Mother’s Pride: Bank holiday performance, music, comedy and greenroom goodbyes

Next weekend in Manchester is a real biggun and you need to start planning NOW. Here’s something to get you started …

Friday 27th May at the greenroom: Mother’s Ruin

In Time Out’s annual London guide each year, the biog of a London persona is selected to grace the opening pages and thereby indicate the cultural landscape of the capital. Last year that honour went to a young queer performance artist. His name is Scottee. And somebody didn’t love him enough. The bastard offspring of Penny Arcade and Divine David will be in residence at a ‘Pop Up Greasy Spoon’ all afternoon at the greenroom where you can come face to face with this force of queer nature. Make your booking for tea and possible sympathy on 0161 615 0500.

Scottee

That same evening is given to a celebration of the ‘Cake Tin Foundation’ (give it a second …) in the form of a variety show hosted by the effervescent Timberlina. Highlight for me will be The Smiths: The Musical, performed with puppets and Casios. I shit you not, behold:

That same night I am hotfooting across town to play the opening slot at Clique, more of which soon …

Saturday 28th May: Mother Cares at Contact Theatre

Mrs Barbara Nice

A pristine line-up graces a FREE daytime experience at the Contact Theatre, beginning at 3pm. ‘Creative sessions exploring themes of belonging and home.’ David Hoyle and Barbara Nice are amongst the participants, reason enough to swing by.

David Hoyle

The evening event is ticketed and features performances of two self-authored plays concerning coming out, one by aforementioned Scottee, the other by The Fabulous Russella. After you’ve all traded your coming out tales, stick around to celebrate with a special club night, a knees-up soundclash between Bollox (represented by yours truly) and the Sapphic Traffic posse from Leeds.

Russella

Sunday 29th May: Listen With Mother at the greenroom

Wind down in acoustic bliss from 3 pm till late with a roster of musicians including the magnificent Owen Duff and new local talent The Speils. Daytime is free, evening is ticketed.

Owen Duff

Remember, Manchester is losing the wonderful greenroom to the tragic Arts Council cuts. Come along at the weekend for your last chance to witness what this terrific small venue always did best. Why not treat yourself to a weekend pass, pinball between here and Eurocultured, drink, think, dance, remember and be merry.

Disco Bingo Pogo Radio

I can’t really remember what order any of the following happens, but at some point we make a fleeting visit to DISCO BABYLON, aka Pumping Iron at Common. This night needs a dancefloor, the music is amazing. Got a venue? Enquire within! Then it’s Off The Hook 3, the best of the Hooks to date where I play the ‘gig’ of my ‘career’. Ha. No seriously, I’m dead pleased with myself, I am now resident DJ along with Mr Anthony Crank, the crowd are amazing and totally up for it. Here’s some of what got played. At some point I play a special birthday mini-set for Polly Esther’s birthday spesh at Trash-O-Rama too, who are squatting like lovable new wave rugrats in the basement of the monthly Bollox at Legends. Performance! Punk! Pissy lager! Party people! At some point I take a serious hangover to Mother’s Ruin Bingo Night at the Green Room, hosted by Timberlina and Mrs Barbara Nice. Complete laugh. I win TWICE (multi-pack of Cadburys fudge, pair of stencilled knickers in a jar). The night finishes, as so many do these days, at The Eagle, where myself and my friends behave deplorably. I mean, they ought to take the vote away from us, and if I’d stuck to my original intention to keep this blog anonymous, I could tell all. As it is, you’ll have to wait for court transcripts.

Bingo!

I attend the Rambert Dance Company’s 'Awakenings' at The Lowry, my first contemporary dance experience, and it’s fantastic. I take part in a writing workshop about it where I write a very short story on the spot which I’m quite pleased with. A couple waiting for a train become dancers on a stage, the train tracks become the orchestra pit, the rumble of the oncoming train is the orchestra tuning up. I The wonderful Dave Haslam takes me to see The Vaselines who are terrific, part humble indie, part stand-up comedy routine. New album Sex With An X is a gem, ‘I Hate The 80s’ is riding high on my songs of the year. We go backstage and talk about Butthole Surfers. Eugene gives me a beer. I am quietly starstruck. My parents have been married for twenty-five years! Silver Wedding Anniversary! We have a party which is great fun. I appear on the radio for the first time, doing a queer arts rundown on Crank’s Gaydio show. Amazing month. Stay tuned for more ...

The Vaselines @ Deaf Institute