Love it or loathe it, the Warehouse Project has become a staple of Manchester’s rave scene contributing to some electric nights over the last decade. It’s current home of operations, Depot Mayfield, boasts a capacity of around 10,000 people and has played host to a plethora of top-name DJs such as Carl Cox, Fred Again and Peggy Gou to name a few.
Now that their season has concluded where can ravers within this city turn for their thrills? Here are five intimate alternatives to Warehouse Project to tide you over.
Joshua Brooks has been a staple of the Manchester music scene since it first opened in 1993. A change in ownership in 2021 and a massive £200k refurbishment has turned this venue into a city-wide favourite. It offers a spacious bar, cosy basement and an unbelievable sound system.
For fans of house music, 27 January is not a date to miss. Label Moxy Muzik, headed by DJ and producer Darius Syrossian, is celebrating its 5th anniversary on the night. This one promises to be stacked with a line-up of special back-to-back sets throughout the night.
Based within Northern Quarter’s beating heart, Stage and Radio is a triple-layered dancing dream with an industrial basement, a quaint well-lit bar on the middle level and modern attic area. With live performances here ten a penny, you are almost always guaranteed to stumble upon something going on at one of Manchester’s most exciting music venues.
The 27th is really shaping up to be a memorable night for house music fans with lovers of the genre spoilt for choice. Promotors Oneforty and Valencian party-starters Hula-Hop will be in the basement bringing Ildec in for a night of house tunes and electric sounds.
An unsuspecting building on the fringes of an industrial estate in Salford is home to one of the city’s best venues for not only raving, but also contemporary performances and the arts. The White Hotel can cater to all those interested in a great night with its booming sound system, multilevel dance hall, and bar area complete with sofas and even a piano.
Salford-based promotors Meat Free are sure to put on a show on Friday 26 January as they put forward ANNĒ and Holden Federico for a night of fast-paced techno and house music that will take anyone bold enough to stay the distance into daylight the next morning.
The former hails from Greece and began her career on the other side of the decks as a raver meaning she understands the crowd, producing and mixing music which is powerful and pumping. The latter, Holden, also has a penchant for crowd appeal. His productions are characterised with flavours of grit and soul that will have the White Hotel moving all night long.
One of the most well-known bars in Manchester is YES, just a stones throw away from the aforementioned Joshua Brooks, this four floored mega-bar has something for everyone. Boasting a basement, two bars- one accompanying a roof terrace. The highlight of the venue is its infamous Pink room, which has played host to countless great acts over the years.
The Pink room and basement are being taken over for a night by DISCO PUSS who will be celebrating their 2nd birthday also on 26 January. As the name suggests, this is for the disco fans out there. Tickets are cheap at around a fiver and the night promises to be as groovy as it sounds.
If disco isn’t to your taste however, then the day after that DJ/producer Ghoulish starts his residency in the Pink room going back to back with an as yet unannounced special guest. What is known though, is that he is one of the most in-demand producers at the moment with his sets being described by himself as genreless throwing down anything from euphoric dance to dubstep.
One of the most exciting grassroots venues in the city currently, Partisan Collective is more than just a space to rave in. The venue prides itself on being accessible to all people within the community and the 10 February is no different.
Local party-starters Half Edge are running a free night which promises to encompass a dizzying spectrum of music so there is something for everyone, with tunes from 11-6am the night will be a blur of good vibes and great music.