Sankeys' brand new Thursday night party (that actually is as old as half of you) is The Redlight (formerly Colors, but changed due to a name clash with another Ibiza party). It's a revival of one of David Vincent's very first contributions to the party scene, featuring UK garage and US house, the sounds well and truly back in vogue, twenty years on. The party emerged in the earlier noughties in Manchester, and 'legend' also says it was born after a sleazy hazy visit to the red light district in Amsterdam in 2001 by some of the Sankeys Soap promoters at the time.
We've just been given the full line-ups for The Redlight season and one thing is abundantly clear - this party is going to make you move. There's a core selection of top DJs playing many dates thoroughout the season, so they get to know the party's space and crowd intimately and deliver a set perfectly tailored for the moment.
The Redlight has secured some legends to fulfill this role and front the night. New York house figureheads the S-man (aka Roger Sanchez) and Todd Terry, plus chart topper Tough Love and underground house star, Low Steppa. Joining these household names will be the original residents Matt Jam Lamont (a pioneer of the UK garage scene) and Sam Holt (long standing Defected label artist as part of Copyright du) as well as Sankeys favourites the Mental Genius crew hosting Spektrum each week.
These residents will be joined by dance floor heroes from around the world every Thursday, including Noir, Tube and Berger and 99 Souls, plus four special garage shows with DJ EZ, three shows with Chris Lorenzo, two with MJ Cole and plenty more where that came from.
As Kerri Chandler once said, “All you need is a basement, a red light and a feeling..." Well, The Redlight has thrown some pretty special music-makers in there to sweeten the deal.
We can't wait to get our dance on with these legends. Put on that redlight!
