Warehouse Project – The Return To Store Street

There aren’t a whole lot of students left in Manchester who were there to experience Store Street the first time round. The crop of first years, myself included, that arrived in Manchester alongside Warehouse Project’s move to Trafford in September 2012 are now set to begin their third, and in most cases final, year.

Yet Store Street has remained prominent in the collective memory of Manchester students during its two year absence: be it openly through the accounts of its superiority to Victoria Warehouse from older friends or subconsciously in the fleeting feeling of annoyance at how much more convenient a city centre location would be when forking over twenty quid for a taxi back to Fallowfield – felt just before the need to get home immediately and cocoon yourself on your sofa kicks in and quashes any qualms. All in all, it feels like there’s unfinished business with Store Street, so it’s very good news indeed that Warehouse Project will be returning to their “spiritual home” for the 2014 series.

So, good venue – check. But who have they got playing? The answer is, of course, most of the best names in the game across all areas of dance music. With the variation on offer, if you’re interested in pretty much any form of dance music there’ll be at least one night that looks tailor made to your taste.

The series kicks off on September 27^th with a killer house and techno offering headlined by Seth Troxler and also featuring names such as Carl Craig, Tale Of Us and Leon Vynehall. The 11^th October sees Ape vs Ram Jam unleash a drum & bass, garage and reggae filled extravaganza with a bill including the likes of heavy hitters Andy C, Wilkinson, DJ EZ and David ‘Ram Jam’ Rodigan MBE.

Beaters and sunglasses at the ready – Jamie Jones and his Paradise crew on are in town 24^th October. The following night I fear for the structural integrity of Store Street with Hudson Mohawke, Rustie, Lone and Jackmaster & Oneman’s Can U Dance all playing undoubtedly hyperactive and explosive sets.

Let’s hope it’s still standing at the next weekend because Four Tet and Caribou are back after their highly successful curation last year. As we enter November, Resident Advisor are providing my personal highlight of the calendar. Chilean master Ricardo Villalobos heads the bill with Nina Kraviz, a tantalising Hessle Audio three way b2b2b and Joy Orbison also appearing in Room 1. Then over in Room 2 you’ve got 3 hour sets from each of Jackmaster, Moodymann and Underground Paris. I’m looking into whether dividing myself into two parts is a viable option for this.

James Blake and his 1-800 Dinosaur project play on the 8^th November. There’s more live music on the 21^st as Bonobo and his band make another stop on their North Borders tour. Maya Janes Coles curates her first WHP night on 29^th, with Heidi, Ten Walls and Dense & Pika in tow this will be a debut to remember.

December opens with 3 hour sets from legends The Chemical Brothers and Andrew Weatherall on the 5^th. Speaking of legends, Fatboy Slim performs on December 19^th. If soaring, blissful house is your thing then get yourself to the Innervisions night on December 13^th, featuring none other than RA’s No. 1 DJ in the world – Dixon. This also falls nicely right at the start of the Christmas holidays.

There’s plenty more too beyond that, see http://www.thewarehouseproject.com/calendar.php for full details. Be sure to keep an eye on those TBA line ups, especially the consistently staggering New Year events.