This is what’s happening in Manchester this freshers’ week

With freshers’ approaching on the 20th September, we’ve rounded up the best of what’s going on.

Sunday 20th September – The Big Fresher’s Icebreaker at TigerTiger

Kicking off Welcome Week with a storm it’s seventh year running, TigerTiger will be hosting The Big Fresher’s Icebreaker. Get set for fire breathing Grannies, back flipping stilt walkers, giant inflatable penguins and everything inbetween. Whether you like it or not, this event has the most hype surrounding it – it sells out every year and Made in Chelseas’ Alex Mytton said: “if you go to one event this Fresher’s, make sure it’s this one”. What’s more is that, with this event, there is a choice of Harry Potter, Disney or Superheroes as fancy dress themes to get stuck into.

Monday 21st September – Superfresh: Superhero Fancy Dress Party at Suede Nightclub

Bare brick chic

Manchester’s self-proclaimed biggest fancy dress event is taking place at Suede Nightclub. Don’t fret if you haven’t got any superhero fancy dress, you can either recycle one from TigerTiger the night before, or drag your hungover selves to the beloved LuvYaBabes in the Arndale, or the fancy dress shop in Afflecks Palace for a last minute purchase. The event claims to “think marvel mayhem with a few too many mojitos”. It’s basically a chance to meet new friends over super cheap drinks and super tight lycra.

Tuesday 22nd September – DoubleDrop at Sankey’s

Manchester’s favourite mid-week night at Sound Control is relaunching (and upgrading) to Sankey’s this year and promises to bring us the very best in bass, hip hop, classics, mashups and all things house. With no specified closing time, this event promises to “not stop til YOU drop” and caters for different tastes in music spanning from their Basement of Filth to their Pop and Classics on the top floor.

Wednesday 23rd September – Retox at Sound Control/Rum&Bass Opening Party at Antwerp Mansion

Sound Control’s brand new club night Retox is launching on the Wednesday night of Welcome Week, promising to deliver “cutting edge music and an atmosphere that you won’t regret”. Drinks are fairly cheap the way everyone likes them, £2.50 for a single vodka mixer and an extra £1 to double up. In the loft will be the best of grime, garage, bass and trap with old school hip hop, disco and funk on the middle floor. Obviously the house and techno will be in the basement, standard.

If you the idea of a night run by sound control makes you feel uneasy Antwerp is also hosting the relaunch of Rum&Bass, everyone’s favourite garage night, on Wednesday. Continuing to make a career out of one song DJ Luck and MC Neat face Artful Dodger in what is sure to be a heavyweight battle between some of the biggest names in noughties garage.

Thursday 24th September – Opening P.A.R.T.Y at Sankey’s

If DoubleDrop on the Tuesday just wasn’t enough for you, over 1000 people are already attending Sankey’s new event P.A.R.T.Y on the Thursday night of Freshers. After the success of last year’s sell-out Full Moon parties on Thursday nights, Sankey’s have spiced things up with their brand new “anything goes” concept. The favourite resident DJ’s Jamie Hartley and Tango Williams will be returning to this world-renowned club for a night of “wonders and surprises” and the best of Garage, Hip-Hop, House and Grime.

Thursday 24th September – Comedy Night at Academy 2

If four nights on the lash in a row, however, have well and truly taken their toll, an alternative to Round 2 at Sankey’s could be the Comedy Night at Academy 2. Organised by the University of Manchester Student Union in association with Gag Reflex, it’ll be headlined by Matt Richardson (that awkward, semi-famous guy who co-presented with Caroline Flack on the Xtra Factor that time), along with Dan Richardson and Vicki Stone (I don’t have a clue either). Either way, it’s a good opportunity for a bit of hair of the dog and some laughs, and it finishes at 11 anyway so it’d be rude not to go out after. At the end of the day, no one’s gonna say “remember that time in Fresher’s we drank 8 pound ciders from the Academy then all went to bed?”. Consider it.

Friday 25th September – Azeem x Underbelly. Flute Recital. Live.

On the subject of celebrity superstardom, after going from zero to hero on social media at the start of the year, Azeem Ward has been causing a ruckus with the confirmation of his live flute recital in the SU on the Friday of Fresher’s. This is not a joke. The SU are also offering the chance for four cheeky winners to win a date at Nando’s with the woodwind sensation himself, as well as meet and greets and picture opportunities. Avid Miley Cyrus fan and returning second year Emily Davidson can’t wait:  “Azeem’s flute recital will be an excellent night, on the condition that the deluxe edition of Miley Cyrus’ album Bangerz is played in three separate movements.”

Saturday 26th September – Pangaea Festival at the Student Union

An absolutely unmissable end to Manchester’s Welcome Week is Pangaea – the termly student festival takes place in and around the SU. With this years Neverland theme, expect it to be filled with intoxicated Lost Boys, Tinkerbells and Captain Hooks with some unreal acts performing as usual. With past line ups including Sister Sledge, MK and Artful Dodger you can expect it to be a night to remember.

Accounting and Finance fresher Chris Gilmore can’t wait to move in: “I feel as if I am on a one way mission to the sun in the build up to Welcome Week.”

It won’t just be new freshers, however,  taking up this excellent opportunity to get intoxicated seven nights in a row. Returning second year Lucy Walker said: “I can’t wait. But I’m scared for my liver at the thought of participating again in freshers’ week in Manchester.”