With summer approaching, Parklife traditionally signals the student send off for the season, with a mass exodus to Croatia, Ibiza, Berlin and beyond on the cards for the city’s devotees. The festival, which plays host to just about everyone, is now sold out, but The Warehouse Project are hosting an eclectic mix of after parties on June 6th and 7th for those not too exhausted by the day’s events, or those without a ticket (or just after a solid night out).
The Saturday sees tongue-in-cheek techno maestro Tiga visit Sankeys courtesy of Drop The Mustard, where he’ll continue to balance the books between crowd pleasing bangers and surprisingly deep cuts. Radio 1’s rising star B Traits is on hand to nail another versatile set, along with Catz N’ Dogz and a whole bunch of local residents including Sian Benett. Meanwhile, UK deep house crossover success Ben Pearce headlines Lightboxx at The Ritz, techno titan Trevino descends into Soup Kitchen, and a massive coup as Ape & Metropolis party into the wee small hours with Wu Tang Clan at Sound Control.
Sunday’s biggest event is undoubtedly Jamie Jones and pals including Richy Ahmed and Patrick Topping descending on Albert Hall for an end of weekend party bound to appeal to both the remaining fist pumpers and the enthusiastic shufflers, and another thus far unannounced techno extravaganza, this time at The Ritz. Elsewhere, student friendly house dominates, with the likes of Maribou State and Blonde popping up at South and Antwerp Mansion respectively, with Hit and Run providing heavier business at Mint Lounge with Icicle and Skittles, Chimpo and more.
There’s much great music on the horizon at Soup Kitchen the following weekend, with Berghain favourite Norman Nodge providing (Ostgut) tonnes of fun on Friday 12th, arriving with a bag of some of the most wonderfully punishing techno available, while on the following evening (13th), former blogger, archivist and collector Awesome Tapes from Africa revisits the venue courtesy of Banana Hill, armed with, well, his awesome tapes… from Africa.
On Friday 19th, Selective Hearing return for another secretive warehouse party, with a much anticipated fully live set from analogue experimental masters Juju and Jordash (who some of you may know better as ⅔ of Move D’s ‘Magic Mountain High’), and New Jersey’s uncompromising DJ Qu. On the same evening, Third Eye celebrate their third birthday at Gorilla with the increasingly prolific Ejeca heading up the party, and Lost Control take control of Whiskey Jar with Swedish experimentalist, Luke Eargoggle.
The final weekend of June seems to find half of the city’s population at Glastonbury, not to mention most of the UK’s DJs, but the increasingly reliable High Hoops gang are also hosting a ten hour solstice party over at Islington Mill. Absolutely boss Detroit resident and Manchester enthusiast Marcellus Pittman headlines, joined by a live set from Wbeeza and a selection of outstanding local residents including Joy Social, Jack McKeith and representing Eastern Bloc, Meansand3rd and Kerrie.
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