Ministry of Sound at Gorilla Manchester review

Images: Decoy Media

To think, Ministry of Sound started off as an urban nightclub in London, and is now one of the biggest club brands on the planet. From showcases in Ibiza, Brazil and UK raving hotspots like Manchester, the institution attracts crowds from much further afield than the confines of its home in the capital city.

Ministry's venture to Gorilla, a space located within the archways under Oxford Road rail station, was a sell-out event and a testament to Ministry’s reputation as local revellers embarked on an evening of UV themed euphoria. 

Murr was the first on the bill bringing a deep-rooted, slow building house vibe as the room began to fill up. Each artist was given a one-hour slot, making it difficult – particularly those with sets that took longer to build – to judge their skills behind the decks purely on the Gorilla set. 

Skinny Beard and then SM One added dynamism to the evening with the latter bestowing the Bicep edit of ‘Gotta Let You Go’ by Dominica onto the rowdy crowd, who were clad in glow stick glasses and bunny ears. That bouncy remake of the nineties anthem had arms aloft throughout the room as the night picked up pace.

The strobe lighting distorted the shuffles and the shakes as Solardo and Lokate took over the decks. Dropping the Michael Mandal remix of ‘Music is the Answer’ (above) was a masterstroke in maintaining the ferocity and energy levels inside the venue.

Not the type to lose crowds, the two DJs, who are commended by the likes of Richy Ahmed, Skream and Jackmaster, stepped up to the mark at a time where the crowd began to flail. With another act to follow, the two worked wonders in providing a second wind for some to carry through to see PSTW.

PSTW – namely Paul Sansome and Tom Watkins – brought the evening to a close with a heralded set. The Manchester boys showcased a classic house vibe with remixes of popular songs such as Boy Meets Girl's ‘Waiting for a Star to Fall’.

The club showcase gave Northerners a taste of Ministry of Sound's unparalleled party spirit, it was a night filled with strong sets, local talent and neon fun. It won't be the last time we see such a rapturous response to MOS in Manchester. 

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