Balmy Army brings the future of mental health into the present with an evening sharing of art, activism and mutual care. Get ready to meet the next generation of disabled artists/activists.

Expect Freudian mad drag, trauma-informed and ‘northern dad’ karaoke, DSM 5 ASMR, tinfoil hat films that are actually true, a launch for our Asylum Magazine edition and the hustings for the first ever audhd trans mentally unstable person to run for Mayor of Manchester – all washed down with homemade oreo ice creams and Jack’s human bubble machine.

This cabaret-style evening is presented by and features the work of Balmy Army – a Gen Z IRL madpride group who love being there for each other through their emotional wobbles, messy feelings and sadness about it all.

Overly post-political in a time of crisis, Balmy Army love caring and are over the haters. Join the group at Contact as they march through their feelings in a safe, welcoming and relaxed environment. 

Balmy Army: A Contact Takeover is bonkers in the most beautiful way. What could go wrong? And how could that be any worse than what we already have?

Balmy Army is a movement for youth-led mental health started by artist the vacuum cleaner for MIF23. Now Balmy Army returns to MIF25 with Balmy Army x Balmy Ukraine. Find out more about the project here.