Free things to do this week ft. VALA, Hudson Whiskey + more

Music Production for Women at SSR Manchester
The Red Bull Music Academy are taking over the facilities at Manchester’s School of Sound Recording on Tuesday to provide a free women’s only music production taster. This workshop looks to get more women into the industry, to introduce them to some key techniques and get them used to the technology involved. Places are limited, see our full preview for more details.
Tue 26 Sep, SSR Manchester, 65 – 69 Downing Street, Manchester, M1 7JE. Tel: 0161 276 2100, 6.30pm – 10pm, www.redbull.co.uk 

VALA and Digging For Apples at Old Pint Pot
You can catch this free gig at The Old Pint Pot in Salford on Wednesday night. First up on the bill is some classic guitar-based indie from local group of handsome lads VALA (pictured). Their style is pulled as much from early rock ‘n’ roll as it is from the early 2000s indie scene, as evidenced by their debut single Thrown To The Floor, released earlier this year. Supporting them on the night is Digging For Apples, who play what they describe as ‘grass roots fruity indie rock’.
Wed 27 Sep, Old Pint Pot, 2 Adelphi Street, Salford, M3 6EN. 8pm – 3am, www.skiddle.com

Mass Shooters Lecture at Gullivers
Psychology in the Pub is an organisation that aims to bring talks on all aspects of psychology into your humble boozer. This Thursday, they’re hosting a free lecture at Oldham Street’s Gullivers under the title of ‘Pathways To Violence in Mass Shooters’. The speaker Doctor Clare Allely will be providing some insight into mass shootings, cutting through the headlines and shedding some much-needed light on the psychological causes of these deadly events. A forensic psychology lecturer at the University of Salford, Dr. Allely has been researching this topic some time and is perfectly positioned to talk about some of the most grisly crimes on both sides of the Atlantic.
Thu 28 Sep, Gullivers, 109 Oldham Street, Manchester M4 1LW. 7pm – 9pm, www.facebook.com

Hudson Whiskey Masterclass at The Fitzgerald
If you’re looking to get merry this Thursday, you can quench your thirst with this free whiskey tasting event at the 1920s-themed Northern Quarter bar The Fitzgerald. Hudson Whiskey is an artisan distillery founded in New York State in the early 2000s, the first of its kind to open since the end of prohibition. Representatives from the distillery will be on hand to take you through the numerous varieties of whiskey they have on offer. At the time of writing, this event is nearly sold out, so you’d better get a move on if you want to play Hemingway for the evening.
Thu 28 Sep, The Fitzgerald, 11 Stevenson Square, Manchester, M1 1DB. 7pm – 8.30pm, www.skiddle.com