After eight years of making music and thirty-six imprint releases later, seminal Manchester music collective and label Swing Ting has announced its last drop – and it’s a belter.
Finishing on a high, the Swing Ting label has dropped a collection of remixes of Manchester MC Fox’s debut 2019 album Juice Flow, which focused on his own journey whilst working with the collective over the years.
A stalwart of the Manchester scene, Fox has appeared regularly as a vocalist on Swing Ting’s releases as well as acting as a resident MC at the now-discontinued club nights that once filled Soup Kitchen’s basement with ravers every month.
So it seems only fitting that he’s all over the final release, too.
MC Fox pictured outside Soup Kitchen, the home of the Swing Ting dance in Manchester, where the collective hosted monthly parties from 2011-2019. / Image: F_13zm
The culmination of a decade of performing at Swing Ting dances, the originalJuice Flow album featured a star-studded guest-list of worldwide collaborators, friends and family.
Now, this new Juice Flow Remixed package sees producers Lenzman, Nowheretobefound, Sam Binga and Sherry S retouch and revisit four of the original thirteen tracks with a contemporary edge.
Firstly, North-Quarter’s Lenzman flips the Tappa Benzfeaturing Day Ones into a sweet, soulful drum and bass roller that has already been getting rotation from scene heavyweights. Opening with the line “Out to my day ones and my day twos / Shout to my bredrins and my stay trues,” it all feels a bit emotional.
North-Quarter’s Lenzman / Image: Izzy Gramp
Next, mysterious Nowheretobefoundtakes the eponymouse title cut on a breezy, blissed-out soulful garage tip, before Sam Bingatakes the Coco-featuring Rebel Souljah on a bubbling, percussive UK funky-ish workout.
Last but not least, Sherry Ssteps up for the final rework, ramping up the tempo of the Anz-produced Live Life for a roughneck, two-step banger set to cause club damage.
Set to drop on Friday 4 February, it is the last ever release on the Swing Ting label – first founded in 2014.
Over the years, the Manchester label has achieved global acclaim from the likes of Mixmag, Resident Advisor, DJ Mag, Pan African Music, Riddim Magazine and The Wire with wide support across BBC 1Xtra, Radio 1, NTS live and more.
Just like Swing Ting itself, Fox has never been one to be held down to one particular sound and this final release seems a fitting tribute to both.
A mix of bass-heavy party sounds spanning a range of genres, Juice Flow Remixed sees them exit out on a high in a fitting tribute to many years of hard work and floor-filling party bangers.
Feature image – Swing TIng
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Free Britpop karaoke event comes to Printworks this week ahead of Oasis reunion
Thomas Melia
A Britpop-themed karaoke event is making its way to Printworks this week and is expected to attract a ‘Wonderwall’ of Oasis fans.
Didn’t get tickets to see one of Manchester’s biggest musical exports at their upcoming ‘Oasis Live ’25’ tour dates? Don’t ‘Slide Away’, sing your heart out at Printworks instead.
Anyone who missed out on the biggest reunion of the year but still wants that cathartic crowd-singing feeling can soak it all up at Manchester‘s leading entertainment complex with this all-new fan-led event.
Printworks is hosting a free event featuring karaoke and live music in the lead up to Oasis’ epic hometown shows and everyone is invited.
The free Oasis sing-along will be hosted by Oasis tribute band Whatever Oasis Tribute, who will be performing two live shows at 6pm and 7pm.
You’ll definitely want to warm up your vocal chords as they’re playing all your favourite Oasis bangers, from ‘Wonderwall’ to ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’, and everything in between.
Of course, being home to Europe’s largest digital ceiling, it would be rude not to make the most of it and what better way to use it than by screening lyrics to the Burnage band’s hits ‘Up in the Sky’.
There will be lots of other activities taking place at this immersive fan event too, expect free giveaways and even a Britpop-themed visual art display voiced by Happy Mondays star and Manc royalty, Bez.
As you look up in this city centre venue, you’ll see vibrant displays of iconic imagery relating to the golden era of 90s British music and culture appearing on the digital ceiling, narrated by everyone’s favourite maraca-playing icon.
Expect Union Jack motifs, recognisable fashion trends, and even kaleidoscopic colours that evoke the feeling of this very important decade.
Printworks will be screening iconic 90s imagery on their digital ceiling / Credit: Supplied
And don’t worry, you won’t have to be ‘Standing on the Shoulder of Giants’ to get a taste of the Britpop action, as this illuminated and interactive ceiling spans 1,000 sqm, oh and ‘She’s Electric’ too.
In the spirit of all things Oasis, Printworks vendor Big Licks is offering a complimentary small tub of soft-serve ice cream to anyone wearing a bucket hat on the day of any upcoming Oasis shows.
Tank & Paddle will also be giving away free shots to bucket hat-wearers on Thursday 3 July to celebrate the sing-along event.
Kristian Brennan, Marketing Manager at Printworks, said: “Oasis are part of Manchester’s DNA, and we wanted to give our visitors a way to experience that connection – even if they didn’t get tickets.”
Printworks’ free Britpop-themed event is taking place on Thursday 3 July, featuring live music from Oasis tribute band Whatever, free karaoke, a Britpop display voiced by Bez, and lots more.
Featured Images – Publicity Pictures (via Supplied)
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Aitch is playing a huge hometown set at The Warehouse Project
Danny Jones
Aitch has booked another massive hometown slot as the Moston-born rapper will be playing none other than the home of clubbing here in Manchester: The Warehouse Project.
Joining the WHP25 programme, which is already stacked right up until New Year’s Eve, the 25-year-old is the latest rapper to take on the famous club venue, following the likes of Little Simz and Loyle Carner, who played the event series back in October.
Aitch‘s new album, 4 – which denotes the number of studio LPs he’s made to date and acts as a nod to the M4 postcode – was released on June 20 and has already proved popular with fans.
Having just played Parklife as well as a secret set at Glastonbury this year, he’s already performed most of his biggest slots for the year, but the ever-rising local rapper thought he’d given Manchester another big gig and one more chance to see him live in 2025.
As an increasingly popular main event act across the UK, a headline show at Warehouse Project is nothing short of a massive deal for any artist, let alone a Manc.
The date itself will see him see him performing songs from the new record, which is his second to hit the top 10, as well as a selection of multiple platinum-selling hits.
Sharing details of early access tickets on Instagram stories shortly after the announcement, the UK hip-hop and grime star reminded fans: “This is the only chance to see me shut this sh*t down this year!!!”
It’s actually his only major domestic show in full stop, so if you’re a die-hard fan of Harrison Armstrong and his music, you really don’t want to miss this one.
He’s not the only big name coming to Mayfield this season either.
WHP25 /// FISHER – TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Don’t miss out on what’s set to be an unmissable night – packed with infectious energy from beginning to end – as he takes over Depot Mayfield alongside a lineup coming very soon.
Georgina Pellant -
25th January 2022 
