Inside The Bag Factory: Manchester’s Best Rave?

Founded by 4 idiots

I never really meant to open a venue. That was never the plan. But here we are — The Bag Factory — a 60-cap grassroot sweatbox right next to The White Hotel, built out of love, desperation, and too many nights ranting about how Manchester needed more music spaces. Because it does. Still does. And now we’ve got one.

This is Acid Rain’s next chapter. What started as a little music publication with me chatting shit on Instagram about raves I loved has somehow spiralled into filming documentaries, putting on nights, and now... signing a lease on a tiny unit with no heating but a banging sound system and a bar that pours fast.

We wanted a venue that felt like the places we missed. Somewhere raw, off-grid, community-run, and totally anti-industry. A platform for underground music not just DnB & Techno or whatever the internet says is trending — but all of it, together. Genreless chaos. Our favourite kind.

The Bag Factory isn’t polished. It’s not meant to be. It’s definitely a work in progress. But it’s ours. A spot for the heads, the weirdos, the grassroot promoters and broke-but-brilliant artists who just want to throw a party, share a tune, or host something that means more than just a night out.

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From Acid Rain to The Bag Factory

If you don’t know Acid Rain, we’re a Manchester-based collective and music publication, founded by me, Francesca. Last year, I roped in Will, Alyssa & Connie who now host our feature videos and keep the chaos running smooth (ish). We’ve been interviewing ravers, profiling local artists, and filming our first doc — Made in Manchester — which is basically our love letter to this weird little scene we’ve built and all the graft that’s gone into it.

Now, with the venue opening, everything’s levelling up. We’re programming nights, platforming collectives, and turning this space into something that feels like a home for Manchester’s grassroots music scene. And we want EVERYONE involved — especially the ones who’ve been shut out by big promoters and gatekept scenes.

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What have we done?

Put On a Night, Run a Residency, a Rave

The idea is quite brilliantly... simple.

Basically, we’re not trying to rinse people. If you want to book the space, it starts at £150 and includes decks, PA, and the bar (which we run). You keep the ticket sales — we just take the bar. We’re open for residencies too for people who want to build something long-term. No cliques, no politics, just decent music and a bit of trust. Got an idea? Hit us up.

We’re also open to exhibitions, pop-ups, weird installations, day festivals, private parties. Whatever. Just contact us at the end of the article

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For the Scene, By the Scene

We’re not claiming to fix everything. But we do believe in community-run nightlife — the kind built by the people who actually go out, who know what works and what doesn’t. This city is bursting with talent and creativity and barely anywhere to put it. That’s why we’ve done this.

So, yeah — come down. Bring your USBs. Pitch your mad idea. Film your set. Put your mate on the lineup. We’ll help however we can. The Bag Factory is open. Let’s make some noise.