Manchester Film Festival 2022

This week was monumental. After what felt like a long, long dark winter, the sun set AFTER 6pm. Today is also monumental as Manchester Film Festival 2022 throws open its literal and metaphorical doors to us Mancs, honorary and actual, and all those visiting our fine city. From 12 – 20 March, over 130 filmsContinue reading “Manchester Film Festival 2022”

HOME announces award winning artists from the 2022 Manchester Open Exhibition

Having visited this year’s Manchester Open Exhibition and seen for myself the breadth of artistic talent on display, I can only imagine what a difficult job it would have been. But someone had to do it! The judging has taken place and last night, HOME announced the 5 winners of the Manchester Open Awards 2022!Continue reading “HOME announces award winning artists from the 2022 Manchester Open Exhibition”

Film review: Caravaggio, part of the Derek Jarman retrospective, Jarman at HOME

Before we start, HOME is one of my favourite spaces in Manchester. I just wanted to say that. I haven’t professed any feelings for the place itself in quite a while, given the frequency I visit. I don’t take it for granted, especially given the recent enforced absence (I’m over using the C word). SoContinue reading “Film review: Caravaggio, part of the Derek Jarman retrospective, Jarman at HOME”

Review: Private Lives at The Lowry

There was a certain excitement stroke cockiness as I strode, yes strode into the Lowry last night. I’ve been to the Lowry before. I’ve seen Nigel Havers on stage before. I’ve seen Nigel Havers in a play at the Lowry before. I’ve seen a production of Private Lives in Manchester before. But never had allContinue reading “Review: Private Lives at The Lowry”

Preview: Manchester Open Exhibition returns HOME this week

Can it be two years since the inaugural exhibition? And what a two years it’s been. Well let’s not go into that, but the first Manchester Open Exhibition was so super, I even walked away with a purchased piece. A piece that soon began to take on layered and multiple meetings in the 12 monthsContinue reading “Preview: Manchester Open Exhibition returns HOME this week”

Review: Looking Good Dead at The Lowry

I’ve been tussling with this. I’ve been going back and forth. The grown up writer in me (it’s there somewhere) tells me to not be so obvious, cliched and obvious again. The forever child in me behind the blog reminds me that I’m here to document my experiences, thoughts, feelings, passions, obsessions and delectations. YesContinue reading “Review: Looking Good Dead at The Lowry”

Review: The Northern Chamber Orchestra delivers Christmas cheer to Tatton Park

Last Friday 10 December saw the first of two Christmas concerts that day, given by the Northern Chamber Orchestra in Knutsford, And I was excited. But it won’t be the first time I’ve misjudged an entrance and it surely won’t be the last. It actually wasn’t even the first time I misjudged the entrance toContinue reading “Review: The Northern Chamber Orchestra delivers Christmas cheer to Tatton Park”

Preview: The Northern Chamber Orchestra to bring in Christmas at Tatton Park this December

I have never been so ready for Christmas. Note when I say ready, I don’t mean the practicalities. No matter what I promise myself every year, I will never be that person who’s done, dusted and has Christmas wrapped up (figuratively and literally) by November. No, after Christmas was almost cancelled last year, any jadednessContinue reading “Preview: The Northern Chamber Orchestra to bring in Christmas at Tatton Park this December”

Review: Forgotten Voices at Hope Mill Theatre

Forgotten Voices is something special. To listen to the story of somebody’s life experiences is already a privilege. For that story to be written by that person’s grandson, moreso. But when that story is important, powerful, heartfelt, beautifully written and acted, it’s a whole other level. Written by David Moorhouse, directed by Margaret Connell, andContinue reading “Review: Forgotten Voices at Hope Mill Theatre”

Review: Hold Me Close at Salford Arts Theatre

I LOVE going somewhere new and nothing takes me more places than fringe theatre. Last Friday night it was the turn of Salford Arts Theatre and Two in a Bed Theatre Company’s Hold Me Close. The theatre company, isn’t new to me having seen their work before at The Kings Arms a couple of yearsContinue reading “Review: Hold Me Close at Salford Arts Theatre”

Review: Manchester Rum Festival

Rum and Rummer. A rum do Comfortably numb. From rum. Dare I say young, dumb and full of rum? Seems I do. Ok the puns are out of my system now. Which is hopefully also the case for the sheer amount of rum I consumed last Saturday at the Mercure Hotel, Piccadilly Gardens. The ManchesterContinue reading “Review: Manchester Rum Festival”

Exclusive Manchester rum for lucky festival-goers this weekend

If you’re heading to Manchester Rum Festival this weekend [Saturday 28th August] you’re in for a very exclusive treat. Festival owner Dave Marsland and The City of Manchester Distillery have created an entirely unique, never-tasted-before rum solely for ticket holders. Just 100 bottles of The Double Distillery Pot Limited Edition Column Still Rum will be availableContinue reading “Exclusive Manchester rum for lucky festival-goers this weekend”

Review: The Play That Goes Wrong at The Lowry

I like to think that I have a fairly good grip on the entertainment zeitgeist. ‘Think’ and ‘fairly’ being the key words. As although I am aware of the theatre production The Play That Goes Wrong, I wasn’t aware of the television show ‘The Goes Wrong Show’, until asked by a friend whether it translatedContinue reading “Review: The Play That Goes Wrong at The Lowry”

Gigs, digs and mental health – ‘The Roadie Cookbook: Toured There, Ate That‘ launches in Manchester

My Dad was a professional museum, which led to him being away on tour a fair bit when I was growing up. ‘Gigs and digs’ were oft heard words in our house. And it’s all very rock and roll and glamorous, isn’t it? Well like everything, dig (not always deep) below the surface and thereContinue reading “Gigs, digs and mental health – ‘The Roadie Cookbook: Toured There, Ate That‘ launches in Manchester”

It’s a Rum Do in Manchester as Festival returns this August bank holiday

2020…events…pandemic…cancellations and so on and so forth. Stick a pin in that. It’s 2021, it’s the August bank holiday weekend and the Manchester Rum Festival is on! Bringing with it over 30 rum brands from around the world, this year’s festival takes place in the 4-star Mercure Hotel on Saturday 28 August, at the heartContinue reading “It’s a Rum Do in Manchester as Festival returns this August bank holiday”