The second Bank Holiday in as many weeks and there’s LOADS to get your teeth into…
All Weekend
The ‘All Under One Roof’ Electric Weekender at The Refuge
Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th May
After a family friendly special last bank holiday, The Refuge have decided to go all grown up this May Day with 3 packed days of some of the biggest and best DJs in the world. Starting off on Friday night with Joey T & TJ Lawton in the Public Bar, things descend into pretty serious territory on Saturday with their ‘Friends of Electric Chair‘ day featuring the likes of Unambombers, Balearic Mike, James Holroyd and Supernature Disco Vs Sprechen right into the early hours. Sunday sees Pikes Ibiza takeover with a day of Balearic tunes that’ll transport you right onto the White Isle (with some added sun hopefully). Check out the piece below for ALL of the details on who’s on…
Pikes Ibiza are taking over The Refuge this Electric Chair Weekender
GRUB at Mayfield Opening Party
Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th May
Now that the sun has decided to peek it’s little sun glassed face from behind all of those cumulonimbus clouds, GRUB are heading back outside to Mayfield and this May Day Bank Holiday sees them celebrate the fact in style. As you’d expect there’ll be the usual array of top tunes, great booze and top street food vendors including Parmstar, Drizzle City Cakes, Club Mexicana, Doner Summer and more.
Medicine Is Magical. An Exhibition by sølar at Electrik
From Thursday 2nd May
Kicking off on Thursday and extending right through the Bank Holiday weekend, this Medicine is Magical exhibition from artist sølar will bring Electrik alive with a range of surreal collages that look to explore the ‘weird and wonderful’. Creating his work non-digitally using scissors, scalpel and glue, sølar has been growing in popularity over the last few years and his art evokes a surreal and ethereal sci-fi style. There’ll be prints to buy too so you can deck out your gaff in some seriously cool pieces.
Mash Tun Opening Weekend
From Friday 2nd May
This Friday sees the city’s newest ‘urban beer house’ open and they’re having a massive party to celebrate. All you need to do is register your details on their website and you can go down and enjoy a FREE pint, as well as Sausage & Mash canapés, beer ice cream and even FREE hotdogs ALL NIGHT – as well as LIVE music and DJ sets throughout the evening too. It’s going to be an awful lot of fun, but if you can’t make it on Friday night – be sure to pop in over the weekend and see what it’s all about.
0161 Music Festival at St Kentigerns
Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th May
The last place I’d expect to see the cream of British hip-hop acts is St Kentigerns in Fallowfield, an Irish Club that wouldn’t look out of place in some sort of sequel to Phoenix Nights. But here they are as the 0161 Music Festival gets under way this bank holiday weekend. It’s not just hip-hop acts though, there’s a whole host of performers over the three days including The Mouse Outfit, The Movement, Inner Terrestrials, and frankly around 35 more that I’m too lazy to list here. Check out the button below for more information on who’s playing and to get tickets.
PLAY Expo @ Manchester Central
Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th May
The North’s biggest videogames event – PLAY Expo – comes to Manchester Central this May Day Bank Holiday with over 1000 games on offer, not to mention blockbuster game previews, indie games, retro classics, eSports, cosplay, escape rooms, education, live shows, industry panels and YouTuber meet and greets and more. They’re expecting over 25,000 people through the doors over the weekend so it’s going to be a biggie!
The North’s Biggest Game Expo set to return to Manchester Central this May
Saturday 4th May
POOKU x MASS w/ Casa Voyager @ The Bagel Shop
Saturday 4th May
Mass and Pooku will be getting together and heading on over to The Bagel Shop on Oldham Street to put on an intimate showcase this Bank Holiday Saturday. They’ve invited the prolific Casa Voyager crew down for their Manchester debut, and playing alongside them will also be OCB, Kosh (Live), Malik, Lijero, Cosm and more. Tickets are going FAST so be quick!
Manchester Reggae Festival @ Manchester Academy
Saturday 4th May
Fans of reggae need not buy a flight to Kingston this weekend because all of your favourite performers are coming here – with two huge rooms of pure Reggae, Dub & Roots for your enjoyment. Channel One Sound System take over one room all night long while Trojan Sound System will take over room one with the likes of Supa4 Creation, Gardna, Parly B and more performing.
Crepe City at Brickworks
Saturday 4th May
This isn’t anything to do with those really thin French pancakes – no Crepe City is Europe’s biggest trainer festival and it’s heading to Brickworks this Bank Holiday Saturday. There’ll be around 2,000 shoes for sale on the day, including rare finds and limited editions and prices ranging from £20 – £3,500 so there’s something for everyone, regardless the size of your wallet. There’ll also be food stalls, clothing brands for sale, a dedicated shoe cleaning service, a barbershop and even a cinema!
Crepe City 2019: Europe’s biggest trainer festival comes to Manchester
May the 4th – Star Wars Day at Fab Cafe
Saturday 4th May
Every year the city’s most impressive (and only?) sci-fi themed bar puts on a massive bash for Star Wars Day on May the 4th. Celebrating all things Skywalker, they will be hosting their usual costume competitions as well as dance offs and a whole range of other things to get into. If you’re a BIG fan of ‘The Wars’ then this should be a must. Drinks are also super cheap in here too so you’re guaranteed to have a good time, even if you don’t win any of the competitions.
LFTS x HIT & RUN: Food4Thought @ 256 Fallowfield
Saturday 4th May
At last year’s Food4Thought event the Hit & Run gang raised a whopping 2,100 meals for Manchester Central Foodbank and £1400 for The Trussell Trust and as you’d expect – they want to beat that this year. The idea is simple – bring 4 tins of food on the day and get entry into a massive party featuring 12 hours of top DJs, veggie and vegan street food, art workshops, fashion and more. Having a good time and doing some charity – sounds good to me.
Sunday 5th May
Learn the History of Gin with Blind Tyger
Sunday 5th May
The second in their series of Bank Holiday cocktail events, this May Day sees the brilliant Blind Tyger play host to every grandma’s favourite tipple – gin. You’ll learn the history of the spirit while enjoying 5 delicious cocktails that represent and describe different eras of gin which goes as far back to th 18th century. They’ll even be supplying a handy list of everything that goes into the drinks so you can go home and impress your mates with your skillz.
Learn the History of Gin this Bank Holiday at Blind Tyger
Unlimited Margaritas with Cinco de Mayo at Dive NQ
Sunday 5th May
Of course Cinco de Mayo is on the 5th May – that’s what it bloody means in foreign you idiot. A commemoration of the Mexican Army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, it’s now used as an excuse to drink too much tequila and eat too many spicy nachos. To celebrate this auspicious day, Dive NQ are putting on a very special version of their Bites & Booze offer, where you can get UNLIMITED Margaritas for 3 hours (plus a Taco plate) for just £20. Brilliant.
The Big Western Yard Party in Moss Side
Sunday 5th May
This Sunday sees the legendary Yard Party return to The Big Western in Moss Side, with a packed day of activities, music, food, booze and hopefully plenty of sun. Starting from midday there’ll be DJs on until 8pm spinning the best in Roots, Reggae and Dub with their top-of-the-range sound system. The best things about it: it’s also FREE!
The Legendary Moss Side Yard Party is BACK this May Day
Hidden Courtyard – Day & Night Pt 1
Sunday 5th May
The first in a series of events taking over the Courtyard at Hidden, this first event on Sunday features DJ Bone, Molly, Harrison BDP, Martin Loose-Cuts and more – all smashing out the tunes until 4am. Out in the courtyard the party is always mega so you’d be a silly sod to miss out on this one.
Supernature Disco at Electrik
Sunday 5th May
Electrik are welcoming back their party favourites – Supernature Disco – this coming Bank Holiday as they bring forth a dance demanding selection of disco dazzlers, boogie bangers, classic clangers and plenty more. Their words not mine. I’m sure that the alliteration is all correct – these guys know how to put on a good party and this one will be no different. Don’t forget that you can get yourself a banging Roast Dinner on Sunday beforehand – ready for a big night of top tunes.
ShinDigger’s ‘Big Shindig’ Takeover at Sandinista
Sunday 5th May
The second in their 3 tap takeover events over these early Bankl Holidays, this May Day sees Sandinista welcome local brewers ShinDigger into their gaff with the official launch of their Spring and Summer brews. There’ll be exclusive access to some of ShinDiggers bestest beers, as well as beer flights, FREE pints and probably a fair whack of merch knocking about. It’s FREE entry and alongside the beers will be a selection of Sandinista DJs and of course – some brilliant Peruvian food from Mama Pacha.
One Deck with Dr Sid at Volta
Sunday 5th May
Taking the very successful formula of One Deck Wednesday from Chorlton’s Electrik right over to Didsbury’s Volta, this Bank Holiday weekend sees Dr Sid set up his deck and bring along his vinyl collection consisting of the sounds of Big Band Swing, Jump Rhythm & Blues, Jukebox Mambo, Killer Calypso Soul, Jazz, Rare Groove and other oddities! Volta will also be offering their BRUNCH on Bank Holiday Monday too!
The Vengaboys at Village People Weekend 2019
Sunday 5th May
Taking place in Sackville Gardens just off Canal Street, the Village People Weekend have managed to bag themselves everyone’s favourite 90’s Euro-pop band Vengaboys for a headline performance of such hits as; Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Uncle John from Jamaica and of course We’re Going to Ibiza. I’m not sure who else is on the line up for the day, they seem to be so proud that they’ve got Vengaboys that they’ve failed to mention anyone else, but it’s all for a good cause so get yourself down there and have a good time.
Sounds from the Other City 2019
Sunday 5th May
The other city of course is Salford, and you should expect plenty of new music from up and coming artists from around these parts. You can expect over 40 different acts performing over the course of the day with a diverse mixture of bands, solo artists, art collectives, visual artists and DJ’s from all over the world and at different stages of their career – and they’ll all be under one roof for your viewing pleasure.
Straight Up Disco with DJ Paulette @ Honey Trap Club
Sunday 5th May
Paulette has got a busy day this Sunday – not only will she be making an appearance at The Refuge for their Pikes Takeover, she’ll also be heading on down to the brilliant Honey Trap Club in the NQ – taking them right through into the early hours with a night of Disco and Studio 54 classics. This one is going to be a biggie!
Sounds From The Other City Official After Party @ YES
Sunday 5th May
Relocating from Islington Mill to YES, Sounds From The Other City continues the party right into the early hours with a massive party across all three floors of the venue. The Basement will be playing host to Annabel Fraser & the Kiss Me Again DJs, while the Bar will be hosted by Regal Disco. The Pink Room will feature High Hoops and So Flute with Baloo b2b Adj, Danuka and more.
Vintage and Art Bazaar @ Niamos
Sunday 5th May
Taking place on the 1st Sunday of every month, the Niamos Bazaar is your chance to get your hands on a whole host of goodies, from unique clothing and jewellery through to retro streetwear, handpicked vintage, festival wear and headdresses, exotic gifts & curiosities, CBD, jewellery making workshops, quirky homeware, original artwork and anything else you can think of. There’ll be some DJ sets going on all day too so even if you don’t find that 1920’s leopard skin thong that you’ve been looking for – you can still have a good time.
Wolf of Wall Street @ Bridgewater Hall
Sunday 5th May
The REAL Wolf of Wall Street, the guy who’s had Leonardo DiCaprio play him in the Hollywood movie – Jordan Belfort – is coming to the Bridgewater Hall this weekend and he’ll be bringing with him a whole wealth of knowledge about how to rip people off in the 90’s, take Quaaludes and how to make friends in prison. He’ll also be talking about how you can succeed both in your personal life and in business – if you’re interested in that kind of stuff.
See ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ Jordan Belfort in Manchester this May
Ivy Asia presents 90’s Sunday Series
Sunday 5th May
To celebrate the arrival of The Spice Girls at the end of May, Ivy Asia are putting on a monthly 90’s themed party featuring DJs, cocktails, sharing dishes and themed entertainment. This Sunday will feature a special nod to the 5 (or 4) girls with plenty of Spice Girls tunes and entertainment between 12pm and 6pm. It may sound a bit odd but it could just be one of the greatest ideas ever. Maybe.
Monday 6th May
Extended Cottonopolis Bottomless Brunch
Monday 6th May
Due to the fact that most people are off work, and are most likely extremely hungover to boot, Cottonopolis are doing us all a favour by extending their brilliant Bottomless Brunch to also include Monday 6th May. That means you’ve another day in which to tuck into their phenomenal brunch dishes while also getting sloshed on bottomless prosecco. It’s the best brunch in town so you can’t go wrong.
Extended Black Dog Bottomless Brunch
Monday 6th May
Much like Cottonopolis above, Black Dog will also be extending their Bottomless Brunch offering to include Monday too – where you can pick one of their brilliant breakfast plates and then get unlimited prosecco, beers, mimosas and more for just £25. Their Chicken & Waffles is pretty legendary – so go for that – you won’t regret it.
