Free things to do in Manchester this week ft Fingathing and Bruise Zine

If you’re on a tight budget after splurging on Mother’s Day, then don’t worry because we’ve got a great a selection of free treats for you. There’s no excuses to not go out – unless you’ve been grounded.

Bruise Zine Launch at Hold Fast
Buried under The Hatters budget holstery is bar de jour Hold Fast, which has been fattening its social calendar over the past few months. Bruise Zine is the print arm of the Bruise Arts Collective, and this will be their second issue – the first having gone out at the end of last year. This launch promises live music from Nude, Anna McCluckie, Walk-Music and Shy & Brazen, as well as the tantalising offer of free shots. You can also pick up a copy of the zine, because that’s only polite.
Tue 17 Mar, Hold Fast, 50 Newton Street, M1 2EA, 8pm, www.facebook.com

Fingathing at Cane and Grain (pictured)
Fingathing are that rarest of things: an instrumental hip-hop duo. Hailing from Manchester, the double-bass and turntable have been tearing it up since 2000. Their performances are often accompanied by crazy animations and light shows. This is some real spectacle for no dollar. There’s currently no free tickets left on Skiddle, but you can swing a standard ticket for £3 or chance your arm for free entry on the door.
Tue 17 Mar, Cane & Grain, 49 -51 Thomas Street, M4 1NA, 9pm – 2am, www.skiddle.com

Greater Game at National Football Museum
With last year marking the centenary of World War One, we featured a lot of events themed around the period. These have started to peter out, but a few are still cropping up, including this interesting-sounding lunchtime lecture. The lecture, given by football historian Gary James, covers the state of the league between 1914-18: The effects of the war on play, the scandals that embroiled clubs and the unlikely success stories. Advance booking recommended if you’re football crazy/football mad.
Wed 18 Mar, National Football Museum, Urbis Building, Cathedral Gardens, M4 3BG, 1pm – 2pm. www.eventbrite.co.uk

Last Day of Coors Light Ice Bar
This is your last chance to drink 4.2% lager in a sub-zero pop up. Details about this last day are sketchy, and it’s unlikely to be as generous as the opening, which featured a performance from Rudimental, but fans of drinking beer in a freezer will be fully satisfied. All sessions are booked-up online, but it’s still worth swinging by to see whether you can pick up on a dropout – unlucky drinkers can still get entry to their après-ski ski bar. It’s free entry, but technically you do have to pay for the beer.
Thu 19 Mar, Coors Light Ice Bar, Spinningfields Square, 12pm – 12am, www.coorslight.co.uk