Dave PorterIn 1945, a week-long series of meetings took place in Manchester which was to change the course of history in Africa. Several of the attendees went on to become presidents of African nations and it has been argued that the Fifth Pan-African...
Simon A. MorrisonIf you spent any significant time in your youth raving on any of this planetâs finest dancefloors, then this collection of psychedelic inflatables might ⊠just might⊠already make some time of sense. You might also be in with a shout if your name...
Martin ThomassonâAre you a fan of Ben UFO?â a friendly young woman asks as we walk into New Century Hall. I confess Iâm not and make it worse by adding, âI have heard of him.â This is true (I think) but makes me about as cool as my dad would have been if heâd told...
Georgina WellsManchester Academy was packed out with a noticeably diverse audience on Thursday night for Find Your Eyes, a piece produced by Factory International for MIF and centred on creative powerhouse Benji Reid. Reid defines himself as a âchoreo-photolist,â...
John Grant singing the songs of Patsy Cline with Richard Hawley and his band was always going to be a great opening act for Manchesterâs newest venue, Aviva Studios. Heralded as part of Manchester International Festival, the musical pairing is not...
Combining Middle English mystery play, orchestra, opera singers, Manchester icon Lemn Sissay and a vast array of young and amateur performers, Noahâs Flood â co-produced by Manchester Collective and Leeds-based theatre company Slung Low â feels like...
âThe purpose of the Sama is to create the conditions in which the human soul can experience divine love. Transcendental and ecstatic, the music produces in the listener an intense love for God.â (Barbican website on Sufi music). Thereâs an...
There has, of course, been much debate about The Factory, not least of which is that it is no longer called The Factory. I have passed this strange, white, contemporary carbuncle developing on the side of a new concrete block on the banks of the...
There is a moment during this performance when projections â astral projections that give you the feeling you are floating in space â when I catch myself thinking ⊠this is wonderful, but I need to focus on Ryuichi Sakamoto. Only⊠not only am I not...
Martin Thomasson reviews the world premiere of Kimber Lee’s award-winning play at The Royal Exchange For much of its two hour running time (no interval), Kimber Leeâs Bruntwood Prize winning, âUntitled F*ck M*ss S**gon Playâ is an anger...