Songs of Descent at Niamos

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

Book now

Songs of Descent at Niamos

24 February 2024
Date
Time
Session Features
24 Feb 2024
6:00 pm-11:00 pm

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

Songs of Descent
Artwork by Chrysanthi Tsichti
Book now

Songs of Descent is an operatic monodrama retelling the story of Persephone journeying into the underworld. Written by composer Phoenix Rousiamanis, with a virtuosic vocal performance from Rowan Kudekha-Lark, it’s a genre-bending piece of powerful queer art. After the performance at Hulme’s storied Niamos, the space will transform into an afterparty with a joyfully curated line-up of DJs.

Experience this truly one-off night of art, music, horror, love and acceptance in Manchester’s stunningly beautiful yet often overlooked Niamos, which once played host to everyone from Nina Simone to Gil Scott-Heron.

Phoenix Rousiamanis is a rising star in the contemporary music scene of the UK. Originally from Greece, her music is often raw and emotive in a way that draws an audience in and guides them through complex ideas. She crafts orchestral textures that simultaneously feel like a warm hug and a stern look. We’re very excited to see Songs of Descent come to Manchester this year after it was received with critical acclaim at the Tete a Tete opera festival in 2023.

Drawing on a stellar line-up of local musicians, DJ’s and creatives, this evening promises to be many things, but primarily an artistic outpouring of love for a community, and a celebration of queer acceptance.

Where to go near Songs of Descent at Niamos

Hulme
Hulme Playhouse Theatre

The Playhouse Theatre, originally known as the Hulme Hippodrome opened its doors on 6 October 1902. In 2018, the historic venue was relaunched as a community arts centre by NIAMOS – a collective of artists, musicians and local residents.

Clay Studio Manchester
Manchester
Event venue
Clay Studio Manchester

Clay studio was founded in 2016 to provide a dedicated workshop for new graduates, hobby ceramicists and experienced makers. The studio also offers a range of classes for students of all abilities.

Venture Arts
Hulme
Gallery
Venture Arts, Manchester

Venture Arts is a progressive visual arts charity based in Hulme, Manchester, with a small exhibition space. It works alongside learning disabled artists to create and show exciting new collaborative visual artwork.

Manchester
Theatre
Z-arts

Z-arts was formed in 2000 as a ‘creative space for young people’ with a priority on providing participatory activity.

Manchester Metropolitan University Brooks building, Birley Campus in Manchester
Manchester
Event venue
MMU Birley Campus

Birley is Manchester Met’s world-class centre for Education and Health Professionals and the university’s flagship community campus.

Manchester
Restaurant
The Old Abbey Taphouse

STEAM focused – pub, hub and event space, food, local ale, recording studio, rehearsal room, urban farm + micro-brewery. Food served 11.30am-3pm and 5-10pm.

Manchester
University
MMU Student Union

Manchester Metropolitan University Students’ Union building houses a bar and various other facilities for students and staff.

Manchester
Gallery
Manchester School of Art

The Manchester School of Art, of which the Holden Gallery is a part, is a beautiful neo-Gothic building that’s part of MMU’s All Saints campus.

What's on: Music

Legowelt Press Image
MusicManchester
Legowelt at The White Hotel

Vintage machines, sci-fi dreams and 30 years of restless invention. Legowelt plays in deepest darkest Salford this January.

From £19.90
Mun Sing by Alice Jennings, courtesy of LittleBig Music Agency.
MusicManchester
Mun Sing at The White Hotel

Mun Sing, one half of Giant Swan, brings his fractured, fiercely original club music to The White Hotel off the back of his latest EP.

From £11.00
MusicManchester
Sorry at Gorilla

Sorry return to Manchester with a new album that finally captures the full strangeness and clarity of a band who’ve spent years ducking easy categorisation.

From £23.25
Poster
MusicManchester
Voka Gentle at YES Basement

Voka Gentle return to Manchester with a headline show in YES Basement, bringing new material that pushes their already elastic sound into darker, stranger territory.

From £14.50

Culture Guides

Music in the North

Manchester’s starting the new year with a run of gigs from some of the country’s best underground exports.

Textured portrait image of Jarman
Theatre in the North

Theatre across the North West splits between festive escape and sharp, urgent work exploring politics, power and resistance.

A doll with makeup peeks out of a hanging wall of butter yellow fabric. Red and black threads descend and cascade around the doll.
Exhibitions in the North

This season, exhibitions across the North West feel attuned to the world beneath the world – the forces and stories shaping how we see, feel and imagine.

A performer in a bright red costume sits on a snowy stage set, holding a large snowball between their legs with a surprised expression. The colourful winter backdrop features snowflakes, hills, a snowman, and a traffic light with glowing lights.
Family things to do in the North

Whether you’re after storybook theatre, museum wanderings or illusion-bending play spaces, there’s plenty to keep curiosity ticking through winter and beyond.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
Cinema in the North

There's no shortage of great films out at the moment, whether you're looking for the latest blockbuster, that hot arthouse flick fresh from Cannes or a cosy classic.

Food and Drink in the North

Hear ye, hear ye. Take some eating-out tips from our wintertime guide to food and drink in Manchester and the North.