No idea why Beetham Tower suddenly becomes a flock of birds, but watch it anyway. Vex3d are the creators.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmJnEXLPkS0]

[Hat-tip: Manchester-clubbing]

LetsGoGlobal, the internet tv channel based in Old Trafford, put together this short video of last month’s launch event for the Manchester International Festival at Bridgewater Hall. It’s the only YouTube clip if you search for ‘Manchester International Festival’, though I’m sure that’ll change over the coming months.

As a side point, I’m interested to hear what you think or want to know about this new festival. Someone pointed out in a comment that MIF works out as costing each Manchester household £11.90. Given the £30+ ticket price for the major events, do you think you’re getting good value for money?

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ1Tf0AziiM]

I’ve been meaning to post an update about the BBC Manchester Blog since finding this post, which calls it ‘a sustainable project’. But, as often happens, the internet has overtaken me and Robin Hamman and Richard Fair have now saved me the effort.

I’ve included the middle of three videos here, because it is the most explanatory, but you can check out the other two videos for more information. They talk about the Manchizzle in detail, while Spinneyhead and The43 get brief mentions too.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTbku-L5j3w]

[Hat-tip to Craig McGinty]

Some of you may remember that back in January 500-1000 people gathered at a disused car showroom in Belle Vue, East Manchester, for a rave. Ugly scenes followed, as police arrived in numbers: a paramedic’s car to pelted with bricks and a man was bitten by a police dog.

Here’s a documentary about that night, and here’s an accompanying video about the protest at Urbis that followed in early February.