Awakenings Manchester review

Techno, industrial spaces and Awakenings. All of these components are indisputably linked, but for the first time they came together in Manchester for a showcase of rumbling beats, renowned DJs and the best music within the genre.

Walking through the entrance of the colossal Victoria Warehouse, several different languages emanated from the crowds, highlighting the brand's international reach and allure. But people were all there for the same thing - a night of thunderous techno in one of the city's top raving haunts.

'Area X' was the smallest of the rooms, but despite the size, Gary Beck played with full force. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand, manipulating them with relentless basslines and pummeling beats.  

Over in the main room, The Baron of Techno aka Dave Clarke was already 45 minutes into his set. The energy was peaking as he worked his way through hard-hitting tracks with plenty of bite. The room was pandemonium, one raver even decided to climb up the exposed ceiling for a better view.

The mesmerising light show amplified Dave Clarke’s set and mimicked his pace. The lasers cut through the darkness while the LED fixtures kept us locked with an abundance of colour.

Matador took control when the crowd were beginning to lag and shifted the atmosphere with a stellar set. Tiredness was replaced with excitement as he worked through more organ-rattling beats.

Victoria Warehouse proved to be the perfect home for an institution like Awakenings. The battered brickwork, an adoring crowd, the dark confines and giant speaker system was all that was needed to bring the club night to life in an unfamiliar city. 

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