Here at Funkademia we think the Northern Quarter is quite a unique & special place.

Its blend of traditional buildings and independent & creative Mancunian business make it a hive of activity and interest unlike anywhere else in the UK. It shouldn’t stand still though & here’s a great opportunity to make it even better.

The very laudable organisition Red Rose Forest are looking to give Stevenson Square a green makeover. They are very nearly there but need a little more financial support to make it happen.

Click on here for more details & if you feel inspired get involved and improve our great City. Forca NQ………..

Label head honcho Redsoul will be joined by Groove Assassin for a night of soulful, vocal and deep house.

Check out this recent mix for a taste of what to expect:

This week marks the 16th anniversary of the untimely demise of one of Hip-Hop’s greatest icons Biggie Smalls. So it got us thinking here at Funkademia Towers about all things Hip Hop and Rap and we decided to make it Funkademia Hip Hop week

We are celebrating some of the great original Hip Hop & Rap music which – in the main – has come out of the States. Every day on our Facebook page we’re featuring a different artist or classic track so just ‘Like’ our Facebook to join in keep up to speed.

Whilst its not meant to be a definitive history of the Hip Hop culture – you can get that elsewhere, just watch the video below -we’ve looked at what Hip hop has meant to Funkademia – how it influenced us & what we’ve played over the last 16 years. From the Sugarhill Gang to Grandmaster Flash to the Stop the Violence Movement to King Sun and then onto look at what Hip Hop means to our Funkademia members today.

Interestingly back when we first started Funkademia we were warned by the Police not to play Hip Hop & rap music. Back in the day the only places you could hear proper Hip Hop in Manchester was at clubs such as the PSV in Hulme or Precinct 13 & the Wiggly Worm.

In a depressingly familiar pattern which duplicated what had happened to Hip Hop clubs in the States these nights attracted the wrong elements, drugs, violence & were inevitable shut down. It was a risk but we thought we could pull it off. We played proper Hip Hop & rap alongside other genres of black music and 17 years later we’re still going strong!

So this Saturday to celebrate 17 years of getting away with it we’re having a Hip Hop special at Funkademia – email us your favourite Hip Hop \ Rap tracks & we’ll drop them for you. Increase the peace.

Mancunians of a certain age will remember with great affection the New Continental Club. The ‘Conti’ was located on Harper Street just off Princess Street and to say it was – lets say – basic is pushing it a bit. The place was rubbish, the beer was usually out of date and the music left a lot to be desired. Nonetheless it was ace. Packed Tuesdays, Fridays & Saturdays every week with lovely friendly people who were just out for a laugh. To pretence no mither.

You might well wonder why it was always packed on a random Tuesday school night. Tuesday night was the legendary Conti nurses night. For some reason loads of nurses always went on a Tuesday hence there was rush of lads with amorous intentions. So with a nod to our mis-spent mid-week youth and as a genuine thank you to the NHS staff who look after us when we need them we’ve teamed up with the good people at healthstaffdiscounts.co.uk and are offering the lovely nurses of Mancunia (and any other NHS staff) a half price entry deal into Funkademia.

All you have to do is flash your pass on the door & you & a guest get 50% off. We won’t be opening on Tuesday nights for you but we like to think our Saturday offering will be a little more discerning and just as much fun, which after all is what you want of a night out. Enjoy.

Were you there? Tag yourself on Facebook for free entry next time you come

We caught up with Traffford Lovething ahead of the Funkademia New Years Eve event at Mint Lounge.

Here are his ten tracks that get the party started on the biggest night of the year.

Soul Funk and Love with a hint of Rock.

1) Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – 100 Days, 100 Nights

2) Nolan Porter – If I could Only Be Sure

3) Kiss – I was Made For Loving You

4) Dee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart

5) Chic – Everybody Dance

6) Funkadelic – One Nation
7) Prince – 1999
8) Outkast – Hey Ya
9) Missy Elliot – Get Your Freak On
10) Stevie Wonder – Superstition

TRAFFORD LOVETHING

Funkademia New Years Eve Tickets.

From 10pm 31st December Mint Lounge.

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Packed full of xmas goodies for your download pleasure.

Perfect for Christmas Day!

80s boogie and 90s classic house… with a sprinkle of the christmas bells.

We are fast approaching our 17th New Years Eve party in Manchester and NYE tickets are flying out.

This New Year we will be at Mint Lounge for a big Northern Quarter NYE party.

Funkademia New Years Eve has sold out every year so don’t be left out in the Manchester cold.

Tickets on Sales through our exclusive ticket agent Skiddle : FUNKADEMIA NEW YEARS EVE

DJs on the nights are Trafford Lovething (Carwash) and Myk Nolan (Northern Funk). 10pm until 4am.

Last entry on NYE will be 1am though, get in before the bells!

Pictures from last years NYE party ONLINE HERE

Were you there? Tag yourself on Facebook for free entry next time you come

Funkademia takes over Mint Lounge on 31st December for its 17th New Year’s Eve party!

DJ’s on the night to help you bring in the new year will be Trafford Lovething and Myk Nolan. Funkademia takes place every Saturday to a consistently full house, feeding a friendly crowd with a diet of pure unadulterated soul-funk.

Tickets are on sale now here with early bird tickets just £5 – www.funkademia.net/tickets