Illuminaughty ten years on

A decade since its modest debut at Manchester’s Club Zoo, Illuminaughty is gearing up to spread its wings into a multi-venue monopoly of mischief and mayhem on for the club night's biggest milestone to date.

The psy-trance event, which showcases local, national and international DJs in the setting of an ultraviolet circus, is taking over three venues for its ten year anniversary in its quest to become the North West’s biggest 'festival in a club' - and it indefinitely looks like it's succeeding.

In a time where many venues and club nights are struggling to stay afloat due to the penny-saving pre-loading and house parties, Illuminaughty has grown from a single-roomed event of 240 people into a hub of goblins and glowsticks where 4,000 revellers go to party the night away.

Illuminaughty - a play on the Latin word illuminati meaning “enlightened” – lets you in on its little secret from the start, and even before you walk into one of its flamboyant events you feel like part of the gang as the fire poi performers and stilt walking mythical creatures welcome you into the venue.

While many big club nights focus entirely on big line ups and faultless lighting, this is only a part of the overall experience for events like Illuminaughty which embrace the festival atmosphere.

It is a rare thing to walk into a venue and for it to look unrecognisable simply due to gigantic over-the-top décor, extravagant UV lighting and entrancing visual displays – but all of this is as much a part of the Illuminaughty adventure as the headline act itself. These elements together offer a touch of escapism, despite ravers only being a few feet away from civilisation.

This upcoming birthday event marks an ingenious move by both the Ritz and Illuminaughty to reunite after five years apart. The infamous bouncy dancefloor adds to the feeling of euphoria that can be seen in every glowstick-holding clubber’s eyes as poker-faced stilt walkers and body-painted circus performers walk among them juggling large platters of fresh fruit.

In contrast to the fast paced atmosphere of the dancefloor, many clubbers like to venture to the upper tier where various ‘chill out’ spots are waiting to welcome those who are ready to take five. Some sit patiently as their faces are painted with UV make up by a goblin (because, why not?), while others take a peek down at the chaos ensuing beneath them.

Bearing the slogan 'Love n Chaos', Illuminaughty’s success may partly be because it feels just like a bi-annual event organised by party lovers for party lovers, as opposed to a faceless fat cat promoter hungry to make a quick buck.

When you look at the sheer amount of detail that goes into a party of this calibre, you wonder whether Illuminaughty stands to make much money at all, or whether organisers just revel in throwing a party unlike any other in the area. 

Either way, if the night continues to growing in the way it has, to cope with demand organisers will need a bigger boat - or span more than one night and become the festival they have always wanted to be.

Love a unique rave? Check out our Elrow goes to Amsterdam at De Marktkantine

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