New clubbing series to be streamed from Manchester nightspots, rooftops and basements

Greater Manchester’s first live-streamed, grassroots clubbing series, called MainRoom, will launch this summer to celebrate the region’s underground club culture.

Each monthly episode will broadcast live and direct from the dancefloors of the deepest, darkest spaces, nightspots, rooftops and basements around the city-region.

The series will profile vibrant and emerging events, with a focus on shining a spotlight on the beautiful diversity of Mancunian nightlife, capturing Greater Manchester’s ever-evolving styles and scenes, bringing the region’s dancefloors to living rooms across the globe and building an archive of the most exciting DJs and promoters operating in the city.

Each MainRoom will be announced and promoted in advance by StreamGM and the club nights they are collaborating with, with the 3-4 hour broadcasts available to watch on streamgm.co.uk.

MainRoom will launch on Sunday July 24th, live-streaming a new event at Escape to Freight Island called She’s In Control.

She’s In Control aims to put artists who are women and people of marginalised genders at the front and centre of this one-day shindig, which is part of the Better Sundays Summer festivals series at Freight Island. 

The line-up of amazing local, established, and emerging talent is part of the ongoing revolution to address years of gender imbalance behind the DJ turntables.

Taking part in the She’s In Control MainRoom live-stream are rising stars Jade Li, Edie, Danielle Moore from band Crazy P and Homoelectric resident, Gina Breeze. 

The She’s In Control and MainRoom collaboration will also raise awareness and funds for local organisation ‘Brighter Sound’ whose aim is to “develop the music creators, leaders and industry professionals of the future, with a particular focus on supporting those who are historically and currently underrepresented.”

StreamGM’s MainRoom series will be presented by Rebecca Swarray, who is the founder and curator of Manchester based events and arts collective, RebeccaNeverBecky and co-founder of queer DJ Collective, Queer Latifah.

She is also known as DJ Mix-Stress, a respected and firm favourite on the Manchester clubbing scene and beyond, with her soulful and uplifting sets.

“MainRoom is a vital and exciting platform that will showcase exactly what the real creative essence of Manchester is,” said Rebecca.

“Platforming people on the ground, creating spaces and places for the under-presented and less visible is vital for cultural identity.

“This city has a melting pot of diverse talent, and I am honoured to be involved in MainRoom and look forward to speaking, showcasing, and interviewing some amazing people doing amazing things.”

Other episodes lined up for MainRoom include collaborations with: La Discotheque, Not Bad For A Girl,  Mixing Mates, Black Gold Arts and Band on the Wall.

From the team that created Greater Manchester’s international, smash hit 2020 fundraising project United We Stream, StreamGM is a not-for-profit streaming service, showcasing amazing cultural talent from Greater Manchester. 

StreamGM recently partnered with FAC51 The Hacienda for their landmark 40th Birthday party, and livestreamed their entire eight hour event, direct from the carpark of the Hacienda Apartments on Whitworth St.

The sold-out event on Saturday May 21st featured renowned Hacienda resident DJs Graeme Park, Paulette, Jon Da Silva, KKlass, Hewan Clarke and Greg Wilson, and was watched by ravers all over the world through StreamGM’s vast global, online community and digital platform.

“Greater Manchester’s clubbing scene is historic, and renowned as THE destination city for a night out,” says co-founder of StreamGM Laura Graham.

“This is partly due to the region’s vast clubbing tapestry, amazing super clubs, and major venues across the city, but also because Greater Manchester has always maintained a thriving, progressive and influential, grassroots clubbing scene, and it’s this scene we want to identify and explore.

“MainRoom will provide visibility for Manchester’s local clubbing culture, with a strong emphasis on inclusion, accessibility, empowerment, and most of all – fun times – for marginalised groups.

“We will collaborate directly with promoters and take amazing local talent and new clubbing concepts beyond the venue walls with our online audiences.

“MainRoom will also give viewers a sense of the latest music, dance and fashion trends, straight from the club vibes and dancefloors.

“People all over the world will be able to use MainRoom to dip into Manchester’s epic clubbing scene, use our streams as soundtracks to house parties, or watch them to research future nights out in the city. 

 “During United We Stream, our team were overwhelmed by messages from people for whom live streaming had given them access to events they would never normally be able to attend for myriad reasons, from disability and caring responsibilities to location or cost. MainRoom will open Mancunian clubbing to EVERYONE.

“Each episode will also function as a growing archive to illustrate Manchester’s diverse clubbing scene.”