CityLife's top five outdoor events
WITH the good folk at the Met Office promising us a bout of prolonged sun-kissed weather this year, maybe for the first time since the long-forgotten hot spell of 2006, we can finally take full advantage of the various outdoor extravaganzas taking place across the city.
So, before you dig out your sunnies, fold away chairs and lotion - take a look at CityLife’s top five outdoor events to catch a few rays at this summer:
Spinningfields Big Screen (Until September 10) – Located at the heart of Manchester’s newest business district (just off Deansgate, behind the RBS glass monolith), 2008 was something of a sodden false start for the owners. With most of the offices still vacant coupled with the kind of torrential downpours Moses could whip up in a jiffy, events like the Food & Drink Festival did not get the showing they deserved. 2009 is already looking brighter though. Following the success of Queer Up North’s speigeltent in May, a huge outdoor screen has now been erected with an enviable programme pencilled in. From regular Thursday night movie showings (Grease, Quantum Of Solace, Monty Python, ET, Wizard Of Oz, The Reader to name but a few) to major sporting events (British Grand Prix, British Lions and perhaps most exciting of all, The Ashes), it should make for a great way to kick back - buoyed by a drink from the temporary KRO bar - and wile away an evening or two. www.spinningfieldsonline.net.
Macbeth @ Heaton Park (July 15-August 2): Following the drama of Oasis’ three-night residency, Heaton Park will get back to more traditional business in July with the return of the much-loved Feelgood Theatre Productions. Now in its 15th year and under the trusty stewardship of Caroline Clegg, this walking production promises to be another feast for the eyes and ears. As with their acclaimed 2002 production of Romeo & Juliet - Thando & Ruvhengo, Feelgood will collaborate with international Zimbabwean artists to fuse text, a capella singing, dance and drumming into a dynamic and thought provoking 21st century production of Shakespeare’s greatest ever tragedy. Should make for Spellbinding stuff then… www.feelgoodtheatre.co.uk/
Manchester Jazz Festival (July 24 – August 1): Now in it’s 14th year and taking place in venues across the city (Contact, Greenroom, Cornerhouse, Matt & Phred’s, RNCM, Deaf Institute) plus an outdoor setting for sun-seekers (St Ann’s Square), MJF is a feast for jazz music lovers, new and old. From the launch party at the Deaf Institute on July 24 to Stanton Moore’s closing finale in the Festival Pavilion on August 1, there are 50 events to spread your time across. Panama hats at the ready – what are you waiting for? www.manchesterjazz.com
Manchester Summer Mega Mela 2009 @ Platt Fields Park (July 25-26): Fast becoming the go-to place for splashes of festival colour, exotic music and a smidge of the unknown, the Mela will pick up where the flourishing Mad Ferret left off on July 25 with a two-day celebration of south Asian arts and culture. Promising music and all styles of performance from Bollywood to Bhangra, local and internationally renowned artists plus traditional sports Kabaddi, Indian wrestling and stone lifting (not to mention the fashion shows, arts and crafts, fun fair, street theatre and food stalls) - every year the Mela puts the Mega into south Manchester. www.manchestermela.co.uk
Pride Big Weekend @ Gay Village (August 28-31): The pinnacle, raison d'être, grand finale, whatever you want to call Pride’s Big Weekend there’s no doubt the culmination of one of the biggest celebrations of lesbian, gay and transgender life in Europe knows how to put the icing on the cake. This year taking to a typically eclectic Main Stage will be evergreen ‘80s survivors Bananarama, electro-pop chanteuse Little Boots and local indie-dance heroes The Whip plus a host of others. Spread across the final Bank Holiday weekend of year, thousands will flock to Sackville Street to see off the summer in truly flamboyant fashion. www.manchesterpride.com/whatson/bigweekend
Published: Fri, 05 June, 2009
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