Don’t miss the spectacular showcase of live music and DJs at the HOMEwarming weekend. After Danny Boyle kicks off our funfair fanfare – featuring performances from carnival arts troupe Juba do Leão and friends and pyrotechnics from pa-Boom – the live music continues in the building as Manchester’s Galivantes perform their uplifting brand of Balkan-pirate-ska. Or should that be gypsy-folk-reggae? Either way they’ll keep the carnival spirit going as we celebrate the opening of our first production in the theatre, the world premiere of The Funfair, Simon Stephens’ new adaptation of Ödön von Horváth’s Kasmir and Karoline.
Friday sees the launch of our first exhibition The heart is deceitful above all things. We’ll be feeling the love that day, so the building will be filled with the music of passion, heartache and desire. In the early evening, Manchester Sing Out Choir will lend powerful interpretations to the love songs of Motown, movie soundtracks and pop, in our ground floor foyer. In the restaurant, we welcome more home-grown talent in the shape of singer-songwriter Ione and her love band. Fresh from her work with the Beth Orton Wall of Sound Artistic Director Series, Ione performs a mix of soulful torch songs, with a voice to die for. More incredible songwriting follows with Najia Bagi, who’ll perform delicate and brooding guitar-vocal arrangements to make you think and feel. The Vintage 78 DJs will play the best of love songs from the 1920s to the 1960s, selected from their enviable collection of original 78rpm shellac discs. Closing the evening with a bang, the Quentin Tarantino-obsessed A Band Apart will play an energetic set of Tarantino movie music in a good old-fashioned, knees-up style.
Saturday night is party night, and the awesome Dr Butler’s Hatstand Medicine Band kick off the evening with foot-tapping speakeasy vibes in the restaurant. Then it’s back-to-back DJ action till late with music crusaders Pasta Paul (Kosmonaut), Blasha & Allatt (Meat Free) and Duncan Wallis (Dutch Uncles). Expect a fun and eclectic musical journey from some of our city’s finest DJs. Stay late with us and party!
Set Times
Thu 21 May
18:00 Galivantes
Fri 22 May
17:45–18:30 Manchester Sing Out Choir
18:30–19:15 Ione
19:45–20:30 Najia Bagi
20:30–22:00 Vintage 78 DJs
22:30–23:15 A Band Apart
Sat 23 May
18:45–19:30: Dr Butler’s Hatstand Medicine Band
19:30–21:00: DJ Pasta Paul
21:00–22:30: DJs Blasha & Allatt (Meat Free)
22:30–00:00: DJ Duncan Wallis (Dutch Uncles)