ShinDigger Sessions to host canalside tropical garden party at Kampus
The 'tropical garden' gathering will relaunch the ShinDigger Sessions events after a two-year hiatus - promising "good booze, food and leg shaking at sundown".
Beloved Manchester brewery ShinDiggerhas announced it will be hosting one of its bouncing Session parties at the canalside neighbourhood Kampus this September.
The ‘tropical garden’ gathering will relaunch the ShinDigger Sessions events after a two-year hiatus – promising “good booze, food and leg shaking at sundown”.
The party is also being held to celebrate the grand reopening of Little David Street near Kampus – which has been closed to the public for more than 20 years.
ShinDigger – one of Manchester’s best-loved breweries – is hosting a party at Kampus in September.
A ShinDigger bar will be on site for the evening – with temporary Kampus residents Le Social serving natural wine and premium cocktails.
There will also be some scran up for grabs from Birria Brothers tacos and flavours from the grill courtesy of TINE.
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Local broadcasters and frequent ShinDigger collaborators Reform Radio will be curating a music lineup exclusively for the occasion.
ShinDigger – which began with two students selling home brews at house parties before turning into a juggernaut beer brand – branched out into a nationwide delivery service during the pandemic, dropping beers to doors around the UK.
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The company has constantly been reinventing the wheel with new recipes ever since – producing a wide variety of flavours ranging from IPAs and sessions to stouts and boozy soda.
Kampus, a Capital & Centric development, has been playing host to independent Manc brands like ShinDigger since it opened to the public in April – with Common & Co, Nell’s Pizza and General Store all securing residencies within the £250m neighbourhood.
Positioned alongside Victorian shipping warehouses and a 1960s brutalist tower, the Kampus complex has steadily been working towards a vision of becoming a bustling community of bars, restaurants and shops – with events taking place within the compounds on a regular basis.
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The ShinDigger Session party is pencilled in for September 4 from 2pm until 10pm – with tickets costing £5 for early birds and £7.50 for standard.
Tickets are available on the ShinDigger Sessions website.
Gigs & Nightlife
Honey Dijon and Mix-stress on Homobloc, Manchester nightlife and more
Danny Jones
We sat down at Manchester’s iconic Star and Garter with the legendary Honey Dijon and Manchester’s own, Rebecca Swarray aka, Mix-Stress for an exclusive interview ahead of Homobloc 2025 to talk about all things queer culture, house music, and the future of clubbing.
From Chicago to Manchester, the pair reflected on the roots of the scene, finding joy in dark times, and why the dancefloor remains a sacred space.
Put simply, it was fascinating to see the pair dive deep into the culture.
Sharing a drink in the historic Manchester city centre pub, here’s how the chat between Mix-Stress and Honey went down…
Mix-Stress meets Honey Dijon – the interview
‘Every time I play Manchester, it’s just always a vibe’
Mix-Stress (MS): Welcome toThe Star and Garter. Manchester and Homobloc obviously holds a special place, and you’ve played here a few times. Can you tell me about any sets that stand out that are staying with you over the times you’ve visited here?
Honey Dijon (HD): I always have a great time when I play Manchester. Every time I play Warehouse Project, it’s just always a vibe. The crowd is just so enthusiastic and so fun and just so up for it. And Manchester and Chicago have a long history with house music, so it’s always fun to come here and represent. It doesn’t matter where, when or how – all my sets here have been incredibly fun.
‘So much has changed over the years – it feels like a different century’
MS: This will be your fourth time playing Homobloc in December. You played in 2019 when it started, then two post-pandemic shows. What do you feel has evolved over the years, musically, spiritually or sonically?
HD: So much has changed over the years. I mean, pre-pandemic, it was such a different world. It feels like it was a different century, actually, and we had no idea what we were going into.
At that time, we were just coming from the MeToo movement and the lack of diversity in dance music, so there was all this political awareness around club culture, which was really great – because so many voices that started this global movement have been queer people, people of colour, a lot of women.
The funny thing about diversity is about who’s having that conversation, because my friends and what I grew up with have always been diverse. So it was a different landscape.
During lockdown, there was a shift. If you were like an 18-year-old kid, there were two or three years where you couldn’t experience anything except online. That’s when this major shift happened – things became much more corporate, much more sanitised, and more about metrics and numbers.
There was less focus on, in my opinion, the heart of it – and it became big business. What I try to do as an artist is remind people whose shoulders I stand on and where I learned my craft, and to bring people together from all walks of life. There’s a new generation coming through, but it always goes back to the house.
MS: We’ve seen dancefloors across the world put out safe spaces policies. What does a ‘safe space’ mean to you today, and how do you create that energy?
HD: I try to play music that uplifts and celebrates. I think, with just the artist that I am, I try to make everyone welcome. It’s about joy, celebration, and release. Dancefloors are sacred spaces in a lot of ways, and I think through the music vibrationally that I play and what I speak on, it attracts a certain crowd.
For me, safe spaces aren’t just about not being harassed – it’s about being able to show up as yourself without being judged.
A safe space is where all feel welcome, where people can be free and not judged or harassed based on gender or sexuality. Dancefloors do what government and religion can’t – they bring people together from all walks of life to celebrate through music.
As the world moves further right, these spaces are becoming more important than ever. None of us are free until all of us are free – so I try to do that through my work, through the music and what I speak on.
‘Look into the darkness, but don’t stare at it.’
MS: The world is heavy right now – historically and currently. Where do you find joy, and how do you filter that into what you do?
Honey Dijon always gives an insightful interview.
HD: Where do I find joy? Turn off the internet. Be aware. I love this quote from RuPaul: “Look into the darkness, but don’t stare at it.” That really resonates with me.
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Music is powerful – that’s why far-right governments fear art and music, because there’s so much power in it. I find joy in love, in freedom of expression, and in self-autonomy. Those are the things I try to facilitate through my art and through my music.
‘If Homobloc was a fragrance…’
MS: IfHomobloc was a fragrance, what would be the concoction?
HD: Armpit, asshole, and lip gloss.
If that isn’t an advert for a memorable night at Depot Mayfield, then we don’t know what is.
You can see the full lineup for Homobloc 2025 and grab your tickets to see Honey Dijon in Manchester and plenty more rightHERE.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — Press shots/Jody Hartley Photography (supplied)/The Manc Group
Gigs & Nightlife
Mumford & Sons to play intimate show at Manchester’s beautiful Albert Hall
Daisy Jackson
Mumford & Sons have just announced an incredibly intimate, stripped-back show in Manchester at the stunning Albert Hall.
The group will be playing an almost-totally sold-out show at the Co-op Live in December – but not long after that you’ll have a rare chance to see them playing a much, much smaller gig.
Mumford & Sons have just announced an album launch show at the historic Albert Hall in Manchester.
It’s ahead of the release of their sixth studio album, Prizefighter, which will launch later that week.
Fans will be able to see Marcus Mumford, Ted Dwane and Ben Lovett performing at the beautiful venue, which transformed a former church in the city centre.
The special event is brought to Manchester by Jacaranda Records.
The exciting new show has been announced today, just weeks before Mumford & Sons take the biggest stage in Manchester, the Co-op Live.
It’s their their first big headline show since 2019 – yes, it really has been that long.
Mumford & Sons will play an intimate evening at the Albert Hall in Manchester on Monday 9 February 2026.
Tickets will go on sale on Friday 21 November at 11am HERE.
Update: Mumford & Sons have now added a matinee show for the same day, with tickets on sale from 11am on Saturday 22 November HERE.
The Manc -
12th August 2021 
