The UK’s largest indoor techno experience is coming to Warehouse Project (WHP)in Manchester this autumn.
Promising huge headline sets from techno giants 999999999, Reinier Zonneveld and Vladimir Dubyshkin, the giant techno event will run for 12 hours across four separate stages at Depot Mayfield.
Returning to the city this autumn for its third edition, XXL will take place on Saturday 7 October from 5pm to 5am and is being hosted by WHP in partnership with Teletech and Lo-Fi.
Further DJ sets at the all-day and night party will come from the likes of Kobosil, I Hate Models, DJ Heartstring, KI/KI, blk., Nina Kraviz, Paula Temple b2b SNTS, Shlømo b2b Sara Landry, Adrián Mills, Azyr, Basswell, Billy Does, blk., Charlie Sparks, Cloudy, CLTX, DJ Hyperdrive, Faster Horses, HØLEIGH, Krl Mx, LESSSS, Lucia Lu, Mac Declos, Malugi, Nico Moreno b2b DYEN, OGUZ and more.
Image: WHP
Image: WHP
The news follows the announcement from Warehouse Project about its opening season parties as it gears up to return to its home at Depot Mayfield this September.
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Kicking things off on 15 September will be a special show from Australian house music DJ Sonny Fodera with friends, followed by a return of ground-breaking Repercussion Festival which marks the official opening of the new season on 16 September.
The day and night party will run across the entire expanse of Depot Mayfield, covering eight unique stages, including the intimate Star & Garter pub and an immense street party on neighbouring Temperance Street.
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For the first time, Repercussion will also extend onto the deserted train lines that sit upon the rooftop of the Depot, with two brand new spaces being brought to life: a rooftop takeover celebrating 25 years of Rush Hour and a cinema specially programmed by i-D magazine.
Repercussion’s vast line-up showcases dance music in all its forms. Bicep will be debuting their brand-new Chroma (AV/DJ Set) show at the event.
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Moderat also return to Manchester for their first live show in the city since 2016, and Kerri Chandler brings his super rare Reel-To-Reel set-up to Manchester for the very first time. Also in town are Jon Hopkins, TSHA (Live), Biig Piig and many more.
The following week on Saturday 23 September, the Worry About Henry x Metropolis sees the largest Drum & Bass event ever at Warehouse Project break out across the entire Mayfield complex, with over 100 artists from across the DnB spectrum, including Hybrid Minds, Wilkinson, Hedex, Bou and many more.
On Friday 29th September, long-time electronic party crew Kaluki returns for a special birthday show and label showcase. Jamie Jones, Joseph Capriati, Hot Since 82, Solardo, Chris Stussyand more lead the proceedings for this season opener.
As we embrace the Autumn season, Saturday 30 September, sees the seminal ‘Welcome to the Warehouse’ show return for a six-stage takeover with various influential artists.
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This year, Welcome to the Warehouse features the likes of Honey Dijon, The Blessed Madonna, Mall Grab, Job Jobse, Sherelle, Saoirse, and more revealed below.
Sam Kandel, Co-Founder of Warehouse Project said: “Before last year’s WHP run ended, we had already started on our plans for 2023.
“Now we can’t wait to get back into Depot Mayfield, where we are making significant production changes for this year, all to be revealed when we kick off in September.”
Alison Moyet has announced a huge European tour, including multiple Northern dates in the UK
Danny Jones
Seasoned British singer-songwriter and pop legend Alison Moyet is coming back to Manchester and more after announcing an extensive run of 2026 EU, UK and IE tour dates.
No rest for the wickedly talented and long adored.
Alison Moyet last visited Manchester in February last year, playing the stunning Bridgewater Hall in support of her latest album, Key, the 10th studio LP of her solo career.
However, now the 64-year-old artist and music veteran is set to play songs from her eighth record, the minutes, as well astracks from her days with Yazoo and more across Europe.
NEW: @alisonmoyet is headed on tour! Playing songs of Yazoo, including cuts from the minutes & Other, with a date at #O2ApolloManchester Fri 16 Oct.
— O2 Apollo Manchester (@O2ApolloManc) March 9, 2026
Moyet (real name Geneviève Alison Jane Ballard) formed Yazoo with ex-Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke in 1981, releasing two albums and becoming one of the most influential British groups of the time.
While clashes on multiple fronts saw the synth-pop duo ultimately break up in ’83, a handful of Yazoo hits like ‘Only You’, ‘Don’t Go’ and ‘Situation’ have continued to crop up in the Basildon-born artists over the years.
Once nicknamed ‘Alf’ as a youth – the same title she gave to her seminal debut album, released the year after the split – the young ‘tomboy’, turned teen punk, then synth, soul and pop act has experimented with everything from electronica to printmaking.
Put simply, she remains just as much of a creative force today as she was back then.
2025 saw her first full headline tour in eight years, playing shows not just here and over in Ireland, but across the mainland continent, Australia and New Zealand.
This current calendar will also see her touring with fellow 80s icons The Human League and Soft Cell on their ‘The Generations Tour’ in the summer – but by the autumn, she’ll be rolling back the years and working through her own back catalogue.
As you can see, as well as coming to Manchester’s O2 Apollo, other dates to see Alison Moyet live in the North this October include the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, Sheffield‘s City Hall, Buxton, Blackpool and several others.
Speaking on the upcoming tour, Alison said: “Many years touring the same pool of songs, and I am keen for a palate refresher.
“Specifying which years I will be fishing from, too, I think, is a grand way to serve potluck for specific tastes. No bones…” Ever the wordsmith.
The domestic pre-sale window here opens at 10am this coming Wednesday, 11 March, with general admission tickets going live at the same time the following Friday (13 Mar); you can get ready to grab yours right HERE.
Oh, and if you were wondering how her live performances sound these days, look no further than her recent Isle of Wight slot.
Featured Images — Publicity picture (supplied)/Hinnerk Rümenapf (via Wikimedia Commons)
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A special The Smiths reissue was cancelled due to a dispute between Morrissey and Johnny Marr
Danny Jones
According to some new information, a special reissue of The Smiths’ debut album was reportedly abandoned due to disagreements between Morrissey and Johnny Marr.
Since the Gallagher brothers have buried the hatchet, guess someone’s got to keep the Manchester music feuding alive.
Yes, as per a high-profile source from Rough Trade, ‘Moz’ and Marr couldn’t settle on one key issue which would have seen the self-titled first Smiths LP re-released for their label and indie record store’s 50th anniversary.
Speaking on the German music podcast, Vinyl &…, one of Rough Trade’s European bosses revealed that aside from not exactly being chummy these days, the band’s two most famous members couldn’t agree on what the album artwork would be.
Whack on English subtitles to see what was said.
Yes, that really was the main sticking point, apparently.
Curt Keplin, who is the managing director for Rough Trade’s EU presence, said that The Smiths were a big part of their golden jubilee/half-century celebrations.
Sadly, The Smiths’ inaugural outing then had to be pulled from the plans at the last minute, with the ‘Smooth Operator’ herself, Sade, taking their place.
Initially set to fly the flag for the 1984 retrospective, Keplin said: “Actually, The Smiths were supposed to be included, but Johnny Marr and Morrissey couldn’t agree on how the packaging should look. So, things remain relatively difficult between those two.”
‘Difficult’ is probably putting it mildly, with Morrissey having long since accused his former bandmate, lead guitarist and co-songwriter turned solo artist, of controlling key rights that could see him tour as The Smiths without him.
He went on to add: “You first have to find an artist who is basically open to it and thinks it’s great and then gives us the rights – or rather, the label then says, ‘Ok, this is now being repressed in a different colour, in new packaging’, and so on and so forth.”
The anniversary stuff first began being compiled last summer, with 2026 being the start of a year-long schedule of limited edition vinyl releases and more – but unfortunately, The Smiths aren’t looking like they’ll be part of it.
While it may seem slightly petty to some, more than anything, it’s probably just symptomatic of the simmering resentment between the two that still remains.
However, fans of either or both have still been treated to Morrissey‘s latest and divisive drop, Make-Up Is a Lie, and Johnny Marr will be coming back to town for a massive homecoming gig at Castlefield Bowl.
Georgina Pellant -
27th June 2023 
