This month’s Bitch brought the return of Michael Woods, and if his set was anything to go by last time he was at Venus, we were all in for a massive treat. Kicking off the night was 1/3 of B3AST, Lempo. Bass Jockeys were up next as the swarms of people started to enter the club and fill the dance floor, where James and Daz dropped some old school classics and Bitch house favorites.

Next up was the return of Mark Kovich who hadn’t played at Bitch since January. Everybody seemed excited to see him back, and he did not disappoint, dropping Cedric Gervais’ huge mix of ‘Summertime Sadness’ that got the crowd into full on party mode.

Lempo then joined the other 2/3 of B3AST, Martyn Russo and Pete Mobey with Ashley Taylor Dawson supporting the boys as he features on their awesome new track ‘True’. They showed exactly why they are one of the Venus crowds’ favorite acts who pulled off yet another classic performance.

It was now time for the headlining act, Michael Woods, who brought a blinding set to this sold out venue. Michael’s involvement with the crowd was also admirable as he gave out tons of signature shades and even poured patron down some lucky ravers’ necks as DMM partied on in the booth with him. When ‘Warrior’ dropped the floor shook as everybody, including the staff, went crazy for Michael’s huge hit and made it another memorable moment at Venus.

Paul Nags then got his opportunity to light up the front room, followed by John Steward and Andy Clarke, wrapping up this massive night.

Next month at Bitch brings the highly anticipated Ibiza Warm Up Party with Oliver Lang, let’s get ready for summer bitches!

Photography credit

Big thanks to Eddy Gosht of Oh My Gosht Photography for the use of his photos from the night! View the full album here.

We’ve always been a fan of the sophisticated, chilled, New York-inspired Black Dog Ballroom venues in Manchester, whether it’s for a cocktail / beer at the Northern Quarter and New Wakefield Street bars or the underground atmospheric space of Underdog. The news of the group opening a bowling alley over the Easter Weekend at a formerly disused buidling down Whitworth Street West certainly excited us, so we thought it was about time we head down to check it out.

When we approached the amusingly named Dog Bowl after midnight on Friday we were greeted with the same laid-back vibe we’re used to from the bars, which provided the perfect atmosphere for groups of mates and couples to enjoy a chilled drink whilst listening to the house/electro sounds of Keiran Sharples in the upper DJ booth above the doors. What stood out immediately though was the vibrant, modern bowling alley ahead, complete with five ten-pin bowling lanes and ball dispensers inspired by the brand’s distinguishable black dog, Bruce the Patterdale Terrier. We had a game with a few mates and it was a great laugh, the staff were nice enough to let the girls have the barriers up (NOT cheating, may I add, although the boys would beg to differ!) and the whole vibe was really chilled.

Offering fantastic food with a focus on local produce plus a great range of cocktails and drinks, the Dog Bowl really is somewhere you go can during the day with mates or family or if you’re wanting an alternative to a full-on rave night but still have a laugh with friends and a few drinks, we definitely recommend you head down. We don’t know anywhere else where you can go bowling without the neon, cheesey 90s surroundings, so this modern, trendy venue is a fun, unique addition to Manchester’s offerings.

More info

Opening times:
Dog Bowl is open 12pm – 3am Monday through Thursday, 12pm – 4am Fridays, 10am – 4am on Saturdays and from 10am – 3am on Sundays.

One game of bowling costs £6 off peak (until 6pm Monday – Friday and after midnight every day) or £8 on peak (from 6pm Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday). £5 for children and students with an NUS card.

Website: www.blackdogballroom.co.uk/dogbowl
Twitter: @BlackDogBowl
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlackDogBowl

Within the first few weeks, the Cassini Podcast has received high acclaim from those in the know in the techno and house scenes. Dance Music Manchester dubbed the podcast as, “a highly influential series, a true representation of the fresh tech / house sounds in Manchester today”. Now that the series has found it’s place within the music world, we believe that it will dramatically increase in popularity, especially with their upcoming events appearing on the horizon within the next few weeks.

The brand’s first event, takes place in Manchester, with a 10 hour music marathon at Sound Control on Easter Sunday, from 2pm – 12am. This will be soon followed by their sister launch in Leeds on the 26th April.

On top of this, lucky revellers who buy tickets before they sell out, will have access to a boat party, setting off from Dukes 92 in Castlefield and touring the grand canals and rivers of Manchester before returning back to the club for the conclusion of this incredible party.

DJ’s Confirmed for the day/night/boat so far:
Gemma Furbank (Orbit-Reloaded / Vestax)
Kreso
3 Deep (Positive Education)
Twenty12 (Exhibit)
Hew (Cassini)
Epic Noise Guy (Cassini)

Dispute Records Showcase:
Paul Matthews
Nemmz
Low Perspective
Deluxxe

Venue: Sound Control, Manchester.
Date/Time: 31st March – 1400-0000 (Easter Sunday)

Drinks offers on the night:
£2 Ice Cold Shot’s of Jagermeister
£2 Luxardo Sambuca Shot
£2 Bottles (Carlsberg/K2)
£2.20 Pint Lager
£3.50 Doubles with Mixer

Ticket Information:
£5 adv or £6 OTD – Entrance to Cassini @ Sound Control
£15 – BOAT PARTY AND ALL DAY EVENT ACCESS

Skiddle:
http://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Manchester/Sound-Control/Cassini-Sundays—Cassini-Sundays—All-Day-Easter-Sunday-event–BOAT-PARTY—TECHNO—HOUSE—ELECTRONICA/11820134/

Tickets onsale from:
Sound Control Website
Skiddle
Soon to be available from:
Ticket Sellers
Gaffs – Fallowfield
Piccadilly Records
Eastern Bloc
Dr Hermans
Sound Base

Cassini Podcast Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/cassini-music

Social Media
Sound Control
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/SoundControlMCR
Twitter – https://twitter.com/soundcontrolmcr
Web – http://www.soundcontrolmanchester.co.uk

Cassini
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cassinihq
Facebook Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/220521574752852/

You’d expect anything associated with global energy drink brand, Red Bull, to be explosive, full of energy and to go off with a bang. That’s why collaborating with boy wonder of bass and electronic force, Benga, is the perfect match, resulting in what is expected to be a succession of some of the biggest aftershow parties in the UK.

Red Bull Studio

Red Bull Studios, following the six-part “I Am Benga” video series, will be bringing the guy who played a crucial part in causing a global music frenzy on the dubstep/drum’n’bass scene, to one of our favourite venues, Joshua Brooks, on 1st March. Following his support on the Example tour, Benga will be joined by other upcoming DJs and producers hot on the scene including Youngman and Pixel Fist, to Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow for three very special nights.

Leading the movement and rising with it alongside the likes of Skream to become the heavyweight act he is today, Benga continues to forge his identity as one of the UK’s top producer talents, thriving as an electronic pioneer who never ceases to disappoint with his heavy-bass, addictive-beat offerings. On a personal note, it was Skream and Benga who first opened my eyes into the world of dubstep, a genre at the age of 19 I felt I finally connected with and fell in love with the grimey, filthy, underground sounds.

Benga

These aftershows are the icing on the cake for what has been an epic year for Benga and considering he’s playing bigger and bigger venues and festivals around the world, we can’t wait for him to blow the roof of a venue as intimate as Joshua Brooks. Expect a packed dancefloor, plenty of bassfaces and thumping beats; as hosts of the night, let’s see how Red Bull Studios throw a party and what better way than with a pioneer of the dubstep scene?

Get in the mood and check out Benga’s SoundCloud – here’s one of our favourite tracks!

Benga: Twitter @iambenga / Facebook
Red Bull Studios: Twitter @RBStudiosLondon / Facebook
Joshua Brooks: Twitter @JoshuaBrooksMcr / Facebook

COMPETITON: WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS!

Fancy winning a pair of tickets to this intimate afterparty? Keep your eyes out on our Twitter @dancemusicmcr and Facebook page – we’ll be announcing it soon!

Saturday 26th January brought the return of Bitch at Venus, the first one of 2013 and bringing with it the hype of Norman Doray and with such a big name headlining it, the night was sure to be massive. We turned up at Venus at 11pm when it opened to find a queue already around the corner for Bitch despite the cold icy weather; it looked like half of Manchester had turned up to experience this soon-to-be epic night.

Norman Doray at Bitch @ Venus

Lempo and Pete Mobey kicked off the night with a back-to-back set filling up the dance floor within minutes, getting the place set up for a filthy set by Mark Kovich, who had the crowd going off even more! After hitting Bitch every month and being a huge fan of Venus, the music they play and the atmosphere, we had never experienced it to be as packed-out like this since Nicky Romero when he tore up the dancefloor in March 2012. Although Venus is always busy, this night was an absolute sell-out.

Lempo loves you!

While having a brief chat with Norman Doray before his headlining set, he expressed how excited he was to play in front of this crazy crowd. As soon as he got on the decks Norman showed us why he was Venus’ headlining act for the first Bitch of 2013, he got the crowd going mental! In return, we all showed our love for him by doing heart shape signs and getting on each other’s shoulders during his set. It’s safe to say Doray has become a Bitch favourite if the crowd’s reaction was anything to go by!

With Venus’ reputation of house/electro music, B3’s set also brought some alternative mash-ups and classics, like House of Pain – ‘Jump Around’, which went down great with the crowd.

The B3 lads

2013 is looking set to be a massive year for Venus after an already epic 2012. We’re looking to see what they have in store for us next, so bring it on and get bitchin’!

Find out more

Like Bitch / Venus on Facebook
Follow Bitch / Venus on Twitter
Photos by: Leigh Roughton aka @LilR0ckit