What's On Northwest 28 Apr-5 May: SFTOC

Each week The Skinny team hand pick a selection of the best events from the Northwest 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 beyond every Thursday morning.

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Don't forget to check out our guides to the May Day bank holiday in Manchester and Liverpool. In the meantime, though... 

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Sounds From the Other City
Various venues, Salford. Sun 1 May, 3pm

As one of our favourite parties of the year, The Skinny office is positively buzzing for the return of Sounds From the Other City this Sunday, taking over various Salford venues with a veritable feast of left field music (Gwenno, Tacocat, Bete et al), innovative art and performance (everything at the Video Jam stage and the festival-wide New Occult art takeover), brilliant, weirdo comedy (hey, Sham Bodie!), and all-round good-spirited vibes. We'll be there running our photo competition again – click here for more info.

Photo: Alexander Bell

Free pizza at Nightcrawler Pizza
Nightcrawler Pizza, Liverpool. Fri 29 Apr, 5pm

This week sees some new Slater Street pizza slingers open their doors, as Nightcrawler Pizza start busting out their New York-style creations – which allegedly come alongside cocktails and dreams. Sounds like our kind of combo. Better still, they're ensuring things kick off in style with 2,500 (!) free slices up for grabs, so get down early and let those dreams come true.

Photo: Brendan C

Week 53
The Lowry, Manchester. Thu 28 Apr-Sun 8 May, times vary

Featuring more than 200 international artists, 63 performances and exhibitions, and lots of new commissions across its 11-day run, Week 53 is a new arts festival at The Lowry, at the centre of which lies a pop-up performance space, The Dock, which sits in the backstage area between the Lyric and Quays theatres. Catch Syzygy (pictured), a solo exhibition from Katie Paterson, 30 Days of The Smiths from poet Jackie Kay and sound artist Oberman Knocks, An Anatomie in Four Quarters, an immersive theatre performance from Clod Ensemble, and much more.

Photo: Syzygy - Katie Paterson, Timepieces (Solar System) 2014 Adapted clocks. Courtesy Artist and Ingleby Gallery. Photo John McKenzie

Smithdown Road Festival
Various venues, Liverpool. Sat 30 Apr-Mon 2 May, times vary

For a small community festival, Smithdown Road are doing well to prove their neighbourhood means business, with an impressive lineup featuring gravelly-voiced troubadour Beans on Toast, singer-songwriter Natalie McCool (pictured) and one of our favourites, False Advertising. Pair this with a package-completing selection of food and drink, markets, exhibitions, workshops, DJs, classic films, kids' activities and more, and things are looking just peachy.

Imitation of Life
HOME, Manchester. Sat 30 Apr-Sun 3 Jul (preview Fri 29 Apr), times vary

Inspired by Douglas Sirk's 1959 film of the same name, Imitation of Life is a landmark new group exhibition featuring a new commission by Qatari-American artist, filmmaker and writer Sophia Al-Maria (work pictured), whose pieces will be shown alongside existing work by Larry Achiampong, Michael Armitage and others to explore racial issues in our evolving, post-digital age through performance, moving image, painting, installation and sculpture.

ADVERTISEMENT | Spin: The Cycling Festival
Victoria Warehouse, Manchester. Fri 6-Sun 8 May, times vary

Discover the perfect mix of bikes, art, inspiration, fashion, innovation and style at Spin: The Cycling Festival. Pedalling its way to Victoria Warehouse in just a few days' time, you can see over 100 of the most forward-thinking cycling brands, and must-have products, kit and ideas for seasoned velophiles, bicycle beginners or anyone in between. Whether you're a road cyclist, weekend warrior, super commuter, single speeder, art lover or coffee aficionado, you'll find an event that is jam-packed with the best brands, bikes and the ultimate blend of cycling culture in one location. For more information, event dates and highlights, visit www.thecyclingfestival.com.

The Skinny has 200 pairs of tickets to give away to Spin in Manchester. To claim, click here and quote 'SKINNYFREE' when booking.

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Francois K
Camp and Furnace, Liverpool. Sat 30 Apr, 6pm

Liverpool Disco Festival is throwing a launch party ahead of its October bash, welcoming 400 disco fiends to Camp and Furnace for a special extended set from French-born DJ and producer Francois K, who earned his disco stripes playing at seminal NYC clubs including Paradise Garage, The Loft, Studio 54 and Zanzibar. He'll play alongside Jaegerossa (Midnight Riot), Hustle DJs and Liverpool Festival DJs, with more to be announced.

Illustration: Jamie Allan Shaw

Lakes Ignite
Various venues, The Lake District. Sat 30 Apr-Sun 22 May, times vary

Experience the stunning Lake District landscape as you never have before with this year's Lakes Ignite, a programme of contemporary art experiences inspired by the theme of 'water' and supporting music, comedy and literary events. Highlights include Seven Nocturnal Rainbows for the English Lakes, an incredible light installation by artist Charles Monkhouse and digital artist Joseph Anthony Connor's 21st Century Landscape Art Class, which encourages people to stop and sketch using digital devices.

Photo: Dave Thorburn

Liverpool Art Fair
The Gallery, Liverpool. Fri 29 Apr-Mon 2 May, 11am

The annual Liverpool Art Fair is back this week, taking over The Gallery in The Baltic Triangle for four days of affordable, original art. Featuring work from the region's sizeable pool of creative types, the open-submission format means you'll be able to discover new names and, because prices start from around £20, maybe even bag yourself a bit of a bargain.

Book and Record Fair
Victoria Baths, Manchester. Sun 1 May, 11am

Lap up some perfect Sunday potential (and a welcome opportunity to snoop around one of the city's finest buildings) with this book and record fair, promising 30 stalls of collectable and interesting books and records. On top of that, you'll also be kept entertained by a full programme of live music, literature and art, including poetry and stories read by the Inklings Writers Group, a graphic art slideshow and book talk by Ian Lowey and tunes from the Bim Williams Trio.

Bark in the Park
Calderstones Park, Liverpool. Sun 1 May, 10am

Celebrate our canine pals this weekend with Bark in the Park, Merseyside Dogs' Home's doggy takeover in Calderstones Park. Along with over 25 fun dog show classes to compete in, you can also explore around 40 trade stands, try out your pet's skills in the agility area or watch the professional dog display teams. Given that all money donated goes to the region's hardworking dogs' home, it's a good day out for a VERY good cause.

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Read more news from across the Northwest cultural scene at theskinny.co.uk/news
Find out how you could win some lovely prizes at theskinny.co.uk/competitions

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