From late night parties, to dance performance, a vinyl and vintage fair, reggae yoga, meditation, and creative Easter activities for the little ones – The Refuge has you covered for the whole weekend.
Events run from Thursday 18th April and run to Sunday 21st April. The full listing is as follows…
Thursday 18th April
A Refuge Arms Pub Rave with Steve Davis and Kavus
8pm – 12.30am
Who’d have thought that snooker legend Steve Davis would become a massive (and well respected) DJ once he put down his cue for good? Well, probably nobody but that’s exactly what’s happened and to kick of the Easter Weekender in style he’ll be hitting the decks in The Refuge Arms with his wingman Kavus Torabi. It’s FREE too.
Dr Sid’s Honey Cooler
5pm – 10pm
The Easter Weekend will kick-off with Dr Sid’s Honey Cooler in the Public Bar playing the best soundtracks in Big Band Swing, Jump Rhythm & Blues, Jukebox Mambo and Killer Calypso.
Friday 19th April
Reggae Yoga
11am – 12:30pm
Create positive vibrations in the Reggae Yoga class, provided by Cariad Yoga, in The Den. The class will focus on vinyasa flow, where movement is linked to breath in a beautifully smooth, reggae rhythm. Mixed level class and beginners are welcomed. Tickets are £5 each.
Heart Rhythms Class
11am – 12pm
Express yourself in thunderous tribal energy with the Heart Rhythms class, conducted by Matthew Pickles in The Basement. A mixture of group drumming and Kundalini yoga, starting with the use of Tabla (Indian percussion) to control the breath, followed by some simple movements to synchronise the body, and finally taking a place in the drumming circle. There is no experience needed and all equipment is provided. Tickets are £5 each.
Gong Bath Relaxation & Meditation
12:30pm and 5pm
Experience a Gong Bath Relaxation & Meditation class with Jane Blackburn in The Basement. Gong meditation is a unique type of sound practice that involves using therapeutic gong sounds and vibrations to bring about healing. Tickets are £5 each.
Raw Baking Session
2pm
Satisfy your sweet-tooth and join Evie, founder of the Raw Bake Station, for a Raw Baking class in The Den at 2 pm. Evie will guide you in a 90-minute hands-on raw baking workshop, taking you step by step through her favourite raw and vegan dessert recipes. Learn how to spoil yourself by making sweet treats; free from gluten, dairy, wheat and refined sugar that don’t skimp on flavour. Tickets are £15 per person.
Yin & Tonic
2.30pm – 4pm
Ease yourself into the Easter weekend at the Yin & Tonic Yoga class, hosted by Eirian from Cariad Yoga, in The Basement. Tickets are £10 each and includes a refreshing G&T or soft drink after an exhilarating Yin Yoga session.
Love from Outer Space
10pm – 4am
Refuge residents Chris Massey & Tim Lawton will takeover The Public Bar on the Friday evening, starting from 5pm-1am, whilst the Basement will see The Refuge favourite, Zutekh return once again with ‘A Love From Outer Space’ featuring Andrew Weatherall & Sean Johnston. They will be guiding revellers through the deepest realms of space with a chugging hypnotic house formula that draws influences from dub, disco & acid, but keeping to their mantra of ‘never knowingly exceed 122bpm’, all night long.
Saturday 20th April
Our Kid’s Social
From 10:30am
Pioneers of ultimate family party-makers, Our Kids Social will bring free family fun to the weekend. Choose from three different activities, including creative and multi-sensory classes from 11am-1pm, all held in The Den. Drop into the Arts and Crafts station and create unique and striking designs with the Lino Postcard Printing workshop, or let kids discover their hidden acrobatic talents with the Circus Skills class. Face painters will also be on hand to provide dazzling designs for your children and keep them entertained from 10:30 am.
Hallé Singing Meet-up
2pm – 5pm
The Refuge continues the celebration with another collaboration with The Hallé, who will be holding a free singing meet-up in The Basement. Designed to be accessible to all, the Hallé Choral Conductors, Michelle Robinson and Matthew Roughley will be inspiring Manchester to sing, guiding guests through chorus and verse. Pick up tips from the masters, on how to use your voice and learn songs that will be performed at the end of the meet-up.
Saturday will also see a live performance of the nationally revered, The Hallé Ancoats Community Choir, in The Public Bar, along with local DJ sets starting from 3pm-1am.
Sunday 21st April
A Certain Ratio with Refuge Friends & Heroes
Sunday 21st April
From mid afternoon, The Public Bar will come erupt with DJ sets from Refuge friends & heroes including Jez Kerr & Martin Moscrop, from one of the bands that helped put Manchester on the musical map – ‘A Certain Ratio’. They will appear alongside one of the city’s legendary record producers/DJ/musicians and an iconic name in acid house, Graham Massey (808 State), and one of Manchester’s fastest musical talents.
Our Kid’s Social Easter Activities
10am – 12pm
Our Kids Social will host four special Easter activities in The Den, which includes a fantastic Easter Egg Birds of Paradise Trail starting in The Public Bar; an Arts & Crafts class; a Lino Postcard Printing workshop and a Circus Skills training. Face painters will be returning again from 10:30am free of entrance.
Lunar Landings Dance Performance
11:30 am
In celebration of the Lunar Landings anniversary, spot the walkabout alien and spacemen performers, and explore the themes of science and technology, space, and identity and friendship with a specially commissioned performance by renowned dancer & choreographer Ruth Jones & dancers.
The Den will then welcome back Ruth Perkins from Science Made Simple, to host a day of pop-up science busking and interactive experiments for both kids and parents to get involved with. Expect plenty of whiz pop bangs from 12:30 pm, free entry.
Vinyl and Vintage Clothing Fair
12pm – 5pm
The Basement will play host to a Vinyl and Vintage Clothing Fair. Browse stalls from 89 Vintage, Dirty Disco, Suzy Loves Milo, Lord Chester, Tom Lyn, Irfan Rainy, Neil Diablo, Basement Wax, Dig Deep Records & many more.
