It's that special time of year when you can dress up like a zombie and go out at the start of the night looking like you normally do when you're getting home at 3am - staggering, covered in mess and feeling like the walking dead. Halloween is upon us, and to get you started this week, we've collected some very ghoulish events and haunted sites to scare the wits out of you. Not feeling the day of the pumpkin? There's plenty of other good stuff going on across town too.
Things to do
Halloween, various venues, admission price = YOUR SOUL
From a marauding zombie attack to the ghosts of cleaning ladies in loos and club nights that'll send a shiver down the spine, our recommendations should keep lovers of the macabre happy. Or frightened. Or both.
Galleries
Revolution in the Bedroom, Gallery Oldham, until Sat Nov 1, Free
Last chance to see this exploration of gaming, concentrating on the decade from 1979 to 1989. We've come a long way since 'Tennis For Two'.
Theatres
Stomp, The Lowry, Tue Oct 28 - Sat Nov 1, £18-£31
Gone are the days when banging a load of bin lids would result in angry neighbours calling the coppers. Now you can pay to see it on stage! Amazing percussion using household objects and some brilliant street dance makes this a welcome return to Salford.
Music and Nightlife
M.A.D. The Roadhouse, Mon Oct 27, £19.50
Start the week with a bit of indie pop over at Roadhouse. You'd be M.A.D. to miss it.
Belle and Sebastian, Manchester Cathedral, Tue Oct 28, £28
Aahhh. How can you not smile at the thought of the Glaswegian lovelies in such heavenly surroundings?
Ben Watt Trio, Ruby Lounge, Tue Oct 28, £15
Ben's first solo album in over thirty years sees him joining forces with Martin Ditcham (Talk Talk, Waterboys) and Bernard Butler (Suede). Talking of whom, surely it's time for some more 'McAlmont and Butler'!
Soul:ution, Band on the Wall, Fri Oct 31, £10
If deep drum'n'bass is more your thing, get some courtesy of Doc Scott, a revered DJ/producer who has been busting up Manchester's dancefloors since his days playing for Guidance and Bugged Out!, plus Soul:ution residents, Marcus Intalex, Band and MC DRS.
Mr Scruff, Band on the Wall, Sat Nov 1, £12
Continuing to keep it unreal, the man behind many a great night out and a good brew to boot plays his usual mix of genre-busting tunes.
BBC Philharmonic, Bridgewater Hall, Fri Oct 31, £10-£35
Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto with Nobuyuki Tsujii on piano.
Hallé Pops - The Ella Fitzgerald Songbook, Bridgewater Hall, Sat Nov 1, £17-£39
Clare Teal takes on the task of singing the songs of Ella with backing courtesy of a little band called the Hallé Orchestra! Given that she commanded the biggest ever recording contract for a British jazz singer, Teal should be more than able to raise the roof.
Lamb, Albert Hall, Sat Nov 1, £22.50
A new album, 'Backspace Unwind', sees the Manchester duo of Lou Rhodes and Andy Barlow return to live performance. Their live show at Manchester Cathedral a few years back was a stunner so Albert Hall should be the perfect venue for their acclaimed mix of trip-hop, folk and jazz.
See more Music & Nightlife here.
Comedy
Dawn French, Palace Theatre, Tue Oct 28, £38.90-£88.40
Despite years as comedy royalty, this is Dawn French's first ever solo tour. And at nearly £90 for a top price ticket, she might well be able to buy herself a crown after this. She's back at The Lowry for two dates in December if you can't make this.
Rob Newman, The Lowry, Wed 29 & Thu Oct 30, £15.50
Rob's 'New Theory of Evolution' show marks a welcome return. It's his first full stage show for seven years. Let's hope we don't have to wait so long for the next one.
Film
Horns
Daniel Radcliffe continues to impress with his eclectic post Harry Potter choices and this is no exception. Directed by Alexandre Aja who made 'The Hills Have Eyes' remake and 'Piranha 3D', this story of a young man who literally grows Devil-like horns is a far cry from Radcliffe's most famous role.
Nightcrawler
Ecstatic reviews have greeted both the film and Jake Gyllenhall's startling performance (and startling look) in this dark fable about a man taken over by the underground world of freelance crime journalism in LA.
Mr Turner
You just can't pin Mike Leigh down with easy categories. His first film for four years ('Another Year' was back in 2010), sees him delve into the visually splendid world of one of our greatest painters, J.M.W. Turner. Leigh regular Timothy Spall lives the role, whilst Leigh shows an unexpectedly remarkable eye for beauty.
For all of your cinema-going needs, go to Film.