WHAT HAPPENED AT DUE NORTH: POWERED BY STONE ISLAND, END. & THE FACE

Connecting some of the UK’s finest musical talents in a north-south crossover, Stone Island, END. and THE FACE, came together for a one-off party, Due North, at one of Manchester’s premier venues, Hidden. Tucked away a stone’s throw from the city centre, the former industrial site in Cheetham Hill, quietly concealed behind a gritty façade, was the perfect space to celebrate the city’s extensive musical talent, alongside a performance from Peckham road rap royalty Giggs.

Capturing the experimental essence of the Italian sportswear brand, high performance audio experts Friendly Pressure installed their bespoke Studio One sound system in the venue, offering an impressive foundation for an evening of musical exploration.

Kicking things off, KD22LR set the scene with an impressive set channelling her $HOTTA RAVE energy as guests started to occupy the dark club space. Illuminated with beams of blue light, the room quickly filled up, and attendees took to the dancefloor. Moving things into a grimier space, Synna G took to the decks, shelling darker sounds in preparation for the live performances that were to follow.

Taking to the stage, Manchester’s rising star RenzNiro got on the mic, performing his distinctive experimental rap to an audience of enthralled guests. Dropping Save Me, RenzNiro energised the crowd, delivering his progressive take on contemporary rap music with the finesse of a seasoned pro. Primed and ready following RenzNiro, the audience were raring for more. Taking over, Rainy Miller and Space Afrika went back-to-back, keeping the atmosphere bubbling as the room filled up even further. Dropping trap bangers, the duo’s instinctive set exhibited their unique sensibility, and spotlighted just part of why they have become Manchester icons in their own right.

Taking to the stage following Space Afrika and Rainy Miller’s DJ set, Giggs’ protégé son ML showed the audience that talent runs in the family, delivering his signature laidback trap style ahead of his father’s set. As we neared Giggs’ stage time, Hidden’s main room became a sea of bodies, with guests cramming themselves into the intimate venue space in order to get a prime spot for the rapper’s first live performance in years. Appearing in an all-white Stone Island outfit, Giggs immediately commanded the attention of the audience, and the crowd became a swathe of phones attempting to capture the moment. Dropping a number of hits, Giggs’ energy was palpable and transferred to the attendees, who continued to get more and more excited as he dropped classic after classic. From Lock Doh to reloading JME’s Man Don’t Care three times, the iconic rapper had the crowd in the palm of his hand. Ending on his anthem, Talkin the Hardest, after playing for longer than anticipated, Giggs’ set left the audience reeling in the presence of true artist and a singular voice in UK rap.

Finishing off the night, Rainy Miller and Space Afrika hopped back on the decks as attendees took a breather after Giggs’ set. Moving things forward with some house, the duo continued to showcase the breadth of their sonic influences, deftly hopping between genres until the night came to a close.

As guests filtered out with music ringing in their ears, the unassuming industrial site once again return to normalcy, with those unaware of the evening that had gone on missing out on an electric celebration of the North West’s musical excellence and a stellar performance from one of the UK’s true stars.