The Deaf Institute: Good Mood Interlude

Bursting back to life in the name of local music, cheap pints and good times, The Deaf Institute re-animates with a five-week programme of socially distanced fun, featuring DJ sets, record label takeovers and screenings.

Last year, a worrying shadow was cast over the future of The Deaf Institute and its sister venue Gorilla; owners Mission Mars announced they would not be reopening either site following the COVID pandemic. Thankfully, Tokyo Industries stepped in and scooped up both Manchester institutions, promising to leave their personalities and operating styles intact.

17 May marks the big re-opening for both venues. We’re told to expect new sound systems, lighting rigs and food/drinks menus, but it’s not all change; by the looks of Deaf’s Good Mood Interlude programme, these are the good old days.

The entirely-free, five-week series is an all-out celebration of grassroots music, with an emphasis on northern talent. It will see local bands like The Orielles, Cabbage, Loose Articles, LIINES and PINS get behind the decks for DJ sets, alongside much-loved collectives All Hands On Deck, Hot Singles Club, BOLLOX, The Beat Chics, Outernational Yorkshire and Suck it and Spin.

International Teachers of Pop will also be heading down to the venue for a playback of their lockdown-born album POP GOSSIP, while record labels Heavenly Recordings and Speedy Wunderground will be showcasing acts in Deaf’s Music Hall and screening music videos by past and present artists from their rosters. Wednesday nights, meanwhile, are for music documentaries – among them Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliché, White Riot and Montage of Heck. All this plus quizzes, interactive art nights and comedy screenings, and we’ve got ourselves a five-week party.

Catering the party is Koffee Pot, another Manchester institution whose Rockstar Breakfasts have been the saviour of fuzzy heads in the Northern Quarter for over a decade. They’ll be launching Deaf with a full kitchen takeover, including bottomless brunches on Sundays and burgers every evening (under the guise of their sister brand, DD’s); no-nonsense food for a no-nonsense venue.

Take a look at the full line-up for Good Mood Interlude below, and get those free tables booked via Deaf’s website.

Mondays: DTV Comedy Screenings

17th May – Mighty Boosh
24th May – Alan Partridge
31th May – Phoenix Nights
7th June – Peep Show
14th June – Nighty Night

Tuesdays: The Quiz that came from Space with Sav

Wednesdays: DTV Music

19th May – Dig!
26th May – I Am A Cliche
2nd June – Decline Of The Civilisation Part 2
9th June – White Riot
16th June – Montage of Heck

Thursdays: Takeovers

20th May – Speedy Wunderground takeover
27th May – TBA
3rd June – Overdrawn, interactive art club!
10th June – International Teachers of Pop album playback/DJ set
17th June – Heavenly Records takeover

Fridays: DJ Sets

21 May – The Orielles + The Beat Chics
28 May – All Hands On Deck + Left Right And Centre
4 June – Girls On Film + Hannah O’gorman
11 June – Rebeccaneverbecky + Bloom
18 June – Duncan Dutch Uncles + Howling Rhythm

Saturdays: DJ Sets

22 May – Liines + Super Electric
23 May – Bollox  + What She Said
6 Jun – Cabbage + Suck It And Spin
12 Jun – Up The Disco W/ Loose Articles + Hot Singles Club
19 Jun – Pins + Outernational Yorkshire

SUNDAYS: Get Stuffed! Bottomless brunch with Koffee Pot