What's On Northwest 17-24 Dec: Gilles Peterson

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.

Gilles Peterson's Worldwide
The Garage, Liverpool. Fri 18 Dec, 10pm

Following a stunning summer team-up with Bonobo at the Bombed Out Church, globe-trotting DJ and BBC Radio 1 presenter Gilles Peterson (pictured) brings his famous Worldwide Festival show to Liverpool, where he'll be joined by MC Earl Zinger, Autocycle and James Morgan for a night of party starters from the world over. This is the last show of what's been a tremendous year for Merseyside promoters Freeze.

meandyou.
Soup Kitchen, Manchester. Fri 18 Dec, 11pm

While others are trying to cram in as many last-minute big names as possible before 2015 goes bang, club promoters meandyou. are, as ever, justifiably confident that their roster of residents will have enough in the tank to power a festive party. Expect the best in murky, experimental techno and party bangers at meandyou.'s spiritual home of Soup Kitchen, delivered by the likes of Herron (pictured) — one of our Skinned DJ mix alumni.

Fat Out Christmas Party
Islington Mill, Salford. Sat 19 Dec, 6pm

Current residents of the Islington Mill venue space, programmers Fat Out host a Christmas party featuring loads of local Manchester brilliance. The night features a much-anticipated return by Naked (on Drugs) (pictured), who've been quiet since early 2015, as well as improv noise rockers Locean (check out their new EP here). Melting Hand – featuring members of Gum Takes Tooth, Terminal Cheesecake and more – also play.

Photo: Alexander Bell

Mad Christmas Bash
Kosmonaut, Manchester. Fri 18 Dec, 6pm

For years he's been the co-organiser of some of Manchester's wildest nights at Wet Play; now, Kickin' Pigeon begins his tenure as music coordinator at Kosmonaut by teaming up with Ruf Kutz label founder and Balearic selector extraordinaire Ruf Dug (pictured) to host very special guest Luv*Jam for a night of dreamy, tropical house selections. Sample a flavour of the evening with a mix Luv*Jam recorded for us earlier this year.

Peace and Love Barbershop Muhammad Ali
Soup Kitchen, Manchester. Thu 17 Dec, 7pm

He's been marauding the Manchester independent scene under different guises for a number of years now, but with the deliciously named Peace and Love Barbershop Muhammad Ali, Wigan-born Mark Vernon looks to have got together his most complete-sounding collective yet – ploughing an enjoyably scuzzy furrow through a rockabilly and protopunk-inspired wasteland. Listen to them here.

Photo: Olivier Richomme

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Christmas Night Market
Levenshulme Market, Manchester. Fri 18 Dec, 4pm

Although Altrincham Market has rightly been making the headlines for its recent resurgence, it's been a fine year for another popular south Manchester market, with Levenshulme Market having regularly welcomed around 30 local traders each week throughout 2015. Its annual Christmas Night Market allows market-goers looking for last-minute gifts to pick up anything from food hampers and locally brewed ale to jewellery, art prints and handmade soaps.

The Bastard Queen + Not The Horse
Lantern Theatre, Liverpool. Sat 19 Dec, 7.30pm

The award-winning Naughty Corner Productions present two of their blackest comedies on one night. The Bastard Queen, which debuted in Edinburgh in 2014, follows the lives of five people remaining on a post-apocalyptic earth, while new crime comedy Not The Horse takes place in more familiar climes, as 20-year-old scouser Tony finds himself in debt to a notorious London gangster.

Horsebeach
Band on the Wall, Manchester. Thu 17 Dec, 7.30pm

It's the biggest home headline show to date for Ryan Kennedy (pictured, left) and the wistful melancholy of his band, Horsebeach. Taking their cues from the likes of Real Estate, the group have steadily been gaining plaudits for their warm melodies and woozy soundscapes, showcased on their recent second LP, II. Read our interview with them here.

Photo: Gwen Riley

War Room Records Christmas Special
Constellations, Liverpool. Sat 19 Dec, 8pm

New Liverpool label War Room Records ends its inaugural year with a party that includes promising recent signings AGP and Rongorongo – whose recent EP we previewed here – while By The Sea (pictured) break cover following a relatively low-key 2015 to headline the event. Balancing out the indie is the murky electronica of Drohne and MiNNETONKA.

Christmas Carol Singalong
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. Thu 24 Dec, 3pm

For those still in need of festive inspiration, the Manchester Chorale and the Manchester Concert Orchestra team up for an evening of Christmas carols on the eve of the big day itself. Expect all your favourites here, from older classics like O Come, All Ye Faithful to pop hits like I Wish It Could Be Christmas.

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