Content Manchester - A Review

Review of Manchester party 'Content' - for http://www.4clubbers.net/

The clubbing scene in Manchester has always been one of extremely high calibre; Take a look back at the Hacienda, Paradise Factory and the many years of Sankeys Soap to name but a few, and it’s easy to see how dedicated this city is to partying.

A gap in the market had appeared over the past couple of years however, and there seemed to be a conspicuous absence of any parties playing decent underground house and techno to an intimate and up for it crowd. Of course the now gleaming Sankeys and the booming Warehouse Project would always be high up on peoples’ agendas when it came to organising their clubbing calendars, but the intimacy, the atmosphere and the feeling of being part of something special, similar to clubbing days of old just wasn’t quite there any more.

Excellent bookings are made by the delectable Naïve Melody, El Diablo’s and Cutloose month by month with names selected to play from the deep and more eclectic end of the scale, but a niche was there for a place to visit every month for a good old stomp to excellent music with like minded people: Enter Content.

The boys at Content started the event at the Roadhouse in the City Centre last year with the mighty DJ Rolando, and have gained a loyal following in a remarkably short space of time. Their simplistic no-nonsense attitude to partying- that is; a dark room, decent sound system and high quality music seems tohave struck a chord with the regulars who keep on coming back month after month. In terms of venue, the Roadhouse fits the bill perfectly, and its low ceilings, thick red drapes and dim lighting is the perfect setting for a cosy little rave.

This month, techno legend Samuel L Session was gracing the decks. Following an impeccable warm-up by two of the four residents Eddie Leader and Dan McGlynn, the crowd appeared to be well oiled by the time SLS appeared and cheers of approval were bellowed as he took to the stage. Samuel L Session is something of an institution in the techno world. Playing records and producing for around twenty years: the man is a veteran when it comes to working the crowd. SLS locked his audience into his classic style of chunky techno from the start and kept the crowd punching the air until the lights came up at 3am, and the familiar chants of ‘one more tune’ were heard, and cruelly rejected by security.

The one thing that sticks Content head and shoulders above the rest is the atmosphere which is second to none. A few hours dancing and punters leave with that warm fuzzy feeling of a truly great night, some may even say they leave feeling Content, natch. Smiles all round, speaking to strangers, friendships formed, whoops, cheers, and dancing your arse off to a thumping soundtrack are all things that are commonplace at Content. Speaking to a group of students; they informed us that they turned up for the opening night and enjoyed it so much they hadn’t missed one since. This seems to be the general consensus for most of the attendees: people arrive to party and leave at 3am wanting more.

The lads have booked deep house maestro Chez Damier to play their party at the beginning of March, and I urge you to go and be part of it yourself. It’s the Content that counts.