A new series of warehouse parties in Manchester will be hoping to recreate the days of The Haçienda and the early acid house scene.
The Haçienda in Manchester was the catalyst for the popularisation of dance music and club culture in the UK. In the early eighties, Hewan Clarke, Mike Pickering and Greg Wilson brought the sound of New York's Paradise Garage and Danceteria to Mancunian youth at the Haçienda. Originally financed by New Order and Factory Records, the Haçienda brought the indie loving white kids and the up-tempo loving black community together, making dance music accessible to everyone: white, black, gay, straight, rich or poor. By 1985 the club shook with Chicago house and by the summer of love ‘88, when the acid house phenomenon had spread to the rest of the UK, the city was already a slave to the beat.
Now in 2006, a twelve-week series of parties called The Warehouse Project is hoping to recapture the vibe of the early acid house days at The Hacienda. Organised by former Sankeys Soap promotions manager Sam Kandel, the parties will run from October 6, 2006 to January 1, 2007 on both Fridays and Saturdays with occasional mid-week and Sunday events. The Warehouse Project will feature both DJs and live acts and cater to old Haç heads plus those too young to experience the original Hacienda.
The location of the warehouse space, described as "one of Manchester’s most iconic landmarks...in the heart of the city centre", has now been officially revealed as The Old Brewery (formerly Boddingtons Brewery). It will consist of two rooms The Racking Hall (previously the cool room) and The Box (the storage room). (Update: August 16, 2006)
Artists already confirmed to play include
Theo Parrish,
Simian Mobile Disco,
Optimo and
Justice with old Madchester favourites such as
Sasha,
François K and
Mike Pickering also in the pipeline. Parties will also be co-hosted by promoters such as We Love... (Ibiza) and the Robots (New York).
The first of The Warehouse Project nights will take place on Thursday, October 5th when iconic hip hop act Public Enemy will play The Racking Hall.
John Digweed,
Danny Howells and
Steve Bug will play on Friday October 6th and
The Doves,
Kasabian, Mike Pickering,
Aim and more are on the bill for the first Saturday night. (Update: August 16, 2006)
Someone once said "the Haçienda must be rebuilt" and it looks as though the Warehouse Project will do just that, at least for twelve short weeks.
The Warehouse Project in Manchester runs from October 5, 2006 to January 1, 2007.
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