Each week we get behind the decks with the very best resident DJs from across the Manchester club scene, chatting about the newest releases, the best clubs and the picks of the month.
Behind the Decks is back and this week we get to grips with a concept never seen before in Manchester clubbing. Value for money is something we all strive for, the trouble is, most of the time it's someone else that decides the value - and we can like it or lump it. Not at Meat Free, the raving cooperative that have gone against the grain and given us, the paying punters, the chance to pay what we think the night is worth. You decide the value and whatever you pay goes towards the next Meat Free guest. Freedom for the dance floor frequenters to flex their financial muscles and help them throw another top draw residents party with the likes of this week's guest Steffi Allatt, who we sat down with to talk Sankeys in 07, era defining clubs and Bez's Acid House night before Meat Free hits up Joshua Brooks on Friday!
Name(s): Steffi Allatt, Natasha Carter, Kerrie Anderson, Alice Woods, Lucy Ironmonger
Age: Combined, a lot.
Club Night: Meat Free.
What do you love most about the clubbing scene in Manchester?
The energy and the enthusiasm, of clubbers and promoters alike. Manchester has a huge clubbing past that seems to want to keep on building. Despite the increasing mass commercialisation, it seems to make the smaller promoters and clubs in Manchester work even harder to secure more quality bookings. There’s also such great variety here, from techno nights to garage nights to d’n’b. Yet, despite the huge variety it’s still small enough to get noticed. And even though we’re pretty new to the promoting scene, so far it’s been really friendly - the majority of promoters seem to want each other to succeed. And if everyone is pushing forward, the scene will keep moving forward too.
What makes Manchester so important to the UK club scene?
Manchester has arguably made the biggest mark on clubbing and dance music out of anywhere else in the UK. The Hacienda/Madchester days defined an era. One of us was a part of a Happy Monday’s tribute band for a couple of years, so when some of us got to play a Bez’s Acid House night in March it was amazing!
Its history has left a legacy for us all to build upon, it's also an extremely open-minded and friendly city. Love them or hate them, look at the success of Sankeys and the Warehouse project - worldwide brands, both born and bred right here in the rainy city.
What’s one of the best club nights you have ever been to in Manchester?
Motor City Drum Ensemble in December 2012 extended set for Audio Farm and Sankeys in 2007 for Adam Beyer both stand out. Selective Hearing throw a great party too, they create a great vibe and pull a nice crowd. The effort that goes into their bookings really pays off.
Favourite place to party in Manchester?
Soup Kitchen basement is pretty good and The basement of Joshua Brooks is a great place to throw a party, and to go to one. Our friend Ollie’s house is also a firm favourite.
Favourite Manchester bar for pre-club drinks?
Cord is good. Or any of Manchester's abundance of Tiki bars. The Liar’s Club does the best Zombie cocktails!
What's your favourite tune of all time to hear in a club?
Kerri Chandler - Atmosphere (Lost Dubs). Too many good memories of this tune, it's a classic. Ten City - That's The Way Love Is ( Acieed MIx/ Extended Edit) is pretty special for us too.
If you could throw a club night with any two DJs going back to back in your own living room for 20 of your mates, who would you choose?
We can't agree, so we'd have to put Tama Sumo, Steffi, Levon Vincent, Ben UFO and Funkieven into a hat.
Pick of the month?
Clubnight: We couldn’t not say Meat Free #3 on the 22nd. But also looking forward to Dense&Pika for Selective Hearing in December.
Track: K. Delroy Edwards - Untitled (LACR001) or Randomer - Bring.
Finally, if you could choose one club in the world to go to for the rest of your life, which would it be?
Have to go for the obvious, Berghain/Panorama Bar.
You can catch Steffi and all the Meat Free DJs at Joshua Brooks on Friday from 11pm until 4am - and remember, you pay what you want!
