12 November 2006 (gig)
15 December 2006
Dance music’s doom mongers - who predicted the end of the scene since the turn of the millennium - have been forced to eat their own words of late with a large slice of humble pie to boot. The 18-30 crowd have moved away from Ibiza leaving plenty of room for the true clubbers and this year was one of the island’s most successful for a long time. Both the Miami and Amsterdam conferences continue to grow and attract massive crowds. Back home in the UK the scene has moved away from the commercial 'superclub’ environment - and the media hype that attached itself - and has returned to the rave culture and spirit of the early 90’s.
The Warehouse Project, a twelve week event split over two empty warehouses in the former Boddington’s brewery in Manchester captures this shift perfectly. Not since the heady and hazy days of the Hacienda has there been such a buzz around the city’s clubbing folk. Each weekend queues stretch out into the city as the sound of the world’s best electronic bands and DJ’s thump out from the converted buildings. Inside old skool ravers throw shapes next to glammed up chicks and indie rockers all accompanied by an uber-cool soundtrack of Acid House, Breaks and Techno and Hip-Hop. A diverse line-up of artists have filled the posters for the event. Public Enemy, Mylo, Soulwax, Sasha, Jeff Mills, Hot Chip, The Futureheads are just a small selection of the quality acts booked for the three month stint.
Even after the immediate success of the project the promoters have announced that after the massive two day, new year party, the event will no longer take place at the Strangeways location. A shame, but a move that will hold special memories and keep things fresh as they will no doubt move to a new venue in the city next year.
There are still a number of excellent nights to come most notably when radio 1’s Zane Lowe hosts the finale to his Home Taping tour on Dec 15th before Groove Armada take over the venue the following night. That just leaves the monster New Year celebrations. Justin Robertson and the Doves headline NYE while Laurent Garnier and 2many DJ’s cause chaos in the 8 hour Jan 1st special.
Get down there quick before the Warehouse Project becomes another legendary part of Manchester’s music history.
