Picture this: It’s Saturday, the sun’s blazing, you’ve just cracked open your first beer and you’re off to meet your mates for the reunion of the decade.
The thought makes us feel warm and fuzzy inside. And providing things go to plan, this could be us as early as June 21. But before that, there’s a whole host of smaller and socially distanced events to tide us over.
Within the next few days we’ll be able to mingle outside in groups of six. By May, both indoor and outdoor socially-distanced music events could be in full swing. So, this is your sign to get the group back together. And to help you plan your reunion, here’s our guide to gigs and music events in the coming months – that feels SO good to say, by the way.
Social Avenue, Trafford Park, Stretford – Various dates
Image credit: Social Avenue
A massive hit last year, Social Avenue’s socially-distanced approach to clubbing returns to Trafford Park very soon – and with dates as early as May, it doesn’t even seem that far away. Despite a couple of events already selling out, tickets are still available for Darius Syrossian on 21 May, Yousef on 22 May and Eats Everything on 28 May – albeit running row. They’ve got two dates left to be announced so keep your eyes peeled for those as well.
This must be booked in groups of four, five or six as you’ll need to stick to your area. More details and tickets on Skiddle here.
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Social Circle, Victoria Warehouse, Stretford – Various dates
Brought to you by the people behind Social Avenue, Social Circle is the indoor version of the event: Same cracking little lineups and still socially-distanced for now, just set inside (and away from the Mancunian drizzle). Skream kicks off the new series on 21 May, with a number of events running through June too.
Same rules apply, tickets must be bought in groups of four, five or six and you all have to arrive together and stick to your table. Maximum two households per table.
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All the info and tickets can also be found on Skiddle here.
Hidden: The Reopening – 21 and 22 June (double header)
The usual antics at Hidden will resume on 21 June with a huge opening party planned, spanning two days and nights. They’ve got a massive list of local names set to play across the two events, including Luke Unabomber, Poison Ivy, Althea and Mystique.
Tickets are split into day and night options, with different entry times for each ticket. Final release night tickets are still available for Part 1 and whilst more are available for Part 2 it’s mainly group tickets, so round up your pals. And with it being on a weekday, you might wanna book the next date off work or risk having some explaining to do.
Another one on 21 June is South’s reopening which they’re aptly calling “A New Beginning”. They’re making the most of the big day as the event starts bang on 00:01 and runs until 06:00. We’re buzzing for the basement’s return.
SQUARE ONE, City Centre – Various dates throughout summer
Announced last week, SQUARE ONE is a brand-new open-air venue opening in June. There’s already a mega opening series of lineups which include Hot Since 82, Denis Sulta and Enzo Siragusa – all in an old car park off the Mancunian Way. Make sure you sign up for early access to new shows that’ll be added to their calendar soon.
Kaluki Summer Soundsystem, Victoria Warehouse Basement – various dates throughout summer
Manchester-based promotors and record label Kaluki is returning to its humble roots and heading back to basement parties for a special series of intimate events. There are some cracking lineups planned, including appearances from Ben Sterling, Archie Hamilton, Chris Stussy, Rich NxT and Alisha.
Tickets for the opening night on 3 July are already sold out and are running low on the rest of the nights too, so get them on Skiddle here quick.
Dr Banana B2B Interplanetary Criminal, Hidden – 9 July
On 9 July, there’s a big night of garage, jungle, grime and bass happening within the graffiti-covered walls of Hidden and we’re so ready for it. Dr Banana and Interplanetary Criminal take the headline spot but Oneman, Jossy Mitsu, Bailey Ibbs and Dr Dubplate will also provide the bassy soundtrack for the evening.
Belgian techno DJ and producer Amelie Lens will play Victoria Warehouse as part of her UK tour. She’s been tearing up the techno scene recently and we can expect more of her signature dark and thumping techno style on 10 July. She’ll be joined on the night by Airod, Blasha and Allatt.
“Techno marching brass band” MEUTE will appear at the O2 Ritz on 8 September as part of their UK tour. Their combination of brass band instruments with hypnotic techno beats creates a unique twist that makes the band unforgettable. It’s like nothing you’ll ever have seen before.
Iconic Manchester band New Order are taking on a mammoth homecoming show at Heaton Park on 10 September. It’ll be their first show in four years in their hometown as well, so not to be missed. They’ll have support from special guests Hot Chip and Working Men’s Club, too.
If you got Parklife tickets this week, congrats. The return to Heaton Park on 11-12 September sold out in record time in Wednesday’s presale without even making it general sale. But after everyone’s year off raving and a lineup like that, it was bound to happen.
Don’t give up just yet though, resale tickets might come available soon on the Ticketmaster website here.
Blossoms, AO Arena – 18 September
After having to reschedule their gig at AO Arena a couple of times now, Blossoms should finally play the Arena on 18 September for the Manchester leg of their forthcoming UK tour. All previous tickets remain valid for the new date, but if you’re without one, find some here including resale tickets. Be quick because these are running very low.
90s Baby Pop, Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Trafford Park – 18 September
For a massive night of 90s nostalgia, 90s Baby Pop is bringing together some of the most iconic pop artists of all time for the biggest throwback gig of the decade. We’re talking the likes of Peter Andre, Gareth Gates, S Club, Cheeky Girls, Blazin Squad, Atomic Kitten and East 17 all live in the flesh. I know.
This one is very close to selling out, with just 1% of tickets left. Grab them on Skiddle here.
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Further afield
Come April when we’re allowed to leave our local area with our household or support bubble, you might be interested in venturing out to see what our neighbouring cities also have to offer.
Crackle presents A Guy Called Gerald (live), 24 Kitchen Street, Liverpool – 3 July
Over in Liverpool, there’s an equally exciting selection of gigs and events popping up. Particularly this one at 24 Kitchen Street on 3 July. Manchester-born DJ and early member of the legendary 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, will play a live set at the Baltic Triangle venue.
BassJam return with their iconic filthy drum and bass event on 24 July, with Macky Gee and CruCast members Darkzy and Bru-C. This one’s at Liverpool’s Hangar34 and will be on point with the carnage and signature high energy atmosphere.
Moxy Mu:zik presents Darius Syrossian, Mint Warehouse, Leeds – 26 June
The Moxy Muzik showcase at Mint Warehouse has fallen victim to serial rescheduling. But it’s looking like it could finally happen on 26 June. As it’s an old show, over 50% of tickets have already gone for this. A fresh batch go on sale on Friday 26 March though, if you want one.
Stay up-to-date with Manchester music and announcements via The Manc Audio.
Music
Meet Larishka – the DJ making her mark on Manchester’s Garage scene
Emily Johnson
It’s time to meet Larishka – Audio North’s Artist of the Month for October.
For Larishka, music has always been around her in some form. Growing up surrounded by classical and rock music, she never expected her route into electronic music to begin with a Parklife set from Carl Cox, before eventually becoming a DJ, promoter, and co-owner of Manchester’s Ghosts of Garage.
Today, she runs events, DJs across House, Garage and Bass, and is helping build a community around one of Manchester’s most exciting electronic music brands.
From promoter to DJ
Larishka actually started out as a promoter while doing an apprenticeship at a music booking agency. She always knew she wanted to work on the events side rather than bookings, but felt like she wasn’t going to make many connections within the industry while living in Oldham.
Her plan was to go to university to study music, with the hope of learning to produce while also moving into Manchester and making connections within the city’s music scene.
Quite quickly into her studies, she joined Ghosts of Garage. After about a year, she had something of a lightbulb moment.
Meet Larishka, the DJ making her mark on Manchester’s Garage scene / Credit: Supplied
“I was studying music, I run my own nights, and I was always on the aux at house parties, so why have I not learned to DJ yet?” she explained.
That realisation came while she was sitting on MATTIK’s living room sofa, where she asked if he would teach her. Before long, she was calling him every day asking if they could go to the studio and practise mixing.
“I owe it to him really, he was a brilliant teacher.”
“I get it” – the Parklife moment that changed everything
Larishka’s introduction to electronic music wasn’t exactly the traditional one.
“I grew up on classical and rock music – my dad was a sound engineer in the 70s so that was his thing really, and my mum played the piano every single day so that’s what I was constantly around.”
She first heard house music when she was around 15 or 16, after a friend sent her a track they had found on SoundCloud.
“I listened to it out of my phone and didn’t really get it, it was too repetitive.”
A few years later, everything changed. After hearing Parklife from her window every year growing up, Larishka eventually went to the festival for the first time and watched Carl Cox close The Valley. He played ‘Finder’ by Ninetoes, and it was the first time she had experienced electronic music on a huge sound system.
“I remember being in absolute awe and turning to my friend and saying ‘I get it’ and from then, I was just absolutely hooked.”
It became a genuine turning point.
“I had my A Level exams that following week and when I was revising all I was listening to was house music and I remember my Dad coming in and saying ‘Is this you forever now?’ and I said ‘Yeah I think it is'”.
Larishka is Audio North’s Artist of the Month for October / Credit: Supplied
Why Manchester means so much
“I mean it’s home, and always has been.”
Having become part of the city’s music scene, she says she feels incredibly lucky to have found a community around her.
“There’s a certain camaraderie that exists here that I don’t know that you’d find anywhere else.”
For her, that sense of community is what makes Manchester’s music scene so special.
“Seeing people you know everywhere you go, you kinda feel like you’re never alone and that you’re actually part of something.”
That spirit extends beyond electronic music, too.
“And it’s not just in electronic music either, that spirit exists across all genres – Manchester music history is so rooted across such a broad spectrum of genres, and to see that still prevailing today is something we should all be proud of.”
Building Ghosts of Garage
It’s impossible to talk about Larishka’s journey without talking about Ghosts of Garage.
She’s a co-owner of the brand, having joined in 2021, and works across its marketing, bookings and creative direction alongside Rich Reason. For her, one of the biggest things that makes a Ghosts of Garage night stand out is its commitment to the music.
“The music and lineups truly never miss, which is a credit to Rich. The guy knows how to program a lineup.”
The team makes a conscious effort to champion new talent, often including at least one Manchester or UK debut on a lineup.
“A big part of each event is making them unique while keeping the brand consistent – each event has to have its own USP or else the nights get boring and people think they can just skip this one and go to the next and it’ll be the same.”
For Larishka, music has always been around her in some form / Credit: Supplied
Community is a huge part of the brand.
“We’re also big advocates of community and want to create the gap between audience and DJ as little as possible, so try to get the crowd involved as much as possible through things like our WhatsApp community.”
The aim is to make people feel like buying a ticket means becoming part of something bigger.
“We want people to feel like if you buy a ticket for our event, then you’ve unlocked a key to be part of something.”
Larishka’s advice for getting into Manchester’s music scene
For anyone hoping to break into Manchester’s music scene, Larishka’s advice is simple – go out.
“I’m way more likely to book you if we’ve met and we’ve had a good chat because it means I can put a face to a name and I know what you’re like.”
For her, being part of the community is about more than simply sending messages and asking for opportunities.
“Being an active member of the community means you’re already part of the night, so booking you to DJ just makes you even more part of it than you already are, rather than someone I’ve never met before who’s in my DMs.”
Ultimately, it comes back to the same thing that has shaped so much of Larishka’s own journey – showing up, meeting people, and becoming part of something.
Featured Image – Supplied
Music
The Warehouse Project announces fallow year and events on ‘far smaller scale’ from 2027
Daisy Jackson
The Warehouse Project has just announced that it will take a ‘short breather’ next year, with a fallow year on the cards.
The enormous clubbing series has cemented Manchester’s position as a leading nightlife city, drawing hundreds of thousands with its curated lineups and live sets.
Over the last 20 years, The Warehouse Project has transformed venues including a disused brewery, an underground car park (the iconic Store Street), and Victoria Warehouse.
Since moving into Depot Mayfield in 2019, the scale and magnitude of the clubbing series has rocketed, attracting huge names like Fred Again, Disclosure, Skrillex, Bicep, Four Tet, and plenty more.
There have also been massive nights curated by the likes of Annie Mac, Worried About Henry, Jamie XX, and more.
Plus huge recurring events every year, like the brilliant Homobloc and WHP’s almighty New Years closing parties.
But now, after two decades, the founders have announced ‘something of a fallow year’ in 2027.
While they’ve assured fans that there will still be events, these will be ‘on a far smaller scale’ – and will definitely not be returning to Store Street.
Reflecting back, they wrote: “The idea was simple: find a space that existed for a finite period each winter and create a series of totally unique musical moments – each unique in its own right, reaching different audiences, but all coming together under one roof for one unmissable season. A whole new format in which to experience this culture.
“Those early years had a particular energy. There was huge risk at every turn and, at times, unimaginable chaos that could easily have ended the whole thing before it had really begun. Amongst it all though, there was a feeling we were onto something special. We just needed to keep going.”
The statement continued: “Over the last two decades, almost everything aroundus has changed. Music has changed. Manchester has changed.
“The way people discover artists and experience nightlife has changed. And The Warehouse Project has kept evolving alongside it. We’ve moved through different homes and chapters. Each night leaving its own mark on the story.
“We’ve welcomed our heroes to play stages in train depots, old defunct brewerys and underground car parks. And we’ve seen multiple generations create cherished memories on that dancefloor.
“We spoke at length about how to mark 20 Years. After all this time, how do we make this 2026 season feel like the landmark moment it should be? We think the answer is to dial things back the following year. So, in 2027 WHP, in its current format, will take a short breather.”
The Warehouse Project added: “The Warehouse Project as you currently know it takes something of a fallow year in 2027.
“To the artists who trusted us; the agents, managers, promoters and partners who backed that crazy idea; and all the unsung heroes who have worked so incredibly hard behind the scenes, year after year – thank you.
“And to everyone who has ever bought a ticket, stood in a queue in the Manchester rain, discovered a new artist, lost their friends, found them again, stayed until the lights came up, or walked out into the morning knowing they’d just experienced something special. You are the reason we are still here.
Hannah Starkie -
25th March 2021 
