Starting this Friday, 8 November, StreamGM and Audio North are bringing the next big names in dance music directly to fans through ‘Room Two‘ – a weekly DJ series broadcasting from StreamGM HQ, The Yard, over in Cheetham Hill.
This new initiative champions the freshest talents from Greater Manchester’s dynamic underground dance scene, giving viewers worldwide a chance to experience exclusive, high-energy sets across house, garage, jungle, techno, dubstep, bassline and more.
Every Friday at 7pm for the next six weeks, you can tune in for an hour-long, genre-defying mix featuring six standout artists and collectives — all handpicked for their unique takes on the UK dance scene.
Here’s their debut lineup:
StreamGM x Audio North + The Yard = ‘Room Two’, a.k.a. the Manc music scene’s best-kept new secret.
For fans of raw talent and boundary-pushing beats, Room Two promises a weekly showcase of Manchester’s most exciting rising stars — completely free to watch on StreamGM’s website and social channels.
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Let’s get to know the talent.
Meet the artists taking over Room Two
Credit: Press Images (supplied)
Shimrise
Kicking off the series, Shimrise is the female duo who’ve made waves in Manchester’s house music scene, known for their fearless high-energy performances and risk-taking setlists.
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Recently featured at Parklife and supporting the likes of Tarsza (NTS, 6 Music), Vanessa Maria (Foundation FM), and Kennedy Taylor (Capital Xtra), Shimrise’s sets blend dance classics with unexpected twists, creating a nostalgic yet electrifying vibe.
Prepare for a captivating opener as they set the tone for Room Two. You can watch our interview with the impressive pair of DJs down below:
Renowned for his mastery of grime, garage, bassline and house, Oldboy merges authentic UK sounds with modern twists, capturing the gritty energy of pirate radio and evolving it for today’s club scene.
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His sets, steeped in UK bass culture, showcase explosive productions on labels like Untitled Dist. and his own Front Toward Enemy, making him a perfect choice to bring the classic Manchester rave vibe to Room Two.
A top talent well worth keeping your eyes on.
One of the most exciting names coming to the new StreamGM event at The Yard. (Credit: Press Images/The Manc Group)
Lapalace
With dreamy synths and classic drum breaks, Lapalace’s ambient dance project combines nostalgia with cutting-edge soundscapes.
Since launching in 2020, this Manchester-based artist has built a loyal following, recently crafting a new EP that expands her sonic palette beyond breaks, ambient, and jungle, creating an introspective yet powerful listening experience.
Genre-bending and certainly one to watch.
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Credit: Supplied
Ghoulish
Speaking of which, as one of UKF and Mixmag’s ‘Ones to Watch’, Ghoulish is also setting the UK club scene alight with genre-blurring productions and intense DJ sets.
From euphoric dance to core-rattling dubstep, he blends a broad spectrum of sounds, recently earning a release on Skream’s label I FEEL and a spot on Warehouse ProjectRecords.
Expect a high-octane set that defies genres and pushes boundaries.
Credit: Press Images (supplied)
Me Gusta Collective
Taking fans on a global musical journey, Me Gusta Collective brings a rhythmic mix of Latin house, reggaeton, broken Beat, Gqom, afro-techno and house.
Known for uniting diverse sounds and creating an inclusive dance floor atmosphere, Me Gusta Collective’s sets resonate with anyone looking for beats that transcend borders.
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Also, goes without saying but… great f***ing name, isn’t it?
Credit: Press Images (supplied)
Finn
Inspired by both Manchester’s electric dance scene and US West Coast influences, Finn has cultivated a reputation for soulful, high-energy tracks.
With hits like ‘Keep Calling’ and ‘Do What You Want Forever’, his releases have become dancefloor staples.
A regular on NTS and a curator at SOUP and A Party Called, Finn’s sets are a celebration of Manchester’s underground energy with global appeal.
Finn rounds out the first wave of Room 2 acts set to play for StreamGM at The Yard (Credit: Supplied)
Join the launch this Friday, 8 November, at 7 pm with Shimrise, and catch all upcoming sets on StreamGM’s website and the Facebook pages of The Manc and StreamGM.
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With an exhilarating line-up set to redefine Manchester’s underground scene, Room Two is where the future of dance music begins.
Featured Images — Press Images (supplied)/The Manc Group
Audio
AJ Tracey is playing a VERY intimate gig in Manchester next month
Thomas Melia
London rapper and respected grime artist AJ Tracey is ‘live and direct’ once again, announcing a whole host of UK dates, one of which is a rather intimate gig right here in Manchester.
It’s official: one of UK rap’s leading gents is getting back on the road and he’s showing a ‘Little More Love’ to lots of cities, including Manchester.
In a post on the UK star’s socials, AJ Tracey trades his music persona for that of a sports pundit as he announces the dates for his upcoming tour while impersonating an F1 commentator.
Anyone looking to attend Tracey’s ‘Not Even A Tour’ can catch the star up and down the country on his over 20-date tour with a stop in Manchester as soon as this month.
The rapper has reached phenomenal heights since dropping the unforgettable ‘Ladbroke Grove’ in 2019 and is heading out across the nation to make sure everyone knows about it.
Get ready to spit bars left and right as this rapper’s discography is stacked with serious tunes like ‘Dinner Guest’, ‘West Ten’, ‘Thiago Silva’ and more.
More recently, he collaborated with Walsall’s finest Jorja Smith for a flirty garage beat also known as ‘Crush’ with the video being the two artists talking it out in a good old fashioned caff.
The latest collaboration with Smith marks the start of a new era for Mr. Live and direct as it fell in line with the announcement of his third studio album.
Titled Don’t Die Before You’re Dead, we’re sure he’ll be “building a vibe” wherever he goes and probably previewing a few exclusive tracks from his upcoming project too.
This gig may come as quite a surprise for any hardcore fans of the ‘Ladbroke Grove’ star as the venue in which he’s performing is definitely intimate only, holding just over 250 guests.
This rap giant is bringing his unbelievable beats to none other than the legendary small-cap city centre live music venue, The Deaf Institute, at the end of this month.
It’s safe to say you won’t get many more chances, if any, to see him in such a tight-knit space again.
AJ Tracey is bringing ‘Not Even A Tour’ to Deaf Institute in Manchester on 30 April, with tickets on sale Friday 4 April from 12 noon.
Manchester City’s Nathan Aké donates piano to grassroots music venue
Thomas Melia
Footballer and Manchester City star Nathan Aké has donated a piano to an iconic city centre grassroots venue in Manchester.
To celebrate ‘International Piano Day’, the Dutch defender has teamed up with legendary instrument-makers Casio by donating a state-of-the-art piano in one very lucky music venue.
Aké and Casio are donating pianos across the UK through their joint project titled ‘Playing For Change’.
The iconic grassroots venue that’s receiving this prestigious instrument is none other than Band on the Wall, which has been pumping out live music under this name since 1975.
Processed with VSCO with kp5 presetProcessed with VSCO with kp5 presetCredit: Supplied
This new addition will help the venue as a whole, but more importantly, it will come in very handy for their Saturday Music Club.
Running every weekend, this session helps young people discover music and develop their skills, now via the fantastic PX-S7000 Casio piano.
Band on the Wall is a much-loved and adored Manchester city centremusic institution, and they aren’t the only place benefitting from the Manchester city star and Casio.
So far, 12 disadvantaged schools in the UK have benefitted from this joint effort from Aké and Casio, all of which were surprised with their very own digital piano.
This newest partnership won’t come as a surprise to fans of the Man City centre-back, as he’s been known to play the piano since teaching himself in 2020, and now he’s spreading his love of music to communities nationwide.
Neil Evans, Head of Casio EMI, commented:“It’s exciting for us to support Band on the Wall with a gift of a brand new Privia piano.”
“We’re hoping it’s used often and inspires people into learning the piano and increasing their access to the joys of music, which is at the core of Playing For Change.”
As for Aké, while he might be sidelined for the foreseeable following surgery on a fractured foot, the Netherlands international will hopefully be able to get lots of practice playing those keys.
Emily Johnson -
4th November 2024 
