ACID RAIN
Acid Rain is an independent music publication and creative collective based in Manchester, dedicated to platforming underground sounds and grassroots culture. As the team behind The Bag Factory venue, we’re passionate about creating spaces that platform emerging talent, pinpoint local voices, and build lasting communities around music and nightlife.
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Founded by a group of artists, writers, and promoters, Acid Rain operates across multiple mediums – from editorial features and interviews to live event documentation and video content. We aim to capture the raw energy of the rave scene while providing meaningful coverage and support to the people driving it forward.
With The Bag Factory, we’re expanding our mission: to create a home for experimentation, collaboration, and expression in the heart of Manchester’s DIY scene. Our focus is on authenticity, accessibility, and nurturing a culture that’s by ravers, for ravers.
Our Story
Acid Rain was founded by Francesca Melia with a simple but powerful vision: to create a platform that could serve as a genuine community for underground music lovers — a space to celebrate, document, and connect the grassroots and rave scenes from the inside out.
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Things truly began to take off last year with the arrival of Will and Alyssa, who joined as hosts and brought a fresh voice to the project. Together, the team began producing feature videos, interviewing artists and ravers alike, and digging deeper into the culture that fuels the music. We're currently in the middle of filming our first music documentary, "Made in Manchester" — a love letter to the city’s spirit and sonic identity.
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Since then, Acid Rain has continued to grow. What started as a small idea has evolved into a wider collective which is driven by a shared passion for underground sound, storytelling, and community building. We’re here to platform the artists and music that often go unseen, and to showcase voices from the ground up.
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Now, we’re stepping into a new chapter with the launch of The Bag Factory — our own independent venue, built for collaboration, creativity, and real connection. It’s a big leap, but one we’re taking with excitement, care, and belief in what this scene can be.
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This is only the beginning. Let’s build it together.