Giggs, ML and the North West’s cutting-edge talent just took over Manchester

Stone Island and END.’s relationship with British subculture is a long and storied one, with both brands claimed by the country’s Northern streets. So, it made sense that when we joined forces with the two fashion stalwarts for a celebration of the UK’s homegrown sounds (new and firmly established), we’d take over Hidden, a warehouse space-turned-nightclub located on the outskirts of Manchester’s city centre.

Alongside national treasure Giggs headlining, the lineup was stacked with talent from Greater Manchester, a hub that over the past decade has produced some of the most forward-thinking, exciting music in Britain – all emerging from a relatively small nucleus of artists and scenes.

Doors opened at 8pm and punters (a lot of them wearing Stone Island) began to roll into the dark main room, illuminated by the brand’s compass projected onto the wall alongside the iconic END. and FACE logos. This location immediately became the photo point.

South Manchester selector KD22LR opened proceedings with an hour of hypnotic, dubby club tracks, the perfect soundtrack to the industrial cityscapes that surround Hidden. By the time Gloss resident Synna G hit the stage at 9pm, the dance floor was packed – energy and anticipation rapidly building.

Then came RenzNiro, one of Manchester’s hottest rappers right now – a name who has been nurtured by key players in the city’s avant-garde circles. A crowd formed tightly around him, venue heaving, as he spat his energetic, forlorn bars over heavy 808s and icy synth pads. The Friendly Pressure soundsystem rattled the foundations of the warehouse and his close collaborators Rainy Miller and Space Afrika hit the decks as soon as he’d finished. They dropped alt London rapper Jawnino’s track Westfield straight off, hitting the crowd with a certified banger, before throwing a curveball with a section of sugary, nostalgic dance pop tracks. By now, this felt like a true family affair.

Enter ML, Giggs’ protégé son. The young rapper introduced himself and launched into a strong set, adopting an easy laidback flow. Soon enough, Pops emerged onstage, wheeled up the tune, put his arm around his son and demanded more from the crowd. We went again, and ML left to a cacophony of cheers from the partygoers, who by now were jostling with each other to get into pole position for the emergence of his father.

Many rappers in Giggs’ position – he’s been there, seen it, done it – might be tempted to phone it in at this point in their careers. Not him. The evening was a reminder to everyone what an exhilarating live performer he is. Arriving onstage with Stone Island’s UV-reactive scan camo parka, Giggs conducted the room’s energy effortlessly, sweat dripping off every wall and body. He rumbled through an electric set of hits – Man Don’t Care, Whippin Excursion, Look What the Cat Dragged In – and even dropped a new exclusive that he’d only just made in the studio. One punter behind us screamed, ​“This is the best Giggs set ever!”

It’s hard to argue against the legacy and legend of Giggs. He made total sense for this link up, a celebration of underground culture conquering the mainstream. British street music: past, present and future.