Manchester clubbers prepare for the first night of the final Warehouse Project

By Will De Nardo, Music Correspondent

The end is nigh for Manchester’s most unique music venue as it prepares to re-open its gates for the very last time, with a run of acts that will have clubbers pining for more dirty beats before it closes its doors for good at the end of December.

Tomorrow night the Warehouse Project kick starts its final season at its Store Street home with what it claims to be its most star studded run of acts to date.

Branded ‘the beginning of the end’ the opening night will feature sets from Warehouse Project residents Skream and Hudson Mohawke which will be topped off by a headline performance from turntable veteran DJ Shadow, live from his Shadow Sphere: an on stage sphere, with visuals projected onto it, from which he performs

Daniel Coultas, 23, from Fallowfield, said: “I actually can’t wait for Saturday night, this is what I live for.

“It is a huge shame that the lads at Warehouse Project are bringing this to an end, it’s such a unique concept and something Manchester should be proud of.

“I’ve no doubt they’ve got something up their sleeve though and we’ll be seeing them again soon.”

New to the bill this year is Manchester DJ XXXY, who will be performing three shows over the coming months. In a recent interview he said: “I’ve been quite a few times as a clubber and the line-ups are really big, the space is really impressive, the atmosphere is fantastic.

“It has given people a chance to show themselves off live, with people doing live or DJ sets that they wouldn’t normally, and that’s interesting to check out.”

Also gracing the stage this year at the UK’s annual electronic music Mecca, will be Mercury Prize nominee: James Blake (26 November) as well as Calvin Harris, Jamie XX, the Horrors, Aphex Twin and the Foals who all make up part of the 250+ acts that aim to make the final Warehouse Project season one of epic proportion.

The underground car park, below Piccadilly train station will host 34 nights from now until 1 January, before the ominous brains behind the Warehouse Project pack up and no doubt move on to pastures new.

To mark the end of the five-year stint at its Store Street home, Warehouse Project is throwing a 17-hour party on New Year’s Day, featuring 15 house and techno acts.

As far as the future of the Warehouse Project goes those involved aren’t giving too much away, organisers have said: “Exactly how, where and when the Warehouse Project will return is not yet set, but one thing for sure is that this is The End of Store Street.”

In a recent interview Warehouse Project’s Kirsty Smith said: Our plan is to keep evolving. Coming to a new home might mean the club takes on new forms, and planning for venues to be temporary means it’s a new experience for regulars.

“There’s no point moving on if you’re not going to change something for the better.”

So while the future of the Warehouse Project seems to be promising but uncertain, it is clear that its time spent in Manchester has had a profound effect on the people who live here.

Amré Basama, a Warehouse Project regular, explained: “Warehouse Project represents access to some of the best and up and coming artists on the electro house scene at my doorstep with an atmosphere that fits perfectly.

“I’m gutted that it’s closing down, it’s going to be hard to replace a scene like the one they’ve created.”

For news, information, full line-ups and tickets visit: www.thewarehouseproject.com