Known for their bass-centric events, Hit & Run has been serving Manchester with the heaviest and filthiest beats for the past 13 years.
Now, with the reputation of being the most well-respected drum and bass promotors in the city, they’ve come up with a new way to continue their legacy – Hit & Run TV.
When it was revealed we could no longer get sweaty together on the dancefloor, Hit & Run’s boss Rich Reason turned to livestreaming, like much of the industry during lockdown.
For the past few months his team has been working on setting up a Twitch channel to continue supplying us with our drum and bass fix.
But just as they were finding their feet, Twitch told them the rules were changing. Now streaming music on the platform isn’t so straightforward.
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Copyright is a big concern with using people’s music on streams and videos. Often, popular sites take down content they deem to be a potential breach.
So, all this got Rich thinking: even though DJs have been streaming sets and keeping the scene alive since Lockdown One, the social media platforms are the ones reaping revenue from the stream’s advertising.
The team have taken matters into their own hands to remove the middleman. So, they’ve set up their own website, bought a PRS license and booked a load of acts.
And tonight, they launch Hit & Run TV.
With the license, DJs can play the music they want, without the risk of being muted or the stream being pulled down. Every song that’s played is logged this way, meaning artists receive their share too. There’ll be no annoying ads half-way through either. The rave can go on uninterrupted and uncensored. At last!
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Each stream will come live and direct from the Neuron Pro stage and is completely free to watch for one week. After that, a £3 a month subscription will grant you unlimited access to previous streams from the Hit & Run TV library, whenever you like.
Also, there’ll be a monthly draw for subscribers to win a pass to all Hit & Run events for a full year.
The team reckon they could be the first ones to give this format a go. We can’t wait to see what they do with it.
The first one is tonight. So, if you need a rave, get involved here.
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Fontaines D.C. announce massive gig at Manchester’s Aviva Studios as part of UK tour
Danny Jones
Irish post-punk pioneers Fontaines D.C. have just announced a brand new UK and Ireland tour ahead of their new album later this year and leading new arts and live entertainment venue, Aviva Studios, has been selected for their massive Manchester date.
The Dublin powerhouses have emerged as one of the most exciting acts on the planet for our money, combining everything from new wave, alternative and often grungey guitars, to more classic rock and even indie sounds, making them one of the most instantly recognisable sounds on the modern scene.
With all that being said, we cannot wait for their return to Manchester and what will no doubt be one of the biggest and best gigs Aviva Studios has seen yet.
Fontaines D.C. roll up to 0161 in Fall 2024 and they’ll have a brand new album under their belt to boot.
Become a Factory International Members to gain early access tickets on Wednesday 24 April, 10am.
Fontaines D.C. return to Manchester for the first time since 2022.
Home to Factory International, which kicked off an incredible debut calendar of cultural events last year, Aviva Studios is already proving to be an impressive addition to the Manc skyline, especially now it’s coaxing names like Fontaines D.C. to come and perform there over other gig spaces.
As for the band themselves, they dropped the lead single entitled ‘Starburster’ this week and it proved to be quite the sea change for often fast, frantic and no-nonsense five-piece. If you haven’t heard it yet, strap in and get ready to be over-exhaling out loud non-stop for the next hour – you’ll see what we mean.
With their fourth record Romance set to release on 23 August, we think it’s fair to say this new record – the first with new producer James Ford (Blur, Arctic Monkeys) – is off to a much more experimental start than their heavily acclaimed 2019 debut, Dogrel.
Set to take the stage in Aviva Studios’ Warehouse space on Friday, 29 November, Fontaines’ Manchester date is part of a new run of shows announced as part of their full European which kicks off in June.
Heading back from the continent in August and starting off the UK leg in Wolverhampton on 20 November, it’ll be a fast and furious nine-show run culminating with a homecoming concert in Dublin.
Tickets for all headline dates go on general sale at 10am next Friday, 26 April and for first access to presale, fans can pre-order the album by 3pm on 23 April.
Masked Manchester rapper Meekz bursts back with surprise gig in Piccadilly Gardens with JD
Charlie Watkinson
Local rap sensation Meekz is back, if you hadn’t noticed – he burst back onto the scene last week with a surprise gig with JD in Piccadilly Gardens.
The masked Manchester rapper is celebrating the release of his latest single Mini Me’s – and a handful of Mini Meekz posters appeared around town, pasted there by artist collective Pattern Up (then swiftly removed) last week.
Meekz continues to impress with his latest release, a track that’s quickly gaining popularity.
True to form, Meekz delivers not only sonically but visually, teaming up once again with KC Locke to create a stunning music video.
Their collaboration underscores the significance of music videos, reaffirming their lasting impact in the industry.
The video pays homage to their previous work, particularly ‘Like Me’, while also pushing boundaries with a post-apocalyptic CGI rendition of Manchester, reminiscent of scenes from GTA and Marvel movies.
This innovative approach demonstrates the remarkable synergy between Meekz and KC Locke, marking a new pinnacle in their collaborative efforts.
Following the premiere, Meekz treated fans to a memorable performance in Piccadilly Gardens, organised with JD, where he made a grand entrance by gifting miniature Air Max 95’s to his fans before taking the stage atop a large storage container.
Mini Meekz posters briefly popped up around Manchester last week. Credit: Supplied, patternup.pu
I had the opportunity to speak with Meekz after the premiere, where he shared insights into his upcoming tape, ‘Tru’, slated for release on 24 May.
Additionally, he hinted at exclusive news related to GTA/GTA 6, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his future endeavours.
It’s clear that Meekz continues to innovate and redefine the game with each new project, and we’re excited to see what he has in store next.
KC Locke said: “In the time that the mainstream media is writing articles about the decline of the music video industry, swords and eagles are here to make a stand and show not only are music videos here to stay but they are more important than ever.
“This is a testament to community, bound by a shared vision, we rise and rise again, together, for the culture.”
Hannah Starkie -
20th January 2021 
