Apparently, the adage concerning a frog in boiling water is a myth. It turns out that frogs have more sense than we give them credit for and will attempt to hop out of heating water, but the message is still clear: it's hard to notice a gradual change. As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, I feel the average Manc can be forgiven for not noticing that autumn has arrived. After all, seasons don't adhere to a definitive timeline.
There does, however, exist at least one clear marker: warehouse season is here!
Last weekend marked our first warehouse night of the season. Overmono boasted a stacked line-up that easily stood out from the other first wave nights. It was a no-brainer for us at Acid Rain. We've got lots to talk about, so let's dive in, starting with what's new at Warehouse!
Watch our first episode of UNSAMPLED here - Into The Warehouse Project (Overmono special) - Acid Rain's Rave TV. Join Will & Lys as they explore the Depot, skank to music and talk to ravers (and the people who make WHP great).
Warehouse has always tried new things in its layout. I remember the first time I attended its current location and the fantastic smoking area—a concourse lined with food vendors leading to a large sheltered smoking area. This did not last long. Since then, Warehouse has relied on quite a small, bottlenecked smoking area, which frankly doesn't seem to suit a record-tying 10,000 capacity venue. I'm happy (and apprehensive) to share that this problem has been addressed this season. If you exit the venue and take a left as far as you can go, then you'll eventually come to the brand new roof area. It seems like a very well-kept secret at the moment, featuring toilets, a bar, and even sheltered benches. It's absolutely a welcome sight, and I hope it will remain a feature of Warehouse in the future. I spoke to some bar staff who mentioned they are moved to the busier bars downstairs around 1:30 am, so don't rely on it for your drink needs, but as a place of respite and relief, it is incredibly welcome.
Judging from how busy the smoking area was after Overmono, most people haven't realised how much space is now open to them, and to be frank, I'm not excited for the general population to catch on. But for now, dear Acid Rain readers, we have a place to deal with your every need away from the oppressive numbers that populate the depot.
This is especially important information when taking into account the 'VIP' areas of Warehouse. I honestly don't know if this has been available in the past, but now you can pay a premium to access new areas by the Depot and Concourse stages. They feature exclusive bars and toilets as well as quite a striking view of the main stage. If you're considering VIP, know that the new roof area seemed even quieter than the VIP bar and toilets. A good portion of the people I spoke to only splurged on VIP tickets due to general release selling out. I think that the VIP areas are a good resource, but depending on where you are in the venue, it could end up easier and quicker just to head to the roof to make use of the amenities up there. Here I am reviewing Warehouse like I'd review festival infrastructure, but that's just how it is at Warehouse; you're going to have to deal with an oppressive number of people at some point.
Speaking of the people of Warehouse, a surprising number of attendees had come from further afield than I expected. We spoke to ravers from Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, and Denmark. I suppose in retrospect, it makes sense; Warehouse holds 10,000 people, and you can't expect them all to be locals. (Watch these interviews in our video up top).
The acts were fantastic as usual; my personal highlight would have to be Skream and Benga. I'm just a sucker for Skream's dubstep. Take a look at our first episode of UNSAMPLED - Acid Rain's own rave TV - At the top of this Article 👆 to see what it was like for this night.
I'm so excited for the rest of the Warehouse season, and I think that, facilities-wise, Warehouse is in a good place currently. I am, however, apprehensive for the future. Since Sacha Lord sold his shares in Warehouse and Parklife to Live Nation recently, who knows what could happen in the future? Warehouse has always been a controversial bridge between the homegrown Manchester music scene and the commercialised massive arena gigs. Time will tell if Manchester won't miss its night-time economy advisor after all.
As always, we will see you at the front!
ACID RAIN
THE WAREHOUSE PROJECT
Website: www.thewarehouseproject.com
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