/SEVEN DAYS
FRIDAY 1
Music / Brix and the Extricated Formed by two former members of The Fall - singer Brix Smith Start and bassist Steve Hanley - Mancunian five-piece Brix and The Extricated perform classic Fall tracks as well as original punk-infused material. They celebrate the release of their sublime third LP, Super Blood Wolf Moon, with a launch gig at Band On The Wall.
Band On The Wall /https ://band onthewall.org / 0161 834 1786 / Friday, November 1 / 7pm / £18.50
Theatre / Playland
Set in South Africa during the Apartheid regime, Athol Fugard’s 1993 play charts the unlikely relationship between two men from different sides of the socio-political divide. Still hugely relevant, this brand new touring revival from Elysium Theatre Company now arrives in Salford as part of Black History Month.
The Empty Space, Footlights House, MediaCityUK / www.footlightstheatre. co.uk / Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2 / £10.50
Visual arts / Sof’ya Shpurova: Low Human Activity
A graduate of the Slade School of Fine Art, Sof’ya Shpurova creates large, highly idiosyncratic paintings inspired by her Russian heritage. Holden Gallery / www.holdengallery. mmu.ac.uk / 0161 247 1705 / Friday, November 1 to Wednesday, November 13 / Free
Clubbing / Me Gusta 3rd Birthday From humble beginnings in a three-bed student house in south Manchester, Me Gusta has grown into one of the city’s most exotic, genrebending club sessions. To celebrate their third birthday, they’ve secured a headline set from Afro-Latino electronic quartet Penya.
YES / www.yes-manchester.com / Friday, November 1 / 10.30pm-4am / £5-£15
Clubbing / Mvson Halloween
Fast becoming the kings of Mancunian nightlife, local DJ/ production trio Mason - comprising members Blair Suarez, Adam Myles and Omar Guedar – are bringing their feel-good house vibes for a one-off Halloween special.
O2 Victoria Warehouse / victoriawarehouse.com / 0161 660 7000 / Friday, November 1 / 9pm-5am / £14
Film / The Village Screen Halloween Weekend
Cinema specialists the Village Screen return for a screening of Tim Burton’s 80s cult classic Beetlejuice, accompanied by all the usual tasty street food, pop-up bars and music.
Victoria Baths / victoriabaths.org.uk / Friday, November 1 / 6.30pm / £16
SATURDAY 2
Theatre / The Last Straw Described as ‘Waiting For Godot for the post-truth age’, People Show Theatre’s The Last Straw examines the intense information overload of modern society. First staged to rave reviews at London’s Ovalhouse in 2017, the production now arrives at Chorlton’s Edge Theatre as part of a short UK tour.
Edge Theatre, Chorlton / www. edgetheatre.co.uk / 0161 282 9776 / Saturday, November 2 / 7.30pm / £16
Clubbing / Audio Farm One Tribe Festival Launch
After a period of uncertainty, Cheshire’s One Tribe Festival was recently confirmed to be returning in 2020 – hurrah! To whet your appetite, the organisers are throwing a massive 12-hour party at Hulme’s NIAMOS Centre with DJ sets, drag artists, cabaret shows and circus performers.
NIAMOS, Hulme / www.niamos. space / 0161 222 2222 / Saturday, November 2 / 2pm-2am / £15
Talk/Sandi Toksvig
The writer, broadcaster and generally chirpy Danish person takes some time off from Bake Off and Radio 4 to bring you a one-off evening of anecdotes and laughter, followed by an audience Q&A.
Royal Northern College of Music / www.rncm.ac.uk / 0161 907 5200 / Saturday, November 2 / 7.30pm / £28
Visual arts / Fanspeak
Whether you’re a diehard fan of sports, pop music or comic books, it’s normal to develop with your own form of specialist vocabulary – a language often referred to as ‘fanspeak’. Castlefield Gallery’s latest exhibition will explore the weird and wonderful world of fanspeak, featuring sculpture, painting and video from artists such as Kurdwin Ayub, Lydia Blakeley, Ashley Holmes, Beth Emily Richards and more.
Castlefield Gallery / www. castlefieldgallery.co.uk / 0161 832 8034 / Saturday, November 2 to Sunday, November 24 / Free
SUNDAY 3
Music / Squeeze
Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook perform highlights from across their 45-year career, both classic band tracks and solo material. With support from Sheffield veterans Heaven 17.
The Lowry / thelowry.com / 0343 208 6000 / Sunday, November 3 / 7pm / £32
Comedy / Frank Skinner
Comedy giant Frank Skinner returns with his first tour in five years, Showbiz, a show in which he tackles the world of modern celebrity. Warm, chatty and self-deprecating, the 62-year-old Brummie still remains one of the finest stand-ups in the business.
Opera House / www.atgtickets.com / 0844 871 3018 / Sunday, November 3 / 7.30pm / £25
Comedy / Stand Up For Acorn Raising funds for Acorn Recovery Project – the Stockport-based charity which helps people with addiction problems – this superb comedy showcase features sets from Mandy Knight, Jon Richardson, Chris Washington, Matt Forde, Harriet Dyer, Mike Newall and Josh Pugh.
Frog and Bucket / frogandbucket.