Clubbing

Very much a student festival at heart, almost all the stalls and unique acts from comedy to drama and new music will be student or community run. This new concept, a daylong festival in Platt Fields Park after the end of exams, originated with two University of Manchester students Ben Tillet and Ben Cheetham, like all good ideas, over a pint.

It goes without saying that the launch of a new weekly club night should be a night to remember on all counts if it is to be popular with locals on a regular basis – and the launch of Addictive seemed to do just. There hasn’t been a weekly R&B night at MTwo for two years, so the pressure was on for Addictive to deliver.

Every first and third Saturday of the month, the Roadhouse brings us Contort Yourself. It’s an eclectic melange of electronic music with anything being played, from Electro and Drum & Bass to Dub. The night also boasts an extensive and very impressive list of previous guests which include CSS, Nightmoves and South Central.

The Hap-Clash approach for which Saki has become renowned for is being gently refined. The management clearly knows the audience it’s aiming for, and with the additions of better lights and sound it’s sure to get it.

Culture Shock, one off charity gig and brain child of fourth-year University of Manchester student Ajibola Omokanye, brought world music and people of different ethnic backgrounds and ages together for a highly energised and successful night at the Contact Theatre.

Killjoy Council chiefs have booted out plans to open a 2,500 capacity superclub in the city centre because local residents objected. Labyrinth, the proposed name of the new club, had put together plans to hold all night student parties in a car park next to Manchester's iconic Beetham Tower.

Funkademia started in the city almost thirteen years ago, making it Manchester’s longest running club night. Back then its home was The Boardwalk, one of Manchester’s most significant venues of the late 80s and early 90s. Since then Funkademia has sampled the cosy constraints of The Attic as well as Subspace and Zumeba before moving into its present home early last year.

This was my first visit to The Club, and I was excited to see what the people who brought Manchester the amazing showcases that were the Warehouse Projects and who restored our faith in a quality clubbing scene in the city were doing with a more conventional club.

The fifth ever Dickensian Disco took place last Saturday at its home in one of Oldham Street’s most musically significant bars. The night is an innovative combo of live music and select DJ sets ran by Rob and Danny, also known as The Full Leather Jacket DJs. The Victorian feel is part of the attraction at DD with Russell Brand look-a-likes dotted about the place, alongside Oliver! on the widescreen.