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.
FESTIVALS
Sounds From the Other City
Salford's only new music festival is back, showcasing fresh talent from the region and beyond in seldom-used venues along Chapel Street.
Chapel Street, Salford, May 2. £15.
www.soundsfromtheothercity.comThe Great Northern Spring Brass Arts Festival
A showcase of some of the world's finest brass bands and soloists, including The Cory Band, The Leyland Band and The Fodens Band.
The Bridgewater Hall, May 9. £9.50 - £24.
www.bridgewater-hall.co.ukFutureEverything
Futuresonic - Manchester's annual urban festival of electronic arts, music and ideas - returns with a new name. FutureEverything features world premieres of artworks, a city-wide music programme and a conference with visionary thinkers from around the world exploring issues affecting today's digital culture.
Various venues, May 12 - 15.
www.futureeverything.orgHungry Pigeon Festival
An arts and music festival taking over 15 venues around the Northern Quarter. This year's highlights include Athlete, Liam Frost, Karima Francis and Clint Boon. The latter will host a free party for all at an open-air stage in Piccadilly Gardens on May 29.
Various venues, May 28 - 30.
www.hungrypigeon.comQueer Up North
Europe's most fabulous queer arts festival sashays back into town for two weeks of theatre, performance art, cabaret, music, comedy and pure pleasure.
Various venues, May 18 - 31.
www.queerupnorth.comEurocultured
A street festival celebrating the diversity of European culture, with visual artists, dancers and musicians from every corner of the continent.
New Wakefield Street and Great Marlborough Street, May 30 & 31. £5.
www.eurocultured.comEXHIBITIONS
Lowry Favourites
An exhibition bringing together a selection of works by Salford artist LS Lowry.
The Lowry, until June 6. Free. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Shaped by War: Photographs by Don McCullin
The largest ever UK exhibition about the life and work of Don McCullin - one of the world's most acclaimed photographers.
Imperial War Museum North, until June 13. Free. Tel: 0161 836 4000.
Da Vinci - The Genius
Giant original colour and infra-red versions of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, as well as his visionary inventions, such as the helicopter, parachute and military tank, take centre stage in MOSI's exhibition.
MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry), until June 13. £7.50. Tel: 0844 847 2261.
Heroes and Kings: The Shahnama of Ferdowsi
The John Rylands Library marks the millennium of the Shahnama - the national epic poem of Iran, written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi - with an exhibition exploring the poem's languages, art, history and mythology.
The John Rylands Library, until June 27. Free. Tel: 0161 306 0555.
A World Observed 1940 - 2010: Photographs by Dorothy Bohm
The first major retrospective of photographer Dorothy Bohm, bringing together more than 200 photographic images from a career spanning almost seven decades and several continents.
Manchester Art Gallery, until Aug 30. Free. Tel: 0161 235 8888.
Walls Are Talking: Wallpaper, Art and Culture
The first ever major UK exhibition of artists' wallpapers, including work by Damien Hirst, Thomas Demand and Anya Gallaccio.
Whitworth Art Gallery, until Aug 30. Free. Tel: 0161 275 7450.
THEATRE
Carousel
Salford Music Theatre Company presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical, Carousel. Billy Bigelow, a handsome carousel ride attendant, and Julie Jordan, a naive mill worker, fall in love and get married, but their relationship sours when Billy becomes violent.
The Lowry, May 4 - 8. £10 - £14. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Crying In The Chapel
In April 1990, Her Majesty's Prison Manchester - aka Strangeways - erupted into a 25-day siege that was to become a watershed in British penal history. Crying In The Chapel presents an inside account of the riot, marking its 20th anniversary.
Contact, until May 8. £10. Tel: 0161 274 0600.
When Harry Met Sally
Rupert Hill (Coronation Street) and Sarah Jayne Dunn (Hollyoaks) star in romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally, adapted from the 1989 film.
Opera House, May 10 - 15. £9 - £24. Tel: 0844 847 2484.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
The smash hit musical, based on the book by Ian Fleming, returns to Manchester to thrill audiences with its action-packed story of good and evil and, of course, its flying car.
Palace Theatre, until May 15. £15 - £39.50. Tel: 0844 847 2295.
Burlesque!
Join Rosie Lugosi the Lesbian Vampire Queen, as she hosts an evening of decadent burlesque and cabaret entertainment.
The Lowry, May 15. £10 - £15. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Desperate To Be Doris
LipService's hilarious Desperate To Be Doris centres around Dean (Spamalot star Darren Southworth) - a ladies' nightwear buyer by day and wannabe Doris Day singer by night. Featuring a specially recruited community choir, the show is packed with songs made famous by the legendary performer, including Que Sera Sera, The Deadwood Stage and Secret Love.
Library Theatre, May 11 - 15. £13 - £16.50. Tel: 0161 236 7110.
The Canterbury Tales
Northern Broadsides in partnership with the New Vic Theatre present a witty adaptation of Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. At the Tabard Inn, London, sometime in the 14th century, a group of people gather for their pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral. On the way, they entertain each other with their colourful tales.
The Lowry, May 18 - 22. £14 - £20. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Pygmalion
The Royal Exchange Theatre stages Bernard Shaw's sparkling classic, Pygmalion. When Henry Higgins makes a bet with Colonel Pickering that he can turn a Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, into a refined society lady, he bites off more than he can chew.
Royal Exchange Theatre, May 12 - June 19. £8.50 - £29.50. Tel: 0161 833 9833.
COMEDY
Lee Mack
Bafta award-winning comedian Lee Mack brings his trademark brand of high energy banter, well crafted gags and sharp one-liners to The Lowry, as part of his biggest ever live stand-up tour.
The Lowry, May 9. £18.50. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
Dara O'Briain
Acclaimed comedian and TV presenter Dara O'Briain has been described as Britain's favourite Irish man. Find out why when he brings his new touring show to The Lowry.
The Lowry, May 13 - 15. £19.50. Tel: 0870 787 5793.
MUSIC
Joan Armatrading
Acclaimed British singer, songwriter and guitarist Joan Armatrading is on an international tour to promote her latest album, This Charming Life.
The Bridgewater Hall, May 4. £27.08 & £30.14. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
Parachute
The budding pop-rockers from Virginia bring their infectious vocal melodies to Manchester.
Roadhouse, May 9. £7. Tel: 0871 2200 260.
Kiss
Heavy metal legends Kiss storm into town as part of their new European tour.
M.E.N Arena, May 10. £40. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
Snake Davis Band
Saxophonist Snake Davis and his band play jazzy blues, reggae and funk.
Band on the Wall, May 13. £12.50. Tel: 0845 2500 500.
Rihanna
R'n'B star Rihanna performs tracks from her new album, Rated R, alongside chart-topping hits including Umbrella, Don't Stop The Music and Disturbia.
M.E.N Arena, May 16. £39.50 & £45. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
Jamie Cullum
Touring the UK for the first time since 2006, English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jamie Cullum returns to Manchester to promote his latest album, The Pursuit.
The Bridgewater Hall, May 17. £28.10 - £40.87. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
Diana Vickers
English pop singer and actress Diana Vickers plays gigs around the country to support the release of her debut album, Songs From The Tainted Cherry Tree.
Academy 2, May 19. £12. Tel: 0871 2200 260.
Delphic
The new UK tour of Manchester trio Delphic culminates with a hometown show at the Ritz. Support comes from fellow Mancunians Everything Everything.
Ritz, May 21. £11. Tel: 0871 2200 260.
Cameron Carpenter
Flamboyant American organist Cameron Carpenter makes his debut at The Bridgewater Hall, as he embarks on a personal mission to break down the barriers that stop more people from enjoying the 'king of instruments'.
The Bridgewater Hall, May 21. £15. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
The Black Eyed Peas
The LA hip-hop stars perform all their big hits, with support from Cheryl Cole.
M.E.N Arena, May 23 & 24. £49.50. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
Rod Stewart
Legendary singer-songwriter Rod Stewart returns to Manchester to perform tracks from his new album, Soulbook, as well as hits from his 45-year back catalogue.
M.E.N Arena, May 26 & 27. £60 & £70. Tel: 0844 847 8000.
The Halle - Mahler in Manchester
Sir Mark Elder conducts the Halle in a performance of Mahler's Ninth Symphony. The programme also includes the world premiere of new work by Luke Bedford.
The Bridgewater Hall, May 27. £9.50 - £37. Tel: 0161 907 9000.
SPORT
Two Cities Boat Race
Hundreds of spectators are expected to line Salford Quays on May 8 to watch rowers from the University of Manchester and the University of Salford battle it out in the fiercely contested annual Two Cities Boat Race. The crews will compete along the traditional River Irwell course, which starts at Sam Platts pub and finishes at the Lowry Bridge. The day will start with dragon boat racing in the morning, followed by the student rowing regatta and an awards ceremony. There will also be live entertainment, and food and drink throughout the day along the quayside.
Salford Quays, May 8.
www.twocitiesboatrace.co.ukBUPA Great Manchester Run
Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie returns to Manchester to chase a third victory in the Bupa Great Manchester Run - Britain's biggest and most prestigious 10km race. The veteran distance runner will be running alongside 36,000 elite athletes, celebrities, and charity and fun runners from across the world.
Manchester city centre, May 16.
www.greatrun.org Great City 150
British athletes Jessica Ennis and Christine Ohuruogu, and American record holder Tyson Gay will compete on a specially-erected track on Deansgate - the same track where triple Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt ran the fastest race in history last year.
Deansgate, May 16.
www.greatcitygames.orgBT Paralympic World Cup
Manchester once again hosts the BT Paralympic World Cup - the biggest annual international multi-sport competition for elite athletes with a disability. More than 400 athletes from 31 different countries will compete in athletics, swimming, wheelchair basketball and football 7-a-side.
Manchester Regional Arena and Manchester Aquatics Centre, May 25 - 31.
www.btparalympicworldcup.com