Tenth birthdays don't come along too often in clubland (after 10 years as a rule, but you know what I mean!). In an environment where fashions are chewed up and spat out quicker than you can say "Latvian hip-hop explosion", Tangled's Phil Morse can be justifiably proud to see his Mancunian institution celebrating a decade of bringing music to the masses this weekend. I met Phil to find out the secret. Machiavellian promotional genius? Magic oil in the Phoenix beer? Spill the beans!
"I couldn't tell you - there was no game plan when we started. We wanted to play house music we loved, and hoped that other people would love it too. We weren't an overnight success, but we stuck at it, and here we are!"
You're clearly doing something right. "Well, we've never really played by the rules - we don't court the press, we're not swayed by what's 'in'. We're not really bothered about pleasing anyone but our crowd, so we only book guests whose tunes are already proved at the club. It's easy for a club to become successful and forget that it still has to keep the people coming back. We have a very loyal crowd, and we aim to satisfy them, no one else. For example, our residents always play the last set of the night. That works for us - it's what our crowd expects. You risk upsetting a few DJ egos, but if you've got a DJ ego, you're probably in the wrong club! That family feel to the night has really paid off for us."
Friday's Tangled Decade event, then, sees the residents of the last 10 years, both in the main room and the 5 year old Breaks Bar, reunited to celebrate the tunes that have made the club what it is today. Meanwhile Saturday's Tangled Future finds the team looking to the next 10 years, joined by Tangled youth team protege Rascal, and guests Mekon and Lange, each responsible for some of the night's biggest tunes over the two floors.
Talking of Tangled Future - where do you see the next 10 years taking you? "Good question, I don't know! I'll tell you where I don't see us going! I don't see us booking big name DJ's to look good, moving to a bigger venue, or turning into a superclub. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess!"
A successful club with principles? What a refreshing change!
CHRIS NEWBOULD