Sacha Lord has teased details of a secret gig in Manchester, with exclusive sets from world-famous DJs and a complimentary bar throughout.
The Warehouse Project and Parklife co-founder will host the one-off event to celebrate the publication of his tell-all book, Tales from the Dance Floor.
There’ll be space for only 300 people at the gig, with tickets distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis to those who can prove they’ve bought the book.
Attendees of the secret gig will also receive three different DJ mixes covering the last three decades of Manchester’s house music scene.
Sacha says he’s found a ‘derelict venue right in the heart of Manchester city centre’, the identity of which will be kept secret until the day before the gig.
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Before the music kicks off, there’ll be a Q&A with Sacha Lord and the book’s co-author Luke Bainbridge, who will chat about Manchester’s rise to becoming the capital of UK nightlife.
Then the venue will transform to host the launch party – and there’ll be a complimentary bar running all night too.
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Tales from the Dance Floor has endorsements from Aitch, Shaun Ryder and Ian Brown, and will reveal behind-the-scenes accounts from seminal clubs like Sankeys, Home, The Hacienda and Paradise Factory.
Sacha Lord has announced details of a top-secret gig to celebrate the release of his book, Tales From The Dance Floor. Credit: Darren Robinson Photography
Speaking about the announcement, Sacha Lord said: “On Thursday 11th April, I will be holding a book launch party like no one has ever seen.
“I’ve found a derelict venue right in the heart of Manchester city centre, which we’ll be revealing via text message the day before in true warehouse style.
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“I’ve never known of a book launch event like this. It will bring back memories for those who remember the days of Sankeys and the Hacienda, right through to those who come to the Warehouse Project today.
“It will be an incredible showcase of how Manchester rules the house scene and only available to a select number of people. There’s no private guest list for VIPs, no names on the door – we want this event to be open to all, on a first come first served basis and we can’t wait to open the doors.”
To be in with a chance of receiving a ticket, a pre-purchase Amazon receipt for Tales from the Dance Floor must be emailed to the event’s dedicated ticketing email on [email protected].
Tales from the Dance Floor will be published by HarperNorth, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, on 11 April 2024.
A pre-order link for the book is now live and you can order your copy on Amazon here.
Robyn: The Sexistential Tour – Co-op Live, Manchester | Review
Lonnie Bowes
There are pop stars, and then there is Robyn.
There’s something about the Co-op Live that still feels new, but last night it felt like it had been waiting for a show like this. The Swedish icon brought her long-awaited Sexistential Tour to Manchester, and from the first beat drop, the arena was hers.
Opening with a wall of robes, strobes and a euphoric rush of synths. Robyn didn’t so much arrive as materialise – already dancing, already fully committed. The production was immense; towering LED rigs, carefully crafted lighting, and a stage that somehow managed to feel intimate despite the sheer scale of the room. It was a proper spectacle.
Images: The Manc Group
The setlist drew from across her catalogue, weaving newer material around the bangers with real care. Honey felt celestial. With Every Heartbeat did what it always does. And when the opening bars of Dancing On My Own finally landed, the roar that met them was something else entirely – the kind that gives you goosebumps on the back of your neck. Even if you’ve heard the song a thousand times it still landed it like it was the first time.
What strikes you most about Robyn, though, isn’t the production or even the songs. It’s how real she seems up there. She throws herself into every lyric, dances like nobody’s watching, and radiates a kind of joy that feels hard-won rather than performed. In an era of very calculated pop, that matters.
The Sexistential Tour is exactly what it promises – big questions about love, loneliness, and what it means to just exist, set to some of the best pop music ever written.
Manchester, she owned us and I think we are all okay with that.
Manchester institution ‘a little emotional’ after receiving a visit from rock icon Hayley Williams
Daisy Jackson
Rock icon Hayley Williams has been spotted shopping at Manchester institution Afflecks.
The legendary independent retail emporium said it was ‘feeling a little emotional’ after its halls were graced with rock royalty.
And not only did the Paramore frontwoman and acclaimed solo singer-songwriter come for a browse, she even gave Afflecks a shout-out on stage later that night.
Hayley Williams headlined two solo shows at Manchester Academy on Monday and Tuesday this week.
The shows are in support of her third studio album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party.
And despite being known globally as one of music’s best lead vocalists, this is actually Hayley Williams’ first solo tour (her previous dates were cancelled because of Covid).
While on stage in front of fans last night, she said: “I’ve learnt some Mancunian, and I’ve been to Afflecks!”
It sounds like she’s as lovely as she is legendary, with Afflecks saying that the star hung around to chat and take photos.
Sharing photos of the star inside the building, Afflecks wrote: “So a very special visitor stopped by Afflecks yesterday…
“A huge thank you to Hayley Williams for taking the time to visit us, say hello, and pose for a photo. She was so super lovely, kind, and welcoming, and to top it all off she even gave Afflecks a shout-out during last night’s show.
“Safe to say we’re feeling a little emotional about it. Thank you again Hayley for supporting Manchester’s small businesses.”
Daisy Jackson -
29th January 2024 
