Erol Alkan @ Homoelectric review: indie-club legend brings intimacy to Hidden

Erol Alkan, the unrivalled king of cool for both late-night ravers and OG indie enthusiasts, returns to Manchester's favourite nightclub, Hidden, to celebrate twenty years of his legendary residency at Homoelectric. 

It has to be said that few DJs, if any, can blend indie-sleaze, electro-pop, and a generous portion of hip-swinging disco into a two-hour set like Erol Alkan. But, what exactly makes Erol Alkan so good at what he does? 

photo credit: @jenameliaphoto (Instagram)

At Hidden this Saturday night, the decades collide in a time-warping experience that feels like stumbling into a party-fuelled TARDIS now rocking disco, neon, sex, and a healthy dose of sleaze. Somewhere drifting in the timeline, lost between the glamour of Studio 54 and the height of 2007 Myspace, lands DJ Erol Alkan— the funky genre-bashing love child, now bigger and bolder than ever before.

His greatness transcends to the crowd, and the proof is in the acid-tinged pudding, as he returns from Glastonbury to perform a packed-out intimate set in Manchester.

For Erol Alkan, the years of playing, appreciating, and passionately embracing music, along with his unique ability to recognise a world where guitar music and electronic music are unified, directly highlights why he stands out as one of the most captivating DJs to watch live. Trust in Alkan. Expect the unexpected— anything is possible.

The queue to the event outside bends around the legendary warehouse venue, leading to the cosmic entrance door of Hidden. Hidden is known for hosting DJ sets across three floors, but this evening holds a tightly packed, leather-wearing dance tribe on one floor in a “closer-than-close” intimate setting. Warming up the place is Manchester-based Lukatti Bugatti from 10pm, and bringing even more heat are local legends and Homoelectric rave-ready residents DJ Gina Breeze, Jamie Bull and Will Tramp. 

At 1am, Erol Alkan launches behind the decks to eager fans with the slamming hi-hats of Patti Jo’s 1973 hit, 'Make Me Believe In You,' serving a solid slice of delicious disco grooves for the first hour of his set. In classic Homoelectric style, kickstarting the night with disco felt like the right place to start; a heartfelt homage to the genre and its deep history in the Black and LGBTQ+ community. 

Pacing away from disco as the night progresses and inhibitions loosen, Alkan delves into his indie-electro repertoire, showcasing new releases, such as: 'Flying Away - White Square Version' by queer electronic duo, Boy's Shorts, released on Iptamenos Discos. The pulsating synth remix instantly picks up the crowd, satisfying that long-standing nostalgic "blog-haus" craving in a fresh, contemporary context.

Erol Alkan has long been a mastermind behind the scenes of indie-clubbing, renowned for his legendary remixes such as Metronomy’s 'The Bay' (Erol Alkan Extended Re-work) and Justice’s 'Waters of Nazareth' (Durrr Durrr Durrrrrr Re-Edit.) Despite some of these remixes being over a decade old, his sound continues to land with the crowd, connecting a scene that once emerged on the dawn of the internet to an undeniable relevance this evening.

The night accelerates from strength to strength, passing by in a whirlwind of enjoyment as bodies twirl in excitement. The set closes with Kylie Minogue’s 'Come Into My World' (Fischerspooner Mix,) a superb selection that perfectly rounds off the evening with its sultry electro-pop allure, a remix that truly captures Alkan’s essence. It’s clear that everyone leaves the evening satisfied, hungry and horny, for more. 

Here’s to another 20 years of DJ mastery, creativity, and innovation from the electronic maestro himself: Erol Alkan. Whether it's guitar, disco, punk, indie, or house - Alkan covers it all with unparalleled coolness.

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.