With an extra night of partying potential to savour this Bank Holiday Weekend, it’s a particularly bumper weekend of clubbing within the berms of Manchester, with parties taking place in otherwise deserted mansions and gnarly warehouses among the usual spaces. Expect underground techno, banging grime, dreamy disco and proper house among the picks. See you on the other side…
Meat Free - Secret Warehouse, Friday
Ticket holders will be informed as to the whereabouts of this secret warehouse on the evening of the event itself, so all eyes on your phones. Upon arrival, the Meat Free lot will be warming up the space for the debut Manchester live set of Xosar, an enigmatic producer associated with labels such as LIES and Rush Hour, and whose psychedelic brand of woozy techno is known to overwhelm both the mind and feet. Also working the VOID soundsystem shipped in for the occasion are Rikki Humphrey and Mr. Redley.
BPM - The Roadhouse, Newton Street, Friday
Specialising in heavy bass, grime, garage and dubstep, BPM has established a solid home and fanbase at The Roadhouse over the past few years. And so, what a shame that the venue reaches it’s end just next month, with this being BPM’s final run at the venue. The full lineup will be announced on the night, but at least one very special guest is promised, and given the occasion, we can only imagine that both regular DJs and punters will be clamouring at the walls to get in on the action.
Homoelectric - Antwerp Mansion, Rusholme, Saturday
Homo’s grotty, gritty reign continues unabated this weekend, delivering another dollop of unhinged disco madness on an unsuspecting Rusholme. This month’s guests include the pioneering Maurice Fulton, master of a triple threat of detroit electro, boogie and disco, and whose new LP under his Boof alias is perhaps one of the year’s best electronic treats thus far. He’s joined by disco sleazoid’s and edit masters, In Flagranti, plus the usual pile up of Will Tramp and Chris Massey, split over two floors of madness.
HIKU - 1 Primrose Street, Primrose Street, Saturday
HIKU continue to make fine bookings on dance music’s eclectic fringes, and this time round it’s the return of Beautiful Swimmers. Already cult figures in Manchester thanks to a series of stonking parties with the Wet Play lot a few years back, Beautiful Swimmers hail from Boston’s surprisingly fruitful rave scene, and as well as being incredible producers in their own right, are best known as masterful, all vinyl selectors. Expect a full breadth of disco, house, proto-techno and the odd unexpected twist.
James Zabiela - Gorilla, Whitworth Street, Sunday
Something of a technical Jedi behind the decks, as well as having great, open minded taste in house and techno, Zabiela attracts a cult following of gear heads and music lovers in equal measure. His Born Electric label remains one of the best respected around, having previously released music by the likes of Hot Chip, Scuba and Midland, and Zabiela will be revealing the best of what’s been hitting his ears for promoters, Estate, this Bank Holiday at Gorilla. Support is courtesy of A Lister, Corbo and Oniz.