As I’m sure that you’re aware, this weekend is Easter which mainly means one thing – two bank holidays! You’ve got a whole 4 days to fill, and what better way to do that than to attend one (or many) of these amazing parties and club nights in Manchester.
From a Rave in a Theatre to celebrating 26 years of one of Manchester’s biggest and best club nights, there are some truly world-class DJs and acts coming to the city. Check these out…
All Weekend
Nightmares on Wax, Dimitri From Paris & more @ Joshua Brooks
All Weekend
Manchester’s cult underground spot Joshua Brooks has lined-up an irresistible run of events for Easter Weekend. Between Thursday 14th April and Sunday 17th April, six parties will host DJs like Dimitri From Paris, Nightmares on Wax, Joey Daniel and more, plus Northern rap star Lunar C.
Sunday 17th April is a big one with Nightmares On Wax, one of the most influential artists of a generation with a worldly sound that mixes up dub, funk, house, soul and Latin. He performs alongside Vice City Soundtrack and Myriad on Easter Sunday.
A 5 Day Party @ Nell’s
All Weekend
There’s loads going on every day over the Easter break at Nell’s at KAMPUS, kicking things off with a FREE Karaoke Party on Thursday hosted by Banksie and featuring Monopoly Phonic on the decks. Good Friday will see Lovescene lead singer P-Ro and guitarist Jack Duckham taking to the decks and the mics for a special B2B set, plus – £5 margs and daqs ALL NIGHT!
Saturday is ‘Hot Take’ with DJ Rudy Mead and Zeyla taking over the decks, while Sunday is a biggie – SUNDAZE with “jazz, amapiano, future beats, soul, R&B and everything in-between”.
Jenna G kicks us off, with live acoustic sets from Marco Woolf, before Me Gusta DJ’s Atiké and Obeka take us through to the early evening with B2B beats and percussion. £5 cocktails all day and night.
Finally, Easter Monday will feature Cork & Canvas, a pop-up with a difference, where a resident artist will guide you step-by-step through your very own canvas painting – with flowing drinks too of course.
WE ARE ONE @ Ramona
All Weekend
Ramona is celebrating its first birthday all Easter weekend! Starting on Wednesday all the way through to Sunday, the tequila lovers paradise is serving bottomless margaritas all day every day, and will see some huge DJs including A Guy Called Gerald, See Thru Hands and Gina Breeze bring the party to the tipi!
Easter Weekend @ Con Club
All Weekend
Altrincham will be getting rowdy all weekend with loads of live music and DJs at Con Club. Kicking things off on Friday will be DJ Casa Al, followed by DJ Marve on Saturday. Sunday is the biggie though, with live music from Jordan Drinkwater from 5pm, before DJ Casa Jay hits the decks into the early hours.
Easter Weekender @ The Pen & Pencil
All Weekend
A full weekend of FREE parties and events over at The Pen & Pencil this Easter weekend. It all kicks off on Thursday with Joey T, before Gareth James gets involved on Friday. Saturday it’s Danny Ward whilst Sunday sees OOFT! & A Deeper Groove hit the decks all night until late.
An Alternative Hatch Easter
All Weekend
Down at the shipping container urban village underneath the Mancunian Way there’s going to be four days of parties, alongside Hatch’s excellent food and drink operators. Good Friday kicks off with Rich Reason, and then Tim from Sub Optimal will take over the decks. Easter Saturday begins at 2pm with a Misc Jockey DJ set, followed by String Beans Band and Social DJs until close. As well as Easter Egg hunts during the day, Will Tramp will be DJing on Sunday night too.
Thursday 14th April
Hit & Run: Outlook Festival Launch @ Mint Lounge
Thursday 14th April
This year Outlook Festival returns to both Croatia and the UK and (as usual) the team at Hit & Run will be hosting their very own Manchester launch at Mont Lounge. The lineup includes DILLINJA (with a 90 minute Jungle set) x TONN PIPER, AL WOOTTON, HIJINX x STRATEGY, YAZMIN C b2b OBSCURA and RICH REASON with a set for his 40th birthday.
Poptastic 26 Year Reunion Easter Bash @ Night People
Thursday 14th April
26 years of Poptastic at Night People on the 14th of April. With 2 rooms, all your favourite Poptastic DJ’s & Mr Poptastic himself! One huge night to remember with all the biggest drinks offers, open till LATE.
Friday 15th April
Sprechen presents: Sean Johnston, Psychederek & Rinny @ The Carlton Club
Friday 15th April
Their first shindig of 2022 and Sprechen are finally bringing super cosmic ALFOS acid space cadet Sean Johnston to the suburban squat rave that is The Carlton Club. Joining them will be fellow Stretford soulmate and the brains behind the recent sell out vinyl ‘Space Arcade’ E.P. on Sprechen, the one & only Psychederek.
Rounding things off is the sequin glitter bomb & dance floor entity that is Rinny who makes a rare step behind the decks from her usual spot of being front & centre commanding the dance-floor. Very limited tickets available for this party!
Mix-stress & Friends @ Ducie Street Warehouse
Friday 15th April
Mix-Stress’ monthly DSW residency where she shines a light on DJs of her choice who are underrepresented and underrated in MCR.
Essential @ Albert Hall
Friday 15th April
One of the most successful gay clubs ever, Essential was also one of the Manchester’s best clubs full stop. It’s set to return to the city once again – with spectacular light shows, muscle boy dancers, drag queens, circus acts, and more – basically everything you’d expect from a night out a Essential all those years ago.
On the stage will be THE ESSENTIAL ALL STAR DJs – Thaddeus, Aphrodite, Sharon O Love, Alan Stevens and Joshua Cole. Live PAs from ANGIE BROWN and KITTY SCOTT-CLAUS, featuring the Essential muscle boys, dancers, drag queens and The Sinz! With Mad Pat in The Pop Lounge Toilets and hosted by the one and only MISS CHRISSY DARLING.
Saturday 16th April
Animal Crossing x Slapfunk: 10 Year Anniversary (12hr Special) @ The Loft
Saturday 16th April
Animal Crossing x Slapfunk join forces to celebrate their 10 year anniversary @ The Loft. The line up includes: THE GHOST, SAMUEL DEEP, TRISTAN DA CUNHA, DOUDOU MD, OLLI RYDER B2B BOWES.
Skittles is the host of Sayin’ a cappella and spoken word session at Manchester’s Niamos.
Sayin? Pink Moon Special @ NIAMOS
Saturday 16th April
This Saturday, spoken word workshop Sayin? is back at Niamos. The event combines singing, rapping, poetry and everything in between to give performers the opportunity to speak their mind and share thoughts to a room of applause. It’s a breeding ground for some of the newest most cutting edge vocal art forms around.
Me Gusta Collective @ SOUP
Saturday 16th April
Me Gusta Collective residents Atiké and Obeka see themselves entering the Soup Basement for the first time since 2020’s show alongside Kampire! With a very special guest and Rinse FM affiliate Ohjeelo coming all the way from Paris to make her UK debut supported by the incredible fellow French selecta Léna C!
Coq Monsieur: Alive & Vinyl – Babel Station @ Aatma
Saturday 16th April
2022’s Big Easter Weekend: Coq Monsieur hold the fort at Aatma Gallery and present critically acclaimed live musical performances in Babel Station, Duck Wax, Go Chi Minh, The Gurns and Mancunian urban legend Charlie Potatoes, who will solely baptise the night. Heavy in decency, severely favourable to accomplish and trademarked: no act holds back. Following any empirical exhibition of passionate originality and expression that can pertain in the soul, Disc Jockey’s will arise to tidy.
Sunday 17th April
Better Days Launch Party with Greg Wilson & Graham Park @ Escape to Freight Island
Sunday 17th April
It’s a packed Easter weekend at Freight Island, as you’d expect, culminating in this massive rave on Sunday. Kicking off a regular Sunday festival at the venue, Better Sundays will feature electro legend Greg Wilson and Hacienda staple Graeme Park, plus a Don Letts DJ set, Jenna G and Sally Rodgers (A Man Called Adam). Elsewhere over Easter, there’s Massaoke on Saturday night, and a Playhouse Project Family Rave during the day on Sunday.
Surco presents: A Rave in a Theatre @ NIAMOS
Sunday 17th April
From the team that brought you the ‘rave in a bagel shop’ and the ‘rave in a brewery’, now Manchester most loved Disco & House series brings you the Rave In A Theatre!
For one night only, Surco brings a special guest, their talent of DJ’s and hordes of production to immerse you in an old dis-used BBC theatre, now known as Niamos. A day and night disco that promises to go beyond the theatre of dreams with 360 visuals, production and a high grade Funktion One sound system.
Sundance presents Coachella @ Firefly
Sunday 17th April
Transporting you to the golden state of California this Easter Sunday from 2pm, Firefly will be hosting a day and night of live acts, DJs and more. There’s two packages available, including set menus and bottomless drinks, or you can just head there from 6pm for general admission. Head to their website to get yourself booked in.
Definitely Mightbe @ The Liquor Store
Sunday 17th April
The UK’s number one Oasis tribute band will be heading to The Liquor Store this Easter Sunday and if you fancy it – you’d best be quick because tickets are going FAST. Considering the fact that the real Oasis will probably never, ever be together again – this is the next best thing and a great way to see in Jesus’ resurrection.
