Murkage search for new sound stars

Murkage are the buzz night in Manchester right now - the Evening News crowned them Most Exciting Club Night of 2010 and they're uber groovy - parties at the club South, there's also a live band and there are other off-shoots as well. They're always pushing the envelope for creativity in Manchester and their latest push is to find an audio identity - the "Murkage Sound".

SO! Launching this week (and running till May 8th) will be a competition to find the Murkage sound - an ident that will define the club. Producers/fans/amatueurs/sound students... escaped lunatics... everyone will be invited to visit www.murkagesound.com and download stems from their first EP (already getting heavy plays by Kissy Sell Out and MistaJam et al) and turn that into their 30 second sound bite - any genre, any vibe, any sort of murky murkage!

Entrants will all be listened to and ultimately judged by the Murkage Cartel. There will be one ultimate winner and they will win a bunch of stuff (including a SONY VAIO laptop, preloaded with an audio production suite not even on the market yet plus WeSC headphones and clothes).

Comedy Arrives in Darwen

SUNDAY 10th OCTOBER From 7pm....YOU ‘AVIN A LAUGH?

Well you certainly will be as we present to you Darwen’s first comedy night! That's right, never before has a venue in Darwen opened the doors to high calibre comedians, so we thought it is our duty to be the first!

Starring the wonderful Rob Riley as compere with 2 fabulous comedians......

TONY BURGESS
Award winning stand up comic and writer Tony Burgess plays clubs and theatres throughout the country.

In 2004 Tony Burgess was nominated for best stand up and writer at the North West Comedy awards. This led to a prolific period of writing on a wide range of shows such as the award winning BBC 3 comedy Ideal (where he also played Troy, a mad DJ who lived in Moz’s cupboard) to the play Doorway, which premiered at The Royal Exchange Studio Theatre in Manchester, to the film Wallace and Gromit and The Curse Of The Were-rabbit. Tony has also written for wide variety of comedians including Lily Savage, Brian Conley, Steve Coogan (Paul and Pauline Calf’s Cheese and Ham Sandwich) and Johnny Vegas.

“…Always clever often hilarious….” (The Scotsman)
“A Demon set and staggering stage presence.” (The Big Issue)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ALEX MARPLE
Up and coming Anglo-Asian stand up comedian Alex Maple gigs throughout the UK using one-liners, jokes and wordplay as well as acute observations drawn from his English-Islamic upbringing. He has written for BBC and commercial radio and worked on TV programmes such as BBC 2's 'Mock The Week'.

"A comedic genius in waiting ...soon you may be saying 'I saw him before he was famous'." Three Weeks

"Raw talent ...punchy gags" The List

"A good laugh ...you can't fail to giggle" Ed Fest Magazine

TICKETS: £5 in advance (£7 OTD)

3 in a Bar
Belgrave Rd
Darwen
Lancashire
BB3 2RP

PAM ANN TO DESCEND ON MANCHESTER PRIDE 2010 DINNER

Date: Thursday, 16 September 2010

With just one week to go until the Manchester Pride Dinner the organisers are pleased to announce that Australian comedienne and gay icon, Pam Ann, will be touching down at The Palace Hotel, on Thursday 23 September 2010.

Pam Ann will be joining forces with Irish TV personality Graham Norton, who is set to host the evening of music and entertainment.

This charity event, in conjunction with Hot Village magazine, will help to raise funds to support community events at Manchester Pride 2011.

There is a limited number of Silver Tickets available, at a cost of £55, which includes a drinks reception and a three-course meal. Tickets do not need to be purchased for an entire table as individual bookings are welcome.

Tickets are available from Clone Zone, Sackville Street, Manchester or online at: www.manchesterpridedinner.com

Jackie Crozier, festival director of Manchester Pride, said: "The Manchester Pride Dinner promises to be a first class event, with some amazing entertainment and the chance to reminisce about Pride 2010. We're thrilled to have Pam Ann on board for our first ever charity dinner.”

Antony Cotton, Coronation Street Star and Manchester Pride Patron, said: “Pam Ann is an amazing gay icon and is always outrageously entertaining. She is sure to wow those attending and the Manchester Pride Dinner will no doubt go down a treat.”

ENDS

Manchester Comedy Festival Listings

Rob Riley in association with Manchester Comedy Festival proudly presents;

Weds 20th Oct 20.15pm Raymond Mearns - Shaggy Dog Stories £6
Glasgow’s master story teller with a tendency toward quickfire improvisation.
The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Weds 20th Oct 21.30pm Caimh McDonnell - A Series Of Unfortunate Events £5
A comedic trawl through one man's inability to say the right thing at the right time.

The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Thurs 21st Oct 20.15pm Brendan Riley - Happy Days! £6
Happiness doesn't happen by chance, it's a state of mind. An hour
of revelations, stories and top notch gags.
The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Thurs 21st Oct 21.30pm Chris McCausland - Emotional Retard £7
If Chris can’t be an emotional retard then surely love can’t be blind and the economy can’t be crippled.
The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Fri 22nd Oct 20.15pm Henry Paker - 3D Bugle £6
Mock and Week and 8 out of 10 Cats writer's odds and sods, whimsy and mild posturing.

The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Fri 22nd Oct 21.30pm Ian Cognito - Still Standing! £8
Has alternative comedy’s original bad boy mellowed with age? We certainly hope not!

The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Sat 23rd Oct 20.15pm Slaughterhouse Downsized featuring Gary Morris £6/£5 concs

The award-winning Slaughterhouse Live but with a 75% staff reduction. See one man do the job of four in this testament to the age of austerity.

The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Sun 24th Oct 20.15pm Tom Binns as Ivan Brackenbury - Hospital Radio Remix £10 Both shows £15

The multi award winning spoof hospital radio DJ returns!

The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Sun 24th Oct 21.30pm Tom Binns as Ian D. Montfort - ‘Touching Dead People’ £10 both shows £15
Pseudo psychic shenannagins from the man 'behind' Ivan Brackenbury.

The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Mon 25th Oct 20.15pm Stuart Goldsmith - The Reasonable Man £7/£5 concs
A glorious hour of stand up from a nice young man with no tattoos.

The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Mon 25th Oct 21.30pm Mick Ferry - The Missing Chippendale £8/£6 concs.
The Chippendales and their fans tried to ruin Mick's 2009. Here's his revenge.
The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Tues 26th Oct 20.15pm John Robins - Nomadic Revery £7/£6
A show celebrating the wonky and naive in a world where we grow up too quickly.
The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Tues 26th Oct 21.30pm Rob Rouse - The Great Escape £7/£6 concs
Fresh from a national tour and a sell out run at the Edinburgh Festival. Rob brings his latest show to the Manchester Comedy Festival.
The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Fri 29th Oct 20.15pm Michael Redmond - ‘It’s not Father Stone... It’s Michael Redmond.’ £6.50
Father Stone from Father Ted hardly spoke, Now he will speak... about his moustache and other things.
The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Fri 29th Oct 21.30pm Kevin Gildea - Here Comes Kevin Gildea… £7/£6 concs
…with his show mixing super stand-up and hilarious short stories.
The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Sat 30th Oct 20.15pm Alfie Moore - The Laughter Police £6
Alfie Moore is a genuine cop. See the show his superiors would rather you didn't.
The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Sat 30th Oct 21.30pm Joe Lycett and Andrew Ryan - An Hour Of Humour £5
Hotly tipped Joe Lycett and Andrew Ryan bring their hour of humour to Manchester for a special one-off show.

The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Sun 31st Oct 20.15pm Paul Sinha - Extreme Anti-White Vitriol £8/£6

The multi award winning comic tells the story of confronting the BNP live on air.

The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

Sun 31st Oct 21.30pm Matt Kirshen - Comedytalkingoutloud £7
The second most famous person to present Rude Tube and finalist in NBC's Last Comic Standing brings an hour of stand up to MCF.
The Engine House, IABF, Chorlton Mill, 3 Cambridge St, M1 5BY. Wheelchair access. Licensed bar. Info 07874 152 338

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Manchester Comedy Festival '10 at The Engine House Weds 20th - Sun 31st October

Raymond Mearns, Caimh McDonnell, Brendan Riley, Chris McCausland, Henry Paker, Ian Cognito, Slaughterhouse Downsized, Ivan Brackenbury’s Hospital Radio Remix, Ian D. Montfort, Stuart Goldsmith, Mick Ferry, John Robins, Rob Rouse, Michael Redmond, Kevin Gildea, Alfie Moore, Joe Lycett, Andrew Ryan, Matt Kirshen, Paul Sinha

Bitch is back in Manchester

Elegant return to clubbing - Manchester Evening News headline, August 2010

*** The Bitch…. IS BACK! ***

Where: Venus, 42 Maybrook House, Blackfriars, Manchester M3 2EG

How Much: £10 for paying guestlist (entry before midnight) / £12

How long: 11pm-6am ; Info: www.bitchpromotions.com

We can confirm that all the rumours are true… the Bitch is back in town!

If you thought Jordan had a gob on her you’ve obviously never been down to one of these parties - a legend in the nocturnal landscape of the north. Bitch started life as a Sunday party at Sankeys, finding a real niche crowd on that oft forgotten night of the weekend. With an organically evolving crowd, Bitch stepped out of the shadows into the limelight of Saturday night itself. The night then stepped across to the Pennines and stretched out her lithe limbs in Leeds. And boy did Manchester miss her sultry charms…

Well, now the Bitch is back. The long-awaited homecoming will take place on September 11th, after which Bitch will become a monthly at Manchester’s newest nightspot, Venus. Bitch and Goddess of Beauty… surely it’s a match made in clubland heaven? Manchester needs this night back within the city - the existing Bitch crowd now joined by new faces - and with a soundtrack that touches on techno, electro and tech house, this will be something of a new sound for Venus as well…

Building on a foundation of the Bitch residents, the club will also bring quality names to Manchester, launching with Micky Slim, a great friend of the club. And fear not, because the sultry, saucy X-rated Bitch Girls will also be back at well. Says promoter Ric: “after a year or so in wilderness we’re delighted that Bitch is back in Manchester, the city where it was born. We can’t wait to hit play and get this party started.”

Upcoming parties include a 4th Birthday Halloween special on October 30th, and the return of Bitch’s sister party, Da Putre Madre, now a student-orientated event which will kick off at Venus on Tuesday September 21st.

Considered yourself forewarned!

Manchester Pride up for Best Pride Award

Date: Thursday, 2 September 2010

MANCHESTER PRIDE UP FOR 'WORLD'S BEST PRIDE' AWARD

Manchester Pride has been nominated for the 'Best Annual Gay Destination Event' in the 2010 TripOut Gay Travel Awards.

Other nominees include: Amsterdam Gay Pride, Dinah Shore Weekend (Palm Springs), Madrid Pride, Provincetown Bear Week and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

The shortlist has been compiled by TripOut Gay Travel - an international online gay travel guide. TripOut provide LGBT travelers with the latest on gay travel and honour gay-friendly destinations and travel services around the globe.

You can vote for Manchester Pride by visiting: www.tripoutgaytravel.com, or via Twitter by tweeting the hashtage #TOGTManPride. Any time this hashtag is used in a tweet, it is counted as a vote.

Voting closes on Monday, 18 October and the results will be announced in November.

Jackie Crozier, festival director of Manchester Pride, said: "Manchester Pride has been voted the ‘Best Pride Event’ in the UK by readers of the Pink Paper for the last four years. To be recognised on the international stage along with many world-class Pride events is a real honour.

"Each year we go above and beyond to ensure Manchester Pride is bigger and better whilst remaining true to our roots as a fundraiser for local LGBT and HIV charities. And the fact that people travel across the country and even the world to attend really means everything to us."
Since 2003, Manchester Pride has raised £780,000 for LGBT and HIV charities across Greater Manchester. The total amount raised from Manchester Pride 2010 will be announced on Thursday, 23 September at the Pride Gala dinner.

For more information, visit: www.manchesterpride.com

ENDS

Didsbury Irish Festival a Success

Sun Shines for Full Irish Festival in Didsbury

The Sun shone all afternoon to welcome back the legendary Full Irish Radio Festival to Old Bedians Sports Ground in Didsbury on Sunday 29^th August 2010.

Thousands flocked to the annual Bank holiday family orientated Irish fun day which this year was officially launched by Withington MP John Leech. In his opening address at the outdoor event the popular MP said “It is great to see the return of this popular Family orientated Irish festival to Didsbury. ALL FM Radio’s Full Irish Radio Team have worked very hard to put on such a fantastic event and I am delighted to come along to support it. I hope that the annual celebration of all things Irish will remain at permanent fixture here for years to come.”

The annual event which is organised by Joe Casserley and his team of volunteers from the award winning Full Irish Radio show on ALL FM Radio is a celebration of all things Irish. The Day at the Sports Ground in Didsbury featured a host of Live Irish Bands who had flown over from Ireland to play on a specially erected outdoor stage, Children’s Gaelic Games competitions, Dancing displays, Irish Stalls and a massive Children’s Fun Fair.

Pride to welcome Sir Ian McKellen

SIR IAN MCKELLEN TO TAKE PART IN MANCHESTER PRIDE PARADE 2010
Lord of the Rings star, Sir Ian McKellen will be this year’s official Grand Marshal for the 20th annual Manchester Pride Parade, to be held this Saturday (28 August, 1pm).

A Grand Marshal is a distinguished individual honoured with leading the parade. Last year’s Grand Marshal was human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell.
This year’s parade has adopted a ‘through the decades’ theme.
Jackie Crozier, festival director of Manchester Pride, said: “Every Parade needs a Grand Marshal and I’m absolutely delighted that we have the wonderful Sir Ian McKellen leading the way. The parade always attracts a huge crowd so I would advise everyone to get there early to avoid disappointment.”
With over 100 entries each year, the Manchester Pride Parade is one of the main highlights of the Big Weekend and remains the biggest parade in the city. It celebrates the LGBT community in Greater Manchester and raises awareness of the issues around HIV.

Manchester Pride 2010 takes place this Friday and runs until Monday 30 August. For more information, visit: www.manchesterpride.com. You can also follow the festival on Twitter: @ManchesterPride
ENDS

This Week at Sound Control

TUESDAY - UGLY DUCKLING

The very excellent UGLY DUCKLING are back in the UK, and are promising to take the roof off Sound Control, you don't want to miss this!

Their infectious Beastie Boys style rhythms will make you dance, dance, dance.

Support comes from the very hotly tipped KINNY and one of Manchester's finest, DAYWALKERS. Music in between will be supplied by JUICY Djs.

Tickets are £8.

FRIDAY - CNYD

Chicago : New York : Detroit

DJ sets and live performances from Robert Owens, Tevo Howard, Danny Krivit, Timmy Regisford, Stacey Pullen and Rolando.

Support from Development and Content DJs

CNYD present the first in a series of events celebrating the musical output of the three American cities arguably most influential in the birth and development of dance music as it stands today; Chicago, New York and Detroit. Manchester venues Sound Control and The Attic combine to host performances from an exciting line-up of DJs and live performers from each city.

C is for Chicago:

The progression of disco music, through the incorporation of synthesized beats and electronic music from Europe in the Chicago clubs of the 80s sparked the creation of a completely fresh and raw musical genre: House music. Taking its name from the city's famed Warehouse club House mutated further into the sub genres of Acid and Jackin' and beyond. Representing the music of Chicago are legendary performer Robert Owens of Fingers Inc and fresh new DJ/Producer Tevo Howard.

Robert Owens' voice is one of the most recognisable in House Music. His collaborations with Larry Heard as Fingers Inc, such as Bring Down the Walls and I'm Strong back in 1986 - 1987 and later with Frankie Knuckles and Satoshi Tomiie's epic Tears are timeless classics. Robert is still prolifically involved in new house music after 24 years in the business and is set to perform a selection of his best songs as well as a rare DJ set.

Tevo Howard is an exciting prospect who has recently burst onto the scene with a slew of awesome releases which encapsulate the raw spirit of Chicago House. Chicago's hottest new export brings a slice of his city to Manchester with a unique live set featuring analog drum machines and plenty of reasons to jack.

NY is for New York:

From the block parties of the South Bronx to the ground breaking nightclubs of Manhattan and Jersey, New York gave us Hip Hop, Disco and the Soulful Garage sounds of the 1990s. This heady mix of styles, tempos and cultures make the city's musical output one of the most influential and important on the planet. Representing New York are the residents from the city's biggest and most established club nights, Danny Krivit (718 Sessions and Body & Soul), and Timmy Regisford (Shelter).

Danny Krivit was a regular at seminal NYC clubs such as the Loft, the Paradise Garage and the Gallery, forging friendships with influential and now legendary DJs Larry Levan, David Mancuso, Francois K, Nicky Siano and other such pioneers of dance music. He's been DJ'ing worldwide ever since and still does it better than most.

Timmy Regisford has earned the well deserved moniker of the Maestro in New York because of his marathon sets at one of the cities longest running and most revered nights; Shelter. As well as a DJ career spanning over 25 years, he's also held down A&R roles at Atlantic, Motown and Dreamworks.

D is for Detroit

In the late 80s in America's most industrial city and the home of Motown records, soul music met technological experimentation and Techno music was created. From the earliest sonic innovations using the famous synthesizers and drum machines of that era, the motor city's underground music provided the basis for today's proliferation of electronic dance music across the globe. Representing Detroit are two of its finest producers and DJs, Stacey Pullen and Rolando.

Stacey Pullen is an innovator from the Second Wave of Detroit techno who grew up under the mentorship of Detroit's legendary three: Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson. He's been DJ'ing since 1985 and is still producing the finest techno and playing across the globe to this day.

Rolando grew up in the 1970's in the Hispanic District in southwest Detroit, where he was heavily influenced by his cultural Latin rhythms and percussion. This influence is prominent in his ground breaking techno records such as Knights of the Jaguar which turned perceptions of techno on their head.

Chicago:NewYork:Detroit takes place at two of Manchester's finest and most respected underground clubs, situated side-by-side under the railway arches of New Wakefield Street. The stage is set for the meeting of underground dance music's finest minds. CNYD part one. Manchester 27/08//2010

We kick off at 10pm and run until 6am. Tickets are £20.

SATURDAY - URBAN LEGEND

HomieSexual presents URBAN LEGEND BANK HOLIDAY SPECIAL.

Manchester Prides FIERCEST Clubnight drops in to kick start your bank holiday madness!

Djs on the night DJ JAY (HomieSexual, Galaxy), DJ GOODAZ (Heaven, Caribana), DJ CHEEX (Mission, Manto) doing all things RnB, Hip-Hop, Funky House, Old Skool.

Exclusive live set by AJAH 'One of the UK's rising hip-hop rock fusion acts'.

Mystery guest celebrity guest PA.

10pm until 4am and tickets available from the link below or 0161 832 1111, Clone Zone, Pure Space, Eagle and Velvet.

Also, WIN A FLIGHT TO LA!!!!!!