Manchester prepares to mourn the loss of Roadhouse, the sweaty, sticky and slightly grotty club that we wouldn’t have had any other way… Well, we might have been alright with slightly expanded female toilets. Alas, as it heads to the big clubnight in the sky or is transformed into some sort of aimless cocktail lounge, there’s a final chance to say an appropriate goodbye this weekend with house trail blazer DJ Sprinkles, whole elsewhere in town, The Streets’ Mike Skinner holds fort for Murkage, Marco Carola does what he does best (Read: Techno), and cult duo The Glimmers pop back to Manchester with a bag of tricks.
High Hoops - Roadhouse, Newton Street, Friday
As we’ve been rabbiting for months, the end is nigh for Roadhouse. Fortunately, there’s just time for an installment of High Hoops and what’s bound to be a very memorable three hour set from DJ Sprinkles. Terre Theamlitz has a formidable reputation as a DJ, label owner, public speaker and cultural theorist, whose widely acclaimed work and theory draws on house music’s diverse underground heritage as an outsider’s artform. For all her high minded pursuits, Sprinkles is above all else, a fantastic DJ, with a feverish cult following across the spectrum of clubbers. Ensure you’re down early for this one.
Murkage and Mike Skinner present ‘Tonga’ - Gorilla, Whitworth Street, Friday
Speaking for a very different world and set than DJ Sprinkles at the other side of town, The Streets’ founder, writer and lead man Mike Skinner still keeps up a busy DJ schedule, not afraid to go in hard with current bass bangers, the classic UKG he’s best associated with, and a few classic Streets edits. Joining him on an off the mic are the Murkage crew - Murkage Dave, Klepto, Gaika and more - and a so far unannounced special guest.
Hairbrain - Joshua Brooks, Princess Street, Saturday
Hairbrain is only an occasional endeavour in Manchester these days, but it’s usually synonymous with adventurous eclecticism, as reflected in previous bookings such as Optimo. They’re back tonight with The Glimmers, who haven’t been seen in Manchester for a number of years, and offer a very welcome return with the Belgian duo who made waves back in the day as as more leftfield Soulwax, jamming disco together with techno, psych, punk and electro with wild abandon.
Circus and Kaluki - The Albert Hall, Peter Street, Saturday
Two of the North’s biggest clubbing brands join forces for another suitably epic evening in the surroundings of the increasingly popular Albert Hall. Italian don Marco Carola has been at it for decades, and still packs them in with his blend of dark, brooding techno and tetchy house, while Circus Recordings boss Yousef will be on hand to take things in a lighter, if no less driving direction. Nathan Barato, Pirate Copy and Pete Zorba complete the overall bill.