Paddy Considine headlines Tim Peaks Diner 11-12 July

Actor Paddy Considine will be headlining Tim Burgess’s Tim Peaks Diner at Albert Square Chop House, as part of Greater Manchester Fringe on July 11 and 12, 12noon-1am.

Paddy, star of Dead Man’s Shoes and Pride, will be in conversation with legendary Hacienda DJ Dave Haslam, as well as playing with his band Riding The Low.

Tim Peaks Diner will also feature music from Hot Vestry, The Orioles, Drone, The Everly Pregnant Brothers, Barnabas Rex and Pusher, Les Fleurs DJs and Howling Rhythm DJs – and it is completely FREE!

Private Eye cartoonist Tony Husband will be helping everyone to capture the action with a cartoon workshop at the Albert Chophouse, where he also has exhibition called Let There Be Light, a collaboration with Amanda McCrann of Manchester Mosiacs.

When he’s not singing with The Charlatans, Tim has curated line-ups at Tim Peaks from Kendal Calling to The Isle of Wight Festival where guests have included Suzanne Vega, Edwyn Collins and Roddy Frame.

The idea all started with a Tweet as coffee: “A few people asked about music and gigs but it was the coffee Tweet each morning that would get a big reaction.

“The numbers grew and it became surreally unreally real – each morning there’d be a song, the breakfast banger – from The Fall to Two Fingers to Jim O Rourke – songs that people knew, songs that they didn’t.

“It was kind of like an inverse version of The Emperor’s New Clothes – nobody pointed out there was no actual caffeine and nobody burst the bubble. It was metaphysical and metaphorical and it was a daily routine.”

So Tim Peaks was born, with merchandise, shows on BBC6 Music and live music. It also raises money for the David Lynch Foundation, a charity founded by the creator, writer and director of Twin Peaks.

Tim Peaks Fairtrade Coffee has had rave reviews from superstar DJ Erol Alkan, crime writer Ian Rankin, BBC 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne, Sunday Brunch’s Tim Lovejoy, footballer Gary Neville and Coronation Street’s Antony Cotton.

GMFringe director Lisa Connor said: “Tim Peaks will be open at the same time as the Manchester International Festival. It will complement the festival village in Albert Square, as well as offering a real alternative.

“Most of our shows cost less than £10 and some, like this one, are FREE. Tickets for our shows are available in advance but if you haven’t booked, there are many events that you will be able to pay on the door.”

BBC Radio 4’s Infinite Monkey Cage star Robin Ince (July 1 and 2 at the King’s Arms in Salford) and BBC’s Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ Phill Jupitus as Porky The Poet (July 6 at the King’s Arms) are already close to selling out.

Manchester legend Terry Christian presents his debut stand-up show Naked Confessions of a Recovering Catholic on Sunday 26 July at The Dancehouse.

Mancunian Rhapsody, on July 1 and 2 at Three Minute Theatre (3MT) and 29 and 30 at Whitefield Garrick, is a comedy about a Mancunian Jewish woman, Rivki Pashinsky, with a guilty pleasure for Freddie Mercury music.

Back Seat Betty, by Joshua Val Martin, is a comedy drama about a Wythenshawe prostitute, starring Jo Dakin at Joshua Brooks, 1-3 July.

Hat Hair Productions presents Under Manc Wood (7, 8 and 13 July at the King’s Arms), a contemporary take on Dylan Thomas’ classic play Under Milk Wood. Imagine Dylan as a Mancunian writing about today’s Manchester.

Critically-acclaimed playwright Colin Connor presents his new play Mr Smith, the tale of a Morrissey superfan. The play will be staged on July 9 and 10 at the King’s Arms, just a couple of miles from Salford Lads Club, where the classic Queen Is Dead album cover was shot. Smiths fans warmly welcomed this when were given a taster at a convention last year.

Steve Sullivan gives a sneak preview of his documentary on Chris Sievy and Frank Sidebottom in Being Frank: Work in Progress at Salford Arts Theatre on Saturday 18 July. Guest interviews include John Cooper Clarke and Johnny Vegas.

Jarreau Benjamin, who played the title role in Colin’s hit play Len Johnson Fighter, is starring in new play The Stars Are Made of Concrete (July 26 and 27 at the King’s Arms), written by Michelle Ashton of Messy Dress Productions.

Una Baines, one of the founding members of The Fall will be appearing with her new act Poppycock at the King’s Arms on Saturday 4 July as part of Independents Day, three hours of live acoustic music. Also appearing are Turner (of Detour records), Jason Edge (of The Electric Stars), Death To The Strange, Luke Gallagher, Richie Syrett, Paul Conium, Rob Coleman, Troy Fridge and The Speed Of Sound.

Now in its fourth year, Greater Manchester Fringe is an umbrella organization run by directors Lisa, Zena Barrie (King’s Arms and Camden Festival) and Iain Scott (Canal Street Mancs) throughout July, encouraging new talent at venues in Manchester, Salford, Tameside and Saddleworth.

New venues include the Guide Bridge Theatre in Audenshaw, Moston Small Cinema, Moston Miners Community Arts and Music Centre, Salford Arts Theatre, The Edge and Font Bar in Chorlton, The Seven Oaks, Z-arts in Hulme, Whitefield Garrick, Allotment Bar and Ziferblat in Northern Quarter.

GMF patrons are writer Tim Firth (Calendar Girls); actress Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street and Dinner Ladies); comedian Justin Moorhouse (Phoenix Nights) and actor Arthur Bostrom (Allo Allo).

The Fringe is sponsored by Crabbie’s ginger beer, Studio Salford and Salford City Council.

A full programme and tickets are available via www.greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk