Free things to do this weekend ft. Evie O’Connor, Summer Jam + more

Evie O’Connor Private View at Bankley Gallery (pictured)
This Friday, you can catch a preview of artist Evie O’Connor’s latest exhibition at the boutique Bankley Gallery in Levenshulme. Escape To The Country is O’Connor’s first solo exhibition: A collection of paintings depicting the artist’s return to her home town, the rural North Derbyshire town of Glossop. This viewing is for one evening only, and if you want to catch it later, you can do so up until Sunday 13 August, but only by appointment.
Fri 4 Aug, Bankley Studios & Gallery, Bankley Street, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 3PP. 7pm – 9pm, www.facebook.com

Open Day at The Lowry
The Lowry are throwing open their doors this Saturday for an open day, which gives visitors a closer look behind the scenes at the quayside venue, as well as offering some interesting taster sessions. Workshops on offer include stand-up comedy, theatre production and stage fighting. There’s much more than just this on offer though, all of which can be read about in our extended preview.
Sat 5 Aug, The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ. Tel: 0843 208 6000, 10am – 4pm, www.thelowry.com

Summer Jam at Sadler’s Yard
Sadler’s Yard, the heart of the Green Quarter’s NOMA development, hosts this free festival on Saturday. Swing by the yard for four stages of music and DJing: With highlights including local lo-fi band Hot Shorts, Liverpool dreampop bad Beach Skulls and Manchester’s poet laureate Tony Walsh. There’s also plenty of street food on offer, and flatpacked pub The Pilcrow is also hosting a tap takeover from Somerset brewery The Wild Beer Co. Fair warning though: Advance tickets for this event are all out, so you’ll need to chance your arm on the day
Sat 5 Aug, Sadler’s Yard, Hanover Street, Manchester, M60 0AB. 12pm – 10pm, www.eventbrite.com

Intersections Poetry Event at Burgess Foundation
Head over to The International Anthony Burgess Foundation for this free poetry event on Saturday evening, featuring local poets alongside their Canadian colleagues. Intersections aims not to just present poetry, but also showcase how literature can pull together people from radically different backgrounds and opposite ends of the Earth. Confirmed poets include Salford University lecturer Scott Thurston and Saskatchewan Arts Board Award winner Jeanette Lynes.
Sat 5 Aug, International Anthony Burgess Foundation, Engine House, Chorlton Mill, Cambridge Street, Manchester, M1 5BY. 7pm – 10.30pm, www.eventbrite.com

Last Chance to See Lindsey Bull & Plastique Fantastique at Castlefield Gallery
This Sunday is your last chance to catch this latest exhibition at Castlefield Gallery, from Manchester painter Lindsey Bull and London-based arts collective Plastique Fantastique. The exhibition touches on occult themes of witchcraft of tarot – the artists even kicked-off the exhibition back in June with a live séance. See our full preview more details.
Fri 23 Jun – Sun 6 Aug, Castlefield Gallery, 2 Hewitt Street, Manchester, M15 4GB. Tel: 0161 832 8034, 1pm – 6pm, www.castlefieldgallery.co.uk