Due to the huge response to their first reunion, Manchester’s legendary club night Parkers is back on Christmas Bank Holiday Tuesday!
Expect all those classy Parkers tunes from the likes of Brian McKnight, Dexter Wansel, Tower of Power, Debbie Taylor, The Jones Girls, Jean Carne, Anita Baker and many more – all original label vinyl played by the original DJs Dean Johnson and Richard Searling.
We are delighted to have Expansion Records’ Victor Haynes and his band live on stage – a very special appearance featuring tracks from the fabulous new album and to celebrate the finale of the label’s 25th Anniversary.
Parkers – A Legendary Manchester Club
In early 1989 , two local DJs , Richard Searling and Dean Johnson ran a record shop in Manchester.
Frustrated at not having a venue locally in which to play the quality soul music they were selling so much of , the approached their local Manchester City centre hotel which had nor long been open, Parkers.
On seeing the function room and realising the hotel management were as keen as they were, a monthly Saturday night was scheduled and promoted through the then extremely influential radio outlet, Sunset Radio.
Parkers took off straight away with travellers from all around the UK blending in with the Manchester modern soul fraternity, many of whom were influenced so much by the “Parkers vibe” of upfront and current mixed with ridiculously hard-to-find rare grooves that they themselves later became DJs.
Richard (best known for his residency at the legendary Wigan Casino (1974-81) and Dean Johnson , a veteran DJ from the Hacienda and the Gallery, hit it off straight away, with each playing their own styles of soul and jazz and in the process creatin g something very special for Manchester.
The night ran until 1993 when sadly the hotel had to close, but the Parkers legacy lives on and our 3rd Re-Union night takes place just after Christmas at the Band on the Wall, geographically a stone’s throw from the original Parkers hotel, and it is expected , just like the first two, to draw a sizeable crowd soul connoisseurs to relive many of the tracks you ll see listed in our advert.”
Richard Searling: “The first two events at the Band On The Wall have been quite sensational with the Parkers anthems on that incredible sound system sounding better than ever- this December Dean and myself are once again proud to be joined on stage by guest spinner Mike Stephens, one of the city’s finest DJs and a regular at Parkers the first time around!”
Just added : As part of Expansion Records 25th anniversary celebrations we are delighted to announce a unique performance from Manchester’s finest soul artist : Victor Haynes.
Victor will be playing selected tracks from his latest album live on stage and it’s the very first time Victor has ever showcased these great new songs.
Doors open for this event at 9pm but our Picturehouse Cafe Bar will be open much earlier for drinks and good vibes.
TICKETS NOW ONLY AVAILABLE IN PERSON FROM THE BAND ON THE WALL BOX OFFICE. BOX OFFICE OPEN FROM 5PM