Music

Andrew explores the capabilities of the pocket piano – a tiny, hand-built synthesiser. He improvises sweeping soundscapes using both intricate textures and simple melodies. Bristol sax and drums duo, Run Logan Run strive for intensity within the moment - from quiet, bird-like noises to huge, monolithic sounds. Advance: £8.50 (inc 50p bkg fee) / OTD: […]

Clouds both celebrate and challenge the preconceived charm of this beloved instrument with new music embracing minimalism, folk and classical - interspersed with improvisation. Advance: £8.50 (inc 50p bkg fee) / OTD: £10  A Manchester Jazz Festival event

Tom Thorp’s new ensemble of nimble-fingered, northern talents subverts the roles within the saxophone quartet with experimental composition techniques: energetic and always musical. Advance: £8.50 (inc 50p bkg fee) / OTD: £10  A Manchester Jazz Festival event

  Join a choir for the day, to rehearse and perform a selection of songs from the ground breaking Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper plus other well-known songs from the era. As a choir, you will learn distributed material from scratch, rehearsed during the day by choral director Eleanor Mottershead with piano accompaniment from Tim Mottershead […]

You don't need Romeo and Juliet in your life to enjoy our silent disco crazy crazy nights! Just grab your handbags and gladrags and discover a reason to believe. Whether you are an owner of a lonely heart searching for the power of love or a piano man desperate to fly away on a runaway […]

In the wordless communication that passes between Orcadian fiddler Catriona Price and Peebles harpist Esther Swift as they perform, the strength of their decade-long musical partnership, friendship and shared humour is evident. It’s this depth of connection, and tangible desire to have fun, that gives Twelfth Day its extra edge. This is not so much […]

Our favourite DJ John Ryan returns to Central Library with another Retro Silent Disco on Friday 20th July with a special summer treat. This time you can dance the night away to - The Best Northern Soul and Motown featuring Gloria Jones, Al Wilson, The Flirtations and all the biggest dance floor fillers. Made in Manchester Stone Roses, […]

To Celebrate Valuing Older People’s Day, Manchester Libraries and Manchester Prairie Dogs present A BEGINNERS LINE DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA Age friendly line dance lessons County and Western photo booth Games and quizzes Refreshments at the Watering Hole Places are free but limited so please book early by calling 0161 234 1940 or emailing j.kettlety@manchester.gov.uk.  

A bold, experimental and genre-spanning evening of new music created as part of a unique cross-European collaboration. This free one-off performance will showcase new music and visuals by Laura Campbell (UK) and Mari Sainio (Finland) who have been mentored by multi-instrumentalist and producer LoneLady. The event will begin with an in-conversation with the three artists where […]

This event celebrates the diverse and inclusive nature of music making in Manchester. Showcasing the musical talent of our visitors to Central Library, and demonstrating the range of musical instruments freely available to our library members, join us throughout the day for impromptu performances. Free – just drop in

Sound as Being will present ‘Peterloo in Sound’ a 5.1 sound composition by Mark Pilkington inspired by a historical event that came to be known as ‘The Peterloo Massacre’, that happened in Manchester, England on the 16th August, 1819. The sound material consists of location recordings captured from student protests held in Manchester 2010 and […]