Free things to do this weekend Glinka School, Space Dimension Controller + more

Glinka Pianists at Stoller Hall
On Friday you can catch this exclusive concert at recently-opened classical music centre Stoller Hall. Visiting students from Moscow’s Glinka School of Music will be performing a recital of pieces from Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov, as well as the man their school is named after – 19th Century composer Mikhail Glinka, often referred to as the father of Russian classical music. The Glinka Shcool produces some of the finest musicians in the world, so this is definitely not to be missed. Seats are prioritised to those who have purchased tickets to other recitals, so the truly free seats are first come first serve.
Fri 6 Oct, Stoller Hall, Hunts Bank, Manchester, M3 1DA. 5.30pm, www.stollerhall.com

Furniture Flea Market at Royal Mills
Royal Mills is no stranger to vintage fairs, but on Saturday they’re staging something pretty unique. This furniture flea market is a vintage fair without the threads: Only furniture is on offer. So if you’ve been thinking about getting hold of some unique fittings and furnishings for your home, this is absolutely the event for you. If you want a little break from soaking up the interior design of yesteryear, they’ve also scheduled a diverse menu of homemade treats and street food, including Hearty Jamaican food from Stretford’s Hungry Little Critters, and intricate desserts from Claire Green Cakes of Stockport. As it’s a vintage event, you’ll also be able to buy gin too.
Sat 7 Oct, Unit 9a, Royal Mills, Redhill Street, Manchester, M4 6JG. 10am – 4pm, www.facebook.com

Space Dimension Controller at Eastern Bloc Records
Festival promoters Mayday and Belgian dance label R&S Records are throwing a big party at basement venue Hidden this Saturday night, showcasing some of their best artists for the eye-watering ticket price of £25. That said, you can enjoy a little free taster earlier in the evening at Steven Square’s Eastern Bloc Records. The record shop and micro venue will be welcoming the Mayday DJs and Belfast-based ‘galactic funk’ DJ and bedroom producer Space Dimension Controller. There’s no advance tickets for this free show, so early arrival is essential for this.
Sat 7 Oct, Eastern Bloc Records, 5A Stevenson Square, Manchester M1 1DN. 6pm – 11pm, www.skiddle.com

Bound Art Book Fair at The Whitworth
This Saturday and Sunday, The Whitworth on Oxford Road is being taken over by the Bound Art Book Fair: A market and showcase for independent book publishers. As well as the opportunity to peruse these short-run volumes, you’ll also get the chance to take part in a number of talks and workshops, including a bookbinding class from Salford’s Team Trident Press. See our full preview for more information.
Sat 7 Oct – Sun 8 Oct, Whitworth Art Gallery, Oxford Road, Manchester M15 6ER. Tel: 0161 275 7450, 11am – 5pm, www.facebook.com

Ride Your Pony at Islington Mill
On Thursday, a group of international multidisciplinary artists set up a temporary exhibition at Islington Mill, and you’ve only got two days left to catch it. Ride Your Pony is the product of 26 different artists, from textile artists to typographers, each one taking a different letter of the alphabet for creative inspiration. Take a look at our full preview if you want to find out more.
Until Sun 8 Oct, Islington Mill, 1 James Street, Salford, M3 5HW. 12pm – 4pm, rideyourpony.club