The Refuge to host huge May Bank Holiday party

The Unabombers will take over The Refuge for an epic weekender of music, food and drinks

Feature by The Skinny North | 12 Apr 2017

The Electric Weekender (26-28 May) sees legendary Manchester DJs the Unabombers team up with Ibiza institution Pikes and Croatian festival Love International to present a three-day party taking over all the spaces of The Refuge at the Principal hotel.

The free extravaganza kicks off with a ticketed basement set from New York DJ François K on Friday night, before the space is transformed into an old-school Manchester 'pub' called The Refuge Arms on Saturday for 'a day of good old fashioned pub debauchery' – think pickled eggs, pianists tinkling away in the corners and, of course, cask ales and beers provided by six regional breweries.

After you've chilled out and shored up your energy for the evening, Saturday night sees the hotel's outside space turned into a ‘summer of love’ street party hosted by Love International, featuring Jazzanova DJ Alexander Barck playing a set traversing acid jazz, soul, broken beats and more.

Finally, Sunday's collaboration with Pikes – the first time the Ibizan hotel has partnered with anyone in Manchester – welcomes legendary Balearic DJs Alfredo and Leo Mas to The Refuge 'Street'. “It’s an honour” to have them, says Luke Unabomber.

Food from Levanter and Robert Owen Brown

Fuelling you through the long weekend will be Spanish flavours from Ramsbottom restaurant Levanter, and pop-up offerings including food from well-loved Manchester chef Robert Owen Brown, who'll be cooking on a grill in the outside space.

The festival represents a merging of the Unabombers' two loves as DJs and restaurateurs (the pair own Didsbury diner Volta as well as The Refuge by Volta, also housed in the Principal). "This weekender is the culmination of a 25-year journey that has taken us from being DJs to bar and restaurant owners and festival organisers," Luke says. "This is so much more than a music festival... It will be exciting to see the Refuge space transform over the three days, providing an ever-changing space for the roster of talent that we have hand-selected to help us really bring the party to Manchester."

More names and the full programme of events will be revealed soon. 

Tickets for the party with François K are available from Thu 13 Apr, here (priced from £12.50). For more info and further announcements, check out the Facebook event.

The Electric Weekender
The Refuge, Oxford Street, Manchester
May Bank Holiday weekend, 26-28 May 2017