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.
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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.
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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.
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“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
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Manchester rapper Aitch is doing a charity skydive for Down Syndrome awareness
Emily Sergeant
Aitch is to brave a whopping 15,000ft free fall as he takes on a charity skydive in the name of Down Syndrome awareness.
You may remember that the chart-topping rapper – real name Harrison Armstrong, who proudly hails from Moston in North Manchester – became an ambassador of the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) back in October last year in honour of his sister Gracie, who has Down Syndrome.
The 23-year-old’s role as an ambassador came after he made a generous donation from the budget of his music video for his track ‘My G’ – which is dedicated to his little sister, affectionately known as ‘G’ – to the charity, with the rapper describing the song as the most important track on his debut album, Close to Home.
Aitch said at the time of becoming an ambassador that there was “nothing more important in the world” to him than Gracie, and that’s why the role meant so much to him.
And now, he’s taking his support one step further – and a big step at that.
As this week is Down Syndrome Awareness Week here in the UK, the BRIT Award-winner has decided to take the leap and will be bravely free falling in tandem with an instructor from a plane that’s 15,000ft above the ground this month, all to show just how important Gracie is to him and his family.
Down Syndrome Awareness Week aims to raise awareness about what Down Syndrome is, what it means to have Down Syndrome, and how people who have Down Syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.
Aitch will be skydiving alongside his Dad, and successful influencer and former Love Island contestant, Joanna Chimondes – who is also an ambassador for the charity.
“I’m buzzing to jump out of a plane for World Down Syndrome Day,” Aitch said.
“My Dad will be doing it with me, and we’ll be raising awareness for a cause that’s close to me and my family”.
Carol Boys – Chief Executive of the DSA – says that she’s “extremely grateful” to Aitch for agreeing to take on such a big challenge, adding: “Aitch has already done a fantastic job of raising awareness and understanding of Down Syndrome among his fans and followers.
“But to actually jump out of a plane to raise money to help us continue our vital work, is just amazing.”
Aitch has set up a dedicated JustGiving fundraising page for his skydive, and you can find out more and make a donation here.
Featured Image – DSA
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Up-and-coming musicians in Manchester to take over Band on the Wall for FREE shows this month
Daisy Jackson
There’ll be three nights of gorgeous new music taking place across Manchester this month, as the students of Spirit Studios have their degree show.
Up-and-coming talent from the renowned music education provider will take to the stage at the much-loved Band on the Wall and at Spirit Studios itself – and the gigs are totally free.
Spread over three evenings, the degree show will include DJ sets, performances, and immersive audio-visual experiences and soundscapes.
Those showing off their skills have come from the studio’s Electronic Music Production and Performance and Music Production degree courses.
The final year students have been tasked with creating and producing music to show to a public audience as part of their major project.
Spirit Studios. Credit: Supplied
The gigs at both Band on the Wall and Spirit Studios are free to attend, and will take place on 22, 24 and 29 March.
The first event at Band on the Wall will be an evening of live music and DJ sets, spanning indie, hip-hop, EDM and drum and bass.
Then on Friday 24 March, the degree show will head over to Spirit Studios, just past Piccadilly, where guests can explore a range of sound installation, soundscapes, and multi-genre live performances in their very own studios and live venue.
Spirit Studios was established in 1980 as a small creative community of experienced tutors in the heart of Manchester, teaching talented students sound engineering and music production.
As well as degrees, there are other industry and short courses, and the studios and facilities on site can be hired for commercial purposes.
Daisy Jackson -
16th February 2023 
