The Warehouse Project opened its doors on Saturday for what is said to be the last season at the famed Store Street venue. It was a techno and house night, but you could always hear the artist’s originality with the cool and strange places they took these genres to. The night lasted from 5pm to 5am because of extended opening hours and it’s safe to assume you’d need to be very intoxicated to last the full ride.
I’m usually not an avid listener of house and techno but most of the acts were very impressive. Unless you arrived with enough time before the last entry, it’s likely that Mall Grab would’ve been the first act you saw. The 24-year-old Australian DJ has made waves across the world and moved from his home country to London a few years ago. Some of his set was dance-infused, chilled and had an attractive lo-fi quality. The other parts were quite intense and made the room shake, all while being accompanied by mesmerising light shows.
Following on the main stage was the Berlin-based, Korean artist Peggy Gou. She was definitely one of the night’s best acts. Her songs blended pulsating house and techno beats with syncopated rhythms, forming an audibly dazzling soundscape.
Over in Room 2, London-based DJ Midland meshed together funky beats and trance rhythms in a surprisingly satisfying way. Towards the end of the night, Michigan artist Seth Troxler took to the main stage and presented his stripped back sound with unsettling vocal samples sprinkled throughout. This, combined with colourful and psychedelic imagery on the front screens, made for a slightly bizarre yet thrilling backdrop.
This was my first experience of Warehouse Project and it certainly didn’t let down my expectations. The venue is an awesome place and is easy to navigate quickly even with masses of people. The high vaulted ceilings instilled an impressive sense of space to move around in.
The Warehouse Project is a beloved institution of Manchester’s dance music scene and although it will be sad to see it leave Store Street, I can’t wait for another year of good times and going hard as it moves to its new residence.
9/10
