Manchester in June..

So, it looks like we’re bust then. Stoney broke and faced with eating soil and tying our shoes with string. Depending on who you listen to, the national coffers are so dry that we’re staring down the barrel of post-war levels of austerity, which means that state-sponsored fun could be difficult to come by between now and many of us reaching middle age.

Begrudgingly, this means that we should commence bowing and tipping our caps to those who make private investment in our merriment, and that could include Spinningfields. Yes, landlord to the contented office worker and day tripping, out of towner, the (un)official Mancunian playground and business centre is laying on a summer long festival of outdoor, big screen fun complete with deckchairs and everything. If you turn off Deansgate when you get to Wagamama you’ve found the spot.

The screen will be given over to some sporting events, but in between the grunting and beer swilling there will be plenty of film, including Pretty Woman (Thu 24 June, 8.30pm) and a welcome screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (Thu 29 July, 8.30pm). What’s even lovelier is the concept of the Family Film Club which will create a haven for parents who are all summer holidayed out and can plonk the kids in front of films like Up (Sat 31 July, 11am).

From the great outdoors to the great indoors, there can be few buildings finer than Manchester’s Central Library, which will be shrouded in tarpaulin whilst construction takes place on bringing the old place tastefully into the 21st century. Unfortunately it means that one of the libraries oldest tenants, the Library Theatre will be displaced at the same time. If there’s one place, just one last time, this summer then it’s in their plush seats.

Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest is the final show to take place in the legendary space and is faithful to the last, save for a couple of camp performances that would have made old Oscar blush. Where next for the company? Well, after a gala event to say goodbye (Sun 4 July) it’s off to Salford Quays to a temporary home at The Lowry where their inaugural, bank side show will be The Magnificent Tale of Emily Law and Arturo the Waterboy (Fri 6 & Sat 7 August).

It’s a well known phenomenon that rock stars like their summer holidays as much as we do, or prefer trotting round Europe’s festivals instead of hitting our motorways, so it’s slim pickings on the music front. Some may like to know that the ghosts of barely interesting 90’s urchins, Gomez, will be lurking in the shadows though.

There we so many of them that none were elected leader, so it’s unknown what authority vocalist Ben Ottewell has to growl his way through their songs at Moho Live (Wed 14 July), but you can be sure that he will. For a musical experience that’s likely to be genuinely interesting, beg for a ticket to see The Coral at The Lowry (Sat 17 July) and be taken through songs that show off their hazy, summery new sound alongside a bulging back catalogue.

If you’ve any strength left then Cornerhouse present an interesting exhibition which delves into artists’ unfinished business with some interesting names like David Shrigley and Leo Fitzmaurice (Sat 17 July – Sun 12 September). With the pennies drying up in our pockets, it’s a good job it’s free too.

Author
Rob Allen

24/06/2010