A new club night will launch in Manchester this Friday in the Northern Quarter, specialising in feel-good futuristic house and other eclectic sounds.
Called XXYLO, the new, alternative electronic night will bring something a little different to the city’s nightlife scene, mixing the best in amapiano, UK funky house, garage, world, soulful house, broken beats and liquid drum and bass.
Launched by TRPHSE founders Sham Steele, Kieran, and Jahmel, the new futuristic house night will see Off The Square transformed into a tropical canyon oasis, right in the centre of Manchester’s concrete jungle.
Image: XXYLO
From 11pm until late, revellers can expect some crazy mapped projections visuals alongside a line-up of the most in-demand DJs, including Sham Steele, Rosie Vacci B, DJ Chaise, Jack Bagshaw, and Papu Raf.
The trio are on a mission to diversify the nightlife scene across the UK by creating spaces that showcase emerging sounds, provide a platform for emerging talent and unite communities through an appreciation of experimental music.
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Having lost quite a few venues that always championed these underground sounds in recent years, it’s a welcome addition to the Manchester scene.
As the Brit Awards showed last night, the mainstream music industry in the UK is still heavily dominated by London – despite the fact that many brilliant emerging artists come out of the north, and Manchester in particular.
Our city is known for its music, it birthed a modern clubbing revolution in the UK, and has made a name for itself creating spaces that showcase emerging sounds. The Hacienda, of course, being the most obvious example.
In recent years, however, a number of smaller independent venues have closed – often to be replaced with apartment blocks or shops.
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Legendary Manchester nightclub Sankeys is just one to have fallen victim to property developers, but we can think of many more. Music Box is now a Tesco Metro, Antwerp Mansion a shell of its former self (not that it was ever in great nick to begin with, but at least the lights were still on).
So it’s refreshing to see a new alternative electronic night land on the city’s scene, championing sounds from a varied selection of artists like Kaytranada, Disclosure, Bugs In The Attic, Wookie and more.
Exclusively for XXYLO’s launch, free tickets are up for grabs on Skiddle. These will be valid until 12:30am, any entrants after this will be able to purchase a ticket for £6-£10 on the door if there is capacity.
XXYLO will debut in Manchester on Friday 11 February at Off The Square, 65-67, Lever Street, M1 1FL.
Super League ‘Rivals Round’ fixtures confirmed, with two big North West clashes
Danny Jones
The Betfred Super League (BSL) ‘Rivals Round’ games for 2026 have been confirmed, with two big regional clashes coming in time for the spring.
Returning for 2026, the annual meeting of multiple teams coming up against their fiercest and most historic rivals will land on round seven of the calendar over the traditional Easter weekend.
Despite the competition having sadly lost Salford Red Devils following their forced relegation, local rugby fans will still be glad to see the borough of Wigan, as well as neighbouring Cheshire and nearby Merseyside clubs, coming up against each other in what is a highly anticipated fixture on the calendar.
Announcing the now fully confirmed matches this week, the total of seven matches are set to be played between Friday, 3 April and the following Sunday, 5 April.
In the Super League’s own words, there are few gameweeks more box office than the Rivals Round – “where the games mean more, hit harder and have the ability to divide towns and families.”
After the inaugural edition of the modern round in 2021, this year saw the division record a best-ever attendance of 86,080 across a six-match period, and with an extra game being played next season, we’re expecting more ground to be broken.
“The most intense and historic rivalries will go head-to-head with huge crowds anticipated, emotions running high and everyone expected to bring their A game”, say the BSL.
Huddersfield Giants v York Knights – Saturday, 4 April
Castleford Tigers v Wakefield Trinity – Sunday, 5 April
One of the most notable exclusions among the slate, of course, is that of Salford Red Devils, as various players and staff members continue to leave the club during this increasingly concerning and deep period of uncertainty.
Salford supporters have given a clear response following the decisive drop in IMG gradings:
Although they are now longer in rugby league’s premier domestic tier, Salford are still expected to take part in the Challenge Cup tournament, which begins in January.
Betfred and the RFL revealed the most recent ties on Monday, 24 November, with the Devils due to face either Royal Navy Rugby or Hammersmith Hills Hoists in the second round.
Meanwhile, with the new campaign kicking off in February, rugby fans will only have to wait a couple of months to witness the upcoming instalments in the various rivalries.
Safe to say it’s going to be a spicy Easter break.
A Greater Manchester campaigner is calling on the government to get rid of VAT on energy bills
Danny Jones
With the colder months now well and truly upon us, a local campaigner is calling on the UK government to scrap VAT on energy bills across the country.
The nation is still in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, and besides grocery shopping, business rates and eating out still climbing, one of the biggest hits to the wallet continues to be at home, thanks to the cost of gas and electricity.
With that in mind, and as we approach the ever-challenging festive period when purse strings feel tighter than ever, industry expert and Bolton-born entrepreneur Corin Dalby is making a fresh push for crucial aid and urging Brits to put digital pen to paper.
Sharing the petition link on social media – which has been taken up by more than 42,000 people online – Dalby is asking others who believe domestic residents deserve a much-needed let-off to sign the Change.org document and help scrap VAT on energy bills in the UK.
Introducing himself and the idea in the description beneath the petition, the Greater Manchester native writes: “My name is Corin Dalby, and last year I successfully campaigned for hospices in the UK to receive an extra £100 million of government funding, with the support of 37,254 signatures.
“Now I’m calling on the Government to axe the 5% VAT we are all forced to pay on our energy bills.”
Dalby, 56, is the co-founder and CEO of non-profit energy company, Box Power CIC (community interest company), and has seen significant money from FCA fines go towards palliative care facilities since December last year.
Pointing out that the current energy secretary and former Prime Ministerial candidate, Ed Miliband, has previously hinted that his party would be open to this possibility, he goes on to add: “It’s vital that we hold them to this, to bring some much-needed relief to millions of households.”
While the initial goal aligned with the hope of getting enough signatures to put this bill forward in time for the most recent Labour budget (revealed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Wednesday, 26 November), the initiative could still provide vital support this winter – especially for those worst off.
As mentioned, the 2025 autumn statement has now been shared publicly following some early leaks, and despite including positives like a lift on minimum wage, as well as benefit increases, there have been much bigger reactions to aspects such as the hits being taken by pensioners and more.
The 2025 autumn budget has been largely underpinned by raising taxes by an estimated £26 billion.
If anything, the announcement has made the plea from Dalby and those in agreement more poignant than ever – and there are, indeed, plenty of people in his camp.
Sharing his most recent update back in October on social media, Corin said: “Overjoyed to see 20,000 signatures in just 3 hours.
“Scrapping the 5% VAT will directly save every hospice [an area he’s already successfully advocated for in the past], house and care home in the country, so who will help us to knock this out of the park and help the most vulnerable in our country and quickly smash 100,000?
“If you wish to help make a difference, please support this petition by just adding your name and [circulating] to like-minded contacts and repost this if possible.”
If you agree with the petition, you can sign via the official Change.org link right HERE.
Georgina Pellant -
9th February 2022 
