Contact’s Big Banquet at Contact
Every day is a party at Contact. But, this summer, they’re bringing you something extra special. On the 28 and 29 of July, they’re lowering the drawbridge and throwing open the castle doors for a weekend full of festivities!
Join in at the castle on Oxford Road as they wrap up their 50th birthday celebrations with The Big Banquet, and feast on a range of extraordinary cultural delights. Gorge on poetry, gobble on music, slurp up some art and reconnect with friends over a smorgasbord of fun.
“For 50 years, Contact has proven what can be achieved by putting the future first. I’m so excited to mark this remarkable legacy with The Big Banquet and can’t wait to share the beautiful Contact energy with our audiences, artists, visitors, friends and family over one incredible weekend. After a year at the helm of this magnificent organisation, I know one thing for sure: there’s nowhere in the world like Contact”
– Keisha Thompson, Contact’s AD and CEO
From morning raves to spoken word slams and fashion shows, there’s something for everyone at The Big Banquet.
Here’s what’s on:
What would a Big Banquet be without a feast?! Before you fill up on culture, secure your spot at a special Supper Club hosted by the outstanding ARMR Cafe and Kitchen who will be cooking up some serious grub. Experience an intimate Caribbean supper, extra special drinks and a good old-fashioned knees-up. And, enjoy an immersive fashion show by the brilliant Contact Young Company following their performance of Hand Me Down.
We did warn you that every day’s a party at Contact. Experience all the after-party vibes with live DJs and cabaret from some of the very best of Manchester’s local artists. It’ll be going until late, so don’t forget to fuel up the Supper Club beforehand.
Start your day the right way and join the morning rave! Forget sweaty strangers and overpriced beer, Contact’s morning rave is a joyful, energetic space to explore movement with other open-minded people. Shake off the negative vibes and stretch out that restless mind, with an early bird session led by Hebe Reilly, with music from DJ Misscothèque.
Workshops – Saturday 29th
On the Saturday Contact hosts five incredible free workshops to get stuck into. Try a hip-hop lyrics writing workshop with Baba Isreal and Keisha Thompson, experience a uniqueclothes-making workshop with a focus on sustainability, music workshop led by mould-breaking Manchester-based musician Werkha, a creative zine workshop with Rose Sergent and an accessible, simple, recipe-building workshop.
Cocktails and Cinquains X Capsule Launch – Saturday 29th
What makes a good cocktail? What on earth is a cinquain? And why has Contact put these two together with their Capsule launch? If you join a night of boisterous beverages and punchy poetry hosted by Keisha Thompson and Rory Dickinson, you might just find out…
You will be treated to a high-quality mix of a spirited guest poet, a performance mixologist, a mixer act and much much more. For this extra special edition of Cocktails and Cinquains, Contact will be launching Capsule; a compilation album created by Contact’s most talented musicians and artists.
