Looking back: Skiddle's Picks of 2011

As 2011 draws to its monumental close, we look back at some of the events and venues which have helped to make this year so special.

Hideout is born!

2011 saw the birth of a major new overseas festival, from the seemingly unstoppable team behind The Warehouse Project and Parklife. Hideout Festival took place for the first time this in June this year, and saw the likes of Chase and Status, Erol Alkan, 2manyDJs, Sven Vath, Andy C, Annie Mac, Simian Mobile Disco and many, many more entertain thousands of bronzed clubbers on the sun soaked shores of Croatia's Isle of Pag. Read our review of Hideout 2011 here! Tickets for Hideout 2012 are now on sale (and selling fast), with the next event looking bigger and better than 2011's thanks to increased capacity, more accommodation options, more venues and more acts playing. Acts announced so far include Ricardo Villalobos, Annie Mac, Nero, Skrillex, Skream, Sub Focus and more - and with more and more line-up details to be revealed over the coming months, Hideout 2012 is looking like another unmissable event. Get it in your diary now.

Wickerman Festival 10th Anniversary

July 2011 saw The Wickerman Festival celebrate its tenth anniversary with one of its best line-ups to date and a line-up reflecting some of the highlights of the past decade at this independent and much loved Scottish festival. Live acts such as Feeder, Echo & The Bunnymen, Noisettes and The Hoosiers, and DJs including Utah Saints, X-Press 2, Riva Starr and many more entertained the crowds over three sunny days in West Scotland. As always, Skiddle was there in the thick of it with a specially curated 10th Anniversary line up of electronic talent in the Bass Camp dance village. Read an interview with Skiddle director Rich Dyer reflecting on the past ten years of Wickerman here, and read our Wickerman 2011 review to find out just why it was so special. Tickets for Wickerman 2012 are now on sale but they're selling fast - so get yours now.

The Warehouse Project's final season at Store Street

2011 marked a monumental moment in The Warehouse Project's five year life, with the announcement back in July that this would be the clubbing institution's final year at its now legendary Store Street venue. In a statement they cited the need to keep things fresh and evolving as their reason for moving on. Read the full statement made back in July here. Since then, speculation about the new venue has rife, with many people even suggesting that the club would leave Manchester altogether for pastures new. Thankfully the club has confirmed that its future does indeed lie in Manchester, with the new venue set to be revealed in early 2012. And the 2011 Warehouse Project season has certainly paid fitting tribute to the iconic underground venue, with highlights of the past few months including an exuberant show by Niles Rodgers' Chic, a mind-blowing night curated by Berlin mega club Berghain and live sets from the likes of The Horrors and Foals. The club bows out of Store Street on New Year's Day with an all day and all night closing party featuring Laurent Garnier, Derrick Carter, Jamie Jones, Ten snake and many more, before closing up shop and heading onto pastures new. And we can't wait. Read all Warehouse Project news and reviews here.

Electric Brixton Launches

September 2011 saw brand new club London club Electric Brixton open its doors for the first time, marked by a huge launch party headlined by Felix da Housecat. Housed in an old Edwardian cinema building in Brixton and formerly known as The Fridge, Electric underwent a £1,000,000 makeover to become a brand new, state of the art music venue for London that's already managed to make a huge mark on the London club scene. Huge events from Spectrum, London Warehouse Events and other notable promoters have seen the Electric Brixton decks broken in by the likes of M.A.N.D.Y, Stanton Warriors, Japanese Popstars, Andy C and many more since the club opened, and 2012 looks set to see the venue cement its place as one of London's premier nightspots. See upcoming events at Electric Brixton here.

The Warehouse Re-Opens

September 2011 saw iconic Leeds venue The Warehouse reopen its doors following an extensive and expensive facelift, and quickly reclaim its status as the mecca of Leeds clubbing. The iconic club, which first opened its doors in 1979, was completely re-fitted with state of the art technology and a swanky new look. Heading back underground, The Warehouse is now host to a number of regular nights and huge one off specials, with established local brands like house and techno party Filth and huge London night Spectrum joining new nights Sequence and Coloursound, and labels including Cadenza and Hypercolour for some first rate parties featuring the finest electronic talent out there. See all upcoming nights at The Warehouse here.

What were your 2011 highlights? Which festivals did you enjoy? What club nights blew your mind? What did you get up to in Ibiza this year? Let us know by commenting below!