MANCHESTER IS A PLETHORA of festivals this month, so if you pop down for any evening that you’re free there will something special and one-night-only, or maybe two-night-only, guaranteed.

With the Manchester Food Festival over (no more homemade soup in the city centre, sad times) and the weekend before last saw the closedown of the city’s inaugural music expert festival, In The City. It’s an industry showcase mixing up lectures, events (including Steve Lamacq and John Robb for those lucky enough to have access to the ‘Round Table’) and the best bands in the North West, plus the full fringe festival which saw the likes of local heroes Rook & The Ravens and emo-tinged Page 44 rock up at timeless haunts Jabez Clegg and Joshua Brooks.

Manchester Science and Comedy Festivals Review -from GIRL ABOUT TOWN #39

This week sees two festivals get into full swing. The Manchester Comedy Festival kicks off this week, with a stellar line up including Jimmy Carr, the very sexy Russell Kane, and the best of local talent such as the award-winning Alex Boardman.

The Manchester Science Festival will be getting underway properly too, with MOSI (the Museum of Industry and Science) set to entertain the plastic-goggles and cape minded of you. You might have just missed out on the Professor in the Pub, but there’s still time to get involved in the Super K Sonic, asking members of the audience to ride a dinghy from Japan, all in the name of science…

• Manchester Comedy Festival: Russell Kane ‘ Smokescreens & Castles’, The Comedy Store, 26 Oct, £15
• Manchester Science Festival: “Super K Sonic BOOOO-m “in the John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, £5