Woody sits down with me for a brilliant, wide-ranging conversation about growing up between Ireland and Eccles, discovering hip hop through graffiti culture, digging for records in Manchester, and becoming part of some of the city’s most loved underground club nights.
We talk about going to St Patrick’s in Eccles, the Irish working-class families around Salford, and how graffiti, b-boying and rap first opened the door to music for him. From there, Woody gets into the records that changed his life — especially the Ultimate Breaks and Beats compilations, which he describes as some of the most important records ever made for producers, DJs and music lovers.
There’s loads in here for anyone who loves Manchester music history. Woody talks about buying records in Fat City, hearing house and hip hop on local radio, getting his first set of Technics after a whiplash payout, and putting on his first night at the British Legion — which ended in chaos when a huge fight broke out and there were more police in the venue than punters.
From there, we get deep into The Roadhouse, Counterculture, and the legendary Friends and Family nights. Woody explains how Friends and Family grew out of Fat City and Grand Central, how it became a real community night, and why the best Manchester nights always feel DIY, warm and open rather than over-polished. He talks about Katie at The Roadhouse, John Green, the bar staff, the sound system, mailing lists, flyers, and what really makes a club night special.
We also get into the wider Manchester scene — Electric Chair, Eyes Down, eclectic music policy, beard-stroking DJs, and why Manchester crowds have always had a special appreciation for hearing something unexpected rather than the obvious anthem.
One of the best parts of the conversation is Woody talking about the Pomona Island raves, which he helped put on with Jamie Whittaker and others. He explains how they built them, sailed in a sound system by canal boat, created a whole temporary world under the bridge, and ended up with thousands of people turning up across multiple years before COVID brought it to an end.
We finish by talking about Red Laser Records, the label Woody co-runs, their residency at The White Hotel, and how they still champion lesser-known DJs and artists rather than chasing big names.
This is a great one if you’re into Manchester club culture, Fat City Records, breakbeat, house music, DIY scenes, The Roadhouse, or the way music communities really grow.
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