What's On
An immersive light show featuring projected birds ‘flying’ across buildings is touring Manchester and Salford
Make sure you don’t miss this!
The travelling art installation Mystery Bird has officially landed in our city, bringing a magical story to the people of Salford and Manchester. The tour will take place over the coming days, visiting families and residential homes across the city.
The travelling ’show’ has been created by a collection of artists from the North West whose combined skills in model-making, projection, design, sound, augmented reality and even beatboxing have brought this spectacular piece to life.
The Mystery Bird is a giant birdcage filled with projected birds and accompanied by a bespoke soundscape, which will be released to ‘fly’ across buildings, trees and the streets of Greater Manchester.
Chris Payne
In addition to the Mystery Bird travelling installation, Quays Culture worked with artist Jack Hardiker to create a special free Instagram filter so users can welcome the birds into their own homes and gardens via their mobiles.
Using the filter, Quays Culture are also asking for the public to share a video of their own Mystery Bird experience that will be collated into a community film to share the joy of the experience with the nation.
To get involved follow these steps:
- Open the filter via the Quays Culture Instagram and record the birds flying around you.
- Make bird sounds to release more birds!
- Save the video to your camera roll and email to mysterybird@quaysculture.com
- Tag @quayscultureuk in your IG videos #mysterybird
The idea has taken inspiration from the public’s heightened awareness of nature during the pandemic, offering solace, comfort, motivation and relaxation.
Programme Producer at Quays Culture, and Co-Creator of Mystery Bird, Jude Jagger said of the project: “So many people mentioned enjoying birds, listening to birdsong and getting involved with nature in general during the first lockdown.”
Co-Creator Gemma Saunders added: “Despite Covid-19 being devastating there are some aspects of this situation that have made us re-focus on important factors in our lives. We want to play that back to people and deliver an ‘art at your front door’ wonder that will be truly special.”
Manchester based beatboxer and vocal sculptor Singh is best known for the Tweet Music album, commissioned by the National Trust after research found that listening to bird song before you are twelve makes people calmer and boosts positivity. And indeed, listening to bird song is relaxing, soothing and a re-connect to nature for all age groups.
This latest work features endangered birds on the RSPB list and local birds like the Willow Tit (a regular in Wigan), Grasshopper Warbler, Lapwing, tree Sparrows, Starlings plus ‘saved’ birds like the Peregrine Falcon intertwined by his electronic score, creating the sounds, rhythms and feelings of bird song. This premiere performance will be broadcast from the travelling installation.
“This work celebrates all birds, big and small; birds with personalities, displayers, the gangster birds as I call them – the sparrows; birds that people aren’t familiar with. I hope my work will connect everyone to the amazing creatures in our life that perhaps we haven’t noted until now,” said Singh.
Chris Payne
The birds themselves have been created by artist Helen Musselwhite. She said: “I have worked with these six birds, some of whom aren’t commonly known, to show their personality, their lives and their passions. I show the birds in flight, banking, swooping, flying and static. I have ‘lived’ these birds for months and want to share their story. It is the story of us all at present; a feeling of being trapped, unsure, not able to be free – that is the Mystery Bird story.”
Helen worked with animators Illuminos to make the birds ‘come to life’, and Jack Hardiker has produced an Augmented Reality element for the public to interact with.
Rob Vale and Matt Vale, from Illuminos, are tasked with bringing the birds to life. They have spent months studying the six birds to then animate them realistically.
Chris Payne
“It has been fascinating to watch the movements of the group as they are so different,” said Illuminos director Rob. “The Willow Tit for example is a nervous jumpy bird. It jumps around and then perches. The Grasshopper Warbler sits with its head down and makes a strange insect noise then leaps straight ahead and starts it’s strange performance over again.”
“The Starlings are so interesting too,” said Matt. “They run and rattle about then hop around. The characters of the birds are so different and it has been incredible to bring them to life.”
The team at Illuminos had the huge challenge of how to present the birds in a cage, fabricated by M3 Industries, with a 360 degree viewing programme whilst travelling on a moving vehicle.
Mystery Bird is on until this Sunday, December 13th, and will be touring neighbourhoods in Salford and Manchester so keep your eyes peeled.
Keep up to date on the Mystery Bird website, or on Quays Culture’s socials, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
What's On
Barton Aerodrome announces McFly, JLS and UB40 open-air shows this summer
Make sure you don’t miss these!
Three brand new shows have been announced at Manchester’s Barton Aerodrome this September, adding to the summer gigs already confirmed.
Barton LIVE, a unique concert series set against the backdrop of the aerodrome’s runway, has already confirmed The Jacksons LIVE, 90s Baby Festival and Boogietown North are taking place this summer.
Now McFly, JLS, and UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell will take the stage this September, joining the already bumper lineup.
Barton LIVE
McFly, known for their infectious pop-rock anthems and high-energy performances, with hits like ‘Five Colours in Her Hair’, ‘All About You’, and ‘Obviously’, are heading to the aerodrome on Thursday September 12th.
Then on Saturday September 14th JLS will be gracing the stage with chart-topping hits like ‘Beat Again’, ‘Everybody in Love’, and ‘She Makes Me Wanna’.
Finally, legendary reggae band UB40 featuring Ali Campbell will perform classics like ‘Red Red Wine’, ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’, and ‘Kingston Town’ on Sunday September 15th.
Barton LIVE
New Barton LIVE shows:
- Thursday 12th September – McFly
- Saturday 14th September – JLS
- Sunday 15th September – UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell
Tickets will be available this Friday, April 26th, at 9AM – signing up is essential for access to tickets, sign up HERE.
Barton LIVE full summer series:
- Friday 19th July – The Jacksons LIVE
- Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st July – 90s Baby Festival
- Saturday 27th July – Boogietown North
- Thursday 12th September – McFly
- Saturday 14th September – JLS
- Sunday 15th September – UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell
What's On
Hot Wheels interactive experience hosting its first-ever European event in Trafford
This will be mint!
A Hot Wheels interactive experience is coming to Trafford Park this summer, the first time the event has ever taken place in Europe.
Coming from Live Nation, BeFUN, and Mattel, the Hot Wheels City Experience is heading to the B.E.C Arena in Trafford Park this August, making its European debut as it brings the legendary toy cars to life.
Spanning a series of immersive stations and interactive activities, the event will have something for families and devoted collectors alike.
Hot Wheels City Experience
The 6,000 square metre experience will let fans step through a nostalgic and educational journey consisting of 10 stations, including a design centre, immersive museum, playground, gamer zone and Hot Wheels Lab.
Fans will go on a journey through the colourful world of Hot Wheels, starting with an introductory video which will take a deep dive into the history and culture of the brand.
Luís França / Hot Wheels City Experience
The next station features an immersive museum and expo where visitors will get to see the best of the Hot Wheels collections – including graphics with the history of Hot Wheels, classic arts of the brand, and the Hot Wheels legendary life-sized cars.
There’s also the Gamer Zone, where gamers can show off their skills, the Design Centre, where the latest technology is used to introduce colour and graphic projection onto virtual cars, and a Digital ‘build your car’ and painting workshop where fans can create and have their work emailed to them or projected on the walls.
Hot Wheels City Experience
Lastly, the Hot Wheels Lab will let guests play with the most popular Hot Wheels toys, including giant tracks and pre-built racecourses – with the opportunity to win prizes.
The Hot Wheels City Experience opens its doors on August 13th and runs until September 12th 2024, with presale tickets launching at 10am next Wednesday, April 24th – sign up for pre-sale HERE.
On-sale tickets will be available at 10am on April 26th, starting from £27.50 for adults and £22.50 for children – head here for more info.
What's On
Epic indoor inflatable park reopens with huge new ball pit filled with nearly half a million balls
Take advantage of the discount while it’s still available
A Greater Manchester indoor inflatable park has reopened after a revamp revealing the addition of a huge new ball pit filled with nearly half a million balls.
Inflata Nation has reopened its doors in Trafford Park after undergoing a renovation, revealing some exciting new features for visitors to enjoy.
If you’re wondering what you can do to keep the kids entertained, why not take them to this newly upgraded indoor park?
An incredible blue ball pit filled with 418,000 balls looks like an ocean as it floods the open space. Other new features include the epic double tipping slide, a ballcano, ball pit blasters and obstacle courses.
The park has also upgraded its mini arena, which is exclusively for children under four.
Packed with ball pits and engaging soft play activities, this area offers sensory stimulation and opportunities for cognitive development, tailored specifically for the little ones, the park says.
Since opening back in 2017, the site has attracted thousands of visitors looking for fun-packed family days out.
Visitors have jumped into its ball pits, bounced on its inflatables and dived down its slides, where they’ve enjoyed plenty of fun and laughter that has brought them back time and time again.
Tickets for Inflata Nation Manchester cost £13.99 for visitors aged four and above and £6.99 for under fours. You can add an extra hour for £8.50 and £3.50 respectively. The park is also offering 15% discount of all visits when booked in advance online until April 17th.
To get the discount simply head to the booking panel on the website, choose the location, complete your details and enter the correct discount code at checkout. For Manchester use the code: EASTERMANC. For discount on bookings and more information, click HERE.
Inflata Nation Manchester is located on Textilose Road, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1WA.
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