A few months ago, it was hard to believe that we’d be inundated with so many club nights and music events that we’d have to be picky.
But since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted just over a week ago on so-called ‘Freedom Day’, announcements have come thick and fast – and what a lovely week it’s been. The clubs have been packed with happy faces and hope of the scene recovering is being restored.
We’ve gone from being stuck inside watching our favourite DJs and artists on screens to being spoiled for choice for nights out.
So, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed and can’t decide what to do, we’ve put together a round-up of the weekend’s offerings to give you a hand.
A brand-new club night merging disco and garage
From the people behind Hit & Run comes a new event launching on Friday at the Northern Quarter’s Mint Lounge. ‘Disco In The Garage’ will bring together some of Manchester’s best selectors from both disco and garage to create something pretty intriguing.
There’ll be a group of residents playing on rotation, including familiar faces Will Tramp, Rich Reason, Joy Social and Nanny Banton. And whilst we’re unsure what to expect here, that’s what makes it sound so good.
If you’re as curious as us, grab your tickets here.
Friday 30 July 2021 | 10:00pm til 4:00am | Mint Lounge | 46-50 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE
A party in Victoria Warehouse’s basement
Kaluki Musik’s Summer Soundsystem series kicked off last Saturday with a packed-out opening night featuring Richy Ahmed.
The Victoria Warehouse basement – a relatively new and unused space – is currently playing host to the label’s nine-week residency this summer and is proving to be the ideal spot for a party like this. If you love that intimate basement feel from a night out, this one’s for you.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CRwc7OAKBg1/
The series continues on Saturday with a monster lineup of Kaluki favourites. The likes of AJ Christou, Pirate Copy, Rich NxT, Rossi and Seb Zito will all provide the house, tech house and minimal soundtrack across eight hours. And it runs until 6am so we expect you to be the last ones standing, really.
Saturday 31 July 2021 | 10:00pm til 6:00am | Victoria Warehouse Basement | Trafford Wharf Rd, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 1AB
Open-air dancing just off the Mancunian Way
The new venue sits right at the end of the Mancunian Way. Credit: Square One
Round two is on from Saturday afternoon at the city’s newest open air venue Square One. If you went to O’Shea’s Beer Garden you might recognise its Mancunian Way location. The popular Irish bar called this space home for 13 weeks from April through to earlier this month.
Last weekend saw some stellar DJ sets from the likes of Jaden Thompson and Denis Sulta in an unforgettable opening weekend for the Square One team. They’ve managed to create such a vibe over there, beneath that multicoloured canopy. You’d never believe cars were whizzing past on the Mancunian Way just over the fence.
If you want a piece of the action, this weekend they’ve got Luigi Madonna, Nancy and Rebūke playing on Saturday. And on Sunday Hot Since 82 will make up the bill, with support from James Organ.
There are still a couple of tickets left for Saturday here and Sunday here but be sharp about it.
Sat 31 July/Sun 1 August | 2:00pm til 11:00pm | Square One | Cakebread Street, Ardwick, Manchester, M12 6HF
A party in a Skate Park under the Mancunian Way
The Projekts skate park doubles as an outdoor music venue. Credit: Projekts
If dancing just off the Mancunian Way doesn’t interest you, how about right under it? The Projekts Skate Park located beneath the road has become the unlikely host of a series of takeovers from some of Manchester’s biggest music labels and club nights.
If you fancy a day sesh, Saturday’s instalment of the series will feature Darius Syrossian’s Moxy Muzik from 2pm. The brand had an incredible first show back at Joshua Brooks last Friday and the team are fired up for another round in their hometown.
Get in on more of this with the addition of that open air festival feel whilst also sheltered by the Mancy Way from this rubbish weather that they’re promising. What more could you want?
Saturday 31 July 2021 | 2:00pm til 10:00pm | Projekts Skate Park | 97 London Rd, Manchester M1 2PG
Sunday DnB crew at Tribeca
If you’re still going by Sunday night then fair play. Why not hit up Tribeca to see the weekend out with two floors of DnB, jungle dancehall and reggae?
The guys at Dubwoofah and Union Sound are bringing the party, with power sets from Manc DJs Boa, sl8r, Killamanjaro and Epicentre.
Forget about work on Monday and get your tickets here.
Sunday 1 August | 10:00pm til 4:00am | Tribeca | 50 Sackville Street, Manchester, M1 3WF
For all your Manchester music content, head to The Manc Audio.
Featured image: Square One
Audio
Gorillaz announce huge Manchester arena gig on upcoming UK and Ireland tour
Daisy Jackson
Gorillaz are well and truly back, and they’ve announced a huge Manchester gig on the upcoming The Mountain Tour.
The legendary band, created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, will be performing at the Co-op Live arena next spring.
Gorillaz is a virtual band made up of singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs and Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle.
The huge tour announcement comes along with the announcement of their new album, The Mountain, which features a whole myriad of collaborations including Johnny Marr, IDLES’ Joe Talbot and Dennis Hopper.
It’s their ninth studio album and promises to be a ‘playlist for a party on the border between this world and whatever happens next, exploring the journey of life and the thrill of existence’.
The Gorillaz The Mountain Tour will visit arenas across the UK and Ireland next Spring, with support from Trueno, and follows the sold-out 5-star House of Kong exhibition and four triumphant performances at Copper Box Arena.
Manchester will get the new Gorillaz tour first, with the band kicking things off at Co-op Live on 21 March before heading to cities including Leeds, Cardiff, Nottingham, and Liverpool.
The BRIT and Grammy-winning virtual band formed following a collision of mishaps, meetings and pure luck to blow up a pre-digital world.
The album will officially release on 20 March 2026.
General on sale begins at 11am on Friday 19 September HERE.
Gorillaz’ ‘The Mountain Tour’ dates in full
MARCH 21 – Co-op Live, Manchester 22 – BP Pulse Live, Birmingham 24 – OVO Hydro, Glasgow (support from Trueno) 25 – First Direct Arena, Leeds 27 – Utilitia Arena, Cardiff (support from Trueno) 28 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham (support from Trueno) 29 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool (support from Trueno) 31 – SSE Arena, Belfast
APRIL 1 – 3Arena, Dublin (support from Trueno)
JUNE 20 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (support from Sparks and Trueno)
Featured image: Press image
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The adopted Manc indie pop star with that we’re backing to win the Mercury Prize this year
Danny Jones
The 2025 Mercury Music Prize shortlist is officially out, and we’re proud to say that the North has been well represented once again this time around, with multiple names from the top end of the nation featured among the nominees – including an adopted Manchester-based rising star.
You know what, cratch that: she might as well be a Manc music queen at this point, if you ask.
We may be heavily biased here, but with indie and alt-pop artist CMAT making her way onto the Mercury Music Prize award shortlist this year, our vote is practically already cast.
If you haven’t listened to CMAT yet, then you’re seriously missing out, and following the release of her latest LP, Euro-Country, at the end of August, it’s little surprise she’s earned the Mercury nod.
She may be Irish-born, but the ‘Dubyone Diana’ truly started to make a name for herself in Manchester, and you’re damn right we’re taking her as one of our own.
Moving to 0161 as a teenager with her old band, Bad Sea, she was just 17 when she got here; now 29 and making fairly different music to the kind she did as part of the previous duo, she’s grown massively in popularity over the last few years – and she’s done a lot of it from right here in Greater Manchester.
From playing the city centre music venue circuit to stunning crowds at the likes of Kendal Calling and Glastonbury Festival, she’s come a long way in a relatively short amount of time.
Come on, if this isn’t award-winning energy, then we don’t know what is…
We welcome her to keep leaning into country music as much as she wants.
There’s another reason we want CMAT to win the Mercury Prize
It isn’t just because we’re somewhat biased local fans that we’re putting our money on her winning the 2025 Mercury Prize: she nearly already did this time last year for her sophomore outing, Crazymad, For Me, having released three impressive studio albums in less than 36 months.
“As she was reading it, I had this weird flip in my stomach, that I didn’t want to win the Mercury Prize for THAT record, because I had a feeling I could make something better.
“Two days later, I started to make EURO-COUNTRY. The Mercury Prize put a bottle rocket up my bum, to try and do something a bit more cutting edge and experimental and intense, if that makes sense.”
She signed off by adding, “I didn’t necessarily expect to be nominated again as a result, but I am very happy to have been.” We had a feeling she would, to be honest, hence why she was among our artists of the month – not even a fortnight before the shortlist was announced, no less.
Unsurprisingly, the likes of Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender are also on there after a standout 12 months for both artists, but we’re sticking with CMAT for our 2025 Mercury Prize winner. After all, surely she can’t miss out two years in a row?
Hannah Starkie -
28th July 2021 
