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Day: 17 February 2015

Preview: Red Bull Music Academy Tour – Manchester

Written by music on . Posted in Music.

Across the weekend of 16th-19th April the Red Bull Music Academy tour will be stopping off in Manchester.

A programme of club nights, shows, lectures, workshops, daytime parties and live radio broadcasts tailored made to Manchester’s cultural heritage will feature in various venues across the city.

Just some of the events on offer include: a daily exhibition hosted at Soup Kitchen; Skepta in conversation on April 16th; a teachno feast served up at Sankeys on April 17th with Industrial City Sounds featuring Derrick May, Surgeon, Tin Man and more; and a studio science workshop from legendary hip hop duo Royce Da 5’9” and DJ Premier aka PRhyme.

The 17th edition of the Red Bull Music Academy takes place in Paris this autumn. You can read our feature on the recent Road to Paris tour, including details on how to apply for the academy, here.

Further information about the tour and tickets can be found here.

Full line up details for the Manchester leg are below:

Dr Me’s Jacket – A Red Bull Music Academy Exhibition

DATE: Thursday April 16 to Sunday April 19

LINE UP: Dr Me

VENUE: Soup Kitchen, 31-33 Spear Street, Manchester, M1 1DF

TIME: Noon to 10pm

TICKETS: Free entry

Red Bull Music Academy presents In Conversation with Skepta

DATE: Thursday April 16

LINE UP: Skepta

VENUE: The Studio Gorilla, 54-56 Whitworth Street West, Manchester M1 5WW

TIME: 6.30pm to 8.30pm

TICKETS: £5

Red Bull Music Academy presents Tropical

DATE: Thursday April 16

LINE UP: Hosts – JME, Skepta, C4, Flowdan and friends; DJs – Todd Edwards, Preditah, Slimzee, Plastician & Logan Sama

VENUE: The Ritz, Whitworth Street West, Manchester M1 5WW

TIME: 10pm to 3am

TICKETS: £15

Red Bull Music Academy presents Industrial City Sounds

DATE: Friday April 17

LINE UP: Derrick May, Surgeon, Dana Ruh, Tin Man, Happa, Acre

VENUE: Sankeys, Beehive Mill, Jersey Street, Manchester M4 6JG

TIME: 10.30pm to 6am

TICKETS: £10 – £15

Red Bull Music Academy presents Deep South

DATE: Friday April 17

LINE UP: Omar-S, Doc Daneeka

VENUE: South Nightclub, 4a South King Street, Manchester M2 6DQ

TIME: 11pm to 4am

TICKETS: £10

Red Bull Music Academy presents Simmering From Beneath

DATE: Friday April 17

LINE UP: Mount Kimbie, Synkro, Braiden, Dan Hampson,

VENUE: Soup Kitchen, 31-33 Spear Street, Manchester M1 1DF

TIME: 11pm to 4am

TICKETS: £10

RBMA Radio: Live in Manchester

DATE: Saturday April 18

LINE UP: Krystal Klear, Zed Bias, Jon K, Jonny Dub, Chunky, Metrodome, Paleman, Danuka, Swing Ting, Meet Free DJs, Glowing Palms

VENUE: Soup Kitchen, 31-33 Spear Street, Manchester M1 1DF

TIME: Starts at noon, closing time TBC

TICKETS: Free entry

Red Bull Music Academy presents Zed Bias and friends

DATE: Saturday April 18

LINE UP: Zed Bias, ∆KKORD, Illum Sphere, Levelz, Chimpo, Sivey, Biome, Jonny Dub b2b Metrodome b2b Rich Reason

VENUE: Antwerp Mansion, Rusholme Grove, Wilmslow Road, M14 5AG

TIME: 11pm to 4am

TICKETS: £10

Red Bull Music Academy presents Studio Science: PRhyme

DATE: Sunday April 19

LINE UP: PRhyme

VENUE: NQ 2022, 20 Dale St, Manchester M1 1EZ

TIME: 2pm to 4pm

TICKETS: RSVP for guest list from February 25

Wax Works – A Red Bull Music Academy Special

DATE: Sunday April 19

LINE UP: DJ Jazzy Jeff, PRhyme, Todd Terry, Krystal Klear, Josey Rebelle

VENUE: Beat Street, Great Northern Warehouse, 235 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN

TIME: 6pm to 2am

TICKETS: £10

Review: Umami

Written by Elena Gibbs on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Umami, a Japanese loanword, translates as a ‘pleasant savoury taste’. Included with the four classic taste dimensions: sweet; salty; bitter and sour, it can be recognized largely in Japanese cuisine often found in the additive known as MSG. This flavour is associated with a salty, savoury taste which is why its inclusion in the basic list was in dispute. However, the distinction from the ‘salty’ category can be made due to the way that Umami can be created through combinations of savoury foods put together. Think Remi with his cheese and strawberry in Ratatouille.

Umami means adding the intense flavour that you need in order to enjoy your meal to the full extent. Parmesan on spaghetti Bolognese. The little bit of burnt on your roast potatoes. Mustard on ham. Fish and chips with tartar sauce. Soy sauce on sushi? Umami!

It’s also the name of a lovely underground noodle bar on Oxford Road. Having visited on five occasions without a single disappointment, I thought a review of my fifth taste was in order.

On descending the restaurant’s steps I first expected to be greeted with a neon-lit counter, hectic atmosphere and claustrophobic but versatile seating – a sort of cross between Archie’s Milkshakes and Yo!Sushi. This presumption was only due to a glance at the offer of a £5.95 lunch deal and the coloured sign modestly pointing to ‘noodle bar’. What in fact lives at the bottom of those stairs is a sophisticated and authentic Japanese restaurant that is a great meeting place for lunch or dinner, student or superior.

Shiny rectangular wooden tables stand at perfect elbow-resting height, with matching benches and similarly sized Japanese artwork adorning the right wall. Another wall gives home to the half-open kitchen with a tall bar for freshly made orders to wait. Those orders don’t wait long as staff are attentive and efficient, in fitting with the place’s clean and functional look. Despite the sleek design, the restaurant still holds just the right amount of character, being underground and spacious without feeling confined or empty.

The food itself is similarly simple without being boring. Mostly centred around noodles in various sizes with differing broths and flavourings, the menu also offers fried rice dishes and an appetizing selection of small plates or starters.

From the vast amount that I have tried, I would particularly recommend the crispy salt & pepper tofu – perfect for first time tofu-triers, or those who’ve had bad experiences with the spongy stuff tasting like well, sponge. The king prawn gyoza dumplings are equally satisfying and when dipped in the sweet sauce really create that UMAMI flavour.

The udon and ramen soups are honestly much of a muchness for me, which doesn’t mean to say they are not good. The combination of noodle and broth makes a refreshing lunch and a spicy one is perfect for a cold winter day. Offerings on the lunch menu are a careful selection of the best sellers that the chefs are readily prepared to make in a short time, it seems encouraged during this time as a means of practicality for the staff. This means that you’re not getting a pared down version of something from the full list, so it’s a win-win situation.

The speed of service here means I’ll normally go for lunch so I can spend more time doing nothing quickly get back to the library. However, on occasions where I’ve dined in the evening it has also been a lovely choice, always positively commented upon by the friends I have taken. Although one night we gave in to the temptation of Japanese beer Asahi, a regret after examining the receipt to find it was £3.60 a bottle. I suppose that’s just how these restaurants make their money, but as a student it’s unlikely that I’d opt to have a drink there again.

To conclude, I’d describe Umami as an up-market and less commercial Wagamamas that guarantees a fulfilling meal. It won’t blow your tastebuds, but it’ll pleasure them.

Umami
Japanese Sushi Noodle Bar Restaurant
147/153 Oxford Road
Manchester
M1 1EE
http://www.umami.cc/

Preview: Patience

Written by Nicole Tamer on . Posted in Theatre.

From the first moments of the rehearsal, it is clear that the whole cast is incredibly engaged and despite the humourous atmosphere, everyone takes their role very seriously. “Patience is my favourite Gilbert and Sullivan opera and I proposed it because the society hasn’t performed it since 1989,” explains Rachael Lewis who is part of the chorus.

The plot mocks the aesthetic movement of the 1870s and ‘80s in England and showcases extremely silly yet likeable characters. Patience is the name of a dairy maid whom everyone tries to woo, but who is not interested in anyone herself. Not even the admired yet self-absorbed aesthetic Bunthorne can win her heart. But when her childhood friend Archibald comes along, who is even more aesthetically inclined, the tables drastically turn.

The performance next week promises a roller coaster of satire and a room full of laughter. During the rehearsal, the dull performance room was transformed into a world of wonder and it couldn’t cope with the volume of the professionally sounding voices. Amy Barker, a member of the committee, mentions that everyone is very excited and that everyone has put a lot of effort into it. The society started rehearsing mid-October and the adaption is pretty faithful to the original opera, besides it being more melodramatic. Especially impressive is the choice of the cast. As soon as the actors entered the stage, their characters told the story with fantastic singing and were accompanied marvellously by the score. A definite must-see. If the show is better than the rehearsal, it will have the whole audience in stitches. The society’s next endeavour will be a concert on the 2nd of May. More details can be found on the website mugss.org.

Wednesday 18th – Saturday 21st February: 7.30PM
Sunday 21st February: 2.30PM

Manchester Grammar School
Fallowfield
M13 OXT

Preview: Reclaim the Night

Written by Helen Chapman on . Posted in News.

On Thursday the 26th of February, the streets of Manchester will light up with storms of voices saying ‘No’ to sexual violence against women, street harassment, rape culture and victim blaming.

Reclaim the Night is open to the whole community and will be full of colour, light and noise. The march will be lead by a self-defining women-only block and followed by a mixed block open to all genders.

A recent survey of young women showed that 43 per cent have reported being sexually harassed in a public place in the last 12 months. A 2013 Home Office study showed that one in five women have been sexually assaulted since the age of 16, yet only 15 per cent felt able to report this to the authorities.

Women’s Officer, Jess Lishak, says, “we will be raising our collective voices and making ourselves too visible to ignore when we take to the streets in our hundreds.

“Everyone is welcome to join us to add their voice to the protest in our march against violence against women, street harassment, rape culture and victim blaming, which is unfortunately so pervasive in our society.”

The march will gather in Owens Park outside The Tower, Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield at 7:00pm.

A neon parade will head down Wilmslow Road and Oxford Road, which will be closed to traffic, towards the University of Manchester Students’ Union.

The evening continues with the Reclaim the Night free afterparty, a festival of the finest women’s talent, with live music, speakers, poets, community stalls and awesome DJs till late, at the Students’ Union from 8:30 – 2:00am.

The Mancunion spoke to Women’s Student Officer, Ellis Quinn: “Reclaim the Night is about empowering the whole community to speak out against sexual violence, street harassment and assault.

“It has so far been a huge success. It engages with hundreds of people from all different walks of life to unite and stand up together.

“This year’s march is of exceptional importance given the incidence of student sexual assaults in the Fallowfield area. These horrific acts prompted action from the student community, with some individuals creating a petition to increase police patrols within the area.

“Reclaim the Night seeks to harness this enthusiasm and anger and turn into something positive. If you want any information please contact the women’s officer Jess Lishak at [email protected].”

Reclaim the Night T-shirts are now available from the Union Store for £12. There are four different styles available, all printed with glow-in-the-dark ink. All profits will go to local charities that work with women who have experienced sexual violence, domestic violence, and street harassment.

Ziferblat

Written by Mancunion on . Posted in Food & Drink.

Up a small lift, behind a small door on Edge Street in the Northern Quarter is Manchester’s newest quirky café experience, Ziferblat. The concept is very simple: you only pay for the time you spend here—your drinks, toast, cereal, fruit, biscuits, board games, and cake is all free; all they ask that you wash up after yourself.

Relaxed design and friendly staff embody the Northern Quarter ideal of enjoying the time you spend here. Upon arrival, you’re buzzed in and follow the signs; up the lift, round the corner, and you arrive to ‘check in’. Here, you choose your favourite clock from a wide range, including Colin (a gold phone box, chosen by Marcus) and Horse (an old alarm clock with a horse on it, chosen by Charlie). Check-in is simple—all that is required is your name, e-mail, the name of your clock (Colin), and time of arrival.

The name Ziferblat is derived from Zifferblatt, meaning ‘clock-face’ in Russian and German, which seems apt given the pay-as-you-stay method the so-called ‘anti-café’ employs.

We were checked in by a genuinely friendly member of staff, who reminded us to wash up and of the important rule in Ziferblat; this is a shared space, so be respectful to those around you, “but apart from that just relax and enjoy your time.” At £3 per hour, it’s hard not to.

The communal space itself is littered with mismatched old furniture—from green leather sofas arranged around a fireplace to ornate red settees with plush cushions and a matching rug. The space seems perfectly designed to relax and pass the time. As we were told by the staff, it’s “your home from home.”

We arrived late in the afternoon, as the fluorescent lights were turned off in favour of small table-lamps. These created a gentle orange glow, which further emphasised the relaxed atmosphere created by Ziferblat, perfect for the end of a long day.

The space is surprisingly large, yet intimate. Small stations are provided with kettles, coffee machines, and condiments—which allow you to set your own pace as you browse the free Wi-Fi or enjoy some scones. In one corner of the space is a small kitchen, with labelled drawers to help you find plates, cereals, bread for the toaster, and milk if the coffee machine runs dry. It’s easy, friendly, and, most of all, it works.

At half past three, it was busy, but not cramped. We found a comfortable sofa easily and went to get coffee, a scone, and some toast. It feels like being at home; toasting your own bread, looking in the fridge for butter, and finding a spoon for your Nutella. While moving round an unfamiliar kitchen with strangers felt a little awkward at first, it was soon clear that people were polite and accommodating, and the strangeness of the situation quickly felt normal.

With a wide range of cereal, fruit and, cake on offer for £3 an hour, it would be hard not to overindulge. Yet the atmosphere and ideals of the social space seem to worm their way in; it’s hard to want to. All you want to do is to sit back, relax and take it all in.

Should you find yourself bored of the free Wi-Fi, you will find a large selection of board games and puzzles. It feels like an old ideal, left over from a time when cafés didn’t provide internet access, but there’s something about Ziferblat that allows the board games a space in the present day. Groups of strangers could be seen playing Scrabble, Cluedo, and Jenga, something that would definitely not be seen in a Starbucks or Costa.

Open from 10am – 10pm, it offers almost anything. You could come for breakfast and enjoy a bowl of cereal with toast, or enjoy a sandwich you’ve made yourself at lunchtime. As well as those chatting and playing Connect-4, we could see people using it as a calm and comfortable place to get some productive work done.

The coffee’s good and the contents eclectic. Of course, at 5p a minute, you could use it on the fly to down a cheap coffee and a sandwich, but the atmosphere is so relaxed and friendly that you’d gain so much more value from spending a little time there, really appreciating the cosy, attractive surroundings, and not feeling as if you’re being rushed out of the shop for another paying customer.

We’ll be back very soon. It has a great atmosphere and a great price, if only we had had longer to spend there.