What's on North 27 Apr-4 May: SFTOC

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.

Sounds like another bank holiday...

What better way to celebrate no work on Monday than with everyone's favourite grassroots party? That's a rhetorical question, BTW, because if you don't go to Sounds from the Other City this Sunday (30 Apr), you're a fuggin fool.

Bringing together Greater Manchester's best DIY and independent promoters along with art direction from IMPA TV, this year we're excited about Liverpool-based Iranian rapper Farhood, breezy indie-rockers Luxury Death, psych pop five-piece Flamingods and Manchester's indie rock noisemakers Patty Hearst – but you can browse the programme in full here.

The Skinny is also teaming up with the festival for a new project, Sights of the New Dawn, in which YOU become the eyes and ears of the event. Simply tag your photos, videos and tweets from the festival with #SFTOC to contribute to our rolling coverage of the day. 

---

Sign up to our Zap! newsletter to get our top ten events guide in your inbox every week

---

This Week's Best New Releases

Feist – Pleasure
★★★★★
"Pleasure is easily Feist’s most difficult album, far from the immediate accessibility of The Reminder, but she's a captivating performer and it may well be her richest statement." Release date: 28 Apr

Mark Lanegan – Gargoyle
★★★★
"All you need to know is that he sounds reinvigorated. Gargoyle kicks massive ass; here are ten songs you won’t be able to hear enough. Just about essential." Release date: 28 Apr

Babe – Kiss & Tell
★★★★
"Kiss & Tell is an effortlessly special album from an incredible, largely unclassifiable entity, with endless elements and influences combining to create something thrillingly unique." Release date: 28 Apr

L. Pierre – 1948–
★★★★
"It's sad to see Moffat part with Pierre, but as ever he's pitched it right and bowed out in good time, leaving an indelible soundtrack of intelligent and bittersweet beauty." Release date: 28 Apr

Win Snarky Puppy Tickets!

Two-time Grammy winning jazz and funk collective Snarky Puppy kick off their biggest ever UK tour next week, and we’re giving you the chance to win two tickets to the Manchester show. Head over to our Twitter at midday on Thursday and retweet to be in with a chance of winning (closes 28 Apr).

Also This Week:

Live at Leeds
Various venues, Leeds. Sat 29 Apr, 12pm

Wild Beasts, Jagwar Ma, Rag'n'Bone Man, Slaves, White Lies, Nothing but Thieves, The Pigeon Detectives, Black Honey, Let's Eat Grandma, Dream Wife, Flamingods, Honeyblood, Amber Arcades (pictured) and Clean Cut Kid are all confirmed for Leeds' award-winning, multi-venue trek-about Live at Leeds. Check out who we're most looking forward to catching with our Top 5 here. Photo: Andy Von Pip

MCR Student Night Out
Various venues, Manchester. Thu 27 Apr, 4pm

The student shopping event returns for an evening of discounts, giveaways and FREE SHIT – three of the things you dig most, right? Along with deals to be had at 140 designer, high street and independent shops, there'll also be DJs, pop-up stalls, street food, live music, giant beer pong and more.

Advertisement | Liam Dickinson: Portraiture and the Urban Landscape
Cass Art, Manchester. Until Sun 7 May

To celebrate the opening of its Manchester store, Cass Art is holding its inaugural exhibition in their Art Space. Portraiture and the Urban Landscape by local artist Liam Dickinson, Sky Arts Portrait Artist finalist, runs until Sun 7 May. The Cass Art Space offers a breadth of creative opportunities for local artists to showcase their work, and it’s free to host an exhibition, workshop or event. Talk to a member of staff on how to get involved.

FestEvol Gardens
Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool. Sun 30 Apr, 3pm

The day after Live at Leeds, Cumbrian odd-popsters Wild Beasts head back across the Pennines to headline FestEvol Gardens, joined by Pulled Apart by Horses, The Parrots, The Sundowners, The Big Moon, InHeaven, Cabbage, Dream Wife, Ulrika Spacek, Pink Kink, The Orielles, Peaness and more for an all-dayer of the UK's finest alt-rock sounds. Photo: Michelle Roberts

Writing on the Wall
Various venues, Liverpool. Mon 1-Wed 31 May, times vary

Celebrating writing, diversity, tolerance, storytelling and humour through controversy, inquiry and debate, this year's Writing on the Wall (WOW) festival includes a panel discussion on punk culture, a celebration of independent publishing with speakers and workshops, and an evening of comedy and spoken word with Francesca Martinez and Akala. Illustration: Hannah Bitowski

Pilcrow Weekender
The Pilcrow, Manchester. Fri 27-Sun 30 Apr, times vary

Best kept boozing secret The Pilcrow hypes it up for the bank holiday with its very own weekender, featuring a tap takeover from The Kernel Brewery and Brew By Numbers, DJ sets from Pasta Paul, Kevin Swindells and All Our Yesterdays and a BBQ from the kitchen of sister bar Common. Vibes ahoy.

---

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

---