What's On North 6-13 Apr: Print fairs!

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.

Creative Flair and Print Fairs

Illustrators, screenprinters, sculptors, painters, ceramicists, graphic designers, jewellers, photographers... Here in the North we've got every artistic practice under the sun nailed, as proven by some pretty enticing print fairs this weekend.

Manchester Print Fair will be taking to the suitably regal Central Library on Sat 8 Apr for one of its most exciting events yet (scroll down for our mini interview with the organiser), The Engine House collective launch their Mystery Tubes project, while on a more intimate scale Northern Quarter bar Common will be hosting a Floats and Boats Print Fair on Thu 6 and the OddBod Market on Sun 9 as part of their Art Week festivities, and MMU Design students will be funding their degree show by selling their wares at the Makers Market on Sun 9. If you're in Liverpool on the same day there's also the Liverpool Print Fair at The Bluecoat as well as LOOK/17: Liverpool International Photography Festival launching the day before – you can find out more about that here.

Also this week:

KMAH Radio's 2nd Birthday
HiFi, Leeds. Fri 7 Apr, 11pm

Leeds' KMAH Radio heads to HiFi to celebrate entering their not-so-terrible twos, with Outlaws Yacht Club boss Joe Gill playing, a live show from local band Galaxians, a History of Disco set from Bill Brewster, Love Muscle man Michael Upson b2b with Lucy Locket and some live art on show from KMAH's studio neighbour, Nicolas Dixon. Read our behind the scenes feature on KMAH here.

Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival
Various locations, Ramsbottom. Sat 8-Sun 9 Apr, 10am

Just in time for Easter, the Ramsbottom Chocolate Festival returns for another weekend of drool-worthy eats. For its ninth year, there'll be a chocolate-themed market packed with artisan chocolatiers and bakers, entertainment, family areas and local craft and food stalls. give in to that sweet tooth... You know you wanna. Photo: Steph @ Flickr

Advertisement | My Country; a work in progress
in the words of people across the UK and Carol Ann Duffy
Liverpool Playhouse. Tue 11-Thu 13 Apr, times vary

In the days following the Brexit vote, a team from the National Theatre spoke to people nationwide, aged 9 to 97, to hear their views on the country we call home. In a series of deeply personal interviews, they heard opinions that were honest, emotional, funny, and sometimes extreme. My Country puts their words centre stage.

Cocktails in the City
Leeds Town Hall. Thu 6-Fri 7 Apr, 6pm

Fancy a daiquiri in some Victorian prison cells? Cocktails in the City will be commandeering the town hall – including its lesser-trodden corners like the courtroom and clock tower – with pop-up stalls from 20 of the city's finest cocktail bars. Entry includes one cocktail and a cocktail booklet, while drinks on the evening will cost £6.

Tez Ilyas
Frog and Bucket, Manchester. Sun 9 Apr, 8pm

Rapidly rising Blackburn comedian Tez Ilyas stops by as part of a debut nationwide tour, performing his acclaimed second solo show, Made in Britain. Expect musings on culture, religion and politics from the perspective of someone who's Asian, British and Muslim – at a time when people are being increasingly judged for their cultural identity. Photo: Steve Ullathorne

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ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW

Manchester Print Fair's Alessandra Mostyn on their most ambitious event yet...

Iconic venue: "The Manchester Print Fair is back this Saturday at one of Manchester's most iconic buildings, Central Library. This is the first event of it's kind in the library's history and the first venue the fair has partnered with. In the past we have hired spaces in a more formal way but this time, have worked with the venue's development and heritage managers more closely. We are really excited about bringing our creative community into this beautiful space and encourage visitors to explore the whole building. It has been great to work with a venue who wants to support independent creative events in the city and we hope to become part of the regular programme of free events at the library, which everyone can enjoy."

Who'll be there: "Our first event of 2017 sees an extremely strong line up with every manner of print available, from tshirts, tea towels and cushions to prints, postcards and notebooks! We welcome back a varied mix of regular artists including Islington Mill's Engine House (a collective of creatives including Textbook Studio, Caroline Dowsett and DR ME) illustrator Sophie Heywood and designer Clare Birtwistle as well as Liverpool based illustrators like Rheannon Ormond and Laura-Kate Draws. Alongside our established sellers we are thrilled to host debut stalls from University of Salford students and creatives from further afield such as screen print duo Hot Yoghurt and Edinburgh print studio Dot + the Line."

Activities: "Our partner G.F Smith will once again host a fun and hands on selection of workshops that all ages can enjoy; mask making workshop Pick Your Nose from illustrator Woody Woods, badge making and doodle pads, letter press from Karen at The Red Button Press who will be printing notices from the library's archive and Fred Aldous bring back their creative crew of illustrators for 3 Minute Portraits! Let's get creative, together."

8 Apr, Central Library, Manchester

Liverpool's New Food Market

Exciting times as the folk behind Independent Liverpool have announce their latest venture: a food market housed in a warehouse space in the Baltic Triangle’s iconic Cains Brewery. Read all about it here. Photo: Oleksander Burlaka

The Best Eggs in Manchester

Let's be real here. When we're Googling "best brunch", what we really mean is "best eggs". So we've taken it upon ourselves to round up the greatest oeufs in Manchester. A brunch guide with an eggy twist, just in time for Easter.

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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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