150 Years of the TUC: Folk Concerts at the Mechanics’ Institute

Chris Horkan

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150 Years of the TUC: Folk Concerts

Mechanics’ Institute, Canal Street
3-9 June 2018

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Kathryn Williams courtesy of Band on the Wall
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This year marks 150 years since the Trade Union Congress (TUC) formed – with its first meeting held at the Mechanics’ Institute in Manchester. To mark this occasion, Band on the Wall has programmed a week-long series of talks and concerts featuring artists from across the folk scene.

The concerts kick off with a solo show by Manchester-born Mike Harding (3 Jun) and also features Oysters 3 (5 Jun) – aka the Oysterband, performing acoustic – plus Dezi Donnelly, fiddle player in celtic rock band Toss the Feathers, collaborating with Mancunian flutist Michael McGoldrick (6 Jun).

Thursday (7 Jun) promises an evening of the most exciting women in folk music, headed up by the Mercury Prize-nominated Kathryn Williams, who has 11 solo albums to her name, plus singer-songwriter and ‘radical chanteuse’ Claire Mooney.

A relaxed, free-entry ‘Folk On A Friday Night’ concert (8 Jun) will be led by Martin Gittins and Bob Ashworth – known collectively as Bunting and Frolics – but invites musicians and non-musicians alike to take part in singalongs or by bringing their own instruments.

The week of live performances draws to a close on the Saturday (9 Jun), meanwhile, with a rare outing by English roots band Edward II, whose locally linked repertoire includes songs such as Victoria Bridge on a Saturday Night. They will be joined for this finale by support acts Jennifer Reid and Poppycock.

All concerts are priced £15 – with the exception of Folk On A Friday Night, which is free but requires registration in advance.

Where to go near 150 Years of the TUC: Folk Concerts at the Mechanics’ Institute

Manchester
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Cruz 101

Everything you want in a Canal Street club can be found here. Cruz 101 – better known as Cruz – is an institution, and a must-visit in Manchester.

City Centre
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Fab Cafe

A cult tv and movie themed bar set below street level on Portland Street in Manchester.

Manchester
Music venue
G-A-Y

Smack bang in the centre of Manchester’s Canal Street, colourful club on the corner, G-A-Y, is popular with a youngish crowd looking for pop tunes, cheap drinks and a lively atmosphere. And there’s a rooftop terrace for the smokers.

Manchester
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On Bar

This multifaceted venue is primarily an award winning gay bar in Manchester’s Canal Street area – but that is not all…

Manchester
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Vanilla

This award winning bar is open six nights a week due to popular demand. Described as the ‘mecca of the north’ for the lesbian community, it is no wonder why.

Chinatown
Restaurant
Red Chilli, Portland Street

Passionately adored by many Mancunian foodies (and the first Manchester restaurant in ages not to get a slating from notoriously picky Observer food critic Jay Rayner), this Szechuan restaurant rules the culinary roost from an unprepossessing basement on Portland Street.

Winsome
Manchester
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Winsome

Winsome delivers modern British food, cooked beautifully by chef-owner Shaun Moffat and his team.

Manchester
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The Cotton Factory

This residency restaurant opened in summer 2019, at Locke Hotels’ Whitworth Locke. The first residency comes courtesy of Mexican specialists El Camino.

Manchester
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Peru Perdu

Peru Perdu has an all-new food and drink menu, with some of the best-looking dishes in the city.

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