I’m going to get straight to the point: Drumcode, November 12th at The Warehouse Project was a perfect portrayal of just how epic WHP events can be.
It would be fair to say that with recent changes in the clubbing culture, including many iconic clubs throughout the UK having been shut down, WHP has had to step up to maintain both its reputation and the prevalent part it plays in Manchester’s music scene. But this is something it has handled with no shortage of accomplishment.
With a line-up including Adam Beyer, Scuba and Alan Fitzpatrick (some of techno’s finest artists) most who support and follow this scene would have expected a long queue to get in, a packed-out dance floor throughout the night and a long wait for the toilets. However, Warehouse Project turned the space inside their club into an adequate and comfortable techno stomping yard, where these much-loved artists could be appreciated in their true form. Clubbers had come from far and wide, and I personally spoke with people who had travelled from Glasgow and Ireland to attend this event.
Warehouse Project has undergone a subtle revamp whereby more inside walkways are now available, making it easier to make your way from one arena to the next. A third room has also been added. This made for a much more enjoyable clubbing experience.
The upbeat electronic sounds of B-traits could be heard by many as the queue had fully dispersed inside and the warm-up acts for the evening had finished. The clubbers were eager to shift things up a gear, and you could see from the look on many faces that people were buzzing with anticipation as to what Drumcode was going to offer them next. At midnight, Scuba (aka Paul Rose) took over the main room shifting the sounds of techno and bass into a more flowing line of attack and flavour. Scuba is able to seemingly compose sounds and tracks together with mechanical precision. As the crowd surfaced it was evident that Scuba was kicking off Drumcode’s expectations and this was recognised within.
At 01.30am Adam Beyer (Swedish techno producer and founder of Drumcode records) takes over, beginning his set with classic Drumcode sounds before introducing his more cutting-edge and globally-recognised musical artwork. When dropping The Beat by Sam Paganini, Beyer really impressed the crowd and techno fists were pumping across the dance floor to the sounds that he showcased, making the people stomp even harder. The warehouse was filled with a really positive vibe and as I looked around me all I could see were faces of those who had love and passion for techno. The energy was electric, the dance floor was jam-packed and the party was driving full steam ahead. Just before Beyer finished up his set I flittered into room 2 to catch a bit of Dense and Pika, two fairly new techno artists that have been taking the sound of techno into a darker and harder chamber. This is what I expected to hear and this is exactly what I experienced; straight up thumping sounds that hammered into the people. And again, as I looked around me, all I could see was a collective of fans – no trouble, no hassle, just like-minded people smashing up the dance floor and releasing the techno within their souls.
The ultimate finale was brought by the one and only Alan Fitzpatrick (pictured). By this point in the night, at many other events around the country, clubbers may have had enough and gone home, but The Warehouse Project carried its crowd right through to the end. When Londoner Alan overloaded the dance floor with his frantic and chopping sounds, it made for a perfect last set to what was an articulate and eclectic contribution from all Drumcode artists throughout the evening. For those who know Alan’s records, it would be fair to say that his style and selection on the night was flawless and that his tracks moved intricately from one to another, drawing an immense reaction from the crowd and topping off a most memorable and successful evening.
For those that weren’t able to attend I can assure you that this night will go down as one of the best events of recent WHP history, the line-up, the crowd and the whole feel of the night from start to finish was utterly suburb. Well played WHP for remaining true to your reputation once again!
image: Gemma Parker Photography
