Skepta's massive but ultra-secretive MIF19 future-rave DYSTOPIA987, external is back tonight for its final show, and although the whole point is to keep things under wraps (no phones allowed!) you can have a little taste of the madness right now with your smartphone.

This crazy AR posters are dotted around the city centre right now, and with any smartphone and a web browser you can bring them magically to life and peer into the void - but remember, peer into the void and the void peers into you...

Don't fancy braving the rain to find one? Alright fine, have a peek on us:

DYSTOPIA987, external is tonight at a secret location, and it's completely sold out - if your name's not on the list, you're not coming in!

Creative technologist and hacker extraordinaire, Sophie Ashcroft has created A Pivotal Device - a clever sculptural response to Atmospheric Memory, external, specifically Babbage's ideas on the quality of sound.

Image source, MIF

We'll let Sophie explain this one:

'A Pivotal Device' is a sculptural response to Rafael Lozano-Hemmer’s Atmospheric Memory, from the interpretation of Babbage's false calculations of the qualities of sound - how waves will continue in perpetuity, I sought to create an object that encapsulated what I interpret to be our over enthusiastic devotion to technological devices and systems.

This is the first iteration of a totem to our broken and difficult relationship with digital technology, rendered digitally to then a mould to be 3D printed and then cast in metal - to mirror the a material quality of weight of luxury digital artefacts.

Image source, MIF

Image source, MIF

We absolutely love this idea, and knowing Sophie's history as a tip-top wrangling of technology, we can't wait to see this one manifest itself in the real world.

Follow Sophie on Twitter, external or Instagram, external for more on this project.

We've covered Tania Bruguera's superb School Of Integration, external project a fair bit on MIF Live over the last few weeks - we attended a wonderful life drawing class, external and had quite the day, but more recently we posted about the mock UK citizenship that's available for participants to try out.

Image source, MIF

This is something we found really interesting: although the precise makeup of the test was created for this exhibition, the questions themselves are accurate and have all been taken from real UK citizenship tests, the kind faced by many of those leading classes in the School Of Integration.

Image source, MIF

Image source, MIF

As you can see, the questions are highly specific, some are quite archaic, and our conclusion from this is that, ironically, the only demographic fully equipped to answer all of these questions is in fact the immigrant who's revised them.

Put another way: if these tests were really tests of citizenship, then it would stand to reason that the overwhelming majority of people would be able to pass. Right? Well...

The results are in.

These are the percentages of people who successfully passed the citizenship test each day we ran the test (for ten days, from the 7th July, to 17th July):

• 21%
• 52%
• 79%
• 77%
• 31%
• 52%
• 68%
• 31%
• 38%
• 35%
• 43%

The average pass rate during the whole test?

47%

Just under half of the people who took the test 'passed' as a UK citizen. About as accurate as flipping a coin. Unless you've revised, of course.

School Of Integration , externalruns until tomorrow at Manchester Art Gallery, external.

As well as being part of our brilliant trio of brand new podcasters, Claire has also created a brilliantly interesting project for the Creative Lab, external in her own right, too - Eli Eli, a brand new audio work with help from fellow CL artist, Hannah Miller of The Moulettes, external. First let's have a listen, and then look into this exciting piece in more detail below:

In Claire's words:

I was part of MIF’s mixed faith Sacred Sounds Choir in 2013 - during that time we learned songs in eighteen different languages, working with with Abida Parveen, external and Sir John Taverner. I want to record everything we shared that summer, this is my first offering.

It is said that 'those who sing, pray twice'. I was told that when people sing in a choir, their hearts beat in unison. The choir made me believe that peace is possible, and taught me that music is feeling. I've sampled heartbeats and bells, and will eventually incorporate that into music I make in the future.

We couldn't add any more if we tried, beautiful work. Follow Claire on Twitter here, external.

Image source, MIF

Describing itself as 'a psychedelic audiovisual experience',Songs of the Lost, external has been created for us award-winning Canadian games designer Paloma Dawkins.

And having given it a go ourselves, we're completely obsessed with the ludicrously strange and beautiful images, the dream-like adventure, and the pulsing, electronic soundtrack created by Jlin. Who, by the way, you can see perform live at this Saturday's Queens Of The Electronic Underground, external. I know, we spoil you.

However, to get back to the point, we appreciate that not all of you are lucky enough to spend the majority of your time in our gorgeous city. So with that in mind, bring a bit of the festival into your own home: download Songs Of The Lost, external absolutely free, and sink into an entirely original, completely bizarre other world.

Image source, MIF

Of course you did! We posted a lengthy review yesterday from Dan's visit to the opening night of Claire Cunningham's opening premiere of Thank You Very Much, external, so let's have a peek at what the press (and you, dear audience), thought of it:

☆☆☆☆ from The Guardian in their lovely review, external:

☆☆☆☆☆ from The Herald, their piece can be read in full here, external:

But what about YOU, dear audience? Well....

Alright then. You know what to do, gang: full info right here, external. Be quick, only two shows left.

The first of today's Creative Lab projects, "11:11" by musician Lehin has responded directly to Skepta's DYSTOPIA987, external - specifically, the relationship between technology and performance, in this instance the fact that Skepta's audiences aren't allowed to take phones in with them. This has been received pretty well by the audience, many of whom noted that they felt more focused, more in tune with the performance. Let's have a look/listen and then hear from from Lehin in more detail about this beautiful audiovisual exploration:

In Lehin's words:

I've created a song that takes on the character of a hypothetical Skepta. In the first verse he is berated by his partner for being too engrossed in his music hustle - Skepta’s audience is berated in the second verse for being engrossed in their mobile phones and filming the experience causing him to be ‘distracted by the camera lights’.

Visually, I've explored attention and played on the title of 11:11 by playing random images for 1 second each. The significance of the number ‘1’ is derived from its status as a binary number in mathematics and digital electronics.

By having the pictures appear for 1 second each, I've replicated the inability to focus and give quality attention when subjected to mass information.

Can hear more from Lehin on Twitter, external or Instagram, external.

One of the coolest things we've had chance to do here at MIF Towers is working with some of the city's up and coming creatives, via a collaboration with Salford University, external.

We'll be posting a lot more about this super gang over the weekend, but we've had students right in the thick of things working on everything from supporting our massive live broadcast teams, through to traversing the city and giving us their insights on shows, events, and even a peek behind the curtain.

Will Jordan is one of the students we sent out on a mission at MIF19, he attended the Utopolis walking tour that ran during the festival: Utopian Manchester: The City of Reality and Dreams, external.

Here's his field report, thanks Will!

Introducing a bold trio of exciting Creative Lab artists, please say hello to Natalie Amber, external, Sophie Ashcroft, external and Claire McNulty, external! As individuals they're already enormously diverse practitioners (music, performance, technology and beyond...). For MIF19 they've come together to create something that none of them have tried before: a proper podcast. They present: Tea and A Slice of Disability.

Image source, MIF

In their words:

We wanted to launch with the biggest taboo that is out there: sex. When it comes to talking openly about sex, as a nation we're still a bit reserved. So throw disability into the mix, everyone runs for the hills! We're quite well versed when it comes to this topic: between Sophie being a sex tech hacker, Clare being a dominatrix (whose MS gets exasperated by vibrators..) and myself - who has to be really inventive when it comes to any of it.

The crew have been working not just on the recording and editing the podcast, but creating social channels and a website too. This is all still coming together, but in the meantime the first episode is available to listen to right now on the link below.

For obvious reasons, this audio contains adult themes and humour:

https://soundcloud.com/teaandasliceofdisability, external

Follow the podcast progress right here on Twitter, external or Instagram, external and look out for more episodes.

As part of the excellent on-going SoundCity project (itself part of Distractions, external), Festival Square plays host to a brilliant array of conversation, poetry, spoken word and music today. The full lineup is quite the list!

Image source, MIF

Highlights later this evening will definitely be Macclesfield troublemakers Grimm Twins, external at 19:50 BST, chased up by experimental rockers Slow Knife, external at 20:25 BST - check out their oddness right here:

We also heartily recommend the late session tonight, RebeccaNeverBecky & Kiss Me Again, external hitting us from 22:00 BST until very late. Not one to miss.

It's a jam-packed schedule, bring a brolly and come join our always-free party in the heart of the city. See you down there.

If we may lower the tone for a moment and quote Europe, external: it's the final countdown. There are only three days remaining in this glorious festival, and luckily for you, dear reader, those three days are packed full of the good stuff. Here's what's coming up:

Image source, MIF

We're approaching the last chance saloon for lots of our free shows: but Parliament of Ghosts, external, the School of Integration, external and David Lynch's exhibition at HOME, external are all open for your perusal today.

Today would also be a great day to check out Atmospheric Memory, external while it's quiet - and hey, did you see Creative Lab artist Sara Green yesterday responding to this artwork? Lovely stuff.

Image source, MIF

It's raining, so if you're more into the old not-going-out today (and hey, that's cool), Paloma Dawkins' excellent Songs Of The Lost, external is available to play on Mac and PC for precisely zero pounds. Paloma and the crew will be talking games at Interdependence, external tomorrow too - join us, or keep an eye on this very site for updates, we'll be there all day.

Finally over here on MIF Live we're going to be bringing you the final excellent crop of Creative Lab, external artists, if you missed any over the last few weeks then don't worry, we'll be posting a full list and retrospective over the weekend.

We'll also be taking a peek at some more interesting unseen bits of the festival (including a look at how everyone fared with the School Of Integration citizenship test, external), and a few surprises.

The day is yours, festival-goers. Seize it!

Thanks for spending the final Thursday of this year's festival with us, team!

We've had Skepta hype, some blistering reviews for Thank You Very Much, some sensational Creative Lab content and we haven't even danced the night away yet - better get on that.

Children of Zeus are taking to the stage in Festival Square as we speak, if you can't make it, here's what you're missing:

Guidance warning: Very strong language and adult themes

And we'll be finishing up with Swing Ting - oh Thursdays, how we'll miss you when you're gone:

Guidance warning: Very strong language and adult themes

Our very final Friday kicks off tomorrow - we'll have more creative responses to the festival, more Skepta reactions, more Animals Of Manchester planning and the final death-throes of Dan's 18 Extraordinary Plates, external. Do not miss a thing.

As we head into the final four days of the festival, we thought we'd give you a round-up of what's still on offer for you lucky devils. We still have shows just kicking off (to rave reviews, might we add) and we still have an entire weekend of animal-based madness ahead of us.

So we aint done yet Manchester! Don't even THINK about going to get your coat, this party is still in full swing.

Skepta presents DYSTOPIA987, external

Audiences are already buzzing about grime legend Skepta's super secret, game-changing show, external - we'd love to tell you more, but the entire MIF Office is under lock-down. Which is code for: no-one's told us either.

The Nico Project, external

Shedding light on the infamous mystery that was Nico - singer with The Velvet Underground, Maxine Peake and Sarah Frankcom have already received amazing reviews , externalfor The Nico Project, external. Exploring music, inspiration, and the frustrations of being a woman in a man's game, it's haunting, strange and magical.

Tao Of Glass, external

How do you make work with your idol? Where do ideas come from, and how do we chase inspiration? The critics have gone mad for Phelim McDermott's gorgeous Tao Of Glass, external (did someone say five stars from The Guardian?, external), and with absorbing visuals, a beautiful soundtrack by Phillip Glass himself and boundless emotion, it's not hard to see why.

Thank You Very Much, external

Thank You Very Much, external has only been open for one night, but already live team member Dan cannot stop talking about it, external. Moving, funny, open-hearted and profoundly important, it's a totally original look at what it means to have a disabled body in an able-bodied world. With capes. Capes, guys.

Animals Of Manchester, external

Image source, MIF

We know it's only been a few weeks, but it feels like we've been waiting for Animals Of Manchester, external all our lives. Taking over the Whitworth Gardens and the Whitworth Gallery, we present a whole load of animal-centred installations, from a beastly beauty parlour to a beetle film studio, celebrating our on-going love for our furry friends. Read on for all the exhibitions , external(sharks are involved, we're delighted to confirm), and get on down this weekend - every element is totally free.

Still looking for more? You can check out the full listings for the remainder of the festival right here., external

Let's take a look back to Interdependence, external last Saturday at the legendary Albert Hall, where filmmakers Jade Jackson, external and Akinola Davies, external took part in one of the most interesting sessions of the day: How has surrealism been used to unpack the minority experience? (Introduced by Gal Dem founder Liv Little, external)

The final Interdependence session, Life Hacked, is this Saturday at HOME MCR, external. More info on it here, external, get involved.

We were lucky enough to grab a spot in the packed opening show of Claire Cunningham's MIF19 commission: the world premiere of Thank You Very Much, external, staged in the unique setting of the Ukrainian Cultural Centre.

Dan went along to see the whole thing, and after a richly-deserved standing ovation at the end of the show, he managed to get some gloriously over-excited thoughts down. Read on...

Image source, Hugo Glendinning for MIF

Like the rest of the audience, I'd built my expectations of Thank You Very Much around what I'd read and seen online - and on walking into the slightly weird (but perfectly chosen) setting of the Ukrainian Cultural Centre I thought I knew what I was about to see. I thought the show would be a noisy, kitschy production looking at a famous performer through the lens of a spectrum of tribute acts, loads of music and singing, glitter everywhere, all that stuff.

What I didn't expect was for Thank You Very Much to punch me in the gut quite as hard, or stay with me so clearly afterwards. Turns out, I was wrong about almost all of it. In the context of wanting to be properly challenged and surprised by the commissions at MIF19, this is absolutely a good thing.

Image source, Hugo Glendinning for MIF

It turns out that Thank You Very Much isn't about the famous musician, and although the tribute artists are used as a clever and often hilarious narrative hook, at its core the show isn't really about them either. I quickly realised that this show is about... movement. It's about visibility, perception, transformation and physicality. The show looks directly at these things through what seems like the unconventional lens of the tribute artist, to get under the skin of four lived experiences that weave through the whole thing.

We see this from the outset. Cunningham herself is one of the four performers that make up the show, and when opening the performance with a (brilliant) monologue she balances herself precariously against her crutches, her movements exaggeratedly off-balance, but: occasionally throwing into a glimpse of a recognisable pose more associated with the artist so many pay tribute to. Arm raised, crotch thrust - you know the one. Just for an instant. It created a quiet, firm, and genuinely funny link between the implied subject and the real subject of the show. From that single opening visual metaphor, everything else began to make sense.

Image source, Hugo Glendinning for MIF

The show is structured around each of the four performers in turn picking through their experiences working with different tribute artists, weaving what I assume are genuine recordings into live monologues, movement sketches and dance ("my name's Des. Stage name: Elvis Desley").

The narrative is punctuated with just the right amount of audience participation - the stage almost fills completely at one point with dozens of people trying out instructions for learning how to use a prosthetic leg (lift, swing, and step!). Similarly, microphones are held near the moving performers by volunteers, when crutches and wheelchairs don't allow a free hand - itself a clever comment.

The performance slowly unfurls into increasingly unflinching commentary on not just disability, but perceptions, presented through the tribute artist assuming a new form, even for a night. Soundbites and fragments from interviews come back around, gaining new layers of meaning as our understanding increases.

Image source, MIF

What struck me most was the subtlety of whole thing. I went in expecting brash noise and singalongs, but we got was something much more introspective, more considered, with much more variance. Loud, quiet, loud, indeed. The brilliant ending of the show is something I don't want to spoil, but the final act is something that you know is coming, by way of the actors slowly donning increasingly elaborate costumes - the slow transformation becoming an act that in itself acts as another layer of meaning on top of the performance.

As you can probably tell, Thank You Very Much caught me entirely off guard, and I couldn't be happier about that fact. Make time to go and see this unconventional (but fully intentionally) off-kilter performance while you still can - full info can be found here, external.

This weekend sees an installation like no other take over the Whitworth park and surrounding galleries - Animals Of Manchester (Including Humanz), external is a joyful, glorious and family orientated two day spectacular, celebrating our relationships with the creatures all around us.

First of all, take a look at the official map. Mouse Palace, anyone?

Image source, MIF

Kids, big kids and furry companions alike are invited to follow a trail through Whitworth Park and the Whitworth’s galleries, seeing the world from the perspective of our animal friends.

Every exhibition is absolutely free, and you can pledge allegiance to other species, having family portraits with other creatures and go visit a film studio for beetles. BEETLES!

Take a look at all the exhibitions on offer right here, external - they're all brilliant, but our first prize has to go to 'The Way of the Shark (for small Humanz who want to be bitten by sharks)'.

No booking required, just get yourself to the Whitworth this weekend, external, and get stuck in.

You might know her as FBI agent Tammy Preston in the most recent outing of Twin Peaks, or you might know her from her 20 year music collaboration with David Lynch himself - either way, after watching her HOME set, you certainly won't forget the ethereal, haunting creature that is Chrysta Bell.

Performing as part of our David Lynch Presents series, external, we were totally blown away by her hypnotising performance. Model, actor, musician, muse, potential alien. We're all in for Chrysta Bell.

The second episode of MIF's ongoing podcast series, MIF Originals, external, has been released today. This time we take a close look at Phelim McDermott in the lead-up to working with the legendary Phillip Glass, by asking one simple question: what would you ask your hero?

Image source, MIF

Phelim McDermott, director and co-founder of Improbable Theatre, is making a stage show with Philip Glass – his long-term hero and creative inspiration. After years of following Glass from afar Phelim now has the chance to meet him, and to ask whatever he wants. The only problem is that Phelim has no idea what to ask.

In search of the perfect question, Phelim explores his dreams, dredges up memories and speaks to those who know him best, going to the very core of where ideas come from.

Including contributions from Matilda McDermott, Ridley McDermott and co-director Kirsty Housley.

The full episode is available to listen to for free right now via all major podcast hosts, or head to the MIF website, external for more info and both episodes.

Last night saw the opening of Skepta's ambitious but intensely secretive futuristic rave - DYSTOPIA987, external. This project is enormous in scope and size but has been kept tightly under wraps, right down to its very location. During the show, phones aren't allowed (they're locked away securely), meaning that every impression that came out of the show was after the audience emerged from the rave.

ADVANCE WARNING: some audience members have definitely been tweeting spoilers on the rave location and content. Of course we've left spoilers out on this post, but if you're searching on social media and don't want to ruin it for yourself, tread carefully...

Here's an idea of what people are saying:

And let's take a moment to enjoy the hands-down tweet of the day, possibly the whole festival:

The first of today's Creative Lab projects is SUPERPOSITION, by movement director and choreographer Sara Green. Responding to the core themes within Atmospheric Memory, external, Sara worked in collaboration with fellow Creative Lab artist Michael-Jon Mizra and a team of amazing dancers to re-inhabit and reconfigure a festival space into an entirely new work.

Fuller explanation below, but first take a moment to check out the video. Headphones and 1080p strongly recommended for this one.

Sara writes:

Inspired by Atmospheric Memory’s suggestion that empty space is a ‘vast library’, pregnant with the history of itself, choreographer Sara Green and composer Michael Jon Mizra dip their toes into the field of spacetime to work from the consideration of how a single present moment cannot, in essence, be singular. Rather that if a physical system can be in one of many configurations, then the most general state is a combination of these possibilities.Working poetically from Quantum Superposition theory, this work is a sketch exploration of the peculiar relationships that exist between states, when reality collapses into one ‘this’ - a present moment.

Choreography: Sara Green

Soundscore: Michael Jon Mizra

Camera: Ben Ogunbiyi

Edit & Grade: Reeta Varpama

Dancers: Orion Hart, Daniel Longhurst, Leo Meredith, Marina Stoimenova, Tom Halls, Holly Phelps

With thanks to: Chim Pom, Zoe Roberts, Punam Ramchurn, Dan Hett, MIF

Find out more about Sara here, external.