Free things to do in Manchester this weekend ft. Blackjack Brewery + more

Brew Tap Weekend at Blackjack Brewery
For our first pick of free things to do in Manchester this weekend, we’ve got this two-day knees up at the Blackjack Brewery. The local craft brewers will be serving up a wide range of native and guest beers – covering everything from your  standard IPAs through to more unique, specialist brews including Blackjack’s All on Black coffee stout. Beer aside, there’s going to be food on both days: On Friday, you’ll be able to get wood-fired pizza courtesy of Hull’s Mio pizza, and on Saturday The Ottö-Men will be serving up Turkish-Mediterranean cuisine. They’re also promising DJ sets from Manchester’s most prolific crate diggers on both evenings.
Fri 27 Apr – Sat 28 Apr, Blackjack Beers, 36 Gould Street, Manchester, M4 4JT. 6pm – 10.45pm (Fri), 12pm – 10.45pm (Sat), www.facebook.com

Graphic Novel Launch at Travelling Man
This Saturday, if you can swing by independent comic book store Travelling Man you can catch the launch of this new graphic novel from writer David Gaffney and artist Dan Berry. This event gives you the opportunity to meet the creators, hear about their inspirations and pick up a reasonably-priced copy of the book itself. Check out our full preview for more information.
Sat 28 Apr, Travelling Man, 4 Dale Street, Manchester, M1 1JW, Tel: 0161 237 1877, 2pm, www.travellingman.com

That Sinking Feeling Exhibition Launch at Bankley Gallery
Levenshulme’s Bankley Gallery launches its latest exhibition this Saturday. That Sinking Feeling is an exhibition of work inspired by ‘Oumuamua, a mysterious interstellar object, and the first of its kind to be observed visiting our solar system. Three artists have contributed to the exhibition, which runs until Saturday 12 May. See our full preview for more details.
Sat 28 Apr – Sat 12 May, Bankley Gallery, Bankley Street, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3PP, Tel: 079680 008 840, 12pm – 4pm, www.bankley.org.uk

Dave Haslam at The Pen and Pencil (pictured)
Haçienda legend Dave Haslam returns to The Pen and Pencil in the Northern Quarter this Saturday, for a night of free tunes. Haslam was a fixture at the iconic venue for several years, turning in over 450 appearances and moving the limbs of common ravers and Manchester music luminaries alike. He’s supported on the night by the resident DJs from Sound Control’s Across The Tracks night.
Sat 28 Apr, The Pen and Pencil, Fourways House, 57 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 2EJ. 8pm – 2am, www.facebook.com

The Impossible Revolution Screening at Rethink Rebuild Society
Immigration and asylum seeker charity Rethink Rebuild Society has been integral to Manchester’s response to the refugee crisis in Syria, and this Sunday they present an opportunity to learn more about this hugely complex conflict. They’ll be hosting a screening of the 2017 documentary The Impossible Revolution, followed by a Q&A with directors Ronan Tynan and Anne Daly. Whilst this screening is technically free to attend, they do request a £2 donation to help cover travel expenses.
Sun 29 Apr, Rethink Rebuild Society, Unit 7, Longsight Business Park, Hamilton Road, Manchester, M13 0PD. 7pm -10pm, www.eventbrite.co.uk