What's on
There are tonnes of great musical, cultural and sports events taking place in Manchester this month. Check out our event listings below.
Outdoor events
Macbeth
Feelgood Theatre Productions return to Heaton Park with a daring promenade version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Feelgood collaborate with Zimbabwean artists to create a contemporary show that fuses text, a cappella singing, dance and drumming.
Heaton Park, July 15 - Aug 2. Adults: £12, children: £9. Tel: 0870 428 0785.
www.feelgoodtheatre.co.ukBP Summer Screens - The Royal Opera’s Barber of Seville
The BP Summer Screens bring live screenings of world-class shows to al fresco surroundings. This month, The Royal Opera’s Barber of Seville features an exceptional cast, including Joyce DiDonato and Simon Keenlyside.
Exchange Square, July 15, 7.30pm. Free.
www.roh.org.uk/bpbigscreensManchester Book Market
A book fair celebrating the importance of the independent sector to the publishing industry in Manchester. Here you can buy books and hear live readings from authors and publishers.
St Ann’s Square, July 17 - 19, 10am - 5.30pm.
www.manchester.gov.uk/marketsCaribbean Carnival of Manchester
A colourful celebration of Caribbean music, dance, theatre, costume and food. One of the highlights is the carnival procession (July 18), featuring steel bands, floats with DJs, dance troupes, elaborate costumes and folklore characters.
Alexandra Park, July 18 - 19. Free.
www.caribbeancarnivalofmanchester.co.ukFestivals
Manchester International Festival
See ‘Festival Fever’ feature.
24:7 Theatre Festival
See ‘Festival Fever’ feature.
Tapas Fantasticas
A two-day festival celebrating Spanish tapas and Rioja wine. Taste a variety of wines from Rioja’s most famous vineyards and savour a selection of tapas from the North West’s finest Spanish restaurants.
Albert Square, July 25 - 26, 12pm - 6pm. Free.
www.winesfromrioja.co.ukManchester Summer Mega Mela
A celebration of south Asian arts and culture, with music and all styles of performance. There will be entertainment from local and international artists, Indian wrestling, fashion shows, arts and crafts stalls, street theatre, food stalls and much more.
Platt Fields Park, Rusholme, July 25 - 26. Free.
www.manchestermela.co.uk Manchester Jazz Festival
See ‘Festival Fever’ feature.
Exhibitions
Lindow Moss: A Place of Finding
A photographic exhibition by Stephen Vaughan documenting the landscape at Lindow Moss, Cheshire - the mysterious place where the preserved body of an Iron Age man, known as Lindow Man, was found in 1984.
The Manchester Museum, until July 12. Free. Tel: 0161 275 2634.
Marina Abramovi Presents...
The internationally acclaimed Marina Abramovi curates a new group show that exhibits world-class performance art in a gallery space. Thirteen international artists, including Ivan Civic, Amanda Coogan and Jordan Wolfson, perform new works in a daily four-hour programme as part of Manchester International Festival.
Whitworth Art Gallery, July 3 - 19. Free. Tel: 0161 275 7450.
Man’s Ruin
An exhibition by photographer Richard Heeps showcasing the sights and kitsch Americana of Arizona, California and Nevada alongside comparable images from Europe and East Anglia.
Salford Museum and Art Gallery, until July 19. Free. Tel: 0161 778 0800.
State of the Art: New York
Urbis hosts an exhibition of new and specially commissioned work from 16 up-and-coming New York artists.
Urbis, until Sept 6. Free. Tel: 0161 605 8200.
Southern Voices: Weaving Stories
Explore the global impact of Manchester’s cotton and textile industry in this exhibition, which features objects and stories of individuals and communities from the southern hemisphere.
Museum of Science and Industry, until Sept 13. Free. Tel: 0161 832 2244.
Videogame Nation
An interactive exhibition charting the meteoric rise of British videogaming from the sacred realm of the bedroom programmer to a multi-billion pound industry.
Urbis, until Sept 20. £3. Tel: 0161 605 8200.
Express Yourself
The Lowry’s first family dance exhibition takes youngsters and their families on a fun journey through the world of dance - from ballet to breakdancing.
The Lowry, until Sept 27. Free. Tel: 0870 787 5794.
The Sting of Passion
Twelve international jewellery designers present new work in response to Manchester Art Gallery’s Pre-Raphaelite painting collection.
Manchester Art Gallery, July 11 - October 3. Free. Tel: 0161 235 8888.
Captured: The Extraordinary Life of Prisoners of War
An exhibition revealing the experiences of British and Commonwealth prisoners of war in Europe and the Far East.
Imperial War Museum North, until Jan 3, 2010. Free. Tel: 0161 836 4000.
Theatre
Scooby-Doo! And The Pirate Ghost
Scooby-Doo and the gang are back for another adventure on stage, as they encounter a new case to solve.
Opera House, July 8 - 11. £10 - £19.50. Tel: 0844 847 2295.
Prima Donna
Part of Manchester International Festival, Rufus Wainwright’s debut opera is a portrait of a fading opera singer, set in Paris and sung in French, with celebrated soprano Janis Kelly in the lead role.
Palace Theatre, July 10 - 19. £12.50 - £47.50. Tel: 0844 847 2275.
West Side Story
The international hit returns to The Lowry, packed with unforgettable songs, including Maria, Tonight, Somewhere, America and I Feel Pretty.
The Lowry, July 21 - 25. £23.00 - £39.50. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Lady Boys of Bangkok
The glamorous Lady Boys of Bangkok bring their new show to Manchester. Sixteen of the world’s most beautiful showgirls (who just happen to be men) glide smoothly from the disco floor to the Broadway stage, performing their signature, show-stopping choreography in 400-plus hand-made costumes.
Sabai Pavilion at Sackville Street NCP Car Park, until July 25. £22. Tel: 0871 702 9510.
Everybody Loves a Winner
The Royal Exchange Theatre is transformed into a bingo hall for Manchester International Festival co-commission Everybody Loves a Winner. Written and directed by Neil Bartlett, and starring Sally Lindsay and Ian Puleston-Davies, the show delves beneath the surface of a day in the life of a Manchester bingo hall.
The Royal Exchange Theatre, until Aug 1. £8.50 - £29.00. Tel: 0161 833 9833.
Annie
From its Broadway beginnings to the classic film musical, the heart-warming rags-to-riches story of Annie is a timeless classic. Follow the adventures of the world’s favourite orphan in this enchanting, feel-good family musical.
The Lowry, July 28 - Aug 1. £12 - £24. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Comedy
Comedy 4 Christies
A night of comedy from the cream of the local stand-up scene, including Justin Moorhouse, Barbara Nice, John Warburton, Daliso Chaponda and Phil Buckley, to raise money for The Christie - one of Europe’s largest cancer centres.
The Lowry, July 5. £15. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Music
Darren Styles and Ultrabeat
Two of dance music’s biggest selling artists, Darren Styles and Ultrabeat, team up for a summer tour that brings them to Manchester this month.
Apollo, July 4. £19.50. Tel: 0871 2200 260.
Madonna
The Queen of Pop brings her Sticky & Sweet Tour to Manchester, featuring tracks from her latest album, Hard Candy, alongside classics from a career spanning more than 25 years.
M.E.N Arena, July 7. £65 - £175. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
Elbow and The Halle
Mercury Prize-winning Manchester band Elbow joins forces with another of the city’s artistic powerhouses, the multi-award-winning Halle, to present a special concert for Manchester International Festival. The concert features songs from across the band’s career and beyond.
The Bridgewater Hall, July 8 & 9. £15 - £42.50. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
Crosby, Stills & Nash
David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Salford’s own Graham Nash return to Manchester to perform timeless hits, including Marrakech Express, Guinnevere and Teach Your Children. Don’t miss the folk rock supergroup’s first show at the M.E.N Arena in four years.
M.E.N Arena, July 10. £37.50 & £45. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
La Passione: A Night with Alfie Boe
Award-winning British tenor Alfie Boe teams up for the first time with the Halle for an evening of Neapolitan passion and romance, conducted by Carl Davis. The programme includes Matinata, Granada and O Sole Mio, as well as music from Carmen and The Godfather.
The Bridgewater Hall, July 11. £13.50 - £29.50. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
Eagles
The LA rock legends are in town with their Long Road Out Of Eden World Tour. Expect all the classics, including Hotel California, Desperado and Take It Easy, alongside tracks from their latest album.
M.E.N Arena, July 11 & 12. £50 - £100. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
Nine Inch Nails & Jane’s addiction
Nine Inch Nails join forces with fellow American rockers Jane’s Addiction in a show that NIN frontman Trent Reznor describes as “much more raw, spontaneous and less scripted” than ever.
M.E.N Arena, July 14. £29.50. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
Ne-Yo
US R&B sensation Ne-Yo returns to Manchester to perform tracks from his latest album, Year of the Gentleman, with support from Keri Hilson.
M.E.N Arena, July 16. £35. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
Tinchy Stryder
Following the success of his smash hit singles Number 1 and Take Me Back, British grime music artist Tinchy Stryder plays his first headline date in Manchester.
Club Academy, July 23. £9. Tel: 0871 230 0010.
The Manchester Sing Out Choir
Manchester’s 45-piece, multi-cultural gospel choir is one of the success stories of the inaugural Manchester International Festival. Formed in 2005 to support the festival’s first trailblazer, featuring Gorillaz, the choir is now much in demand for its uplifting performances. The Lowry, July 25. £12. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Last Night of the Halle Proms
Irish soprano Ailish Tynan headlines this year’s Last Night of the Halle Proms. She will perform a selection of famous Gilbert and Sullivan arias and operatic hits.
The Bridgewater Hall, July 26. £15 - £35. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
Lucinda Williams
Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams brings her acclaimed blend of folk, rock, blues and Americana to Manchester.
The Bridgewater Hall, July 30. £22 - £27. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
Dance
Carlos Acosta
The greatest male ballet dancer of his generation returns to Manchester, joined by the BBC Philharmonic and a number of other talented dancers, in an exclusive programme of classic and modern works for Manchester International Festival.
The Lowry, July 9 - 11. £12.50 - £46.50. Tel: 0844 815 4961.
Sport
LEN Women’s European Nations Trophy
The Great Britain Women’s Water Polo team goes head to head with seven other national sides for the prized trophy.
Manchester Aquatics Centre, July 7 - 12. £5 - £10.
www.britishswimming.orgAegon Pro-Series Manchester
An international men’s singles and doubles tournament attracting players from all over Europe, along with the best young British players.
The Northern, Didsbury, July 11 - 19. £5 - £12.
www.thenorthern.co.ukEuropean Masters Track Championships
Another international sporting event, featuring Europe’s best track riders in six days of intense competition.
National Cycling Centre, Sportcity, July 27 - Aug 1.
www.cyclingmasters.com