Cool Manchester

Many thanks to Tom for this article, keep yourself updated on Co-op's HQ by visiting http://www.toms-travels.net/?p=4089

The Co-Operative Society is a big player in Manchester running their ethical businesses from the city for over 100 years. Their insurance wing, which will never invest in any unethical company dealing with arms, tobacco etc, operates out of the CIS Tower, covered in its array of solar panels on Miller Street.

The retail wing operates out of a series of Victorian buildings across the city so they decided to build a new HQ for this wing across Miller Street from the CIS Tower. Run on the same ethical values as the insurance business, the new building will have as light a touch on the environment as possible while still looking stunning. It’s built on a piece of land called Angel Meadows which sounds lovely but was,in fact, one of the worst slums in Victorian Manchester. Building was held up while archaeologists excavated the site to see what they could uncover – a whole lot of human misery I believe. Once the new building is up and running the old buildings will be refurbished as the Co-Op has plans to turn this part of the city into a new business district.

There’s been a lot of progresss here since I last photographed the project. The service towers seem to have reached as high as they are going to go compared with the previous picture.

In conjunction with their first Pride in Manchester, G-A-Y will be bursting into Manchester Pride's Gaydar Main Arena for one fantastic night over its 'Big Weekend' (Friday 26 - Monday 29 August), featuring Alexandra Burke and the Sugababes.

After winning 2008's The X-Factor, Alexandra Burke has gone on to establish herself as "Britain's answer to Beyonce". With double platinum album Overcome and a string of six consecutive top twenty hits under her belt - including UK #1s 'Bad Boys', 'Hallelujah' and 'Start Without You' - G-A-Y will bring the sought-after star to Manchester Pride this August for an extremely special set in Manchester Pride's fabulous Gaydar Main Arena.

Alongside Alexandra as part of the spectacular G-A-Y set is Jade, Amelle and Heidi - also known as legendary UK girl band the Sugababes. Having most recently had chart success with latest album 'Sweet 7', the girls hit the charts with three consecutive top tens: 'Wear My Kiss', 'Get Sexy' and 'About A Girl'. Despite this, the Sugababes have racked up over twelve years of hits, and so we can expect that G-A-Y and themselves will have a few nostalgic treats up their sleeves for the pop-hungry crowd. With both these acts brought together by the bar giants at the UK's biggest Pride festival - let alone with a sponsor's arena as huge as Gaydar - expect nothing but fireworks this 'Big Weekend'.

Owner of G-A-Y, Jeremy Joseph, said: "G-A-Y are excited to have expanded to Manchester, and what a better time to celebrate our arrival than hosting a slot over Manchester Pride's 'Big Weekend'? The Sugababes and Alexandra Burke are two of the biggest names in pop music and we know that together we will throw a party that Pride goers will never forget!"

Jackie Crozier, festival director of Manchester Pride said: "Manchester Pride is ecstatic to welcome G-A-Y into both our festival and the North West in general. To commemorate their arrival it is perfect timing that they feature as a key part of our 'Big Weekend'. To make it even bigger, they will both be performing on our fantastic sponsor Gaydar's Main Arena, which are also proud to be hosting. Alexandra Burke and The Sugababes are two of the biggest names in the UK pop industry - it will undoubtedly be a very special night for all!"

Manchester Pride's 'Big Weekend' takes place from Friday 26 - Monday 29 August, and tickets are now on sale. For more information please visit: www.manchesterpride.com

Follow Manchester Pride on Twitter @manchesterpride

Looking at the current top ten on itunes would make anyone feel depressed about the current music scene... JLS ripping off Calvin Harris [again!], Cher Lloyd [no comment needed] and countless music producers featuring other people who either can't spell or are trying too hard to be cool with the kids [where dem gurlz at?!?!] . But of you look outide of the charts there are quite a few great tracks that have had me singing and dancing like the big queen I am!

Here are five sings that I would highly recommend this Summer:

Sunrise Avenue - Hollywood Hills

Sunrise Avenue are a Finnish rock band who are big in Germany and that's pretty much all I know about them other than them being played a lot on "Co-op Radio". Hollywood Hills though is as catchy as hell and a proper feel good track

Caro Emerald - A Night Light This

Her album "Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor" has done really well in the UK Top Ten and this is the lead single from it. Again, Caro is big on the continent at the moment and this song makes a nice alternative to all the "club bangers" and processed vocals all over the radio at the moment

Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks

This band are one to watch. Pumped Up Kicks is their debut single and its currently all over the alternative radio stations both here and the USA. Its also being used in an advertisment for something or other at the moment [I don't pay mush attention to ad breaks!].

A catchy tune with some 90s style indie vocals is also helped out by the fact that all the band members are rather good looking

Aloe Blac - Loving You Is Killing Me

I think everyone knows " I Need A Dollar" but I think Aloe's follow up single is even better.

Birdy - Shelter

Ok, this song isn't exactly "feel good" but I think this is an execptional perfomance from someone who has a very bright future. Its hard to believe this girl is not only and accomplished pianist but is still only 15 years old!

So they are five of my favourite songs this Summer, any tracks that you would recommend with these? My August 2011 ipod playlist is a work in progress

Amy Winehouse died this weekend. Her fans, myself included, are moarning her passing. At the same time though many other are rushing to social networking sites to condemn her as "just a junkie" and even said the world would be "better off without her"

I'm really shocked by these comments, maybe I'm being naive but shouldn't we at least respect the friends and family of someone who hasn't even been dead 24 hours?

What I'm also finding hard to compute are the people saying that her death isn't as important as those that have died in Norway. A death is a death in my opinion and on the whole they are all tragic, no matter how they happen.

I know death is a senstive subject and people react in different ways to it, but I'm still shocked.

So here we are at the end of the line. Seven books have been made into eight films. Some of the films have been good [Goblet of Fire], some of the films have been bad [Order of The Pheonix] and the rest have been rather boring...

I've never been a massive fan of the Harry Potter films, I appreciate why people like them but for some reason I just couldn't connect. Due to other people, somehow I have seen all eight in the cinema.

I never though I'd admit to this, but Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Pt 2 is actually rather good. I absolutely hated part one, I found it long..... very long. The second one however zips along and quite a nice pace. Don't ask me what happened though, I hadn't got a clue what was going on but it was all very well made.

People have told me though that this was a pretty good adaption of the final book, I'll take their word for it!