– THE WAREHOUSE PROJECT, MANCHESTER –
I’ve not had it for a while – that tingle that tinkles down the back of your neck as you approach the door that separates you from your night out, from your disco destiny.
But this is a big one and my neck’s tingling like Cheryl Tweedy herself were blowing gently down the nape. Carl Cox is a big DJ – physically, by reputation… every which way. And despite reviewing clubs all over the world this is my virgin visit to the Warehouse Project, which takes place so close to my place in town I could pretty much join in the fun without leaving my apartment.
So, through the doors, check my preconceptions with my coat at the cloakroom and step onto the dancefloor, the magic carpet ride that takes the crowd on a psychedelic joy-ride out of reality and into a multi-layered pleasureland. The lay-out of the Warehouse Project is well thought out, with separate bar areas, a second room and movie/chill-out area (seemingly set permanently to Bench ads). However the action is all about that central arch, the curvaceous nature of the red brick structure engendering a kind of collective cuddle on the dancefloor. I bump into plenty of old friends and faces, warm hugs and smiles set against a soundtrack of deep, chugging, intelligent techno.
First up is Krysko – a Sankeys émigré – who sets the foundations perfectly, built upon first by Eric Prydz, who plays tougher than his recorded output of gym fodder might suggest, before the big man himself steps up.
Although he’s played Manchester plenty of times and is a big fan of the city’s Mad Hatter Recordiongs, it’s Coxy’s first set for the Warehouse Project and he smashes it – only the solid dependability of Mancunian Victorian engineering keeps the arches standing at all. His smile stretches from one wall to the other as he delves through a broad selection of cuts – tech-tinged but always with an essential groove that keeps the feet moving as the evening drifts inexorably toward morning.
At some stage I peel myself from dancefloor and have to surgically separate myself from the action, somehow defying the laws of physics to fall uphill back to my apartment and an appointment with an Easter egg hunt… overseen by the Mad Hatter.
Simon is a writer, broadcaster and countercultural investigator. Over the last 15 years he has written for everyone from The Guardian to Loaded magazine, presented television for Rapture TV and hosted radio programs for the likes of Galaxy. He has also found time to earn a Masters Degree in Novel Writing and write three books (a collection of journalism, a guidebook to Ibiza and one on financial planning for young people – the most varied publishing career it’s possible to have) and establish and run a PR company, Pad Communications, looking after a range of leisure and lifestyle clients.He currently splits his time between researching his PhD at Leeds University, looking into various countercultural movements; consulting freelance for PR clients; writing for the likes of Marie Claire in Australia, The Big Issue and the Manchester Evening News, where he reviews concerts, theatre and is their Pub & Bar Editor. He is also broadcaster, appearing regularly on Tony Livesey’s late night 5Live show for the BBC, and also for BBC Radio Manchester Gourmet Night food and drink show.Simon’s main focus has been music and travel. His career has included editing Ministry of Sound’s magazine in Ibiza for two summers and also writing two long-running columns for DJmagazine – ”Around The World in 80 Clubs” (which took him everywhere from Beijing to Brazil, Moscow to Marrakech) and “Dispatches From The Wrong Side”. A collection of the latter was published in the UK and US as the book Discombobulated, including tales as varied as gatecrashing Kylie Minogue’s birthday party, getting deported from Russia, having a gun held to his head by celebrity gangster Dave Courtney and going raving in Ibiza with Judith Chalmers. He has recently written for the likes of Red magazine, Hotline, Clash, Tilllate, Shortlist and the Manchester Evening News. Pad Communications has recently consulted for clients as varied as Manchester nightclubs and New Zealand toy companies.On a personal note, Simon is a Londoner who left the capital at the age of 18 and never looked back. He sees himself as a citizen of the global dancefloor having lived in Sydney, Los Angeles, Ibiza and Amsterdam. However his life is now rather more sedentary. After all his adventures he bumped into and subsequently married his highschool sweetheart from their North London Grammar. They now live in Stockport with their four children and four chickens, trying to live the good life. Simon recently turned 40 and is steadfastly refusing to have a midlife crisis – as in, growing a ponytail and buying a shiny red sports car.OK, maybe he’ll buy the sports car…
