WHP18 /// NYE @ Store Street
Probably the biggest party in the city this New Year’s, Warehouse Project will be saying goodbye to Store Street with a night of epic proportions. Music will come courtesy of MK, Danny Howard, SecondCity, Icarus and loads more that I can’t be bothered listing here. Tickets are going fast so make your bloody mind up and get them booked.
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Come As You Are New Year’s Eve @ The Refuge
Never shy of putting on a massive fucking bash, The Refuge will once again be hosting one of their legendary Come As You Are parties this New Year. The city’s longest running night – Funkademia – will be taking over The Public Bar for a night of funk, soul and disco, while in the basement you’ll recognise Refuge regulars and all round bloody beautiful people DJ Paulette, Chris Massey and Julie Wills from the Disco Mums. They also have a special NYE food menu on offer too – should you want to eat like a king and then dance like a queen.
Horse Meat Disco NYE @ Gorilla
There’s usually a considerable DISCO slant to many of my choices for nights out – mainly because it’s the best music ever and is so bloody easy to dance to. If disco can make John Travolta look cool it can work wonders with anyone. Horse Meat Disco are a gang who are right at the top of their disco powers at the moment, and after a packed year of parties at Gorilla they’ll be celebrating the New Year with a massive get together in the bowels of Oxford Road train station.
Ultimate Power at Albert Hall
My personal favourite night, Ultimate Power is always a laugh and you’re going to hear (and sing along to) some of the best songs ever made by man or woman born. Each NYE it moves from The Ritz to Albert Hall for a super special evening of power ballads and in fact this is where I saw in 2018 last year. Unfortunately, I was all on my own in there because my girlfriend at the time got too pissed up and fell asleep. I still went out and I still had an amazing night though and that is surely testament to the quality of Ultimate Power.
Homoelectric at YES
Taking over both the Pink Room and Basement of the city’s newest and hottest gig venue YES, Homoelectric are consummate professionals when it comes to massive parties by now that you’re almost guaranteed not to have a shit night this year. The Pink Room will be home to Will Tramp! and Jamie Bull while the Basement will welcome the lovely Gina Breeze and Blasha & Allatt. Expect plenty of disco, house and techno.
New Year’s Eve Funk & Soul Party @ Band on the Wall
Alongside Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club Resident DJs Jamie Groovement and Jonny Shire, Band on the Wall will be welcoming the Haggis Horns with a full live show of epic proportions. Sounding like a bunch of sexually frustrated Scottish men, the Haggis Horns are actually a 7-piece live funk extravaganza from Leeds, combining heavy breakbeat funk, soul, hip-hop and afrobeat with the virtuosity of trained jazz musicians. Brilliant.
Raver Tots @ Gorilla
Before Horse Meat Disco set up their decks, Gorilla will be home to the brilliant Raver Tots – basically a night out for toddlers. But during the day. And without any booze (obviously). It’s a family rave where kids and their parents can hit the dancefloor, get their faces painted, kick balloons about and do some serious skidding around on their knees. It’s also great because a percentage of all their profits go to charities that support children with Autism and ADHD.
Boogie Nights @ Whiskey Jar
Some more disco, funk and soul now and this time it’s in the heart of the NQ in the brilliant downstairs basement of The Whiskey Jar. Boogie Nights will be going fucking mental this New Year’s Eve with disco balls, confetti, loads of silver outfits and of course – the best bloody disco, house, funk and soul ever made.
Juicy NYE @ Black Dog NQ
There was a time when Juicy ruled the roost on many a night in the city, with monthly specials that were busier than a bunch of bees on their morning commute, and although they’ve been rather restrained with their nights through 2018, it looks like they want to see 2019 in with style. Black Dog Ballroom in the NQ will be home to the best Hip Hop, UK Garage, Classic R&B and House Party tunes from DJ legends Oscar Wildstyle and Wiggie Smalls.
Me Gusta NYE @ Night & Day
Me Gusta are hosting their first New Year’s Eve at Night and Day this year and they’re promising to transport the venue into a “whirlwind of jungle ambience with projections, lighting installations and tribal wear” alongside the usual selection of Afrobeat, Latin, disco, funk, electronica from all corners of the globe.
Micron & Lost in Music @ Joshua Brooks
It’s been a busy year for Joshua Brooks and they’ve been bashing out the big nights like they’re going out of fashion. Of course New Year’s Eve will not be any different as they host two of the club’s biggest brands and resident Darius Syrossian this NYE. In the Basement you’ll find the legendary Micron smashing out the house and techno, while Lost in Music will be hitting up the Bar area. There’ll also be an after party somewhere too between 4-8am so you can put off bed for a whole 12 hours if you so desire.
Bollox NYE @ Deaf Institute
Bollox have been the go-to people for Queer-Alt nights in Manchester for a fair few years now and they have got there with a brilliant no rules music policy which ensures that you’re always surprised by what comes out of the speakers – be it a bit of Kate Bush, some Spice Girls or a bit of Joy Division. This New Year’s party at Deaf Institute is sure to be fucking brilliant.
New Years Eye with DJ Stylus @ Twenty Twenty Two
You’re always guaranteed a top night at Twenty Twenty Two and New Year’s Eve won’t be any different with the usual mix of top tunes, great tiles, massive cocktails and endless games of ping pong. DJ Stylus will be hitting the decks from 10pm with a mix of Dancehall, Disco, R&B, Rap, UK Garage.
Deflected & Glitterbox NYD @ Victoria Warehouse
Okay so this isn’t New Year’s Eve but rather New Year’s Day instead but you’ll have such a bloody good time that it’s worth thinking about instead of going out on the 31st. Or perhaps you’re hardcore and can do both? You can’t beat Glitterbox for pure, unadulterated disco brilliance, and once you throw Deflected in there too – you know it’s going to be the best start to 2019 imaginable.
NYE with Supernature Disco at Electrik
There seems to be a considerable DISCO slant this NYE and it’s not going to be different down in Chorlton this year as Electrik host Supernature Disco. It’s free entry so you won’t have to dip your hand in your pocket until you get to the bar and it’s true that Electrik’s booze selection is legendary – they’ll easily sort you out until the early hours.
Electrik, 559 Wilbraham Road, M21 0AE
New Year’s Eve House Party @ Brasserie Abode
Nothing is as good as an actual decent house party on New Year’s, but they can be notoriously hit and miss – with a spectrum all the way from that one in American Pie right down to sharing a front room with 12 lads and a tramp called Barry. Instead head on down to the brilliant Brasserie Abode this NYE where you can start with bubbles and a 6-course meal downstairs, before heading upstairs for a big party with sparklers and DJs and probably glitter.
Miami Cocktail Club @ Roc & Rye
They’ve gone full Scarface recently at Roc & Rye and this New Year’s is no exception. When I say Scarface I certainly don’t mean cocaine and chainsaws – no, I’m referring to the lovely Miami as they go all out with more cocktails and fizz than you can handle and hopefully that Will Smith song at 12am.
Hidden NYE 2018/19
One for all you cats out there that are A LOT cooler (and younger) than I – Hidden have a rather impressive line up this New Year’s Eve. You’ll find the likes of Martin Loose-Cuts, Anton Fitz, Turnpenny and LOADS more on the list of people spinning vinyls and pissing about with MacBook Pros. Tickets are going proper fast so get in there quick baby…
A Scandalous Affair @ Behind Closed Doors
Starting at the tender time of 5 pm, this NYE party at Behind Closed Doors will be going on until the early hours and they promise ‘Sex, Rugs & Funk & Soul’ which is pretty much all anyone ever needs ever really. Mostly the sex of course but also the funk and soul – especially from this lot. Ignore the bit about rugs unless you own shares in Carpet World and want a bigger dividend in 2019. The cocktails are always fucking brilliant in here too!
