CityLife

Saturdays - Holy City Zoo - Retro

THE first time we tried to interview Paul Taylor about his upcoming night in Manchester, the venue Ascension went down the pan just a few days later, leaving Paul floundering for a place to put in his night in our fair city.

Nevertheless, since then, he's continued to take his successful night all over the country and abroad regardless. Finally, however, it seems he's found the right venue - the new Holy City Zoo on Lloyd Street.

One of the weird things about Retro is that for all its popularity it never gets many column inches in the music mags. Surely that be frustrating to Paul and his crew after their years of hard work?

"Actually that's just the way I like it," he says one afternoon in city centre Manchester. "If you think about all the clubs that have had a lot of media attention look at them now. It doesn't do them any good in the long run.

"We are the largest club night in ,the country," he continues. "So it doesn't make any difference to me if someone makes me flavour of the month."

Legend

Retro is an institution in the north of England. It was born out of the acid house legend that was Angels in Burnley and Paul, a former regular at northern soul events at Wigan Casino, quickly became something of a player.

His early nights enticed DJs such as Sasha, Paul Oakenfold, Pete Tong and Carl Cox to the club, making his events so popular that local police became concerned with the sheer influx of people to Burnley whenever a party took place.

"It was great," he remembers. "But as soon as all these DJs put their prices up I stopped booking them and carried on DJ-ing, concentrating more on the music and building up the night."

Spin

Paul has now been DJ-ing for a staggering 28 years. Playing jazz funk in the 70s, he was, interestingly enough, an inspiration to Norman Jay, who used to travel from London to Burnley to hear him spin his selection.

Now Paul DJs with his son at Retro nights, which has to be a first in the world of acid house. 

During the time between Ascension's demise and Retro's relocation to Holy City Zoo, expectations from Retro's legion of Manc fans built to high levels.

So if you fancy a smattering of classics from back in the day get down there early and rave like it's... er...1988.

Retro takes place every Saturday night Holy City Zoo, Lloyd Street, Manchester from 10pm to 3am. Admission is £10/£8.

Have you been to Retro? Did you love it or loathe it? Have your say by submitting your comments below.