Manchester will get a new open-air nightclub this year, with a six-month programme of music and events.
Progress Centre has been created with dancing in mind, from its line-up ‘curated by the people of Manchester’ to its outdoor (but covered) dance floor.
Early artist impressions of the space show a canopy of glittering streamers suspended above the dance floor, plus colourful outside seating areas and food options.
The open-air nightclub, which wants to take a ‘European’ approach to clubbing, will have a Funktion One sound system and a custom lighting rig.
Its first season will bring local, national and international artists to the Progress Centre, which has found its home in Ardwick.
ADVERTISEMENT
Located just a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly, the Projekts Skate Park, and Escape to Freight Island, the venue’s season is set to run between April and September.
Visuals of the Progress Centre outdoor nightclub in Manchester. Credit: SuppliedA previous event at the site in Ardwick. Credit: Supplied
The bill for the first run of April shows has been revealed today, and includes Traumer, Randal, Dyed Soundorom b2b Gene on Earth, Sasha, DBridge, Dusky, Fabio, Swoose, Mr. Sosa, Gemma Arnott, Liam Schooling, Liam Palmer and many more.
ADVERTISEMENT
Progress Centre comes from the team behind The Loft, Animal Crossing and Summer of Love festival, the full six-month summer programme will feature Locus, Slapfunk, Freak, Meat Free, The Ghost, Get-Traum, Hit & Run, Sahsa, 23 Degrees, You&me, Appetite and plenty more still to be announced.
Promoter Olli Ryder said, following a social campaign that gathered customer feedback: “For us to include the voices of the people in the space curation further amplifies that it will be fit for purpose.
“Options are scarce across the city and the UK, so when a new space is introduced, it’s key to ensure you deliver exactly what the people want.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s the community of dancers you do this for; it’s those who make this all possible; you’re asked if you’d like any dessert at the end of a meal, so why should it be any different when creating a club?”
The remainder of the programme will be revealed throughout the coming months.
Featured image: Supplied
Audio
DMA’s add extra Manchester gig to highly anticipated Hills End 10th anniversary tour
Danny Jones
Indie favourites DMA’s have finally confirmed their highly anticipated Hills End anniversary tour, celebrating 10 years since their breakout debut album with several UK dates, including not one but now TWO here in Manchester.
The Aussie band beloved by Brits and music fans all over have been teasing a reveal of some sort over the past weeks, but now the news is official.
Up there with the Sydney music scene’s finest exports right now, DMA‘s have always had a strong following over here, but especially so up North and Manchester in particular, with their youthful, uplifting and moving style often striking up similarities to our own indie rock roots.
Revealing details of the Hills End 10th anniversary shows on social media earlier this week, the talented trio confirmed a number of Northern gigs – and then quickly had to add a bunch more…
Besides us Mancs being the first stop on the run of live shows (honoured, of course), we’re one of three UK cities getting an additional live show after fans lapped up the pre-sale.
Perhaps the most exciting part about this announcement is that this will be the very first time that DMA’s will be performing their much-loved maiden LP live in full.
At this time, we’re not sure whether or not they’ll be playing from start to finish in order, but either way, fans are understandably very excited; you can consider us here at Audio North firmly included in that group, by the way.
We’re sure we don’t need to remind you lot reading this per se, but cherished tracks from the record obviously include ‘Delete’, ‘Lay Down’, ‘In The Moment’.
They’ll also be playing working-class outposts like Newcastle and Glasgow (make that twice), as well as paying a visit to our friends over at The Hoot in Yorkshire. You can see the full list of shows down below.
DMA’s Hills End 10th anniversary tour 2026 – UK dates
Speaking on the initial announcement, the band said: “The UK has always felt like a second home for us. Hills End was where our story really began overseas, so it feels right to come back and celebrate it with the fans who’ve supported us from day one.”
Literally almost a full decade on from its release, the DMA’s anniversary tour kicks off at O2 Victoria Warehouse next February and, as of yet, no support act has been confirmed.
Johnny Took, Matt Mason and lead singer Tommy O’Dell will then be coming back to Manchester for round two on Sunday, 15 February.
Tickets go on sale at 9am this Friday, 17 October; you can get ready to grab your tickets HERE.
Victoria Baths is ‘resurrecting’ its popular spooky silent disco this Halloween
Emily Sergeant
Halloween is on its way, and Silence of the Baths is being ‘resurrected’ for another year.
Returning for a ‘fright night of thrills’ after a sell-out debut in 2023, and then for a smash-hit revival of three of Manchester’s most iconic fallen nightclubs in 2024, Victoria Baths has announced that Silence of the Baths will be returning for its third year, transforming the stunning Grade II-listed building into one of the spookiest settings this Halloween.
For the popular one-off event, Victoria Baths is set to ‘show its darker side’, as the pool halls, Turkish Baths, and labyrinth of spaces undergo an epic Halloween makeover.
Victoria Baths is teaming up with Girls on Film for one of the best nights in the city this Halloween, as the historic space becomes a ‘haunted haven’ of glamour and ghosts.
Partygoers are encouraged to dress the part and wander through the empty pools and haunted corridors as each space is transformed into spooky playground filled with ghouls, spiders, bats, and coffins – but most importantly, good times.
From the balcony above the former pool, the Girls on Film crew will take over the silent disco with a trio of DJs on three different channels.
Hattie Pearson will be on Channel 1, Meme Gold on Channel 2, and the Channel 3 will have DJ MXw0rld.
Victoria Baths is ‘resurrecting’ its popular spooky silent disco this Halloween / Credit: Chris Payne (via Supplied)
As mentioned, ticketholders are being encouraged to ‘dress to distress’ on the night, not only because it’s Halloween, but also because the person with the most haunting look has the chance to win a Halloween Swag Bag.
There’ll be plenty of elixirs and spirits to sip on all night long, and don’t forget to strike a pose against the Baths’ iconic backdrop.
The Silence of the Baths III: The Return will take over Victoria Baths on Saturday 25 October, with doors creaking open from 7:30pm, and tickets are now on sale here and setting you back £20 each (plus a booking fee).
The event sold out last year, so early ticket purchase is recommended
All ticket purchases support the work of The Victoria Baths Trust to preserve Victoria Baths, so that communities can continue to enjoy this inspiring building.
Daisy Jackson -
16th February 2023 
