Manchester England England

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 5/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Music definitely comes first at the U.K.'s inaugural Manchester International Festival—with Smokey Robinson, Kanye West, PJ Harvey, and the Happy Mondays performing in spots throughout the city. But design isn't entirely forgotten. The festival's main venue, Stephenson Bell's futuristic temporary pavilion, provides seating for 500. Events also take place at Bridgewater Hall—Renton Howard Wood Levin's decade-old limestone, steel, and glass design—and Archibald Leitch's Old Trafford Stadium, better known as home to the Manchester United soccer team. June 28–July 15; 44-161-238-7300; manchesterinternationalfestival.com.