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FIND OUT MOREWhat's on
From an urban festival of electronic arts and an exhibition inspired by the Isle of Man coastline to concerts by pop legends Bryan Adams and Justin Timberlake, there is no lack of things to do in Manchester this month.
Culture
Futuresonic 2007
Various venues, May 10 - 12. Tel: 0871 282 6000. www.futuresonic.com.
An annual urban festival of electronic arts, music and ideas, Futuresonic features live performances by internationally celebrated artists and local talent, as well as a series of exhibitions, workshops and interactive projects. Headlining the festival's music strand, Music For The Beep Generation, are Kraftwerk's Wolfgang Flur, French hip-hop sensation TTC and legendary music pioneers Faust.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONCulture
Queerupnorth
Various venues, May 7 - 27.Tel: 0161 833 2288. www.queerupnorth.com.
Europe's largest queer arts festival returns with a melange of comedy, music, theatre, dance, visual arts, cabaret, film and literature from across the UK and around the world. See page 12 for details.
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Exhibition
Alien Nation
Manchester Art Gallery, until May 7. Free. Tel: 0161 235 8888.
Twelve contemporary international artists explore racial difference through the language and iconography of science fiction.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
Leanne Bramall - A Coastal Archive
Manchester Craft and Design Centre, until June 23. Free. Tel: 0161 832 4274.
A graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University, Leanne Bramall is inspired by the Isle of Man coastline, producing clay sculptures that borrow forms from tidal graphs and colour from ropes and boats.
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Exhibition
A Long Way From Home
IWMN until July 1. Free. Tel: 0161 836 4000.
A small but powerful display of around 35 photographs from Imperial War Museum's archives, marking the 25th anniversary of the Falklands War. The exhibition features both official photographs and snapshots taken by British and Argentine servicemen.
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Exhibition
Hong Kong - Arrivals and Departures
Urbis, until July 8. Free. Tel: 0161 605 8200.
The first major contemporary art exhibition on Hong Kong to take place in the UK, Arrivals and Departures marks the tenth anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China, and explores the collision of cultures between Hong Kong, China and Britain.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
We Live Here
Manchester Art Gallery, until July 8. Free. Tel: 0161 235 8888.
Eight diverse community groups have worked with 12 artists to present what is distinctive about their experience of Manchester in this photographic project commissioned by Look 07.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
For Queen and Country
Central Library, St Peter's Square, until July 15. Free. Tel: 0161 234 1900.
Turner Prize-winning artist Steve McQueen pays tribute to the British soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq in a new work commissioned by Manchester International Festival and the Imperial War Museum North.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
Playing to the Tune
Hat Works, Stockport, until July 22. Free. Tel: 0845 333 0975.
An exhibition exploring how music has influenced people to wear certain headwear through the decades, from opera hats to baseball caps.
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Exhibition
Wild Britain
The Manchester Museum, Oxford Rd, until Aug 27. Free. Tel: 0161 275 2634.
A collection of striking images by wildlife photographer Ben Hall, capturing the stunning wildlife of the British Isles.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
Play - Experience the Adventure of Our City
Urbis, until Sept 2007. Free. Tel: 0161 605 8200.
Urbis is transformed into a giant adventure playground for this exhibition. Featuring work by leading urban creatives, including Leo Fitzmaurice and Nils Norman, Play presents innovative ways in which people have fun in cities across the world.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONExhibition
Featuring Walls
The Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road, until Sept 30. Free. Tel: 0161 275 7450.
A collection of historic and modern wallpapers spanning three centuries and reflecting many of the social and cultural currents at work when these papers were made.
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Exhibition
Doctor Who - Up-close
Museum of Science and Industry, until Nov 5. £4.50 - £20. Tel: 08700 600 100.
Get up-close to actual props, costumes and monsters from the hit BBC programme Doctor Who. The exhibition coincides with the long-awaited third series, starring David Tennant and Freema Agyeman.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONTheatre
The Producers
Palace Theatre, until May 12. £12.50 - £40. Tel: 0871 677 0000.
Bolton comedian Peter Kay stars in Mel Brooks' smash hit musical about a down-on-his-luck theatrical producer and his accountant, who hatch the ultimate theatrical scam.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONTheatre
Bedroom Farce
The Lowry, May 8 - 12. £12.50 - £20. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Alan Ayckbourn's National Theatre hit about relationships and the perils of DIY looks at four couples and what they get up to in three different bedrooms throughout the course of one chaotic evening. The play does not deliver the spicy sex romps its title conjures up but it does provide plenty of good laughs.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONTheatre
The Triumph of Love
The Royal Exchange Theatre, until May 19. £8.00 - £27.50. Tel: 0161 833 9833.
An evening of gender-bending, sexually charged comedy hits the stage of the Royal Exchange Theatre, with a major new production of Marivaux's The Triumph of Love. Newly translated and adapted by Braham Murray and Katherine Sand, the play tells the tale of lovesick Princess Leonida, who must find a way to win fallen Prince Agis - despite her family having killed his parents to ascend the throne.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONTheatre
Cats
Opera House, May 22 - June 9. £10 - £33. Tel: 0870 401 9000.
Andrew Lloyd Webber's record-breaking musical about a tribe of cats who gather once a year to find out which one of them will be reincarnated is just purr-fect. Featuring the hit song Memory, spectacular set design and stunning costumes, it promises to be a show to remember.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
Bryan Adams
M.E.N. Arena, May 8. £35. Tel: 0870 190 8000.
The Canadian rock icon will be ?Waking up the Neighbours' when he storms into Manchester this month.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
Meat Loaf
M.E.N. Arena, May 10 & 12. £37.50 & £45. Tel: 0870 190 8000.
The veteran rocker returns to Manchester with Bat Out of Hell III - the long-awaited third instalment of the most successful rock album series of all time.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
Groove Armada
Manchester Apollo, Stockport Road, May 12. £19.50. Tel: 0870 401 8000.
The electronic music group from Cambridge will have you singing "I see you baby... shakin' that ass" all the way back home.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
Justin Timberlake
M.E.N. Arena, May 14 & 15. £35 - £50. Tel: 0870 190 8000.
The pin-up's pretty face and teen-pop background have not prevented him from earning real artistic credibility and a raft of industry awards. Don't miss the global superstar's FutureSex/LoveShow, complete with a 14-piece band and back-up dancers.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
Black Dyke Band
The Bridgewater Hall, May 18. £10 - £20. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
Probably the most famous brass band in the world, the Oscar and Grammy nominated Black Dyke Band comes to Manchester with guest soloist James Morrison.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
Halle: On Your Marks?with Jon Christos
The Bridgewater Hall, May 19. £8 - £34. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
Carl Davis fires the starting pistol on a sporting programme packed with high-octane favourites in this special concert sponsored by BUPA Great Manchester Run. From Nessun Dorma to We Are The Champions, Manchester singing sensation Jon Christos promises to give a gold medal performance.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
Juan Martin
The Bridgewater Hall, May 23. £13.50 - £18.50. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
Widely regarded as one of the top flamenco guitarists in the world, Juan Martin returns with a line-up of the finest musicians and dancers for a performance of explosive energy and passion.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
Glenn Miller Orchestra UK
The Bridgewater Hall, May 25. £15 - £25. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
The UK's official Glenn Miller tribute band brings the legendary Big Band's unique jazz sound to Manchester.
Music
Il Divo
M.E.N. Arena, May 25 & 26. £25 & £40. Tel: 0870 190 8000.
Let the hugely successful operatic pop vocal group serenade you.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONMusic
Lionel Richie
M.E.N. Arena, May 9, 11 & 27. £35 & £75. Tel: 0870 190 8000.
The legendary singer/songwriter brings all his hits to the M.E.N. Arena.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONDance
Nederlands Dans Theater 2
The Lowry, May 18 - 19. £18 - £26. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Highly skilful young performers take to the stage for a high-octane show of virtuoso dancing.
BACK TO WHAT'S ONSport
Two Cities Boat Race
Salford Quays, May 12. Free. Tel: 0161 275 6990. www.twocitiesboatrace.co.uk.
Salford Quays hosts the ultimate university challenge. The University of Manchester and the University of Salford will go head to head along the River Irwell in this fiercely contested event, which also features dragon boat racing and bankside entertainment for the thousands of spectators.
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Visa Paralympic World Cup
The Velodrome, Manchester Aquatic Centre, Manchester Regional Arena, May 7 - 13. £3. Tel: 0870 165 2005.
The world's greatest athletes with a disability descend on Manchester to take part in the biggest annual multi-sport competition outside the Paralympic Games. More than 350 athletes from 45 countries will compete in four sports: Wheelchair basketball (May 7-10), track cycling (May 11), swimming (May 12) and athletics (May 13).
BACK TO WHAT'S ONSport
Tesco Mini and Junior Great Manchester Run
Sportcity, May 19, 10am - 1pm. Entry: £12 per child, spectators free. All entrants must pre-register by calling 0845 389 2200.
Young people can be part of the Great Run action by entering Manchester's biggest junior running event. There are races for children aged 3 - 8 and 9 -14. All finishers will receive a goody bag, T-shirt and medal, and there are lots of great prizes to be won.
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BUPA Great Manchester Run
Manchester city centre, May 20. Free for spectators. www.greatrun.org.
Britain's premier 10km running event returns to the city this month for its fifth glorious year, with elite athletes, celebrities, and thousands of fun and charity runners taking part.
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