Manchester winter club guide FT Freak Queer Rave, The Loft, Amber’s and more

As one of the most elusive DJs on the drum’n’bass circuit, Calibre’s sets are always a special event – but something about this shindig put on by Neighbourhood’s Tasha down at the White Hotel feels very fitting for his inimitable take on liquid rollers and much much more. It’s probably all that smoke.

This extraordinary free entry event sees Manchester’s SCAPA host an exposé of an exciting new genre coming out of Ghana, nsɛbɛ – on a 12-point sound system provided by Liverpool’s Echo Chamber. From 4.30pm you can expect sounds akin to trap, electro and highlife, from a quartet of DJs who met by chance at Freedom Skatepark.

Running Dimensions and London’s Pickle Factory, this pair racked up many many hours of DJing, and while it might have taken a while for their heady, subtle take on house and garage to gather speed, it’s now a freight train of wobbly heavyweight cuts is reaching terminal velocity. Catch them all night long up at the Loft this Xmas.

Drum’n’bass heavyweight DRS is a master of all trades, MCing, DJing, running a label, and curating, so it’s no wonder Amber’s have brought him in for their first foray into Bruk. Lineup details are close to the chest as usual, but the namedrop of DRS’ label and radio show on Rinse/Kool implies it’ll be a family affair.

This New Year’s Eve sees Progress Centre and Freek Queer Rave team up at a Secret Warehouse just outside Ancoats. The lineup takes no prisoners, with techno stalwart, HAAi spinning alongside fellow Londoner, Josh Caffé, as well as Berlin’s BASHKKA and our very own Fastlove of High Hoops.