Common Ground is an exhibition exploring the Peak District National Park, inviting audiences to connect with nature amidst a global climate crisis. The installation features works by graduates using foraged clay and immersive experiences. FREE. More info: https://www.craftanddesign.com/exhibitions-events/common-ground/

Common Ground Exhibition

Manchester Craft and Design Centre, 17 Oak St, Manchester M4 5JD, UK

E&I Collective are a group based in Manchester specialising is live original Reggae/Dancehall music. Bringing artists passionate about the genre together resulting in engaging and energetic performances. Covering Roots and Dub through to Reggae and Rubadub/Dancehall. FREE. More info: https://bandonthewall.org/events/la-fiesta-x-sueli-gil/

La Fiesta x E&I Collective

Band on the Wall, 25 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JZ, UK

Join Food Tastes Good Club every Monday evening - bring, cook, eat! Every Monday evening, gather to bring, cook and share food together. FREE. More info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/food-tastes-good-club-tickets-1349593653949

🥘 Food Tastes Good Club

Altogether Otherwise, 6-10 Hanover St, Manchester M4 4BB, UK

A mending club open to all skill levels. Bring an item of clothing that needs some TLC and any sewing supplies you may have! Tools and materials are provided, and inspiration is always on hand. FREE. More info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maybe-ill-mend-tickets-1710937483069

🧵 Maybe I'll Mend

Come along every Tuesday evening to potter around in our community garden. Anything gardening related - you name it, we probably do it. No end goals, no pressure, just a space to tinker, try, and enjoy the simple joy of doing. FREE. More info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/evening-gardening-club-tickets-1349824825389

🌱 Evening Gardening Club

Sit quietly for 45 minutes. No phones, no pressure, no breakthroughs. Just boredom. Meeting in silence isn’t a new idea. We’re just sitting. FREE. More info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/do-nothing-club-tickets-1983255177624

🧘 Do Nothing Club

An African Literature book club meeting every third Wednesday of each month. Our June pick of the month is New Daughters of Africa, edited by Margaret Busby. FREE. More info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/afrilit-book-club-your-local-african-literature-book-club-tickets-1233038845379

📚 Afrilit Book Club - Your Local African Literature Book Club

Sit quietly for 45 minutes. No phones, no pressure, no breakthroughs. Just boredom. Meeting in silence isn’t a new idea. But we aren’t sitting for mindfulness, or for art, or for spiritual improvement. We’re just sitting. FREE. More info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/do-nothing-club-tickets-1983255177624

Do Nothing Club

Hania Derej Trio - Part of Manchester Jazz Festival. Enjoy free entry and a variety of jazz compositions by Hania, a talented composer and pianist. Booking a table is recommended, but you can just turn up if you’re happy standing. FREE. More info: https://mattandphreds.com/may-2026/hania-derej-trio

Hania Derej Trio

Matt & Phreds Jazz Club, 64 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LW, UK

In this weekly yoga club we'll be exploring all elements of Yoga from the physical practice & breath to meditation, philosophy & beyond. All levels of experience are welcome. Bring a mat & wear something comfy. FREE. More info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-present-company-yoga-club-tickets-1310229133609

🧘 In Present Company: Yoga Club

A journaling sewing club! A yarn club guided by the moon and seasons. Bring your current project and a notebook. All yarn crafts and levels welcome! Altogether Otherwise is a place where things always happen. Where making, doing, and shared endeavour are all part of the fun. FREE. More info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-stitching-circle-tickets-1801368554839

🧵 The Stitching Circle

Hailing from a combo of Manchester and the hills of the Peak District, Calico are a 5-piece collective who fuse pop hooks, catchy melodies, and blissful harmonies with elements of jazz, folk, blues, samba, and trip hop. FREE. More info: https://bandonthewall.org/events/calico-x-mjf/

Calico X MJF

The Finite Experience is an Afro Jazz-Fusion project that blends the rhythmic richness of Afrobeat with the improvisational spirit of jazz, inviting listeners into a world where tradition and innovation coexist in harmony. FREE. More info: https://bandonthewall.org/events/finite-experience-x-mjf/

Finite Experience X MJF

Yoni Mayraz Traverses Fears and Desires on New Album Dogs Bark Babies Cry, Out September 5 on PPK Records. FREE. More info: https://bandonthewall.org/events/yoni-mayraz-dogs-bark-babies-cry-x-mjf/

Yoni Mayraz – Dogs Bark Babies Cry X MJF

Thiara Collective have come to reclaim their mark on the scene. Infused with the innovative ethos of the UK’s underground scene, their sound is a dynamic fusion of rhythmically audacious grooves, and a melting pot of harmony with a heavy woodwind and brass lead sound. FREE. More info: https://bandonthewall.org/events/thiara-collective-x-mjf/

Thiara Collective X MJF

Leeds based jazz/electronica trio make their first appearance at Manchester Jazz Festival. Expect drum, synth and saxophone theatrics. For fans of Knower, Corto Alto, Herbie Hancock etc. FREE. More info: https://bandonthewall.org/events/manchild-x-mjf/

Manchild X MJF

Jon Onabowu is making waves across the music scene with his innovative jazz/fusion sound. FREE. More info: https://bandonthewall.org/events/jon-onabowu-x-mjf/

Jon Onabowu X MJF

A genre-blurring instrumental jazz quintet fronted by Flo Taylor who shares stories of late-diagnosis, identity and grief interspersed with their intricately arranged compositions. FREE. More info: https://bandonthewall.org/events/flo-ra-x-mjf/

Flo/Ra X MJF

Taught and directed by renowned saxophonist Munch Manship, Band on the Wall’s long running Jazz Workshop has become a creative hub for musicians from across the North West who are passionate about Jazz. FREE. More info: https://bandonthewall.org/events/jazz-workshop-band-x-mjf-2/

Jazz Workshop Band X MJF

MJF Wrap Party Jam - Part of Manchester Jazz Festival. One last Wrap Party Jam featuring The Ed Kainyek Quartet. FREE. More info: https://mattandphreds.com/may-2026/wrap-party-jam

MJF Wrap Party Jam

Welcoming all musicians/singers to jam with the band - just chat to the band leader! Every 4th Monday of the month, House band Dreamer take to the stage to invite musicians to join them in filling M&P’s with the very best Funk, Soul, and Disco from across the decades. FREE. More info: https://mattandphreds.com/january-2026/all-star-jam

🎶 All Star Jam

A mending club open to all skill levels. Bring an item of clothing that needs some TLC and any sewing supplies you may have! Tools and materials are provided. Expect a casual social environment where we can share what we’re currently working on. FREE. More info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maybe-ill-mend-tickets-1710937483069

Maybe I'll Mend

Mu Quintet are the Leeds-based instrumental acoustic jazz outfit drawing inspiration from movements within the musical avant-garde. With a sound characterised by rich compositions, explosive improvisation and intricate melodies, they aim to push at the boundaries of the small jazz ensemble. FREE. More info: https://mattandphreds.com/may-2026/mu-quintet

Mu Quintet

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Rockin’1000 is the biggest band in the world. We went viral in 2015 with a video inviting the Foo Fighters to Cesena, and today we bring shows of a thousand musicians playing together in stadiums all over the world and on prestigious stages—you may have seen us outside the Ariston in Sanremo last year with Jova. FREE. More info: https://bandonthewall.org/events/rockin-1000-jam-2/

Rockin’ 1000 Jam

Read out loud from your writing practice (max. 10min) – prose, poetry, essay, memoir and everything in between – to a group of closely listening fellow dabblers in writing. Discuss your work and methods in an informal, friendly, supportive environment. FREE. More info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writing-and-writing-club-tickets-1284184493389

🖊️ Writing and Writing Club

A weekly evening for men to gather and explore Buddhism and meditation together, led by Sthirajyoti. The evening works on a drop-in basis and there’s no need to prepare. More info: https://manchesterbuddhistcentre.org.uk/whats-on/mens-dharma-evening-2-3/2026-05-27/

Men’s Dharma Evening

Manchester Buddhist Centre, 16-20 Turner St, Manchester M4 1DZ, UK

'The Guest Series' at Matt and Phreds is an exciting new initiative designed to connect different jazz scenes from across the UK with Manchester, while showcasing the incredible talent of musicians from all over the country. FREE. More info: https://mattandphreds.com/may-2026/the-guest-series

The Guest Series, Ft. James Owston

The Hurricane Blues Band are a passionate Merseyside-based ensemble dedicated to serving up the authentic sounds of classic blues and rhythm & blues. Drawing deep inspiration from the vibrant Chicago and London blues scenes of the 1960s, the band delivers raw, unfiltered performances that resonate with both long-time blues lovers and new audiences alike. FREE. More info: https://mattandphreds.com/may-2026/the-hurricane-blues-band

The Hurricane Blues Band

We have a New Club! Every other Friday afternoon we are The Zine Club, here at Altogether Otherwise. A very informal meet up where we browse, swap, make and chat about zines. Come along, bring what you are working on or bring nothing at all! Just Join In. FREE. More info: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-zine-club-tickets-1982682572948

📓 The Zine Club

Henry Botham is one of the UK’s leading Harlem Stride, Blues and New Orleans pianists. Enjoy his performances with witty introductions. FREE. More info: https://mattandphreds.com/may-2026/henry-botham

What's On in the Northern Quarter: FREE

Just to be sure...