Wordpress. It’s my all-singing, all-dancing blogging platform of choice. If you’re a geek you can set up your own souped-up blog, as per Mancubist, or alternatively they can host one for you at Wordpress.com – try it out.

A week today (Wednesday 16 January, 5.30pm until 7.30pm) the MDDA on Portland Street hosts the first Manchester Wordpress User Group meeting. It’ll cover designing for Wordpress and security issues, it’s free and refreshments will be provided. For more information email MDDA’s Alan Holding or phone 0161 224 8211.

Elsewhere, Vice (a free, often controversial international magazine available in Vinyl Exchange and other places) will be bringing three trendy new bands to town on Thursday 31 January.

Jacksonville’s Black Kids, plus Metronomy and Ipso Facto (both from London, naturally) will be playing at Mint Lounge on Oldham Street – and, best of all, it’s free. All you need to do is sign up on the Vice Live website. If you’re attending and use Last.fm, visit the event page here.

Still on the events front, Showclix.com now lists over 100 upcoming gigs in Manchester – though I still much prefer Last.fm’s Manchester gig calendar – and Skiddle.com lists more general Manchester events. I’m trying a feed from the latter on Mancubist’s sidebar.

Finally, I hear next Saturday’s blogging workshop – also at MDDA – is now fully booked up!