Recent closures of iconic Manchester nightclubs such as Sankeys, Sound Control and soon to be Antwerp Mansion due to gentrification and council regulations have left Manchester’s nightlife vulnerable.

Cities around the country have experienced a similar issues with London’s Fabric having nearly faced closure and Birmingham’s Rainbow Venues shutting down, so it’s clear the problem isn’t only facing the North.

Despite this, unique start-up brands are currently making waves in the industry, ensuring that Manchester’s music scene is still thriving. These independent brands are looking to put on events in the city and bring DJs and live acts from all over the world as well as promoting local talent, and maybe that’s exactly what the city needs.

Such club nights originating in a similar fashion are important to the city’s culture, making sure the music scene stays fresh and bringing new, interesting ideas to the table. With a wide variety of exciting new nights broadening our musical horizons and showcasing new talent, Manchester’s nightlife remains as innovative as ever.

Eat The Beat

After recently celebrating their first birthday at Versions with Damiano Von Erkert, Eat The Beat are well on their way to being a stable brand for the city. Having already booked a string of renowned DJs such as Will Lister, Cody Currie and Anu, it’s obvious they will continue to bring a variety of musical talent to Manchester.

Having proven to keep the focus on good music and a fun atmosphere, Eat The Beat have secured themselves a residency at MCR Live as well as frequent appearances on Limbo Radio. In the short year they have been throwing parties, they have brought crowds to the likes of Zombie Shack, The Whiskey Jar and Versions, each time recreating their own unique night full of talented selectors and likeminded party people. Expect big things to come from this collective.

Variation

With every party they throw Variation bring a unique twist to proceedings, making an active effort to not only book DJs for their shows but also make sure that live acts get a platform to perform too. This means the music often spans a wide array of genres from melodic techno to jazz-funk.

The music is not the only diverse aspect of these parties; having put on events in CUBO and The Bread Shed, and with future events in Soup Kitchen and The White Hotel, they haven’t yet staged an event in the same venue twice. Having invited Lone (R&S / Magicwire) to play in April and secured a collaboration with Channels, whilst bringing Matrixxman to Manchester for their first birthday, it’s clear that Variation have an ear for good music and a talent for putting on shows.

Sun Street Collective

Sun Street Collective are a group of three friends with the simple mentality of wanting to put on a cracking night with good music. Made up of Olé, Shepard and Memsis, they promise to play an eclectic mix of music exploring the depths of house, techno and beyond.

Misugo London resident Olé has been playing in various Manchester spots for a few years and has developed both technical skill and the ability to read a crowd. Memsis has been producing his own music for a few years which takes inspiration from all musical genres from jazz to afrobeat, which will be littered throughout all of his sets.

Shepard uses a variety of influences from Kerri Chandler to Floating Points to aid his unique style of mixing, bringing a selection of modern tunes and dance classics to the table. Look out for Sun Street Collective in the future.

Left, Right & Centre

Having recently booked Hessle Audio heavyweight Bruce to play a set of weird and wonderful techno for their debut show at Versions, Left, Right & Centre are proving they bring something different to the Manchester music scene and that they are true tastemakers with an ear for good music.

Along with Bruce, Left, Right & Centre bring Limbo Radio’s Sonice & Paxman along with Korzi to warm up the night, to play an eclectic selection of music spanning both house and techno, showing they are able to bring in some of Manchester finest and more established selectors for their first event. It’s obvious there are big things to come from Left, Right & Centre.

Core Music Ltd

With two events under their belt, Core are on their way to becoming an established brand. Having brought a selection of techno to both Liverpool and Manchester they are soon to make a name for themselves throughout the North.

With both previous nights hailed as blinding musical successes, and the event at Manchester’s AATMA a sell-out, Core have proved that they can bring in a crowd. They now bring Drumcode DJ Piegaja to the Northern Quarter’s Texture for another night of stomping techno.

With the booth situated in the middle of the dancefloor and projections created specifically for the event, Core’s next night is set to be one to remember.

B.L.O.O.M.

Beautiful Ladies Organising Orgasmic Music, AKA, B.L.O.O.M. are making sure the importance of women in music is at the forefront of what they stand for and the parties they put on. Through booking Paula Temple, Mor Elian and Jayda G to name a few, they’ve shown they are not only throwing great parties with incredibly talented DJs and producers, but are also making a statement in Manchester’s cultural climate, and the music scene in general, tackling female underrepresentation in the industry.

B.L.O.O.M. maintain this ethos in their work and have even hosted a panel discussion about gender diversity in the music industry, creating conversation within the community. When putting on an event these do not come in the way of the music, which always comes first. With extremely successful events in a variety of Manchester clubs, and a forward-thinking ideology, these parties are ones to look out for in the future.

Kultura

Having already held down a residency at NGHTWRK and Cosmic in Wrexham between them, the Kultura residents already have a vast knowledge of music and experience behind the decks, providing them with the ability to hold an audience and as well as great technical skill.

Kultura have already put on two free parties at Zombie Shack which saw them showcase a variety of high energy music in the intimate venue, from disco to house, techno to electro. Their next party is in collaboration with B.L.O.O.M. and is once again free entry before 11, this time taking them to Salford to display a wide array of different music.

Native Mix #66: Park Audio