Free things to do this weekend ft. Moonish Brute, Paradise Lost + more

Moonish Brute at Fuel Café Bar (pictured)
All the way from Boston, Massachusetts comes folk musician Moonish Brute, who’ll be making his way to Fuel Café Bar this Friday. Brute tops a bill of other folksters including Glasgow’s Cop Graveyard, London’s Happy Birthdays and local weird/ambient musician Siblings – also known as James Farrow. It’s a packed bill for a free gig, so make sure you get down early to get a spot near the front.
Fri 6 Jan, Fuel Café Bar, 448 Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 3BW. 8pm – 11pm, www.facebook.com

Paradise Lost Exhibition at Portico Library
The Portico Library kicked off its first exhibition of 2017 this week, with this show to commemorate 350 years since the publication of Milton’s Paradise Lost. It features pages from the library’s own first illustrated edition, alongside inspired pieces from contemporary artists. See our full preview for more information.
Fri 6 Jan – Sat 11 Feb, The Portico Library, 57 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3FF, Tel: 0161 236 6785, times vary, www.theportico.org.uk

Dear Friend at Nexus Art Café
Dear Friend is an ongoing project run out of the People’s History Museum celebrating women’s role in a range of social and political struggles, through letter writing. This Saturday sees Nexus Art Café hosting this letter-writing event to commemorate the women who made the LGBT movement, from activists through to artists. So grab a pen and jot down your confessional postcard to a feminist heroine – you might even see your’s  added to the project’s archive of letters.
Sat 7 Jan, Nexus Art Cafe, 2 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 1JW. 2pm – 4pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Ruby Tingle at PAPER Gallery
Weekend gallery PAPER presents its latest exhibition from Ruby Tingle. Tingle had a residency at the gallery back in the Summer, but she’s returned with The Land Is, an interactive exhibition featuring installation, performance and music. Check out our full preview for more details.
Sat 7 Jan – Sat 18 Feb, PAPER Gallery, Mirabel Studios, 14-20 Mirabel Street, Manchester, M3 1PJ, Open Sat: 11am – 5pm, www.paper-gallery.co.uk

Justine Kilburn Exhibition at Didsbury Parsonage Trust
Tucked away on the edge of Fletcher Moss Park is the Didsbury Parsonage Trust, an excellent little gallery with an impressive permanent collection that includes three Turner paintings. This weekend sees the opening of their latest temporary exhibition – an exhibition of digital illustration work from local artist Justine Kilburn. All pieces are framed and available for purchase, but its free if you just want to take a look around
Sat 7 Jan – Sun 29 Jan, The Old Parsonage, Stenner Lane, Manchester, M20 2RQ. Tel: 0161 445 7661, times vary, www.eventbrite.co.uk