Free things to do this week ft SFTOC Launch + Solaris

Oh come on, you must be sick of the sunshine by now. Here’s our rundown of the week’s free picks, all 100% guaranteed to be indoors.

Plastic and Leather at Common (pictured)
Following its official reopening last week, Common has also launched it’s first (sort of) exhibition. Joseph Hartley is sculpture and ceramicist who helped shape Common’s new look. He designed the pump handles, lamp shades and many other furnishings around the Northern Quarter bar. Obviously, his furnishings aren’t going to be ripped out at the end of this exhibition, but what will be taken down is Adam Mead’s photography series documenting the creation of Hartley’s work. In any case, this is an excellent opportunity to drop by the newly-refurbished bar.
Wed 22 Apr – Sep 2015, Common, 39 Edge Street, M4 1H, www.aplacecalledcommon.co.uk

RAW Spoken Word at Contact
Contact’s monthly night makes a welcome return. Featuring poetry, hip-hop, beatboxing, storytelling and really any kind of noise that can be made using the mouth and vocal chords, all ringmastered by Martin Visceral and DJ Jomo. Expect anything and everything. There’s an open mic section, so make sure you pop down early if you want to reserve a slot for your own mouth noises.
Mon 27 Apr, Contact, Oxford Road, M15 6JA, 8pm, www.contactmcr.com

SFTOC Launch at Electrik
Salford’s annual festival is back this coming bank holiday, but if you can’t wait ‘til the weekend to get in the mood, Chorlton’s Electrik is running a wee opening party for them. Running on the night of their regular One Desk Wednesday, this SFTOC special features a roster of DJs plucked from lineup of festival promoters, including Bad Uncle, Pigeon Post and plenty more yet to be announced.
Wed 29 Apr, Electrik Bar, 559, Wilbraham Road, Chorlton, M21 0AE, 8pm – 12.30am, www.facebook.com

Solaris screening at Anthony Burgess Foundation
A couple of weeks back, the Science Entertainment Lab at Manchester University played a trump with their Planet of the Apes screening. This week, they’ve brought the goods once more: Andrei Tarkovsky’s noodle-twisting film is not only hugely influential on the science-fiction genre, it’s also the most enduring piece of Soviet cinema. This screening also includes a talk
Thu 30 Apr, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, 3 Cambridge Street, M1 5BY, 5.30 pm, www.anthonyburgess.org

Alphabet Brewing Tap Takeover at Port Street Beerhouse
New kids on the block Alphabet Brewing Co launch their range of microbrews on an unsuspecting public at boozehounds’ favourite Port Street Beer House. The fresh-faced craft brewery debuts with a number of ales with exotic names like Canadian Chainsaw Massacre (Maple Ale, 4.8%) and A To The K (Oatmeal Pale, 5.6%), with all the pump clip designs coming from Hammo, whose bright and breezy work can be seen all over Manchester. So go grab a pint early, before their taps spread over town like the red weed.
Thu 30 Apr, Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port Street, M1 2EQ, www.twitter.com