One of the most legendary drum and bass nights in Manchester’s music history is returning to the city for the first time in 20 years. Yes, it’s official: Squiggle Dee Mash is back.
Arguably the best-named night of live music anywhere in the world, Squiggle Dee Mash became a local institution even in its short four-year lifespan from 1998 to 2022, sprouting from a small gig put together by a uni student to a clubland cult hit.
Having been hosted in legendary venues like Generation X (New Wakefield St.) Club Havana (now Revs de Cuba), K2 (yes, the karaoke bar), MMU Student Union even in the depths of UoM’s Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), the drum, bass and jungle night has had many homes.
Now resurrected by its founder, Ottilia Ordog – a music promoter and director of Beats Bazaar with decades of experience under her belt – Squiggle Dee Mash will be making its comeback at the Bee House venue located on Deansgate Locks on 21 October.
The line-up includes OG residents such as Sappo, Mark XTC and DJ Prophecy, as well as the likes of the Ragga Twins, DJ Rap, MC Madrush and many more.
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Full Squiggle Dee Mash Line-Up
DJ Rap
Ragga Twins
Sappo
Mark XTC
DJ Prophecy
Outlander
Diemond’ED
Veba
MC Madrush
MC Crystalize
MC Chilla
Kerin
The comeback event also promises live PAs from Howie Jacobs of Mr Wilson’s Second Liners, who will also drum along to Sappo’s beats, as well as a new collaboration between Mandy Wigby (Lionrock, Sister of Transistors, Architects of Rosslyn) and Kerin, a.k.a. Che3kz.
Ottilia, a self-proclaimed five-foot ‘Transylvanian drum and bass and jungle fanatic’, first hosted the event back in 1998 when she was a second year at the University of Salford and helped pioneer the D and B scene in the city, aiming to bring a more fun, festival-like feeling to jungle nights.
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As she puts it, the gig’s unique name basically took on United’s mantra of ‘hated, ignored, never ignored’, but soon the somewhat niche event became a place where people from all walks of life were welcome to come and enjoy themselves.
Squiggle Dee Mash boasted the best jungle DJs and MCs, as well as dancers, drummers, fire breathers, jugglers and more, with lots of people regularly tuning up in fancy dress. There was even an infamous ‘witchdoctor’ who regularly let people in for free if they could bring so crazy and entertaining to the party.
Original posters from the early Squiggle Dee Mash nightsDancers regularly provided further entertainment
Spread across multiple rooms playing everything from jungle and D&B to hardcore, hip hop and house music, this year’s event promises to bring the authentic Squiggle Dee Mash experience to a modern audience.
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Ottilia said she met up with friends and former MCs from the early days and before she knew it, they were all ‘well up for it’ and things started coming together ‘like it was meant to be.’
Running from 10pm on 21 October until 4am the following day, if you’re into your drum and bass or electronic music in general, you don’t want to miss this one.
You can grab your tickets via Skiddle for £12 plus the booking fee HERE.
The View, Brooke Combe, Corella and more join the Neighbourhood Weekender 2023 lineup
Danny Jones
More acts have joined the Neighbourhood Weekender lineup for 2023 and as well as some big names, it looks like there’s going to be even more Manc music on show this year. You love to see it.
Neighbourhood 2023 is already shaping up to be an absolute belter with the likes of Pulp, The Kooks, Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbot, The Wombats, Anne Marie and countless other huge others already announced for this year.
But if there’s one thing we know about the Warrington weekender it’s that there are always more surprises down the line, right up until the last minute, and to whet your appetite for the festival favourite.
The latest from the organisers is that several new artists are now joining the NBHD lineup, such as Scottish stars and veritable indie veteran The View, fellow compatriot Brooke Combe (one of the most exciting new soloists we’ve heard in a long time), The Goa Express from Burnley and 14 other acts.
One of the names we’re most excited to see playing on the Sunday are local lads, Corella. Named after an indigenous Australian bird, the rock and indie quarter are former BIMM students who are quickly becoming one of the most talked-about groups in the city.
The Manc musicians went on to survive lockdown together, writing new tunes and even hosting virtual live gigs called ‘Club Corella’ every weekend throughout the pandemic. God, we don’t half love this kind of graft, especially in hard times. Well in, lads.
Since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength and now, fresh from their sellout gig at Gorilla — which they hailed as “a dream come true” and a “moment we will never forget” — they’ll be following it up with a full Weekender slot in just a couple month’s time.
If their performance at Gorilla and at last year’s Neighbourhood Festival in the city is anything to go by, they’re going to absolutely smash it.
Neighbourhood Weekender 2023’s lineup is sounding more and more like it could go down as a year you don’t want to miss.
The weekend of gigs kicks at the beautiful Victoria Park in Warrington on 27 May and last until the following Sunday. However, to make things even better there’s also going to be a massive warm-up show featuring The Stone Roses’ Ian Brown, Happy Mondays and more.
Featured Image — The View (via Twitter)/Corella/Brooke Combe(via Instagram)
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Busted announce huge 20th anniversary arena tour, including Manchester date
Daisy Jackson
Busted have announced a huge new arena tour to celebrate their 20th anniversary and greatest hits.
The comeback tour was finally announced this morning after the trio had teased some big news yesterday, sending their fans into a tailspin.
Busted’s new tour will take them across the UK this September, including a night at the AO Arena on 24 September to wrap up the run of shows.
The group, consisting of James Bourne, Matt Willis and Charlie Simpson, formed back in 2000 and dominated the charts with songs like Year 3000, Air Hostess, and What I Go To School For.
They released two studio albums before splitting in 2005 when drummer Charlie left to focus on rock band Fightstar.
And although Busted did return with two more albums (Night Driver and Halfway There), this latest arena tour announcement has sent fans wild.
Joining Busted on the 20th Anniversary and Greatest Hits Tour will be fellow boyband royalty Hanson, as well as New Hope Club and The Tyne.
The boys will also release a 15-track album featuring new recordings of their biggest hits, including a new version of Loser Kid with Simple Plan.
In a nostalgic video trailer released this morning, Charlie said: “It’s about celebrating what Busted meant to the fans and it’s about us being able to go out and share that experience with them.”
Busted. Credit: Publicity photo
Frontman Matt added: “I think at the end of the day we just wanna go out and play really f**king cool shows. That’s what I really wanna do.”
Reacting to the announcement, one person wrote: “Not to be dramatic but I’ve waited my whole bloody life for this.”
Another said: “Heart palpitations obsessed as a 8 year old, cried to my local radio when you broke up now 27 with three kids down the line still obsessed still tempted to ring the local radio crying.”
Tickets will go on sale on Friday 31 March.
Busted 20th Anniversary and Greatest Hits tour dates
September 2 – Plymouth, Pavilions September 3 – Cardiff, International Arena September 5 – Swansea, Arena September 6 – Bournemouth, BIC September 7 – Brighton, Centre September 9 – Birmingham, Utilita Arena September 10 – London, The O2 September 12 – Bridlington, Spa September 15 – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena September 16 – Newcastle, Utilita Arena September 17 – Leeds, First Direct Arena September 19 – Aberdeen, P&J Live September 20 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro September 22 – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena September 24 – Manchester, AO Arena
Danny Jones -
21st September 2022 
