With the brighter mornings and longer days, it’s finally starting to feel a little more like Spring. To celebrate, there’s loads going on across the city that won’t cost you a single thing.

From full-evening affairs celebrating International Women’s Day in the heart of the Northern Quarter to an amazing book launch from Manchester legend, DJ Paulette, here’s our rundown of the best free things to do in Manchester this week…

MACFEST International Women’s Day. Research Café: Women’s Health | The Whitworth | 12pm - 2.30pm

This Wednesday, MACFEST hosts a special International Women’s Day event, exploring inequalities in Muslim women’s health and the impact that creative interventions can have on health and wellbeing.

Hear from a panel of academic experts and discover more about current research taking place at The University of Manchester. You will also have the opportunity to hear from Zareena Bano, a Bradford-based mixed-media artist and creative arts tutor, with experience of teaching a wide range of local people in community venues.

Oxford Road Manchester M15 6ER
Welcome to the Club with DJ Paulette | The Whitworth | Thu 7 Mar | 6.30pm - 8.30pm

Swing by The Whitworth this Thursday to celebrate Manchester music legend, DJ Paulette and the release of Welcome to the club – a self-penned book about her three decades-spanning music career.

DJ Paulette, who is one of the Haçienda’s first female DJs, will be in conversation with Afrodeutsche from BBC Radio 6 Music and music will be provided by Eves’Drop Collective.

In the book, DJ Paulette tells her story, offering a remarkable view of the music industry from a Black woman’s perspective. Outside of the core values of peace, love, unity and respect, dance music is a world of exclusion, misogyny, racism, and classism. But, as Paulette reveals, it is also a space bursting at the seams with powerful women.

Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER, Tel: 0161 275 7450
Sapphic Showcase | HOME | Fri 8 Mar | 7pm - 10pm

Be sure to check out the incredible Sapphic Showcase at HOME this Friday for a night of talent from amazing LGBTQ+ women as part of Sugar & Spice 2024.

The cabaret-stroke-open-mic-stroke-social-mixer will see a bunch of fantastic headliners come together to put on a proper good night showcasing all the amazing Sapphic talent Greater Manchester has to offer from poetry to comedy and music.

2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN, Tel: 0161 200 1500
International Women’s Day | Brickhouse Social | Fri 8 Mar | 7pm - 2am

Brickhouse Social has announced an exciting event all about celebrating women, music and community this International Women’s Day, curated by two of the very best selectors in the city, Miriam Vaughan and Beth Donovan.

With two floors of performing artists, DJs and singer-songwriters, the all-female line-up will take over the venue and see attendees can dance the night away until the early hours.

Guests will also have the opportunity to support the incredible work of The Pankhurst Trust with donations at the door.

11-13 New Wakefield St, Manchester M1 5NP, Tel: 0161 236 4899
Kibosh | The Old Abbey Taphouse | Fri 8 Mar | 8pm - 2am

Get yourself over to The Old Abbey Taphouse this Friday to kick off the weekend with Kibosh for an evening of groovy psychedelia and soundscape techno.

If you’re after some banging tunes, a pumping dancefloor, lovely people and good vibes all around then this is the place to be.

Guildhall close, Manchester M15 6SY, Tel: 0161 226 2052
Antics | YES | Sat 9 Mar | 11pm - 3am

If you’ve still not got plans to go out out this Saturday night then look no further than YES’ very own antics Clubnight for their French Electro Spezial.

Promising to play all the best pumpers well into the early hours of the next morning, attendees can look forward to the antics DJs spinning the likes of Daft Punk, Phoenix, M83, Air, La Femme plus some relevant bangers from Hot Chip, Bicep, The Chemical Brothers, LCD Soundsystem, Caribou and Tame Impala.

38 Charles Street Manchester M1 7BD, Tel: 0161 273 2725
Mon 4 Mar - Sun 10 Mar
Words:
Rhiannon Ingle
Published on:
Mon 4 Mar 2024