CityLife

Pop with Mint but no cheese

The Mint Lounge goes all pop

Since its rebirth as the Northern Quarter’s epicentre of basement chic – all crushed velvet curtains and cabaret glamour – The Mint Lounge has built a reputation as one of the city’s best venues.

Over the past few years it has played host to some of town’s finest regular and semi-regular parties, not least the mighty Funkademia, whose move to the place provided the environment and atmosphere that was needed to kick start the best ever period in the club’s history.

So the venue’s pedigree, coupled with that sense of faded underground glamour, made The Mint Lounge an attractive draw for Danielle Moore and her Pop Til You Drop colleagues, who re-launched their party there on a new, weekly basis this month.

“The Mint Lounge started originally as a burlesque club,” says Moore. “And it’s managed to keep some of those original features; the dressing up shop, the dark maroon walls, the low lit tables and velvet curtains.

“It has a great cocktail menu, the sound is superior and it houses a lighting system which could facilitate a U2 gig at Wembley!

“We were offered a weekly as opposed to a monthly party and we saw it as an opportunity to expand the night.

“Although it houses 500-600 people, it still maintains an intimate atmosphere and we also offer the back room for private hire if required. Neil (Scott, fellow DJ) used to run Nish Nash Nosh and Crazy P (Moore’s ever-popular band) have played there several times, so the relationship was already cemented.”

Of course, Pop Til You Drop has built up something of a reputation of its own since launching last year with a cast of DJs including the likes of Moore, El Diablo’s man Neil Scott, Manchester District Music Archive’s Abigail Ward and Piccadilly Records’ Pasta Paul.

The night is ostensibly dedicated to pop music in its various forms, although has a strict ‘no cheese’ policy which was led some to question just how pop this pop night is.

Still, a glance over a typical PTYD playlist reveals the quality on offer: Madonna, Prince, Talking Heads, Justin Timberlake; pop one and all.

So how does Moore define the club’s vision of pop?

“Now this is a difficult one, as pop covers such a huge spectrum and everyone has an opinion which is neither right nor wrong.

“The residents will play music they like. We have a policy that requests “no cheese”, ie Wet Wet Wet, Lady Gaga, Shania Twain, Westlife... There are nights that will cater for this and we’re just not one and if you’re running a night you have got a license to choose what you play.”

For its move to the Mint Lounge, the club will be taking with it the merry band of DJs who helped get it off the ground, but also introducing guest slots (last week’s Valentine’s special featured contributions from Danielle’s Crazy P bandmate Jim Baron) and other elements to spice things up.

Does having a diverse pool of DJs and guests mean there are many distinct flavours to what’s played at the night, or is everyone on the same musical page?

“In general, we try to play to our strengths as DJs, which vary from 70s and 80s pop, disco, indie, modern pop, R&B, rock-pop and so on.

“Everyone has different tastes – I love hearing what others will play and if its anything 80s, I guarantee I will know every single word.

“We’ll be having guest DJs who’ll have slots of two hours and we will let them loose – if they want to play cheese, they can... if they want to take their top off and sing Iggy Pop, they can. If they want to give us a live rendition of a song, they can, and indeed if they want to host their set Jimmy Savile-style they will be encouraged. We’re hoping to reincarnate Top Of The Pops at some point... that’ll be news to Neil and Steve!”

No doubt this new era in the club’s history will see loads of brilliant new memories for DJs and revellers alike, but what’s Danielle’s favourite from the club so far?

“Having 10 people on stage freestyling a dance routine to No Diggity. It was liberating and although we didnt get signed on the spot, we were a force to be reckoned with!”

Pop Til You Drop, Mint Lounge, Oldham Street. 10.30pm-3am. £5.