Yes please: YES Manchester first birthday celebrations

Manchester’s essential 4-floor bar, club and live music venue is celebrating a massive first year with a suitably sensational weekend. Running from Thu 19 Sept to Sun 22 Sept, this glorious weekend bonanza features live bands, DJs, exhibitions and film screenings. YES became an instant fixture on the Manchester music scene when it was launched by leading local promoters Now Wave and Ruth Hemmingfield (Band on the Wall, Trof), and this series of free parties promise hefty celebrations and giveaways, including 5001 (!) free drinks. The weekend features many highlights, such as live music from catchy-yet-melancholic pop duo The Rhythm Method and electronic group Real Lies, whose latest record dropped on legendary Cologne label, Kompakt. Club standouts include producer Rich Reason (who runs long-established Manchester bass night Hit & Run) with MC duties from fellow LEVELZ collective member METRODOME and T-Man, and a party curated by veteran Manchester selector Andy Votel on YES’s roof terrace. An extensive DJ lineup sees appearances from Tim Burgess, A Certain Ratio, and Hot Singles Club. On Thursday you can explore local business stalls at This Must Be The Marketplace (including the debut of YES’s new, all-pink tote bags), while Friday sees the launch of Loosen Up, an exhibition by local photographer Samantha Jagger that explores club night bathrooms as a meeting place of strangers and new friends. Explore the full line-up by heading here.