Northwest Clubbing Highlights – April 2015

This month, in hope, or determination, Manchester and Liverpool’s clubnight coordinators are bringing the sunshine to us through some soleil-inspired events in clubs, secret warehouse locations... and boats.

El Diablo's Social Club begin the sun-charming on 2 Apr by inviting Balearic duo Down to the Sea and Back to Soup Kitchen. They’ll show us why summer is king, as demonstrated on their mixtape series named Piccadilly Records' Compilation of the Year in 2014 and a testament to combining sing-along classics and rare B-sides (£8, only 20 tickets remaining available on the door). Of course, it wouldn’t be Down to the Sea and Back without a boat party. Leaving 7.30pm from Drybarge on the Bridgewater Canal, for those already lucky enough to have a ticket, the Balearic boys will warm up the spring evening by cruising the waters of Manchester ahead of their headline set later on dry land.

Anyone who followed the Bristol dubstep scene at the end of the last decade remembers a time when Joker was dropping a new city anthem every month. Some years on and the work on his new album, Mainframe, has matured beyond that heard on 2011’s The Vision. He'll be spinning tracks from it at Mint Lounge on 2 Apr (£5). The next night, Liverpool welcomes the ‘Godfather of Warp Records,’ a true music legend, Nightmares on Wax, who'll be taking over 24 Kitchen Street to put into motion the final throes of the Adriatic’s much-loved Garden Festival, before it bows out this summer (£10).

The generous souls at ThirdEye are giving us all a big birthday treat with free entry on 5 Apr, as they prepare to celebrate the success of their fledgling year. Local lad and Kaluki resident Flux Groove pushes us through Sunday night and into the bank holiday morning at Joshua Brooks. With a whole day ahead to recover, you’ve no excuse for not letting it all go. After another short working week (YES!), Dutch disco and house trio Kraak & Smaak pick things back up on 10 Apr, bringing internationally approved feelgood tracks to Constellations as Discoteca Poca announces its return to the scene (£7). It was sorely missed.

Kicking off a series of events based around musical eclecticism, Meine Nacht: Eins brings Radio 1 and NTS Radio resident Moxie to a jungle-themed launch night at 24 Kitchen Street on 17 Apr. The former In New DJs We Trust starlet has been flourishing into a renowned headliner over the last few years and her stock continues to rise as praise is piled on her cross-genre setlists. On a very special night, house, disco, grime and hip-hop are promised to be as intertwined as the forest itself (£8, almost sold out). From forest frolicking to industrial stromping, Kraak Gallery hosts the ever-popular Black Bee Soul Club on the same night. Sallie Reynolds and Richard Penrith stomp us through tracks that inspired the up-tempo, gritty soul clubs of the late 60s and 70s. No holds barred, this is a night to leave covered in sweat or else full of regret (£3).

Everybody loves a surprise, especially one that includes loud music, an intimate warehouse setting and the minds behind one of the best record labels around. Limited to just 300 tickets, Selective Hearing & Project 13 will be keeping the whereabouts of their 18 Apr party secret until the last minute. But what we can be sure of is Ron Morelli celebrating five years of his Long Island Electrical Systems record label. He’s joined by UK bass/techno don Randomer, as well as LA rising star Delroy Edwards, in what promises to be a very special night in a Manchester location we can’t wait to be unveiled (£15). The following Friday (24 April), Selective Hearing continue to keep us guessing as they scout another secret MCR warehouse location, this time to host Detroit techno legend Robert Hood. As a man that knows a thing or two about playing warehouse venues in one of the world’s most creative cities, Hood will bring his Motor City-inspired tracks and a whole heap of new stuff, proving why he remains on the forefront of the scene after all these years after inventing minimal techno alongside the likes of Jeff Mills (£15).

Don’t think you’ve gone a bit overboard on your choice of inebriation at South on 24 Apr; those guys you’ve been watching on the hugely popular tech house YouTube channel Mia Mendi really are there in front of you making their club night debut. To celebrate the step from the digital world to physical dancefloor, they have invited internationally renowned London multi-resident Alexis Raphael and deep house don DeMarzo to drag the Mia Mendi party from your laptop screen to within touching distance (£8). In another first, Mike Skinner plays his first DJ set in Liverpool on the same night at the Arts Club. Anyone who heard the former Streets man’s recent 6 Music playlist will know that no genre of music should be unexpected (£12).

As we move towards the end of April, the coming summer sun may start to peek its head out from behind those grey clouds. Abandon Silence host a day-and-night finale to their fifth birthday series, on 25 Apr, with a lineup to be announced shortly. Starting in the Kazimier Garden at 2pm (tickets on the door only) and moving into the Kazimier interior at 10pm (£12), this is one day that is sure to round the month off with a huge bang. Whether you make the most of a stellar April of clubbing or save all your energy for Abandon Silence, you really can’t afford to miss this.