A new club night will launch in Manchester this Friday in the Northern Quarter, specialising in feel-good futuristic house and other eclectic sounds.
Called XXYLO, the new, alternative electronic night will bring something a little different to the city’s nightlife scene, mixing the best in amapiano, UK funky house, garage, world, soulful house, broken beats and liquid drum and bass.
Launched by TRPHSE founders Sham Steele, Kieran, and Jahmel, the new futuristic house night will see Off The Square transformed into a tropical canyon oasis, right in the centre of Manchester’s concrete jungle.
Image: XXYLO
From 11pm until late, revellers can expect some crazy mapped projections visuals alongside a line-up of the most in-demand DJs, including Sham Steele, Rosie Vacci B, DJ Chaise, Jack Bagshaw, and Papu Raf.
The trio are on a mission to diversify the nightlife scene across the UK by creating spaces that showcase emerging sounds, provide a platform for emerging talent and unite communities through an appreciation of experimental music.
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Having lost quite a few venues that always championed these underground sounds in recent years, it’s a welcome addition to the Manchester scene.
As the Brit Awards showed last night, the mainstream music industry in the UK is still heavily dominated by London – despite the fact that many brilliant emerging artists come out of the north, and Manchester in particular.
Our city is known for its music, it birthed a modern clubbing revolution in the UK, and has made a name for itself creating spaces that showcase emerging sounds. The Hacienda, of course, being the most obvious example.
In recent years, however, a number of smaller independent venues have closed – often to be replaced with apartment blocks or shops.
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Legendary Manchester nightclub Sankeys is just one to have fallen victim to property developers, but we can think of many more. Music Box is now a Tesco Metro, Antwerp Mansion a shell of its former self (not that it was ever in great nick to begin with, but at least the lights were still on).
So it’s refreshing to see a new alternative electronic night land on the city’s scene, championing sounds from a varied selection of artists like Kaytranada, Disclosure, Bugs In The Attic, Wookie and more.
Exclusively for XXYLO’s launch, free tickets are up for grabs on Skiddle. These will be valid until 12:30am, any entrants after this will be able to purchase a ticket for £6-£10 on the door if there is capacity.
XXYLO will debut in Manchester on Friday 11 February at Off The Square, 65-67, Lever Street, M1 1FL.
Man who stabbed beloved gran to death sentenced to hospital order
Daisy Jackson
The man who stabbed Michelle Hodgkinson to death in broad daylight in Tameside has been sentenced to a hospital order.
Paul Hughes, 30, was sentenced at Minshull Street Crown Court today after his arrest on 3 June 2023 on suspicion of murder.
He was deemed too mentally unwell to stand trial – at the time of Michelle’s murder he was suffering from a schizophrenic attack at the time of the incident and still is suffering from Schizophrenia.
On 2 June 2023, Hughes brought a four-pack of kitchen knives, boarded a tram to Droylsden and headed to a canal path, where he appeared to be ‘lying in wait’ for someone to walk past him.
Tragically, that person was Michelle Hodgkinson, who walked past on her way to meet her mother.
She was followed, attacked from behind and stabbed multiple times.
The attack was captured on dashcam footage and several witnesses came forward to police with statements.
The court heart this week that despite being unwell, Hughes carefully planned the attack.
Hughes bought a pack of kitchen knives and waited down a canal path before he stabbed a stranger, a 51-year-old woman, on 2 June 2023.
Michelle died at the scene on Edge Lane despite the best efforts of passers-by who tried to give her first aid, and the emergency services.
Detective Chief Inspector Danny Lee of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “Michelle’s death has left a void in her family, and nothing will fix the pain they are feeling. I hope that they can gain some form of closure and justice from the sentence passed today.
“I’d like to thank the members of the public who rushed to Michelle’s side and the first responders, both paramedics and response police officers who also attended the scene to give CPR in an attempt to give her the best possible chance of life.
“It is a moment to recognise, however, the devastation knife crime causes in our communities. Across Greater Manchester, officers and staff are working hard to fight, prevent and reduce this type of crime.
In a previous tribute to Michelle Hodgkinson, her family have said: “Everyone who knows Michelle are still in utter shock at the attack she endured and how horrific her last moments were.
“Our Shelly B was the most amazing, loving, selfless and funny daughter, mother, mother-in-law, sister, auntie and most recently a nanna. It was a privilege to have been known and loved by her. She loved helping people in her community and was known for volunteering as an appropriate adult, her charity work and loved creating hampers to make people smile.
“She would be there for anyone and the day she was taken from us, she was doing just that – walking to meet her mum to take her shopping and to go for a coffee.
“Our family and friends are heartbroken. In one moment our world has crumbled and will never be the same. We will support each other, and we thank and appreciate the love and support shown by our family and friends. Please hold your loved ones close, tell them you love them and make memories.
“Words cannot describe how much she will be missed. Our biggest cheerleader, our confidant, our rock – she will never be forgotten. We love you to the moon and back!
10 ‘high-risk’ Manchester football fans arrested following recent violent disorder
Emily Sergeant
Several arrests have been made this week following an incident of violent disorder linked to a football match a few months back.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Specialist Operations branch were joined by colleagues from across the force – including those in Challenger teams – as they conducted several arrests around Greater Manchester this past Wednesday (13 December) in relation to violent disorder that recently took place.
The violent disorder in question occurred the day before Manchester United and faced FC Twente in the Champions League back in September.
Prior to the match, police say it is believed that a targeted and organised large-scale fight took place in the Lower Broughton area of Salford, all before the group of supporters then headed towards Manchester city centre.
As a result, 10 supporters – who are men aged between 20 and 64, and police say are suspected to be “high-risk” – are now in custody for questioning as investigations continue.
#ARREST | Earlier today we arrested 10 suspects in relation to violence that occurred the day before a game involving Manchester United and FC Twente.
Violence of any sort, whether it’s linked to football or not, will not be tolerated.
On top of this, when officers entered two properties on their search mission, two separate cannabis farms were found, and this meant that a 36-year-old woman was also subsequently arrested on suspicion of cultivation.
With the Manchester Derby now only days away, GMP says these arrests are a reminder that violence of any sort, whether it’s linked to football or not, “will not be tolerated” in our region.
Speaking ahead of the massive Premier League clash this weekend, Chief Superintendent Colette Rose, from GMP’s Specialist Operations division, commented: “With another big fixture coming this weekend, we want to send a strong message and reassurance that our specialised officers will be deployed to ensure you remain safe and peace is maintained, so you can enjoy the game.
Georgina Pellant -
9th February 2022 
