Live review: Pangaea, Manchester Students’ Union

As the end of exams slowly rolled on, as did the long-awaited return for Pangaea, the ‘Manchester’ Edition.

With a pretty impressive lineup of A Guy Called Gerald, Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club, Anz, and Amy Becker, the northern themed night stuck to its heritage. On cue, rolled in the Liam and Noels, as well as plenty of Magic Bus fancy dress outfits.

This event was celebrating its 10th year, but long-gone are the days when Pangaea flowed from the Student Union to Academy One and everything in between, with smaller rooms all decorated and accounted for with different music in each. Yet, the seemingly ever-shrinking festival, now confined only just to the SU building, still managed to successfully work with what it had.

The upper floor was tastefully decorated with clouds and umbrellas to remind us of Manchester’s glorious climate. But the rain-themed decor did not dampen any mood, with honey bee and honeycombs as far as the eye could see.

Craig Charles & Funk Soul  really brought what it said on the tin: Funk and Soul. Hypnotic rhythms and funky vibes heightened the moods and spirits of everyone.

A Guy Called Gerald similarly blew everyone away. Gerald Simpson, deemed one of the “masterminds of electronic music”, showed his northern roots. As one of the original members of Manchester’s 1990s 808 state, he skillfully and successfully showed the crowd why he is such a master of his art, with his huge anthems such as ‘Voodoo Ray’ showering the crowd with a sense of nostalgia.

Pangaea was full of excitment around every corner, much like the the place we call home. Hats off to all that were involved, you did a cracking job. What a send off!