Five of the best live acts at The Warehouse Project

Image: The Warehouse Project Credit: GB Multimedia

The Warehouse Project is undoubtedly primarily a clubbing experience, set up to completely explore the various strains and genres of dance music in full effect. But it also does live music pretty well too.

Over the years the likes of KRS One, Reverend and the Makers and New Order have all played, whilst more classically electronic acts such as Underground Resistance have also arrived Manchester-based rave haven. 

With much more than house and techno on offer for WHP16, we thought it was only right to shine some light on the artists performing live this season before it all kicks off on Friday 23rd September for the launch.

Mura Masa

Find Mura Masa tickets

The big draw on the opening weekend is undoubtedly M.I.A, the controversial rap queen unarguably the most eye-catching booking of the whole programme. Personally there's more interest in another live performer making his WHP debut that night in Guernsey producer Mura Masa.

He only escaped his teens in April, but already the beatsmith has earned some wide eyed praise. Breakout hit 'Firefly' with MAO sounds like SBTRKT remixing Disclosure's 'White Noise', and it's his ability to work well with vocals which earmarks him as more than just the latest producer able to nimbly shift his drum patterns (check his track with vocals from Bonzai above).

Fresh off being one of the highlights of Latitude Festival, expect this to be another step in his swift coronation as the next big thing.

Jimmy Coultas

Mura Masa plays WHP16 launch party Friday 23rd Septmeber

Buy tickets:

Giggs

Find Giggs tickets.

The Grime MC appears on the same bill as Skepta and with only a year separating the release of their respective debut albums, they've both witnessed grime's uprising from a similar viewpoint.

Whilst Skeppy is fast becoming the genre's posterboy, Giggs remains enigmatic, making the occasional guest appearance on tracks with the likes of Kano and JME and working on his own material.

He released new song 'Whippin Excursion' (listen above) just last week, giving fans a taste his forthcoming album Landlord. It will no doubt feature heavily during his WHP set, which promises to be a ruthless affair.

Henry Lewis

Giggs plays Curated by Skepta - Saturday 1st October

Buy tickets:

DJ Shadow 

Find DJ Shadow tickets. 

Following this summers release of fifth LP The Mountain Will Fall, DJ Shadow's stock is sky high. It's been 20 years since the release of the game-changing Endtroducing, which has naturally lead to a shift in his craft.

On his most recent record he embraces collaboration more than any other, hooking in no less than Nils Frahm and Run The Jewels (listen to 'Nobody Speak' above). A deeper use of instrumentation points towards an all-consuming spectacle when Shadow engineers his live set, the WHP date taking place in the alternate confines of Old Granada Studios.

Ben Smith

DJ Shadow plays Old Granada Studios - Wednesday 6th November 

Buy tickets:

Moderat

Find Moderat tickets

The coming together of bass-wise pioneers Modeselektor and leftfield electro pop auteur Apparat has now yielded three albums crammed with beautiful yet edgy electronica, and with that a cult-like following.

Mixing the lilting vocals of Sascha Ring and the forward thinking club science of Modeselektor hasn't just made for a series of well loved albums. It's also gifted us of the world's most exciting live acts, with pulverising, at times experimental beats culminating in a heady concoction of gnarly electronics and soaring pop hooks that's a real treat for the senses. 

Mike Warburton

Moderat play Moderat Live at Albert Hall - Wednesday 28th September

Buy tickets:

Fatima Yamaha

Find Fatima Yamaha tickets

Fatima Yamaha's 'What's A Girl To Do' defined a fair few festival experiences last summer, on UK soil, on the edge of the Adriatic and in Amsterdam for Dekmantel festival. The Dutch label itself partially responsible for the track's extraordinary revival which had hundreds humming along to its infectious, melancholic tune.

The producer, whose real name is Bas Bron, wowed at the same festival with a Boiler Room live set which fluttered between soaring synths and stabbing beats, all tied together in the middle with the track which rightfully led to international recognition. You can listen to the full masterpiece above.

Becca Frankland

Fatima Yamaha plays live at Welcome To The Warehouse - Saturday 24th September

Buy tickets:

Read more: The Warehouse Project 2016 Spotify playlist