Ten Years of SecretSundaze

"We never had any grandiose plans – we’ve just stuck to our guns, while trying to progress and push things forward"

Club nights, parties and the like seem to spring up every five minutes nowadays. It's rare for a night to last a few months let alone a few years as people's attitudes, style, wants, needs, desires etc all change over time. A change in demand often leaves people wanting something new; a new name, a new ethic; a fresh start. When a club night/event does last, it's unlikely that the DJ's and promoters behind the night thought it would. The story is often the same. They start a night for their friends, for the city/place they love, for the love of the music all at the same time wanting to push their night forward with the times to ensure their principles are adhered to. You will find that five, ten years later their principles will remain the same.

Not being a resident of London has prevented me for the most part of experiencing SecretSundaze over the last ten years. The internet has certainly assisted in people all over the world, never mind the UK become aware of the party and want to be part of it. For the tenth anniversary the two founders and brains behind the party Giles Smith and James Priestley have decided to celebrate in style with gigs far and wide in such places as Amsterdam, Tokyo, Croatia and Manchester. They've admittedly saved the best for the clubs home (and on the actual anniversary) with a two day event over the bank holiday weekend featuring Rolando and Moodymann. For the Manchester party this Friday as part of Content at Joshua Brookes, they are joined by Sistrum Recordings head Patrice Scott, who really excelled on his last visit to the city.

They have also decided to release a tenth anniversary double mix cd which aims to be a celebration of the 10 years, as well as reflecting where James and Giles are at the moment looking to the now with an appreciation of what got them where they are today.


James Priestley & Giles Smith-10 Years of SecretSundaze (buy)

Summer in the City

When the summer hits and the students start leaving the city, their abscene can often leave many cities with an empty void where their custom once was. The disposable income that students can provide to a city's nightlife, most notably the clubbing aspect of it, has been realised and taken advantage of for many years. Just look at the Warehouse Project who today announced their line-up for their final run at Store Street from September to January. This is not to mention all the student nights that paper every available space down the Oxford road corridor during the Academic period of the year.

Therefore the summer has in the past been devoid of choice and quality as many promotors focus on the student ££ and the guaranteed custom of the winter and spring months. Sankeys has continually churned out big summer parties, but a big exciting night out down Jersey Street for many, has become a faded memory, not really one to replicate any time soon.

Since my permanent return to Manchester, it certainly is refreshing to see nights both new and established continuing their parties over the summer months, trusting the local and regional crowd to attend their events rather than relying on the student purse. Content have been responsible for some the most well received club nights over the last 2 years or so with parties from the likes of Andrew Wetherall and Chez Damier not to mention Detroit legends such as Juan Atkins, Octave One and Kenny Larkin. For the next night on 29th July they host the 'Innovator' and another Detroit legend Derrick May smack bang in the middle of the summer for a intimate party at Joshua Brooks.

Bi-monthly night Bohemian Grove also bring more Detroit goodness with 1/3 of the Three Chairs; Marcellus Pittmann (the others being Theo Parrish and Kenny Dixon Jr.) the very next day to Islington Mill in Salford.  Other events and nights are also appearing. BacktoFront play host to Dutch legend Gerd on the very same night at Kraak Gallery; DJ Qu appears at Soup Kitchen on the 13th August for meandyou; whilst Mitternacht celebrates its 2nd Birthday on the 20th August also at Kraak.

By the time the August bank holiday comes around, we are truly spolit. New night Doodle plays host to Jozif and Chris Woodward on the Saturday whilst Content strikes again with a huge day/night event the day before which hosts a Northern celebration of London institution Secret Sundaze with Giles Smith and James Priestley and Sistrum label owner Patrice Scott. 

In this time of austerity, it is fanciful that everyone can afford or justify trips to the Petrance coast or Ibiza or even further beyond to enjoy some quality electronic music. If you're in that company, you are certainly well served in Manchester. The weather might not join up the dots, but's it positive that we can enjoy the summer at home before the Warehouse Project wrecking ball returns.