About Amateur Hour

Amateur Hour is an independent Manchester club night built by friends, for friends (and anyone else who fancies a dance).

Born in 2019, Amateur Hour came from noticing something missing. Too few women and LGBTQ+ people were being given space behind the decks in electronic music, so instead of waiting for things to change, we taught ourselves to DJ and started putting on parties ourselves.

That spirit is still at the heart of what we do. We continue to encourage and support people to learn, play and share music, putting first-timers alongside established selectors. And have continued to create that space for others ever since.

The idea is simple: put incredible DJs in intimate spaces, mix experienced selectors with fresh faces, and create the kind of night we'd want to go to ourselves. No VIP areas. No big egos. Just proper music, good people and a dancefloor that feels like home.

The name has always been tongue in cheek. There's nothing amateur about the music.

Since the first party, Amateur Hour has popped up everywhere from pub back rooms and hidden basements to Tudor mansions, medieval castles and new venues finding their feet. Plans haven't always gone to plan - licences have fallen through, venues have changed at the last minute - but the party has always found a way.

Our residents, The Taxidermist and Judas Du are joined by a rotating cast of friends, local legends and artists we genuinely love. Whether it's a live set from Wild Forts, our long-time lurker Francis Wooff, or someone playing their first ever Amateur Hour, every booking is made for one reason: because we believe they'll make people dance.

Community has always come first. We've continued to celebrate the people and places that make our corner of the music scene what it is. Amateur Hour exists because of everyone who comes through the door, everyone who's played a record, everyone who's helped carry speakers, stuck up posters or convinced a mate to come along.

We're lucky to be part of a wider family of independent parties that have shaped Manchester's underground music scene for years. Nights like That Amazing Thing! have shown us that the best parties don't need huge crowds or flashy production - they just need the right people in the room. That's the spirit we've always tried to carry forward.

Musically, expect anything from house, disco and acid to techno, electro, soul and whatever else feels right at the time. We don't believe in sticking to one genre; we believe in good tunes and DJs who know how to tell a story.

Amateur Hour isn't really about us. It's about the moment when the lights are low, the room is full, someone sticks on the perfect record, and everyone forgets about their worldly troubles for a few hours.

If that sounds like your sort of night, we'll see you on the dancefloor.