A new live-streamed clubbing series has been announced for Greater Manchester, which will beam our world-famous nightlife scene into living rooms across the globe.
MainRoom is the latest series from not-for-profit platform StreamGM, which comes from team behind lockdown favourite United We Stream.
Episodes will be broadcast live from dance floors, nightclubs, rooftops and basements around the city-region.
It’s all been created to capture Manchester’s legendary underground club culture and will shine a spotlight on the DJs and promoters operating in the city.
MainRoom events will take place monthly, over the course of three or four hours.
ADVERTISEMENT
Escape to Freight Island will host the first MainRoom event in July
The first event, She’s In Control, will be streamed from Escape to Freight Island on 24 July and will put women and people of marginalised genders front and centre.
Taking part in the She’s In Control livestream will be Jade Li, Edie, Danielle Moore from band Crazy P and Homoelectric resident, Gina Breeze.
ADVERTISEMENT
The collaboration will raise awareness and funds for Brighter Sound, a local organisation aiming to help underrepresented people develop careers in the industry.
StreamGM’s MainRoom series will be presented by Rebecca Swarray aka DJ Mix-Stress, who is the founder and curator of Manchester based events and arts collective, RebeccaNeverBecky and co-founder of queer DJ Collective, Queer Latifah.
Rebecca Swarray. Credit: Supplied
Episodes already lined up include collaborations with La Discotheque, Not Bad For A Girl, Mixing Mates, Black Gold Arts and Band on the Wall.
ADVERTISEMENT
Co-founder of StreamGM Laura Graham said: “Greater Manchester’s clubbing scene is historic, and renowned as THE destination city for a night out. This is partly due to the region’s vast clubbing tapestry, amazing super clubs, and major venues across the city, but also because Greater Manchester has always maintained a thriving, progressive and influential, grassroots clubbing scene, and it’s this scene we want to identify and explore.
“MainRoom will provide visibility for Manchester’s local clubbing culture, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, accessibility, empowerment, and most of all – fun times – for marginalised groups.
“We will collaborate directly with promoters and take amazing local talent and new clubbing concepts beyond the venue walls with our online audiences.
MainRoom’s first event posted. Credit: Supplied
“MainRoom will also give viewers a sense of the latest music, dance and fashion trends, straight from the club vibes and dancefloors.
“People all over the world will be able to use MainRoom to dip into Manchester’s epic clubbing scene, use our streams as soundtracks to house parties, or watch them to research future nights out in the city.
ADVERTISEMENT
“During United We Stream, our team were overwhelmed by messages from people for whom live streaming had given them access to events they would never normally be able to attend for myriad reasons, from disability and caring responsibilities to location or cost. MainRoom will open Mancunian clubbing to EVERYONE.”
MainRoom host Rebecca said: “MainRoom is a vital and exciting platform that will showcase exactly what the real creative essence of Manchester is.
“Platforming people on the ground, creating spaces and places for the under-presented and less visible is vital for cultural identity. This city has a melting pot of diverse talent, and I am honoured to be involved in MainRoom and look forward to speaking, showcasing, and interviewing some amazing people doing amazing things.”
StreamGM recently partnered with FAC51 The Hacienda for their landmark 40th Birthday party, and livestreamed their entire eight hour event, direct from the carpark of the Hacienda Apartments on Whitworth Street.
ADVERTISEMENT
The first live event is on July 24h at 9pm at She’s In Control – Freight Island.
Featured image: Supplied
Audio
Neighbourhood Weekender reveals second wave of HUGE acts for summer lineup
Thomas Melia
Neighbourhood Weekender has just dropped another list of names for its 2025 lineup.
The Warrington-based festival is always stacked with mega acts, with this summer’s lineup being absolutely no different, and a whole new bunch of famous faces have just been announced this week too.
This new batch of bands and artists sees the addition of some rising stars, as well as some much-loved favourites.
First up on the impressive roster is Dylan John Thomas, who may be known for his rockstar tunes, but he also loves to break it up with a performance of ABBA classic ‘Mamma Mia’ from time to time.
Villanelle are also ready to raise the roof, and if that name sounds familiar to you, then that’s because the band is fronted by none other than Liam Gallagher’s son, Gene, while another big highlight on the lineup just announced is The Slow Readers Club.
Neighbourhood Weekender reveals second wave of HUGE acts for summer lineup / Credit: Supplied
This list doesn’t end there either, as busker-turned-overnight-star Alex Spencer is on the bill and is already proclaimed as one of the UK’s most promising songwriters.
Previously, this popular indie rock festival – which is taking place this May bank holiday weekend on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May – had already announced huge names like James, Stereophonics, The Wombats, and The Reytons as some of the acts performing across this two-day event.
If this second wave of names didn’t convince you enough to get a ticket already though, worry not, as more names are soon to be revealed.
Pitbull announces massive Manchester gig hot off the back of viral London show
Thomas Melia
Pitbull has finally announced that he’s bringing his party to Manchester, days after he set London alight with a concert that has taken the internet by storm.
If you’re as chronically online as I am, you’ll have spent the last few days completely immersing yourself in Pitbull’s show at The O2, which looked, if I’m being completely honest, life-changing.
From the hordes of fans dressed like Pitbull (bald caps and goatees) to the backing dancers to the pyrotechnics to the inspirational speeches, this is a man who knows how to bring a party.
And now he’s bringing it to Manchester at last, with Pitbull announcing a massive gig at Co-op Live as well as a second London gig.
The global superstar, who’s behind hits like Fireball, Hotel Room Service and Give Me Everything, will be heading to town with his Party After Dark Tour.
The last time Pitbull graced the Manchester crowds was all the way back in 2018, so we’re well overdue the chance to yell TIMBERRRRR!! in the same room as him.
As if his Latin charm wasn’t enough to have us weak in the knees, he’s bringing a special guest to select shows too, including Manchester.
And he’ll be joined by the equally legendary Shaggy, a multi-Grammy-award-winning dancehall and reggae icon.
Pitbull has announced a massive Manchester gig. Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Eva Rinaldi
Mr Worldwide himself is promising a high-energy show (again, the London one saw the entire arena boogying all the way into the nosebleeds) with pure party energy.
Expect stunning visuals (and we don’t just mean Pitbull himself), explosive pyrotechnics, and an amazing performance from his band, The Agents, and dancers, The Most Bad Ones.
The expanded 14-city tour will kick off on 5 June in Dublin before heading to cities including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Prague, and Berlin.
Pitbull will perform at the Co-op Live Manchester on Sunday 8 June.
Tickets will go on sale on Wednesday 26 February at 9am with artist presale, before general sale begins on Friday 28 February at 9am – you can get your tickets HERE.
So go on, whack on your best bald cap, grab a pair of sunnies and get memorising all the states mentioned in ‘International Love’.
Daisy Jackson -
30th May 2022 
