Erol Alkan at The White Hotel

Johnny James, Managing Editor

Book now

Erol Alkan

14-15 August 2021

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Erol Alkan
Erol Alkan
Book now

Raves are back and to celebrate, Salford den of debauchery The White Hotel is playing host to an all-night-long set from genre-hopping DJ, producer and label owner Erol Alkan.

From sneaking out of his childhood home to play indie records to ruthlessly unforgiving crowds to transforming the London club scene, bridging disparate musical worlds with abandon, Erol Alkan’s road is the one less travelled. The shy son of first-generation immigrants, he grew up on a diet of psychedelic and indie rock bands, before discovering the thrills of electronic music. But he didn’t abandon one scene for another; he joined the dots, mixing techno, house and rock music in a way that most other DJs could and cannot touch.

Whether in the DJ booth or in the studio, Alkan continues to rely on alchemy driven by instinct and the pure, infectious love and knowledge of music he has carried since his childhood. Phantasy, the label he founded in 2007, stands as a forward-thinking beacon, representing the values of his legendary club Trash in London, which pioneered a club crossover between alternative rock and hard beats. The label is an esoteric home for artists including Daniel Avery, Red Axes and Terr. It’s also a home for Alkan’s own productions.

While Alkan is a renowned producer, he’s best known as a remixer – another way that he brings worlds together. His much-loved compilation Reworks Volume 1, for example, turns rock into dance music on reworks for Franz Ferdinand, Interpol and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, while also taking on fellow dance music producers like Lindstrøm, Daft Punk and Hot Chip. Another of his popular remixes sees him take on Connan Mockasin’s Forever Dolphin Love, whose spiralling, bass-heavy psychedelia is a great entry point to Alkan’s work (listen above).

Despite ubiquity as a remixer and collaborator (his collaborative side project Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve is particularly good), Alkan also has a full discography of original tracks. 2018’s ‘Spectrum’ was a hugely well-received single that gained support from DJs including Andrew Weatherall, Sven Vath and Seth Troxler. More recently, in 2021, he released ‘Automatic’, which marked Phantasy’s 100th release. Featuring tight, sleek hooks, a French house sensibility for filter work, and the giddy energy of Trash’s halcyon days, it’s one that’s begging to be heard on a club sound system. Luckily we don’t have to wait long for that.

Three decades into his life as a DJ, and connection is more important to Alkan than ever before. The years leading up to the pandemic saw him focus on ‘To The Rhythm’, a series of dates across Europe and North America, each of which created the ideal environment to explore the far-reaches of his record collection, while controlling the lighting from the DJ booth – not something you see every day. Each facet of Alkan’s taste and history is accounted for in ‘To The Rhythm’, which spans acid-drenched rave, frenetic house and the spirit of alternative pop and guitar music, as imaginatively curated on his much-loved Bugged In mixes.

After two long years, Alkan is now able to bring ‘To The Rhythm’ back into being, and what better venue for its resurrection than The White Hotel – a dystopian den of delights and debauchery that offers revellers pure escapism from reality beyond its sweat-licked walls. Have no doubt, this is going to be massive.

MusicManchester
Skee Mask at The White Hotel

Skee Mask, the producer behind some of the most inspired electronic music of the past decade, returns to The White Hotel.

From £11.00

Where to go near Erol Alkan at The White Hotel

Peak District
Restaurant
The Chequers Inn

The Chequers Inn is a 16th century, family-run, traditional country inn with an impressive dining space. The Peak District at its best.

Testbed Main Space
Leeds
Event venue
TESTBED

TESTBED is a newly renovated 10,000 sq foot event venue in Leeds that offers endless possibilities for creating unique and inspiring experiences.

Manchester
Restaurant
Salt & Pepper

Chinese inspired British food in the centre of Manchester, backed up by plenty of well-deserved local hype.

Morning Glory - Coffee Cup
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
Morning Glory

Morning Glory positions itself as a grab-and-go spot, with just 12 seats inside serving coffee, bagels and sweet treats.

The Warehouse In Holbeck
Leeds
Event venue
The Warehouse In Holbeck

Run by acclaimed theatre company Slung Low, The Warehouse in Holbeck is home to boundary-pushing performance and community projects.

Leeds
Event venue
The Attic

Tucked away above the bustle of Merrion Street, The Attic is one of Leeds’ most distinctive small venues – intimate, unpretentious, and steeped in DIY spirit.

The Chevin is a great place for visitors to do lots of different activities and is open all year round with 5 free car parks. To help you find out whatís best for you we have divided this section up into some of these different activities.Please be aware that The Chevin is a working estate so you may see vehicles including timber-extraction lorries using some of the tracks.Self-guided WalksThe Chevin is a big place and there is a good network of paths to make your own circular walk, but if you want to follow a themed trail there is a Geology Trail, Heritage Time Trail and a route for Tree Spotters.Bikes & HorsesThere is an extensive bridleway network on the eastern parts of The Chevin that caters for a range of abilities.Orienteering and GeocachingTwo orienteering courses and a number of geocache sites are waiting to be discovered.Climbing & BoulderingThere are many fantastic crags for climbing and boulders for bouldering.Mobility Scooters & Wheelchairs
Leeds
Restaurant
Oporto

For many years, Oporto has been a beacon of alternative energy on Leeds’ Call Lane – serving up great food and drink alongside resident DJs and live music.

What's on: Music

Mhaol x Snare Press Image
MusicBirkenhead
M(h)aol at Future Yard

Irish post-punk firebrands M(h)aol return to Liverpool this September, bringing their raw, rhythm-driven new album Something Soft to Future Yard.

From £15.68
MusicManchester
Skee Mask at The White Hotel

Skee Mask, the producer behind some of the most inspired electronic music of the past decade, returns to The White Hotel.

From £11.00
A large mechanical puppet controlled by multiple people. Encounter Festival in Preston
FestivalsLancashire
Encounter Festival in Preston

Expect a jam-packed day of outdoor performance, live music, family fun – plus Preston’s iconic Torchlight Procession and fireworks finale.

Free entry
Sprints
MusicCity Centre
Sprints at The Jacaranda

One of the most urgent voices in alt-punk right now, SPRINTS are heading to The Jacaranda for an intimate in-store show and signing.

From £19.50

Culture Guides

Cinema in the North

A host of Halloween horrors, experimental shorts, plus pioneering black British cinema make our October Cinema Guide.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Theatre this month bursts with contrasts - from bold new writing and Black History Month highlights to contemporary arts and reimagined classics.

Exhibitions in the North

Galleries around the North are gearing up for a new season of exhibitions - from iconic art prizes to smaller, artist-led gems.

Wisp Press Image
Music in the North

From corrupted shoegaze to experimental electronica, post-hardcore to Indian classical, these are the shows that should be on your radar.