Northwest Clubbing Highlights – July 2014

Fittingly for a party falling on the fourth of July, the guys at iDiOSYNC have decided to invite over an American. You may have otherwise known him for his alias Adultnapper, though now releasing under his given name, Francis Harris makes music with a beautifully emotive feel to it. Resident selectors Guy Richards and Eoin Thomas will be on hand providing support for what is an expectant return for the night, at Dry in Manchester (£5). The same date sees pioneer of the scene Parris Mitchell – also known as Victor Romeo and Rhythm II Rhythm, but universally recognised for laying the foundations of Ghetto house with his X-rated percussive anthems on Chicago's legendary Dance Mania label – take the downstairs at Soup Kitchen for Chow Down (£5). This is his first time in Manchester – so you could at least pop your head in to say hello.

Things kick off in Liverpool 5 Jul with Motion presenting the dynamic pairing of Dinky and John Heckle for their first major party of the season at The Magnet (£8). Hailing from Santiago, Chile, Dinky is currently recording her album for Crosstown Rebels, but her sets explore the realms outside of house, to deep minimal techno, experimental, old school and even a bit of funk and soul. Heckle, on the other hand, has been spinning in Liverpool since he was 15, and has since built a weighty arsenal of outboard gear, as well as honing his three-deck abilities.

Beats, Bats and Beers runs every Saturday at Twenty Twenty Two, but 5 Jul sees Horse Meat Disco return to the basement to cause more mischief and disco mayhem (£5). Now in their tenth year of existence, the four-man DJ/club collective have continued to lead the way in the disco field with packed residencies at their HQ of the Eagle in London; Cielo and various venues in New York; Prince Charles in Berlin, and Silencio in Paris. Elsewhere in Manchester, Mr Scruff rocks up to Band on the Wall for another instalment of Keep It Unreal (5 Jul, £12). The long-running night is now in its 15th year, and Scruff’s selection is still throwing up surprise after surprise: good going, Andy! If that’s not quite your bag, you can spunk that £12 on Goldie at Gorilla, which is a more than worthy cause if you’re into rinsing D'n'B and metallic teeth.

Fast-track to 11 Jul and there’s a party at Joshua Brooks in celebration of their new Void system. They’re putting on a demo rig, bringing in the guys from Selective Hearing, Micron, Coded Rhythm, Project 13 and Meat Free to help test the water… for free! Next day, 12 Jul, sees acid house dab hand DJ Pierre take to the Underland decks – just £12 again! All money raised will be donated to Connie, a young girl who suffers from a debilitating illness known as West syndrome. A good cause to say the least, and it’s also DJ Pierre’s birthday, which makes it an extra special shindig all round. If that doesn’t cut the mustard for you then you’ve also got Simian Mobile Disco over at Gorilla for £12; or Iration Steppas at Antwerp Mansion for a fiver.

Over in Liverpool, Dan Ghenacia takes to the Williamson Tunnels for Freeze on 12 Jul – probably one of the most creative spaces in the city (£12). You can also catch Lewis Boardman’s five-hour set at The Shipping Forecast on the same night for a fiver – decisions, decisions.

Off-kilter vibes are the order of the day on 15 Jul, as Theo Parrish brings his new live show to The Ritz (£12). A graduate of the Detroit underground, Theo is famed for his own seamlessly genre-hopping productions as well as for his impeccable and inscrutable skills as a music selector, with sets swerving dangerously between house, funk, disco and techno and miscellaneous. Then, come 18 Jul, it’s time to dust off your dancing sneakers as El Diablos Social Club returns to Manchester for another evening of low-slung sleazy shenanigans at the underground discotheque den, Underdog. Greg Wilson joins the clan for a three-hour summer session, which is good value for £6. Wilson also plays Liverpool’s Bombed Out Church on 12 Jul (£14). 

Yousef brings in a healthy slew of names on 26 Jul to get the Circus brand back in the habit – Dixon, Green Velvet, Subb-an and Tom Trago are all on the bill at East Village Arts Club, bringing high grade house and techno that treads water in the deep end. At £20, it’s a little steep, but it’s pretty much guaranteed to be a decent night at least.

So there you have it – more than enough to get you in the summer spirit, and a lot of it will set you back £12 each time. Stay warm, campers, and remember – the choice is all yours.