Free things to do this week ft. John Hastings, LISG + more

Bludgeons and Dragons at Manchester Museum (pictured)
You can catch this talk at Manchester Museum – part of the museum’s Collection Bites series, where visitor’s are given a more in-depth look at the museum’s collection and the research surrounding it – on Monday afternoon. This talk looks a colours and pigment: Their nature, meaning and historical use, focusing in particular on the way the colour blue was used in Ancient Egypt. No registration is necessary, but If you want to attend this fascinating talk, make sure you get there 10 minutes early.
Mon 10 Apr, Manchester Museum, The University Of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL. Tel: 0161 275 2648, 1.30pm – 2pm, events.manchester.ac.uk

John Hastings at Sandbar
Canadian comic John Hastings – perhaps best known for his recent heckle video featuring former NBA star Dennis Rodman – headlines this month’s Dead Cat Comedy at Sandbar. Heckle videos aside, he’s an extraordinarily gifted stand-up and a must-see for fans of North American comedy. He’s joined on the night by the equally-great Cornish stand-up and mental health advocate Harriet Dyer, as well as newer comics Si Beckwith and Sam Potter. As always, the night is held together by resident compere Red Redmond. This gig is free on the door, but you are encouraged to pay what you want – and if a line up of this calibre can’t make you dig deep, then little on this Earth can.
Wed 12 Apr, Sandbar, 120 Grosvenor Street, Manchester, M1 7HL. 8pm – 11pm, www.facebook.com

Love Is Not a Crime Launch Night at PHM
The People’s History Museum are kicking off their latest exhibition this Thursday, and you can grab free entry to their launch party. The exhibition is the 10th anniversary of the founding of the LISG – the Lesbian Immigration Support Group – who advocate for lesbian and bisexual asylum seekers, many of whom are fleeing from the most brutal, homophobic regimes on the planet. This launch is a great opportunity to find out about the great work LISG do, as well as take a look at artefacts from their struggles over the past decade. The exhibition runs through til Sunday 25 June, and is part of the museum’s Never Going Underground series, which looks at the history of LGBT+ activism.
Thu 12 Apr, People’s History Museum, Left Bank, Spinningfields, Manchester, M3 3ER. 6pm – 8pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

BIMM Takeover at Factory
Also, this Thursday you can catch a rare free gig at Manchester institution Factory. BIMM is the British and Irish Modern Music Institute, and their Manchester college mentors a very active roster of talented young musicians, many of whom will be performing at this show. It’s a packed bill, with 14 bands sharing the stage, so there’ll be no long, indulgent sets – just the best song each group can muster, be it an original track or an inspired cover version. A nice early finish as well, so perfect for a weekday.
Thu 12 Apr, Factory, 112 -118 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7EN. 6.30pm – 10pm, www.facebook.com