Murkage
January 12
If you don't know who or what Murkage is, they're/it's a multitude of things...
Murkage originated as Monday Murkage a few years back in Manchester, which if you haven't already guessed, was a weekly party, on a Monday. The party then changed venue and night of the week (to a Thursday) and has since moved venue a couple of times, so the party stuck with Murkage name and dropped the Monday bit (obviously). Murkage has helped champion bass heavy music in Manchester for some time, whilst certainly leaning towards an urban playlist, nevertheless what they have achieved and developed in the city is commendable, especially considering the fact they are soldiering on in times that are certainly less profitable than a few years ago.
Dave Lewis AKA Murkage Dave, one of the original members of the team behind the party began to build a collective once the night was up and running, which lead to the Murkage Cartel, a 15 (ish) strong group of Manchester-based (but not all Mancunian) DJs, MCs web and graphic designers, drivers, camera people and ballers. Think So Solid crew, but based in the North, with a better sense of style... and at least one impressive beard.
Murkage Cartel member, Sapnarella, recently announced that she had been selected as the first BBC 1Xtra 100% Homegrown Resident DJ, a position on DJ Target's show for one calendar month, working on the show, effectively as a co-host, selecting and presenting music of her choice to the show's audience. It's positive to see 1Xtra straying across the North/South divide and picking one of Manchester's finest to be apart of the weekly show. Hopefully this will kick start some serious, further cross border collaborations. You can check out the first of these shows on the BBC iPlayer here.
A faction of the Murkage Cartel hype men are now working on some original material in the studio, and have (semi confusingly) sporn Murkage, which is now to be recognised as an artist name in its own right (as well as a club night). Their first original track 'In The Jungle' is now available for free download. It's a fairly hectic combination of squarking bass stabs, skippy beats and hooky vocals, making it a rather enjoyable listen. Check it out below and download it here if you're feeling it.
Additional news from the Murkage camp comes in the form of a Twitter outburst from Murkage Dave, who has been speaking out against Sankeys owner (a big Manchester-based club, for our international readers...) Dave Vincent. This ourburst was immediately retweeted across the web, with fellow promoters, DJs and local support acts all wading in for a dig (at Vincent). Even Jack Beats had a dig. Anyway, the folk at Manchester Confidential picked up on this and whipped it into some form of an article, which can be read here. Enjoy.
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Mike HF
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