So here it is, your final chance to grab a slice of Bank Holiday weekend action until August. Why are their two in May? Why not divide them out? Anyway, before you have to head back down the mine, here's what you can be recovering form on your theoretical big day off! Unless of course you work in retail. Or, hospitality. Or, leisure. Or most places. Nonetheless, good luck!
Dub Smugglers - Antwerp Mansion, Rusholme, Friday
With one last event before the summer break (and a mass exodus to Croatia no doubt), Dub Smugglers return to Antwerp Mansion with a shameless blow out of a party featuring a typically stacked lineup. The Dub Smugglers themselves will be joined by El Fata, Kuntri Ranks, Count Skylarkin and other, colourfully named compadres, where as Room 2 is dominated solely by the Mendez Mashups crew. Finely tuned to the right side of ear splitting, Dub Smugglers themselves provide the volume and associated wobble.
Zutekh vs T Pot - South, South Street, Sunday
Zutekh’s regular Bank Holiday soirees, partially in the intimate courtyard and garden of South, have become a pretty legendary way to extend into a lazy Monday, focusing on the best in house and techno. This edition is headlined by one of house music’s true legends, Point G, currently enjoying a victory lap with a round of reinvigorated new productions and an increasingly popular and dynamic live set. He’s joined by Varoslav, the head of cult Parisian label Rue De Plaisance, as well as on-point local talent in the form of Tom Craven and Zutekh’s experienced residents.
Bohemian Grove - The Roadhouse, Newton Street, Sunday
Also offering up a slab of house and techno, albeit in much grittier, weirder form is Bohemian Grove, departing from their usual Islington Mill residency to occupy one of the final nights down in Roadhouse. It’s a suitably dark and understated atmosphere for their headliner, Beau Wanzer, a veteran of the US no wave and techno scenes, and one of the most sought after artists on acclaimed labels such as LIES and Nation. Offering a blistering, all analogue live set in anticipation of his debut album, Wanzer proves takes no prisoners and proves himself as a exciting to gear nerds as wide eyed ravers. The rest of Bohemian Grove’s extended, esoteric family will be providing further tough stuff and a few classics behind the decks. It’s a Bank Holiday after all.
MVSON - Secret Warehouse, Sunday
Offering a somewhat lighter touch among all that dub and techno madness, MVSON’s secret Garden Party takes place on the fringe of the city centre in a fashionably yet to be announced location. There’s a host of reliable regular hands on deck(s), with only house and disco don Maxxi Soundsystem officially announced. But the real appeal is in the loose 90s theme, with 90s fashion encouraged for punters and no doubt a few shameless classics, edits and throwbacks from the era working their way out over the thumping Void sound system that MVSN have their hands on.
Love music? See the best upcoming gigs in Manchester.