From homeless walking tours to beer yoga and art gallery supper clubs, do things differently…

Looking for more great things to do this September? Then check out our essential festival calendar - this month ft. Manchester Food & Drink Festival, Mercury Climbing and more... 


THE MOST RADICAL STREET IN MANCHESTER? | People’s History Museum | Until 22nd September

Was your street home to a suffragette, Chartist or Peterloo protestor? What happened when political meetings were banned in public parks and squares? Part of the Peterloo bicentenary programme, this exhibition explores the history of spaces of protest and democratic politics in Manchester and Salford from the 1819 massacre to today. 

People’s History Musuem, New Ct St, Manchester M3 3ER (10am-5pm; free) 


CÉZANNE AT THE WHITWORTH | The Whitworth | Until 1st March 2020

Thanks to the donation of an extraordinary collection of drawings and prints - by gallerist, collector, author and publisher Karsten Schubert - the Whitworth now holds the best collection of Cézanne works on paper in the United Kingdom, including a version of every print produced by the artist. Check out the full collection in this celebratory exhibition. 

The Whitworth, Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6ER (10am-5pm, Thurs 9pm; free)

2019 08 30 Cezanne At Whitworth
The Whitworth holds the UK’s best collection of Cézanne works on paper

WARRIOR CAMPS | Various | September

Think rugby isn’t for women? England Rugby is out to challenge the sport’s stereotypes with free introductory ‘warrior camps’ this month, proving why it’s one of England’s fastest-growing sports. Events in Greater Manchester include Sale (1st), Bury (11th) and Broughton Park (24th). Get fit, have fun and make new friends along the way.

Various times and locations (free, register your interest here)


INVISIBLE CITIES: BACK IN TIME WITH LAURA | Central Library | Various

If you haven’t already tried out Manchester’s new homeless walking tours, now’s a good chance as the innovative enterprise recently welcomed new guide Laura - whose tours blend some of the city’s finest sights with her struggles as a transgender woman who battled through life on the streets. 

Starts Central Library, St Peter's Square, Manchester M2 5PD (various times; from  £10) 

2019 07 08 Invisible Cities New Guide
Invisible Cities recently welcomed new guide Laura

COTTON ON MCR ART FAIR | LEAF | Saturday 7th September

Hosted by arts site Cotton On MCR, this inaugural art fair will showcase some of Manchester’s leading creatives. Expect more than 25 stalls selling everything from affordable paintings and ceramics to prints, jewellery, craft and more.

LEAF, 113–115 Portland St, Manchester M1 6DW (10am-4pm; free) 


SIMON SHAW'S GET TOGETHER | Manchester Art Gallery | Saturday 7th September

Art meets food in Manchester Art Gallery’s quirky new supper club series - hosted in partnership with Manchester Food & Drink Festival. Next up is a contemporary Spanish ‘Get Together with El Gato Negro’s Simon Shaw;’ featuring a tapas banquet and live entertainment inspired by the new group show Get Together and Get Things Done

Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley St, Manchester M2 3JL (7-10.30pm; tickets from £69.88 at eventbrite

2019 07 01 Chef Simon Shaw El Gato
Enjoy Simon Shaw’s acclaimed Spanish cuisine in an unusual setting this month

LA SERATA IN ROSA | Leoni’s | Tuesday 10th September

One of Italy’s leading wineries, oenophile Nicole Vezzola and esteemed Heaton Moor restaurant Leoni’s - what better trio to present an evening of fine Italian food and wine? Hosted by the Italian Chamber of Commerce, this special one-off evening will pair a four-course dinner and aperitif with Costaripa’s award-winning wines. Buon appetito indeed…   

Leoni’s, 110 Heaton Moor Road, Stockport SK4 4NZ (7pm; tickets £54 at eventbrite.co.uk)


BRO-JA YOGA | Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse | Wednesday 11th September

From goats to gin, novelty yoga has truly taken off. But how about enjoying a pint with your postures? At Seven Bro7hers, you can do just that at Bro-Ja; combining yoga with Siren Asylum’s Kat Loveday with top-notch craft beer. It’s also a great opportunity to catch the superb mosaic artwork currently on display by Mary Goodwin, including a collab with Mark Kennedy who designed the side of Afflecks. 

Seven Bro7hers Beerhouse, 39 Blossom St, Manchester M4 5AF (7-8pm; tickets from £8.68 at sevenbro7hers.com)


NOT JUST BOLLYWOOD | HOME | 11th September - 2nd October

In partnership with Bombay cafe Dishoom, HOME’s annual celebration of contemporary Indian culture returns. This year, to tie in with the 2019 programme Celebrating Women in Global Cinema, it’ll be spotlighting some of the best examples of Indian independent films directed by women - from The Elements Trilogy to Lipstick Under My Burkha

HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN (various times & prices) 

2019 08 30 Elements Trilogy
Not Just Bollywood includes Deepa Mehta’s controversial Elements trilogy

OVO ENERGY TOUR | Altrincham Market | Saturday 14th September

Britain’s biggest professional cycle race will return to Greater Manchester for the first time in fifteen years this September as all ten of the city’s boroughs feature in the final stage. The challenging final race day (free for spectators) sees participants take on a 165km route from Altrincham to Deansgate via the famous Rake at Ramsbottom. With yet more cycling action, the following day sees Let’s Ride Manchester.

Various times & locations; free to watch 


GYPSY QUEEN | Hope Mill Theatre | 17th - 21st September

When ‘Gorgeous’ George O’Connell enters the ring against gay boxer Dane ‘The Pain’ Samson, it sparks an unconventional love story between two fighters who discover the greatest challenge lies outside the ring. Can two men raised to fight ever learn to love?

Hope Mill Theatre, 113 Pollard St, Manchester M4 7JA (various times; tickets £12 at hopemilltheatre.co.uk)

2019 08 30 Gypsy Queen
Gypsy Queen - can two men raised to fight ever learn to love?

NORTHERN LIGHTS WRITERS CONFERENCE | Waterside Arts Centre | Saturday 21st September

CIT’s popular writers’ conference returns for its sixth incarnation featuring a mix of talks, masterclasses, panel discussions, practical sessions and drop-in advice for writers. This year’s keynote is delivered by award-winning author Jane Rogers (Mr Wroe’s Virgins) with special guests including Route Publishing, The Society of Authors, New Writing North, David Gaffney, literary agent Louise Lamont and many more. 

Waterside Arts Centre, 1 Waterside, Sale M33 7ZF (11am-5pm; tickets from £25 at creativeindustriestrafford.net) 


10TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY | Band on the Wall | Saturday 21st September

Band on the Wall celebrates a decade since reopening in 2009 with an all day party featuring ten acts for just £10; including reggae vocalist Hollie Cook (The Slits), underground funk collective Habibi Funk, psych outfit Flamingods and more.

Band on the Wall, 25 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JZ (3pm; tickets £10 at bandonthewall.org)

170504 Band On The Wall
Band on the Wall celebrates ten years since reopening

MANCHESTER MEMORY WALK | Heaton Park | Saturday 28th September

Enjoy a stroll through the grounds of Heaton Park while defeating dementia on the Memory Walk, with both 2km and 7km options. Other worthwhile charity events this month include the Blaise Together Family Festival (8th September), Midnight at the Oasis annual ball (13th September), the Spirit of Manchester Quiz (17th September) and Hiphopism at Northern Monk (28th September). 

Heaton Park, Middleton Rd, Manchester M25 2SW (9.30am; registration £10 at memorywalk.org.uk)


DALISO CHAPONDA: BLAH BLAH BLACKLIST | The Dancehouse | Saturday 28th September

After shooting to fame on Britain's Got Talent, Chaponda has gone on to amass over 100 million YouTube views, write and star in his critically acclaimed Radio 4 show Citizen of Nowhere and appear in several primetime shows. His hilariously daring new tour looks at disgraced, blacklisted celebrities and historical figures we're ashamed we once admired (amongst other things).

The Dancehouse, 10A Oxford Rd, Manchester M1 5QA (8pm; tickets £15 at thedancehouse.co.uk)

249 Daliso Chaponda Lg
Daliso Chaponda says it like it is

For more unmissable goings on, take a look at our essential festival calendar