A new live-streamed clubbing series has been announced for Greater Manchester, which will beam our world-famous nightlife scene into living rooms across the globe.
MainRoom is the latest series from not-for-profit platform StreamGM, which comes from team behind lockdown favourite United We Stream.
Episodes will be broadcast live from dance floors, nightclubs, rooftops and basements around the city-region.
It’s all been created to capture Manchester’s legendary underground club culture and will shine a spotlight on the DJs and promoters operating in the city.
MainRoom events will take place monthly, over the course of three or four hours.
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Escape to Freight Island will host the first MainRoom event in July
The first event, She’s In Control, will be streamed from Escape to Freight Island on 24 July and will put women and people of marginalised genders front and centre.
Taking part in the She’s In Control livestream will be Jade Li, Edie, Danielle Moore from band Crazy P and Homoelectric resident, Gina Breeze.
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The collaboration will raise awareness and funds for Brighter Sound, a local organisation aiming to help underrepresented people develop careers in the industry.
StreamGM’s MainRoom series will be presented by Rebecca Swarray aka DJ Mix-Stress, who is the founder and curator of Manchester based events and arts collective, RebeccaNeverBecky and co-founder of queer DJ Collective, Queer Latifah.
Rebecca Swarray. Credit: Supplied
Episodes already lined up include collaborations with La Discotheque, Not Bad For A Girl, Mixing Mates, Black Gold Arts and Band on the Wall.
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Co-founder of StreamGM Laura Graham said: “Greater Manchester’s clubbing scene is historic, and renowned as THE destination city for a night out. This is partly due to the region’s vast clubbing tapestry, amazing super clubs, and major venues across the city, but also because Greater Manchester has always maintained a thriving, progressive and influential, grassroots clubbing scene, and it’s this scene we want to identify and explore.
“MainRoom will provide visibility for Manchester’s local clubbing culture, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, accessibility, empowerment, and most of all – fun times – for marginalised groups.
“We will collaborate directly with promoters and take amazing local talent and new clubbing concepts beyond the venue walls with our online audiences.
MainRoom’s first event posted. Credit: Supplied
“MainRoom will also give viewers a sense of the latest music, dance and fashion trends, straight from the club vibes and dancefloors.
“People all over the world will be able to use MainRoom to dip into Manchester’s epic clubbing scene, use our streams as soundtracks to house parties, or watch them to research future nights out in the city.
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“During United We Stream, our team were overwhelmed by messages from people for whom live streaming had given them access to events they would never normally be able to attend for myriad reasons, from disability and caring responsibilities to location or cost. MainRoom will open Mancunian clubbing to EVERYONE.”
MainRoom host Rebecca said: “MainRoom is a vital and exciting platform that will showcase exactly what the real creative essence of Manchester is.
“Platforming people on the ground, creating spaces and places for the under-presented and less visible is vital for cultural identity. This city has a melting pot of diverse talent, and I am honoured to be involved in MainRoom and look forward to speaking, showcasing, and interviewing some amazing people doing amazing things.”
StreamGM recently partnered with FAC51 The Hacienda for their landmark 40th Birthday party, and livestreamed their entire eight hour event, direct from the carpark of the Hacienda Apartments on Whitworth Street.
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The first live event is on July 24h at 9pm at She’s In Control – Freight Island.
Featured image: Supplied
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Doves announce first hometown gig for 15 years in Manchester on UK tour
Daisy Jackson
Doves have announced a massive homecoming show – their first Manchester gig in 15 years – on their upcoming tour, but without frontman Jimi Goodwin.
The Manchester-founded band are heading out on a full UK tour in support of their sixth studio album Constellations for the Lonely.
Doves will be heading to Aviva Studios for a huge show, along with dates in Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and London, to name a few.
The new tour dates are in addition to the already sold-out intimate dates in Stoke, Birkenhead and Hebden Bridge.
Lead singer Jimi Goodwin will sit out the live tour to focus on his health – the band had previously cancelled their 2021 tour to protect his wellbeing.
He has said that his current circumstances are ‘not compatible with a mad, city-to-city schedule’.
Instead, Andy and Jez Williams will alternate on vocals and are promising a ‘one-of-a-kind experience’.
In a heartwarming statement about their Doves bandmate, they said: “This tour is incredibly special as Jimi is stepping back from live to focus on his well being.
“Mental health has always been central to Doves, and we fully support him in his decision.”
Doves announced their new album Constellations For The Lonely last week, shortly before confirming their UK tour and Manchester homecoming gig.
The band have recorded tracks, including recent Goodwin-fronted single Renegade, through a patchwork of in-person and remote recording sessions.
Doves UK tour dates in full
Tue 25 Feb – Glasgow, SWG3
Wed 26 Feb – Edinburgh, La Belle Angele
Thu 27 Feb – Newcastle, Boiler Shop
Sat 1 Mar – Leeds, Beckett SU
Sun 2 Mar – Sheffield, Leadmill
Tue 4 Mar – Liverpool, O2 Academy
Fri 7 Mar – Manchester, Aviva Studios, home of Factory International
Sun 8 Mar – Birmingham, O2 Institute
Mon 10 Mar – Nottingham, Rock City
Tue 11 Mar – Norwich, Waterfront
Thu 13 Mar – London, O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
Fri 14 Mar – Bristol, SWX
Sat 15 Mar – Southampton, Engine Rooms
Mon 17 Mar – Brighton, Chalk
Tue 18 Mar – Oxford, O2 Academy
Tickets for all dates go on general sale on Thursday 21 November at 9.30am HERE.
Robbie Williams announces massive Manchester show next summer and ‘new music’ coming soon
Danny Jones
British pop royalty Robbie Williams has just announced a massive Manchester show coming next summer and has teased that new music is “coming soon” – the scramble for these tickets is going to be unreal…
The former boy band favourite turned chart-topping solo star is back at the forefront of the public consciousness once again after revealing the trailer for his upcoming biopic that has caught plenty of people’s attention.
Set to release on Boxing Day 2024, we think it’s fair to say this is no ordinary retelling of a famous musician’s career as it will see Williams reimagined as a CGI monkey, with Robbie lending his voice for the singing and narration sections.
As if that recent unveiling wasn’t eye-catching enough, the 50-year-old has followed it with the sudden announcement of a huge European tour, where it has now been confirmed that songs from the Better Man film and some new stuff will be played.
Sharing details of 28 dates, Robbie said in an official statement: “This tour is going to be my boldest yet – I can’t wait to see you next year.”
He also went on to add, “There will be songs from the movie Better Man and some new music too…but more on that soon.”
Although it’s unclear whether this is the first hint at what would be his 13th studio LP, with previous records including everything from the bread-and-butter pop that made him a household name, to swing, old-world big band covers and even a Christmas album.
Williams’ last outing was the XXV greatest hits compilation album, marking 25 years of his highly successful solo career since leaving fellow 90s icons Take That, who he returned to for a short spell after 15 years back in 2010 before parting ways once again.
He’s also roped in some Northern help from none other than Leigh’s very own The Lottery Winners for all dates but one, meaning the Manc vibes will be immaculate. Huge for the much-loved local band.
Known for his legendary live shows, Robbie Williams is considered one of the UK’s greatest entertainers of all time and previously held the Guinness World record for feats such as selling more than 1.6 million tickets in a single day, not to mention playing to over 375,000 across three nights at Knebworth.
Put it this way, these shows are in very high demand and will sell out quicker than you say ‘Rock DJ’.
Set to play Manchester and make his Co-op Live debut on 11 June, fans can secure early access to tickets for the ‘Live 2025’ tour from 10am this Wednesday by pre-ordering the Better Man movie soundtrack or by downloading the Co-op Members app.
As for general admission, tickets for Robbie Williams’ Manchester date and all other UK and Ireland gigs go live at 10 the same time on Friday, 15 November.
Given his connection to this city, this is as close to a homecoming show as you’re going to get until he headlines Stoke one of these days, so you don’t want to miss it. You can get ready to grab yours HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
30th May 2022 
