Free things to do in Manchester this week ft. Claire Riley + more

Sneak Comedy Previews at The Peer Hat
For our first pick of free things to do in Manchester this week, we’ve got this bumper comedy show at The Peer Hat on Faraday Street. Jack Evans, Amy Gledhill and James Meehan are all taking shows up to the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe in August, but here you can catch early drafts of all three, back-to-back, for no money. Meehan is an experienced stand-up, presenting his third solo show, Jack Evans offers up ‘Work’ – a politically-charged follow up to 2016’s surreal ‘Melancholy Poontang’ – and Amy, who also performs with acclaimed sketch act The Delightful Sausage, presents her debut solo show.
Mon 23 Apr, The Peer Hat, 14-16 Faraday Street, Manchester, M1 1BE. 8pm – 10pm, www.facebook.com

Andy Smith at Electrik
As we’ve already highlighted in our full preview, it’s the final One Deck Wednesday of April and they’ve got a real good guest on the decks, in the form of Portishead’s Andy Smith. As well as being responsible for shaping the unique sound of the popular 90s alternative group, Smith is also an accomplished DJ with the record cabinet to match. As always, the rules for One Deck Wednesdays are: One deck, all vinyl, no mixing. We’ll have to see how Andy adheres to these rules, but all we’re saying is it could be sweet.
Wed 25 Apr, Electrik, 559 Wilbraham Road, Manchester, M21 0AE. 8pm, www.facebook.com

Carcanet New Poetries Launch at Blackwells
Independent literary publishers Carcanet Press put out their latest poetry collection this week and to celebrate they’re hosting a little soirée at Blackwell’s bookshop. This is their seventh collection of new poetry since 1997 and features work from a diverse group of young poets, some of whom will be reading from the boxfresh book on the night. Refreshments will be available for those in attendance and copies of the New Poetries VII will available to purchase.
Thu 26 Apr, Blackwells Bookshop, Bridgeford Street, Manchester, M13 9PL. 6.30pm – 9pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk

Claire Riley Exhibition at Se7en Brothers (pictured)
A new exhibition of work by local artist Claire Riley goes on display at the Se7en Brothers Beerhouse in Ancoats this Thursday. She draws inspiration from the Manchester landscape and mixes digital and traditional techniques to produce familiar sights bursting with colour and imagination. If you can’t catch it on opening night, the exhibition runs through til Sunday.
Thu 26 Apr, Se7en Brothers, The Ice Plant, 39 Blossom Street, Manchester, M4 5AF. 6pm – 8pm, www.facebook.com