolutely Fabulous Gin Festival at Croxteth Country Hall (9-10 Jun), a blind tasting masterclass at The Hedonist Project with Fever-Tree and live music, tasting sessions and DJs at Liverpool's Botanical Garden. Photo: Didriks

Positive Vibration
Various venues, Liverpool. Fri 9-Sat 10 Jun, times vary

Join the likes of Jah Shaka, The Selecter, Channel One, Don Letts, Prince Fatty, Horseman and others for Positive Vibration, Liverpool's award-winning festival of reggae music and Jamaican heritage. Accompanying the live music are workshops, a reggae Q&A and the returning Art of Reggae exhibition, which will showcase 100 reggae-inspired posters from across the world.

Advertisement | Liverpool International Music Festival
Sefton Park, Liverpool. Thu 20-Sun 23 Jul

Liverpool International Music Festival celebrates its fifth anniversary with yet another grand-scale celebration and programme of events taking place from 20-23 July. LIMF Presents, five specially commissioned projects, will be celebrating the theme of Remember the Times. These include Good Times with Norman Jay MBE, Garage Classical presented by DJ Spoony, Circus Year One, Reminisce: 90s R&B with Trevor Nelson and No Sleep with DJ Stretch Armstrong. LIMF Summer Jam will see the likes of Gorgon City, Corinne Bailey Rae, Naughty Boy, Cast, Jax Jones, JP Cooper plus many more play to thousands at Sefton Park.

Parklife
Heaton Park, Manchester. Sat 10-Sun 11 Jun, 10am

Each year the Parklife line-up somehow manages to outdo itself, this year pulling a blinder with the elusive dreamboat that is Frank Ocean. He'll be joined by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest, Little Dragon, Sampha, Chaka Khan, Loyle Carner, Fatboy Slim, Jagwar Ma, Two Door Cinema Club, Joe Goddard and Anderson .Paak. Frank Ocean tho! You can also pop into Cottonopolis beforehand, where The Gypsy Shrine will be offering glitter face and body painting. Photo: Ross Gilmore

Leeds Loves Cocktails
Various venues, Leeds. Until Sun 11 Jun, times vary

The week-long Leeds Loves Cocktails festival sees 36 of the city's favourite bars come together to celebrate the best of Leeds' mixology scene, with special events and one-off cocktails throughout the seven days. Simply buy a £10 wristband via Eventbrite for drinks deals and more. Photo: Barney Bishop

Delia Derbyshire Day
Band on the Wall, Manchester. Sat 10 Jun, 7pm

Electronic music pioneer Delia Derbyshire would have turned 80 this year, a milestone that's being marked with Delia Derbyshire Day, a special event featuring music, talks and art inspired by her work including a discussion with her former BBC Radiophonic Workshop colleagues and a talk about how the Dr Who theme tune was created.

Inland Empire + intro from The Skinny

With Twin Peaks reminding the world of David Lynch's genius, it's the perfect time to revisit Inland Empire, Lynch's sprawling Hollywood odyssey, which sees the director's nightmarish vision turned up to 11. The chance to see this masterpiece on the big screen doesn't come around too often, so be sure to join The Skinny at HOME this Tue 13 Jun. Tickets here.