Northwest Clubbing Highlights – April 2016

Club nights in Manchester this April

The month starts strongly at Soup Kitchen on Thu 7 Apr, with Australian producer Harvey Sutherland checking into the basement for a live set (£7.50). Sutherland – real name Mike Katz – was good enough to contribute to our Guest Selector series this month to mark the occasion. Top lad.

Also on 7 Apr, Project 13 fly Planet Mu’s JLIN into Manchester for the first time for a debut gig at Islington Mill (£9). Or, save yourself for the Friday at Hidden (8 Apr), when Rhythm Section and Ruf Kutz join forces to present the Glass City’s finest, Pender Street Steppers (£10). Big, big, big.

Over at The Whiskey Jar on 9 Apr you’ve got a family affair with Rye Wax x Brooklyn & Beyond, which includes Medlar and a whole lot of guys named Tom (£4). There’s also a LIES and Opal Tapes collision at Soup Kitchen that night with Florian Kupfer and Huerco S on show for a tenner. Gritty.

Still with 9 Apr, Maribou State have a DJ set at Antwerp Mansion, joined by Pedestrian (£8). Horsebeach plays Night & Day Cafe for a fiver; or, if you’re looking to rekindle any dormant teenage angst, the Korn vs Slipknot special at Ruby Lounge sounds like just the ticket (£4).

Flipping to 14 Apr, Monki and her mates take over Hidden (£8); the same night Roska is at Mint Lounge (£8). 15 Apr sees Shanti Celeste team up with Jon K under Moxie’s On Loop banner (Soup Kitchen, £6). But it may be worth hanging fire until 16 Apr when Meat Free weigh in with a huge lineup in honour of Blueprint Records' 20th birthday. James Ruskin, Luke Slater, Helena Hauff and Objekt all on show at the new Mantra Warehouse space (£20). Fuck a duck.

Things get dubby at Manchester Academy on 16 Apr, as Iration Steppas and Channel One promise two sounds and four stacks in one arena (£9). Oneman is also on hand to celebrate Mvson’s third birthday at Hidden (£10).

Percolate mark their second big Thursday booking of the month on 21 Apr at Soup Kitchen, with a Lobster Theremin showcase (£7.50). For anybody unfortunate to have a job, Palms Trax also plays for Selective Hearing the day after on 22 Apr at The Dolphin Club (£10). Thris Tian, Cervo and JVC is a decent option the same day (£6).

Sat 23 Apr sees Lefto and Boogizm link up for Inside Out at Soup Kitchen, bound to be a quality night delivered between one of Belgium’s best and local badboy Tom (£8). Interesting fare on offer at Band on the Wall on the same day, as DJ Spinna joins Irfan Rainy for a Stevie Wonder special (£10).

Hidden ends the month with a big one on 29 Apr – DVS1 and Tama Sumo (£10). There’s also funk and soul on offer at Ruby Lounge with Sheffield legend Norman Jay getting down in the basement (£12). Also, there's Andy Hart at Soup Kitchen on Mayday (£8), and keep your eyes peeled for an extra ticket release for Legowelt and Mike Huckaby at Mantra Live, also on 1 May. 

April club nights in Liverpool

Nightmares On Wax plays 24 Kitchen St on 8 Apr (£12). There's a Studio 54 retrospective at Camp and Furnace on the same night (starting at 5pm) with John Morales on hand to conduct proceedings (£6). The day after you've got Greg Wilson and Ralph Lawson at the Garage (£10).

Fast forward to 15 Apr, there's a fundraising get-together at Buyers Club as seven local clubnights unite in the name of Childreach International – good fun for a good cause (£6). The week after sees Meine Nacht take an undisclosed location for their first birthday party, lineup TBA (£6 adv).

Ending the month, Selective Hearing start their assault on the Merseyside scene with Randomer and Tessela coming in just for the occasion (£10). There's also a real big deal at Camp and Furnace on 30 Apr, with disco magnate Francois K laying down the law for £15. Not every day he comes to town.

A few decent options for the start of May as bank holiday season continues (oh yeah), so watch out and keep that nose to the grindstone.