One of my favourite parts of starting university was moving to a new city: Manchester. This city is getting more popular each year (hence the rising prices), because there’s SO much to do. Whether you’re into hipster Northern Quarter vibes, dress-up Deansgate vibes or everything in between, there’s something here for everyone. Manchester certainly doesn’t lack in the nightlife department, either, and its electronic/rave/dance music scene is ELITE. This guide is for those who are more into the electronic or underground music scene - so whether you prefer techno, drum and bass, jungle, garage, breaks, or disco - this one’s for you! Here’s the best places in Manchester to explore those genres.
August 19th, 2022 | Abby BrooksCongratulations everyone! With all results out now and most people’s uni places confirmed, it’s now time to get excited for freshers. Being a fresher is such an exciting part of the uni experience - you make new friends, most likely go on a lot of nights out and if you were anything like me at uni you won’t show up for a lot of your first lectures (although I definitely wouldn’t recommend this, please go to your lectures).
One of my favourite parts of starting university was moving to a new city: Manchester. This city is getting more popular each year (hence the rising prices), because there’s SO much to do. Whether you’re into hipster Northern Quarter vibes, dress-up Deansgate vibes or everything in between, there’s something here for everyone. Manchester certainly doesn’t lack in the nightlife department, either, and its electronic/rave/dance music scene is ELITE.
Despite the freshers excitement, one minor struggle that I found those couple of years ago was that I didn’t know where to to go out that didn’t involve a dreaded ~freshers wristband~. I did consider getting one after seeing that one of the events was a jungle rave, to which I thought to myself “amazing, I love a bit of jungle music”, however I was sadly mistaken as the jungle aspect of this ‘rave’ was that everyone was dressed as a JUNGLE ANIMAL. No jungle music involved.
I’m sure plenty of people enjoy going to dress-up raves and UV parties to live out their Love Island fantasy, but as I started my university journey I at least wanted to meet people who had some similarity to me. So, I thought I would share my experience and carefully curated list that I wish someone would have shared with me when I moved here to save a bit of my cluelessness.
This guide is for those who are more into the electronic or underground music scene - so whether you prefer techno, drum and bass, jungle, garage, breaks, or disco - this one’s for you! Here’s the best places in Manchester to explore those genres. Don’t know who to go with? Join some freshers pages on Facebook if you don’t want to wait to ask around your accommodation when you get there - there’s plenty of groups to join beforehand!
This is definitely THE place for drum n bass in Manchester. It’s had some big names play there before, but also has plenty of regular resident DJs and small events on, as well as other things like bands, wrestling and drag events, too! It’s super intimate but has plenty of space, and a lot of the time there I’ve ended up meeting some of the DJs in the smoking area.
This is actually where I went to my first ever freshers event - a £3 drum and bass rave, which as a matter of fact is EXACTLY what Koi has organised for September 30th with the infamous Inja. Grab your £3 ticket before they sell out for the chance to come hear some sick music, we’re going to be giving out free Koi stuff all night, too! Perfect situation really, so invite your new mates to come down and get to know each other better.
This is probably one of the best venues in Manchester hands down. An absolute crowd pleaser, I have never met anyone with a bad thing to say about this place.
This venue has 3 rooms: sometimes it only has one room open for a more intimate, underground feel, and other times all 3 rooms are open for huge day and night events. Not only are the lineups always great here (and sometimes MASSIVE), but the actual venue is very cool with little hidden corridors and staircases, and a big outdoor smoking area with sofas. Also a very good place for photo opportunities with its spray painted walls and vibey lighting. There's a weekly student night on a Thursdays with resident DJs to ease you in slowly! Come to Hidden for all things techno, dnb, jungle, garage and queer raves.
This place is located right next to MMU campus so you can most likely walk from your flat, meaning you and your mates can save Uber money after pre’s and spend it on a drink there instead.
Joshua Brooks is a sick place for techno and disco events (but actually has a bit of drum n bass as well as other genres), and its layout makes it unique. Upstairs is a bar with nice seating to chill at and have a cocktail when you get too hot, whereas downstairs is like a hidden basement which is where the music is at - with a DJ booth and cool decorations. Immaculate vibes, and it’s also right next to YES Bar and other pubs to go beforehand. You could even go straight from your last lecture of the day if you fancied it…
This venue is a bit more of a venture into town, and is in the infamous Northern Quarter. Hit up some 2-4-1 cocktail deals around you before you go here - Turtle Bay is conveniently right next door so take advantage of that for pre’s beforehand.
Mint Lounge has an underground basement vibe and has occasional techno or drum n bass events on, but the main star of the show here is their weekly club night. I’m never normally a fan of club nights but this one pops OFF because it’s a bit different - so hit up Funkademia on a Saturday for immaculate funk, soul, disco and general party vibes. Tickets can sell out fast, though, so maybe buy one before you get there.
This is another gem in the heart of Northern Quarter, so you can hit up the cocktail and drinks deals around you if you go in the early evening beforehand. Soup actually do their own happy hour during the week, too.
It is mainly a bar most of the time, which has vibey music and lighting if you’re not up for dancing, and also has a load of different events on during the week in their separate underground basement, as well. What makes Soup so cool is that they have plenty of genres to explore and discover, so come here for something a bit different. They’ve got everything from garage and disco to alternative and poetry and cinema soundtrack crossovers.
You can’t move to Manchester for uni and NOT attend at least one WHP. This is a heavy one, so prepare yourselves - this venue has a huge capacity of around 10,000 so feels like a mini festival, and always has huge names playing there.
The lineups get better every year and there will definitely always be DJs you’ve heard of. These tickets are a bit pricey but it’s definitely worth it for the experience, but go with a group as it’s easy to lose your mates here. Be prepared for expensive bottles of water and even more expensive drinks…you’re in for a wild ride. WHP always has a huge range of genres from techno, dnb, garage, disco and 90s.
Okay so this isn’t just one venue, but all of Gay Village is such a feel-good vibe. Come here for cheerful fun times and cheesy music. We understand the struggle of wanting to go out multiple times a week but only having a student loan and part time job income, so Canal Street is the way to go if you don’t want to splash out. G-A-Y is a favourite club here - some weekdays they do £1.50 drinks and they play allll iconic pop music - think Lady Gaga and Charli XCX as well as stuff like 90s girl bands. There will also be a lot of gorgeous drag queens about, too! It’s important to note that Gay Village is a LQBTQIA+ safe space for people to feel comfortable and accepted, so be respectful and have fun!
A literal student classic, this club has a scatty basement vibe and looks it could be an abandoned unit from the outside, which makes it even better. It's located in Withington which is right next to Fallowfield.
This means XLR is an ideal night out for if you’re living at Owen’s Park accommodation, visiting your mates there, or when you’re going out with your friends in second year who live in Fallowfield. They only put events on during term time and often have free or VERY cheap tickets. Also, their drinks are well priced and they sell bottles of Magnum which I haven’t seen at any other clubs. Hit this place up for everything including garage, house, drum n bass, techno, jungle and speed garage, it’s always a mad (and sweaty) one there.
We hope you ‘lil ravers enjoy this list - moving to Manchester and starting uni here is an amazing experience, especially now that lockdown and restrictions are (hopefully) well and truly over for good now touch wood so you can enjoy it to the absolute fullest. Have the best time, look after yourself & your friends and stay safe!
Lots of love from Koi xox
