From 8th to 23rd October, Manchester Literature Festival takes the city as its field and the lecture theatre as its main stage. Replacing your Sziget withdrawal with something more nourishing. No tents required

8/10 stars

Proving that the pen is mightier than the sword (but not necessarily the laptop), Phillipa Moran takes on the battle between technology and art

Josephine Lane reviews Our Country’s Good at the Bolton Octagon.

Helen McCarthy tells us her likes and loathes of theatre

International Book Week crept past last week. Anyone notice?

Manchester Academy 25th September 4/5 stars Charlie Boydell-Smith

Joshua Harris reviews the new restoration comedy at the Royal Exchange Theatre, The Country Wife

The best of theatre for the week ahead.

This week Ata Rahman, history student and co-editor of the Manchester Historian answers to Book Club

Fancy a good night out in Manchester? Then Tom Glasser can help, via an extended river metaphor

Frontline chronicles the life of freelance television photo agency of the same name.

Too old for a typical student night-out? Stevie Spiegl is here to help

Alice Marshall and Francesca Reid report on the growing popularity of the Manchester undergraduate arts collective

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WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

Josephine Lane went to The Cornerhouse last week to preview some scenes from The Library Theatre Company’s The Heretic and interview the cast

A welcome addition to a stylish genre that’s been crying out for some substance.

The movement which brought Black American Soul to the music halls of 1960s North England.

“I feel like I’ve broken through as a pop artist. I didn’t ever want to be an indie artist.”