Off the Hook at Kraak Manchester

Manchester nightlife is thankfully spoiled for choice these days when it comes to dressed up and extravagant club escapades, so once in a while it’s nice to strip it back to basics and just crank up the music with the lights down low. Off The Hook is one of those nights with few frills (seriously, it took them two years to get a banner made with their name on), it’s all about a lovely crowd who know a good Cassie / Jurassic 5 match when they hear one. The crowd is definitely the key ingredient – it’s famous as the gay RnB night where people bring their straight mates. Or vice versa, we forget. Either way it works. If you’re lucky, occasional Hook hostess Wan’gu will take to the stage and show you how it’s done (she shared her birthday cake last time, then her outfit). Gregling is on the decks this time around so expect tons of shameless Beyonce vs Janet, lashings of 90s hip-hop, and probably a big Michael Jackson / TLC face-off to send you stumbling home with.

Sat 13 Sept, Kraak, 11 Stevenson Square, Manchester M1 1DB, 11pm–3am, £5, www.facebook.com