Everyone knows about the high-end, glossy side of Ibiza, where drinks costs hundreds and VIP culture is hallowed, but for those of us who want a raw underground experience, where do we go? Octan, that’s where: it is a new club with bold intentions that has taken over the hallowed Sankeys Basement and transformed it into an intimate and vibey party space for real DJs and real music lovers.
As we rock up, people of all nationalities are already snaking around the corner of the building queuing for their place on the floor. Above them is a giant mural by acclaimed Leeds artist Nicholas Dixon, and inside the popular Warriors crew already are laying down serious tech house, just as they did here from 2012 to 2016.
Steve Lawler is the leader of the pack and is now back for more moments of madness, and as soon as we slip inside under that low ceiling, the mood is electric, hands are in the air, people are dancing and smiling faces are everywhere. Seb Zito is up first and is laying down perfectly dubby tech vibes, with dry hits locking us on and minimal synths making us move.
The club itself has only been slightly touched up so it has a no-fuss, low key vibe that perfectly suits the sort of music you will hear in here. Next to the basement is Spektre, an even smaller and more cosy room with arrays of LEDS on the ceiling and nice air conditioning keeping us cooler.
Of course, we had to head back next door for the main man Steve Lawler, who lapped up his adoring fans with plenty of hand waving interactions as he got to work. He took us back a year or two with Patrick Topping’s Be Sharp Say Nowt cut which immediately got the crowd on side and from there he got ever more rowdy and the crowd did too.
After plenty of big drops and whoops from the crowd, he handed over to Enzo from FUSE who served up a super slick and cool tech house masterclass that kept the floor full until closing. As we filled out with everyone else, you could already hear people talking about the next party, and like them, we will most certainly be back.
