The Warehouse Project in Manchester has announced its opening shows for 2022 and as ever there are some brilliant acts on the bill.
Returning to its home at Depot Mayfield, the celebrated Manchester party series will run from August Bank Holiday weekend to New Year’s Day 2023.
Beginning earlier this year than ever before, Bonobo, Caribou, and The National are already confirmed to play the opening weekend across Friday 26 and Saturday 27 August.
Adding to this, the lineup for the series’ reopening sequence has now been confirmed in full – and The Warehouse Project will be bringing some big names to the former Royal Mail Depot for 2022, including Mike Skinner, Eric Prydz, Jamie XX and Little Simz.
First up, Repercussion returns on Saturday 10 September for its second edition. A celebration of groundbreaking music and art in all its forms, it will be hosted across the full expanse of Depot Mayfield, spread into the historic Star & Garter with Boiler Room, and host a huge street party curated by Mr Scruff.on neighbouring Temperance Street.
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Image: The Warehouse Project
As part of the inner-city festival, Warehouse Project will bring Jamie xx, Little Simz, Fred again.., Jeff Mills and Underground Resistance to Manchester alongside a huge cast of handpicked artists from around the world.
The following Friday, 16 September, the one and only Eric Prydz will make an appearance for his only Northern club show this Autumn/Winter season.
The following night, another huge Saturday lands on 17 September as Disclosurereturn to the Depot alongside seminal electronic talents for another five-stage takeover to celebrate the start of the party season. DJs confirmed to appear on the night include Skream, Mella Dee, Denis Sulta and Eclair Fifi.
Moving deeper into Autumn, WHP22 will begin to roll out some big club shows including the DnB hero event with Metropolis on Saturday 22 September, featuring a huge headline set from Chase & Status and Andy C.
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Image: The Warehouse Project
This will be followed on Saturday 1 October with a raft of house and techno stalwarts taking to the decks as part of the Welcome to the Warehouse party, spearheaded by Joseph Capriati, The Martinez Brothers, Loco Dice and Seth Troxler.
As for fans of UKG, the Ape Birthday on Friday 7 October is an absolute must with a line-up stacked with leading names from the scene including Craig David, Mike Skinner and MJ Cole.
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 -
24th May 2022 
