Site logo
  • SET LOCATION
  • EVENTS
  • SUBMIT EVENT
  • LOG IN

Culture

Social

Wellbeing

Share

Progress

Active

Culture

Social

Wellbeing

Share

Progress

Active

Manchester for Newcomers

Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Copy Link Print page
Favorite

test

Thursday, 10th September
Out & Down
Haunted Dancehall x Mass presents: Positive Harmony 07
19 Sep

Haunted Dancehall x Mass presents: Positive Harmony 07

TBA – Wellington Studios

Haunted Dancehall x Mass presents: Positive Harmony 07

PH is back at the Wellington Open Days!

We’re delighted to be invited to host the sound and installation side of Sept 19th where you’re free to wander around all the wonderful studios in the mill.

The wizardry of Jamie House joins us again! This time in the form of sound & light – his light work will join forces with Bethanie Zucker’s stunning stained glass works and Justine Lesage’s eye.

Local selector and radio host Fig also joins us with a DJ set, plus a new collaborative live from residents Opul & Nikol as Pulses. Jamie will close with a DJ set!

Saturday, 19th September
Favorite

Info

Queer Salon MCR After Dark Fundraiser
15 Oct

Queer Salon MCR After Dark Fundraiser

The DBA

Queer Salon MCR After Dark Fundraiser

Queer Salon MCR is swapping the crypt for the club for one night only!

We’re raising funds to keep Queer Salon MCR’s programme of creative events free and accessible to queer creatives in Manchester.

Taking over the DBA we’re serving a night of queer making, mischief, and music – come for the culture, stay for the club.

LINE UP:
The Fat Britney
Sayang
Eggontoast
Deventi
Ruadh

LIVE SET: SHREK666

PLUS Queer Zine Making and The Fat Britney’s Culture Vulture Pub Quiz

Expect queer techno, breaks, bass and a dancefloor full of artists, ravers, makers, freaks and friends.

All proceeds go to funding the future programme of Queer Salon MCR, an event series creating space for queer artists to connect, experiment, share work and build community. We need to raise £2k for venue hire and guest facilitators – every penny counts!

Artwork = Blue is a warm colour, by Daniel Torrent @danitorrentx

Thursday, 15th October
Favorite

Tickets

Join us once again on the terrace @yes_mcr this Wednesday from 7pm. All levels welcome. See you there
16 Sep

Checkmate

Yes Roof Terrace

Checkmate

Chess on the Roof at YES

📍 YES – Roof Terrace
🕖 7pm till late
🎟️ Free entry

You asked, we listened ~ we’ve added an extra chess night! Checkmate now runs every first and third Wednesday of the month. First event back – February 4th

♟️ Open to all levels
♟️ Friendly, welcoming environment
♟️ Bring your own board if you have one (we do run out, but we’ll try to accommodate)

Whether you’re a grandmaster or just learning your first moves, everyone’s welcome.

See you on the roof ♜

Wednesday, 16th September
Favorite

Free

AWOL Open Studios 2026 1 scaled 1 768x1086
10 Oct

Awol Studios Open Day

Hope Mill

Awol Studios Open Day

We’re delighted to announce the return of our Open Studios, taking place on Saturday 10th October, 1–7pm at Hope Mill, Ancoats.

Now in its 19th year, Open Studios is one of the highlights of our calendar – a chance to open the doors of our creative community and welcome visitors inside.

Spread across five floors of the Grade II* listed Hope Mill, AWOL Studios is home to artists, makers, creatives and independent businesses working across an incredible range of disciplines.

During the day, visitors are invited to step inside our studios, meet the residents and discover the incredible variety of creative practices happening under one roof. From fine art, sculpture and textiles to printmaking, photography, filmmaking and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

  • ‘Understory’ – a residents’ exhibition featuring work by AWOL artists
  • A donation bar raising money for Dogs 4 Rescue
  • An independent exhibition presented by Comme Ca Art Gallery on the 5th floor
Saturday, 10th October
Favorite

Free

Into The Pitt 768x1024
21 Nov

INTO THE PIT

Multiple Venues

INTO THE PIT

INTO THE PIT comes to Manchester this November 21st! A full day line up showcasing the best new music from the city across three iconic venues.

Headliners Holly Head will be joined by the likes of The Slow Country, Hungry, Yasmin Coe and so many more for THE best day of new music discovery in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Into The Pit is curated and hosted by BOOT Magazine – https://www.boot—music.com/

Lineup

Holly Head

The Slow Country

Yasmin Coe

Hungry

Abbie Ozard

Zoes Brothers

Magnum Opus II

Saturday, 21st November
Favorite

Tickets

fatsoma image 1787142087642 768x1086
26 Sep

Neck of the Woods Festival

Fuel

Neck of the Woods Festival

Join us, as we celebrate 5 years as a festival!

Featuring 20 amazing bands across 2 stages at Fuel and Cafe Blah.

We have announced our second wave of bands and we’re thrilled to welcome back Tay Temple along with a host of Manchester friends including:
The Battery Farm,
Big Cat Chic,
Crying Skies,
Boi Toi,
Vazon,
Livid,
John Denton,
Sia Raw,
Occulent,
Mark Kelly,
Sallow,
Avid Fan,
Shake Rag and Dig Up Her Bones

Last entry time: 9.45pm

Saturday, 26th September
Favorite

Tickets

ra image 1786987054822 768x768
12 Sep

𖦹 Chitta: Instrospective Explorations 𖦹

Platt Fields Market Garden

𖦹 Chitta: Instrospective Explorations 𖦹

Chitta returns to Manchester next Saturday 12 of September with a multi sensory day gathering at beloved sanctuary Platt Fields Community Garden, curating a special programe of talks, workshops & exhibitions combined with an extensive music curation of up to 12 acts, more details to be announced soon, join us & plunge your senses 🙂

All profits from the event going to domestic abuse UK charity Safe Lives.

We have zero tolerance to transphobia, racism, homophobia, sexism, harassment, violence and oppression of any form.

Concession discounted tickets available, please reach out if you need: chitta.community@gmail.com

Saturday, 12th September
Favorite

Tickets

Impiety Reading Hour 1 768x961
12 Aug

Impiety Reading Hour

AD England

Impiety Reading Hour

‘Impiety Reading Hour is a monthly book club for discussion & appraisal of the most entertaining, experimental, brave & bold literature from the modernist period onwards’

Our devout regular, Annie Beverley, is our continued book group host & settled head worm, Alice Carter, will once more hover with an open bottle of whatever your reading heart desires.

Wednesday, 12th August
Favorite

Free

Out & Down

Out & Down

Your local guide to grassroots community events and independent culture. Discover what’s on in your neighbourhood, buy or sell tickets, get out and get involved.

  • About
  • FAQs
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Submit Event
  • Log In
Newsletter

Copyright © Bright Sparks 2026. All rights reserved.

Terms | Privacy

Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!