Islington Mill

Great venue and Peaches was AMAZING, one of the best gigs I’ve been to in ages/​ever. Her backing dancers alone were worth their own show — they variously dressed as vaginas, lions, S&Mers and other things I can’t remember (stars?!).
It was a very cool crowd with one particularly striking person dressed as what i can only describe as an Enchanted Forest. Bar service was noticeably efficient and friendly and they were thrilled when Peaches showed up to sing & dance on the bar twice. No hipster nonchalance here, despite it being I would venture to say, Manchester’s coolest venue.
Although there are low ceilings the visibility is good due to a raised stage and relatively thin supporting pillars (although I do speak from my 5’11 perspective).
The sound quality seemed good but unfortunately the bass went off and the hapless sound engineer couldn’t fix it for several songs. Peaches was trying not to be a ‘diva’ about it and just kept going but was understandably frustrated and I felt Manc let her down a bit. Don’t let it put you off coming back, Peaches, I love you! So glad Oonagh C. thought of me for this!

I’m going to show my age here, but I was always jealous of the kids on Why Don’t You — they had an entire house that seemed to just be a playground for them, where they could do anything they wanted.
Islington Mill has that kind of feel, but for students. It’s got an edgy feel that makes you think something weird and chaotic could happen at any time.
I’ve only been here for gigs, not during the day. Last time I was there, the room next to the gig was hosting what looked like an arty version of a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. And they were filming a shoe advert before the main band came on.
It’s pretty out of the way for most people, but I’m always glad when there’s a gig here because I just love the atmosphere of the place. Even at my age.
Try it during the Sounds From The Other City festival. Be warned — it gets very busy…

I’d gone to Islington Mill a couple of times for a wander in the past, sadly I missed the apparently awesome Twin Peaks event, but recently I was lucky enough to catch a local band, Death to the Strange, playing on its little stage.
My oh my. It’s good for art and studio bits and bobs but it’s even better for gigs. My brain started ticking over. How cool would it be to host an event in here?
Rebecca’s absolutely right, there’s very little furniture to speak of and you will find yourself getting tennis elbow from having your jacket draped over your forearm all night. That said, the Mill never disappoints. It’s not about comfort and glamour, it’s about atmosphere and art. Those bare brick walls, those industrial tubes in the ceiling, cosmetically it hasn’t changed much since its early days, and that’s why it’s so special. They’ve decorated it sparsely and quirkily.
And the food? My goodness, it’s generous. Basically our fiver on the door got us not only band viewing pleasure but a variety of delicious Caribbean curries being served in the corner along with some tasty cake — you just pop up and they’ll help you. I kicked myself for having eaten before coming out. When we were there the bar was somewhat limited as they don’t have anything on draught, but if you like either Bulmers cider or any kind of lager you’re well catered for.
You get a really eclectic clientele in there too, somewhere between locals and creatives and students. The part of Salford it’s situated in honestly isn’t too far from town — it’s right near the Crescent and Sainsburys and it’s easy to get to from either Castlefield or Chapel Street. Get yourselves over to this neck of the woods and scope it out!

Located deep in the heart of darkest Salford, Islington Mill is a unique little gig venue, full of ‘ramshackle’ charm. If by ramshackle you mean ‘bare crumbling walls and exposed pipework’ of course. Indeed, you can imagine Denis Nielsen enjoying the sounds of a beat combo here whilst sipping a glass of their decidedly interesting red booze.
Anyway, you can’t argue about the fact that Islington Mill is certainly different, and it’s always nice to see a truly independent venue making its mark upon the Mancunian gig scene. The toilets are suitable scummy (and filled with some decidedly amusing graffiti), and it also has various sofas that smaller gig goers (such as my good self) can hop onto in order to get a better view of the band.
You get some cracking bands playing here too, and the layout of the place means that seeing the experience of seeing a gig at the Mill can be intimate without becoming oppressive. All in all, I’m really looking forward to seeing how this arty little venue is going to grow and develop in the future (hopefully by deciding to plaster over their bare brick walls).

One of Manchester’s most unique buildings is Islington Mill.
Owned and run by artist Bill Campbell, it’s an old Victorian mill that he’s been painstakingly converting room by room over the last decade. There’s currently an exhibition space for local and visiting artists, a recording studio for bands and deejays, an intimate space for literary events and meetings and another space for gigs, film screenings and club nights. Hotly tipped electro group Delphic launch their album here with a gig on Friday and awesome psyche-​folk duo MV + EE play in February.
Staying on the psyche tip, there’s also Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga classes every Tuesday evening, a fab alternative crafts /​DIY market one Sunday a month and artists studios to rent on a temporary or permanent basis. Studios are available in three different sizes and all come with whitewashed walls, tiled floors and a vaulted ceiling. The majority seem to be occupied by aspiring painters, screen printers and graphic designers but there’s also resident fashion designers, photographers, film-​makers and musicians. The Ting Tings had a studio here before they became global pop stars and Elbow collaborators Soup Collective currently rent a space.
The only downside is the location. If you’re planning to visit at night, you might prefer to go with a few friends or catch a cab rather than wander round the streets on your own. It’s not exactly Wire territory but it’s a little dark and deserted.

I happened upon Islington Mill totally by accident a few years ago. Drinking absinthe in Stylish Friend’s bijou apartment, we decided we were hungry, so popped off to the chippy. Along the way, we bumped into some tres stylishly dressed young upstarts, who asked us where the Mill was. Luckily Stylish Friend (who has a nose for a good party) showed them the way, and asked what was going on. Hot Chip live after-​party, apparently. Lovely stuff. So, chips in hand, we ambled along. It was a fiver in! Bargain! And we were allowed to take our chips in. The gig was basically awesome. The performance space in the Mill’s biggest room is basically a very low stage, which we soon took to dancing on, and Hot Chip were obviously in their element, enjoying the chilled out atmosphere and general cheeriness of the whole affair.
Since that lovely night, I have attended loads of bonanzas, extravaganzas and clubnights here, and they’ve always been decent. The last time I went was Halloween, and they had a great noise band playing, as well as lovely vege tapas and spiced cider in the little café section. The great thing about the Mill’s arty crowd, was that there were some really incredible costumes. Me, I like a good costume party, and the Mill did not disappoint.
The Mill isn’t just home to awesome clubnights, though. No, no, no. If you like art, you’ll be sure to find something going on here as there are fifty or so studio spaces, and a lot of resident artists including leftfield photographer Andrew Brooks and kitschy painter Gemma Parker, who specialises in vintage tattoo art (but, like, not like Ed Hardy…) and burlesque imagery. If you’re a budding artist who needs a studio space, get in touch with the Mill, as studios start at a tres bargainous £135pcm.
This place is dirty, dusty and underfurnished. There’s nowhere to put your coat and the bar is skanky. It’s nothing like the starkly homogenised bars we’ve grown used to, and that’s why I love it. It reminds me of my favourite cocktail bar in Berlin, where it’s all about discussion, company and a cold beer,.

Right where Salford hospital used to be back in the day stands Islington Mill. You can see great bands and arty functions here, amidst the cave like obscurity of the Mill. There are a couple of little rooms and a larger one on the ground floor, which have amazing acoustics and a little garden round the side. Apparently it used to be almost sub zero in winter but they have recently installed heating and now it’s sweating when full. Wicked place.