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Plain sailing for Manchester based dance music party-starters Kaluki

The rise of record label and party brand Kaluki continues this summer fronted by Lee Spence aka Pirate Copy and Nick Yates

DANCE music is bigger than just the DJ.

Ravers are spoilt for choice and many of the younger generation rather than putting their trust in just following big name DJs and long established brands have turned to a plethora of refreshing up and coming outfits who guarantee a great party based on their reputation first and foremost.

 Kaluki at Parklife
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Kaluki at Parklife

With clubbers spoilt for choice and new events and festivals popping up left, right and centre, promising the best experience, familiarity and consistency has become big currency. Kaluki has become one such success story alongside other brands such as Abode and Solid Grooves.

 Nick Yates & Lee Spence aka Pirate Copy
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Nick Yates & Lee Spence aka Pirate Copy

Fronted by Nick Yates and Lee Spence (AKA Pirate Copy), the Manchester based events brand and record label is one of the scene’s most in demand, hosting events and festival stages across the world from Ibiza to South America.  Lee says:

I wouldn’t say any of us expected it, but we definitely hoped to make Kaluki a success.  Once Nick and I knew we had a product that people wanted, we set out to take the Manchester vibe to an international audience and every decision we have made for Kaluki has been us striving towards that goal. We’ve worked hard to pull it off’

 Kaluki in Ibiza last summer
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Kaluki in Ibiza last summer

Kaluki started life as a one off event at Sankeys in Manchester as the legendary club celebrated its 10th birthday. Now Kaluki is over 10 years old itself and things have blossomed for them as they prepare for a seriously busy few months ahead of another whopper of a summer which includes a Kaluki tour of North America. They will be joined along the way by luminaries such as Alan Fitzpatrick, Joseph Capriati, Skream, Eats Everything, Jamie Jones and Marco Carola alongside their own resident DJs. Lee says:

‘When we were coming up to the 10th anniversary of Kaluki, Nick and I were talking about how we needed to make a big deal of this milestone and do something huge like a world tour. He was heading out to Miami so he had this mission to go there and get networking – to spread the word that this is what we wanted to do and lay the groundwork to make it happen. One night I get a call about 5am from Nick and he’s sat with people like Dubfire and the guys at Bullitt agency telling me that they’re up for it and everyone’s on board. It was a bit of a surreal call but yeah, it took ten years and that was the moment I thought that we could really do this and take it to the next level.’

Read the full interview with Lee Spence aka Pirate Copy and listen to an exclusive 3 hour DJ mix from him.

Apr 12 - Funktion, Hull - Alan Fitzpatrick, Pirate Copy, Pete Zorba

May 5 - Grey’s Yard, Newcastle - Joseph Capriati, Pirate Copy, Wan Issara, Calvin Clarke

May 14 - 18 - Kaluki North America Tour - Line Up TBC - Headliner, Max Chapman, Pirate Copy

May 24 - We Are FSTVL, Upminster -Skream, Detlef, Max Chapman, Pirate Copy, Pete Zorba, Calvin Clarke and more

May 31 - Concorde 2, Brighton - Eats Everything,  Popof, Pete Zorba

May 31 - Pacha, Barcelona - waFF, Detlef, Pirate Copy, Calvin Clarke

Jun 9 - Parklife, Manchester - Jamie Jones & Marco Carola B2B and more

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