Northwest Clubbing Highlights – March 2014

March brings another smattering of quality acts including Mathias Kaden for mUmU in Liverpool, and a fifth birthday bash for Zutekh! in Manchester with Midland and Trevino. And then, of course, there's Bugged Out...

Preview by Martin Guttridge-Hewitt | 03 Mar 2014

Britain's first significant dance festival of the year now looms large in the shape of Bugged Out! at Pontins, Southport  – and there are enough options elsewhere to make compiling this month's Highlights akin to a maths test. If 15 nights stand out during the next four weeks, how many can you reference in under 1000 words?

Thankfully, liquor, perseverance and a deadline helped these difficult decisions – so without further ado we commence with a midweek bash in Manchester. On 6 Mar, Bank & Mekka have Fantastic Mr. Fox down for the night at Odder (£3-£7). The wunderkind, originally from Wolverhampton, will hopefully bring a repertoire of well-produced records along for the ride, showcasing his penchant for modern, sample-fuelled, floor-focused beats as previously betrayed via releases on labels such as Black Acre and while on tour with The xx.

Bugged Out!'s now infamous Weekender then takes over Pontins in Southport, Merseyside, running 7-9 Mar. Prices vary, tickets are still available, and we recommend getting involved if you're not already, not least as it's within spitting distance. Needless to say, much holiday park tomfoolery will be on display, alongside sets from Carl Craig, Andrew Weatherall, Daniel Avery, Dusky, Éclair Fifi, George Fitzgerald, Green Velvet, Paul Woolford, Kölsch and some bloke called Sasha, to name but a few. Given that this year marks Bugged Out!'s 20th anniversary, and in light of Britain's ice cream at the seaside obligations, it's likely to get messy.

If chalets and go-karts aren't for you then fear not. Chibuku is putting faith in Bondax, Bicep, Paul Woolford, Ben Damage and Ejeca on 7 Mar for new-school noises at East Village Arts Club in Liverpool (£15). Meanwhile, having resumed monthly Friday activity not so long ago after a hiatus involving Sunday soirees in summer and Croatian boat parties, Manchester crew Zutekh! celebrate five years in the game, also on 7 Mar, at Sound Control (£15). All stops evidently pulled out, Kristian Beyer – one half of esteemed immersive house duo Ame – and Aus Music star Midland represent the major selling points, although local D'n'B hero Marcus Intalex shouldn't be overlooked in his increasingly impressive techno-house guise, Trevino.

The wise will save some energy for the next day, when one of the most consistent nights in northern England opens for business. MUmU has always been about quality sounds presented properly, not to mention a great atmosphere, and European tech type Mathias Kaden isn't likely to let the side down. He'll play a four-hour set on 8 Mar for 300 people at Liverpool's Kitchen Street, so, in addition to this selling out, expect sweaty blokes clamouring for the booth, because the man in question possesses unarguably awesome technical skills (£13.50).

Continuing a string of decent line-ups since it reopened, post-'indefinite closure' upheaval, on 14 Mar Music Is Love welcomes Moodymann to Sankeys in Manchester. The purveyor of fine hair and jazz-toned house doesn't crop up every day, and will be joined by Wbeeza, who makes for a logical addition to the bill (£15). Toughening things up with en vogue solid deepness, Levon Vincent and Delano Smith are also booked – all the makings for a night of ticked boxes.

There's stiff competition again in town that night, with a visit from Tama Sumo at Joshua Brooks. The esteemed heroine and Panorama Bar dame descends on Meat Free's First Birthday (14 Mar, £7-£9), for a session that will probably include more than a few heads-down Berlin grooves. In contrast, Alexander Nut, of Rinse notoriety, should sound a world away when So Flute takes over the Roadhouse on 15 Mar. Known for using everything from African rhythms to sleazy broken-beat dirt, the guys are building a steady relationship with Soundwave, appearing again at this year's festival.

In these hectic times certainly worthy of significant investment in vitamins, the masochistic among you will be delighted to know we’re not done yet. Sticking with 15 Mar, but moving to The Shipping Forecast in Liverpool, multifaceted Dutchman Gerd appears as NY Stomp, the moniker responsible for revivalist house fare such as The NY House Trak and Can You Feel It? (£10). Then, finally, that annual synth and drum machine geek-out, FutureEverything, closes the month, running for six days to finish on April Fool's Day. Using various spaces in Manchester, the 19th instalment calls upon speakers and thought leaders from across the digital world, but we're more eager to hit the festival. After all, much as we concede it's not technically a clubnight, Nicolas Jaar and Dave Harrington's DARKSIDE project will perform at The Ritz on 27 Mar (£13.75), and faces such as Koreless, Evian Christ, Tim Hecker, Patricia and Dean Blunt are involved elsewhere. For full details of individual events and prices our best advice is to check the website, futureeverything.org, and we'll hopefully see you somewhere at something sometime soon. 

Ticket prices are advance unless otherwise specified; some events may be more on the door