The return of Homobloc is on the horizon and some big names have been added to the 2024 lineup, not least of all, LGBTQ+ icon, Christine and the Queens.
Presented by Homoelectric and nestled in amongst the action of The Warehouse Project’s jam-packed annual programming, Homobloc is one of the most highly-anticipated events on the Manc music and cultural calendar – and it’s no wonder.
Since the likes of The Blessed Madonna, Confidence Man, Horse Meat Disco and salute; Honey Dijon, Hot Chip, Self Esteem and many more have all played the cult-favourite club night over the past few years, it’s gaining a real reputation.
With that being said, the pressure is on every year to improve upon or at least match the lineup from the year before and we can confirm the team behind Homobloc has secured another stellar selection of artists for 2024.
Topping the bill, you can’t go wrong with the ever-creative, critically acclaimed and immaculately cool Christine and the Queens will lead the Homobloc proceedings. Make no mistake, it’s a big deal having a name of this size headlining.
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He will be joined by London-born hyperpop icon Shygirl, who presents her latest Club Shy project: Swedish singer and record producer COBRAH, making her Manchester debut alongside the rhythm-shifting sounds of Olof Dreijer of The Knife.
In addition, they will be joined by the likes of Moonchild Sanelly following an amazing performance at this year’s Glastonbury, as well as queer Manchester rapper OneDa, Chinese producer and artist Alice Longyu Gao, not to mention a special collab between Pxssy Palace and US rapper Mykki Blanco.
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Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg: there will be several other DJ sets throughout the venue and beyond, including Job Jobse b2b Saoirse, 2manydjs b2b Confidence Man, Tiga; HorsegiirL, HAAi, Chloé Caillet and Horse Meat Disco, with live sets from I.Jordan, Christeene, LSDXOXO and more.
Spanning the full breadth of Depot Mayfield‘s main stages (Depot, Concourse, Archive) and more such as the beloved Plant Room, the historic Star and Garter Pub and the Loft – a unique rooftop space set to be taken over by Studio 54 icon Nicky Siano – there will be a whole host of genres on display.
And last but not least, completing what will be arguably the most dynamic and boundary-pushing Homobloc yet, the 2024 lineup will also feature curation and performance art by LGBTQ+ collectives Ghetto Fabulous, Make Me Feel, House of Spice, Sue Veneers and many more.
Homobloc’s Creative Director Sophie Bee said of its return this winter: “It’s been a wild ride since the party started in 2019. The festival production has evolved so much and we’ve gone from half of Manchester plus the kitchen sink on stage, to choreographed pieces with global touring artists.
“Our research and development design team based at Islington Mill has been a place for experimentation allowing space for people’s imagination to flourish. It’s an honour to work on a collaborative, loving, fun spectacle, with such innovative producers from mixed art forms.
“This year there are some really beautiful production moments that we can’t wait to share with all our family, friends and community.”
Homobloc 2024 returns to Depot Mayfield on Saturday, 9 November and, in true all-day and all-nighter fashion, is set to run from 2pm-4am, so you best be prepared to party. Pre-sale goes live at 10am this Thursday, 15 August, and general admission tickets at the same time on Friday, 16 August.
Featured Images — Tom Hancock (Tower Hamlets Council via Flickr)/WHP (Supplied)
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Blossoms at O2 Ritz Manchester – five-night hometown residency is already a triumph
Daisy Jackson
Blossoms are a band who were born and forged here in Greater Manchester, and now they’re back retracing their steps with a five-night residency across the venues that launched them into the big leagues.
Their star has risen all the way to arena level and headline shows at Wythenshawe Park at this point, especially here in their hometown, so the chance to see them back in these cosy-ish little venues is special, and a little bizarre.
For night two of their landmark sold-out gig series, it was the turn of the O2 Ritz, that sweaty spot off Oxford Road where the floor bounces downstairs and you stick to the carpets upstairs.
Poetically, the first time I ever saw Blossoms was in this very room in 2016, when they had the mid-afternoon slot at Neighbourhood festival and the queue to get in went all the way back to St Peter’s Square.
Since those days, Blossoms have come a long, long way, and their live show has evolved and matured from five lads thrashing on their instruments to this well-oiled, hip-swaying, flares-wearing, chart-topping machine.
There’s even choreography now – how fancy!
A stand-out moment from the show is actually a song from their new, fifth studio album Gary, which is still barely eight weeks old.
A spoof recording of legendary Manchester indie club 42s rings out, then all five band members abandon their stations, slinging keytars and marching drums around their necks so that they can dance together in front of neon signs.
Blossoms have just done their second of five shows in Manchester, this time at the O2 Ritz. Credit: The Manc GroupBlossoms on stage at the O2 Ritz in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Blossoms promised more disco with this album and they bloody meant it. It’s not just the flares and the blow-dries and the moustaches (though those do help) – it’s in the funk and groove that’s gradually crept into their music exponentially with each album release.
This is still indie rock but it’s the most danceable of its genre. Good luck keeping your shoulders from wiggling and jiggling in here. Good luck keeping that grin off your face.
And Gary is one of the most unexpectedly fun albums to be released in the last year – the fact they called it Gary, named after a giant fibreglass garden centre Gorilla, should’ve been our clue. It could border on silly were it not such a masterpiece.
It seems like the only thing Blossoms are trying to prove is that you can be wildly successful without taking yourself too seriously. They just seem like a group who want to have a good time and it’s totally infectious.
Case in point – when each band member is introduced, keyboardist Myles Kellock plays the riff of Satisfaction by Benny Benassi and The Biz. Unexpected.
Blossoms also clearly give a sh*t about their live shows and graft at it – I’ve seen these guys an awful lot and it’s because their tour dates are plentiful and consistently worth the ticket price.
This is definitely the biggest era of their career so far, but have they peaked? Not even close.
The Warehouse Project reveals return to Rotterdam for second-ever overseas event
Danny Jones
The Warehouse Project has confirmed it will be returning to Rotterdam in 2025 for just its second-ever overseas event.
After debuting abroad in 2023 with an action-packed few days in the city of Rotterdam – whose art scene, music culture and even canal network bears lots of similarities to Manchester – Warehouse Project is coming back for more.
There’s just over a month left of the 2024 WHP calendar; you’d think they’d be getting ready to wind down and enjoy the Christmas breather, but not so: the organisers are already planning what is set to be one of their biggest and best long weekends to date.
Set to take place over the early May bank holiday, the Dutch port city will once again play host to one of Manchester’s legendary club nights.
The second biggest city in the Netherlands behind Amsterdam, the next edition of Warehouse’s international series is set to return to Rotterdam RDM – a warehouse space very reminiscent of both Depot Mayfield and their original home at Victoria Warehouse.
WHP x RDM II is already being billed as an “unforgettable weekend” and if any of this year’s mainline events here in Manchester are anything to go by, they’re bound to live up to that promise.
There’s also a full FAQ page for anyone looking to find out more information regarding Rotterdam, the venue itself, travel and more.
As well as revealing the dates (2-4 May 2025), the organisers have already teased a good chunk of the lineup, with the likes of Chris Stussy, Peach, Four Tet b2b with Sammy Virji, salute and many more already confirmed.
With a slew of incredible acts, multiple afterparties on boats and other local venues, as well as plenty of opportunity to see the rest of Holland’s ‘Manhattan on the Maas’, this is going to be SO good.
We were lucky enough to have been sent to sample their inaugural Rotterdam date back in April of 2023 and, we have to say, it was an absolute blast.
Take it from us, if you’re considering being a part of this next event you won’t regret and we’ll be putting together an extensive guide to help you feel prepared for raving overseas. Registration for early access is already live, so sign up fast if you want to give yourself the best chance of being there.
Limited presale and accommodation packages will be available to those who have applied at 9am on Monday, 2 December (UK customers only). General admission tickets will go live from 9am n Tuesday, 3 December sale for UK and Dutch customers starts Tuesday 3rd December at 9am GMT/10am CET.
Rotterdam 2025 will be here before you know it, so take a boots-on-the-ground at what an international Warehouse Project date looks like down below:
Danny Jones -
13th August 2024 
