Sound Control (CLOSED)

With a total capacity close to 1,000, Sound Control is a strangely undervalued and occasionally underutilised Manchester night spot. Conveniently, albeit not particularly obviously located just off Oxford Road, the club is split into three different levels that will occasionally join together into a sort of megaclub. With the seasonal Warehouse Project events, Sankeys, Gorilla and now even The Albert Hall having some of the biggest names in house and techno locked down, Sound Control settles for slightly more esoteric line-ups and a constant run of indie and metal gigs.

Upstairs, where most gigs take place, is a large room more suited to DJs than bands. The basement has a raw, literally concrete vibe which lends itself to sleazy, heads-down club nights, and the middle floor greets newcomers with a relaxed, well-furnished bar and DJ booth which represents something entirely different from the spaces sandwiching it.

With other clubs mining house and techno, Sound Control tends to focus on d'n'b, jungle, hardcore, breaks and more, for a crowd that likes to party hard. From this perspective, the venue makes sense: the sounds systems are big, the drinks are cheap and the licensing runs through until 4am. Given its proximity to the heart of Manchester’s student land, security can be tight and the venue is known to scan passports. Bring ID along regardless of your age.