AREA51 brings you dance music’s finest DJ acts to Manchester first. Last month’s line ups were some of our best parties yet and the summer looks even better. With a Bank holidays special, ten Saturday Sessions and ten Friday nights from some of the best clubbing brands in the UK, AREA51 is carving out its name as one of the best places to party in the north. We managed to catch up with Promotions manager and resident DJ Michael Godsmark to find out a little bit more about the club and what he has been up too..............

Tell us what’s new in the world of Curious George?

I’ve just got back from my 2nd trip to Ibiza, full of inspiration and getting ready to get back in the studio to unleash some crazy shit!

You are resident DJ and Promoter at AREA51, tell us a bit about what your job involves?

On a day to day basis it’s a lot of office work, flyering, postering, just making sure things happen so that the club can open on a weekend really!!! The DJing isn’t really a job, is pure fun!

AREA51 has been open 5 months now. What impact do you think it has had on the Manchester clubbing scene?

I think we’ve really changed people’s perceptions in Manchester on what clubbing is. Since the introduction of 24 hours licenses, people have been going into clubs later and later, which have meant now a lot of clubs don’t fill up until 1 anyways. So us opening at 130AM on Saturday night/Sunday morn has meant that as soon as we open, it’s absolutely rocking. By 115 we have a queue around the block! Plus it’s always good when a new club opens in a city, it lifts the bar for everyone else, and that has to be good for clubbers of Manchester!

What do you think sets AREA51 apart from any other clubs in the north?

Our sound system, our residents and our crowd, without any of them none of what we do would be possible.

What have you been up to recently in Manchester and further a field ?

In Manchester I’ve been concentrating soley on AREA51. I used to do a lot of Dj work further afield, but simply don’t have time at the moment! I’ve been spending a lot of time in the studio though recently and have some tracks coming out in the next month or so.

Saturday Sessions seem to be pulling in big crowds with your big line ups. What can we expect for the rest of the summer?

We have Daley Padley, Justin Robertson and Smokin Jo booked in August, and some massive DJs for the launch of our new Saturday night brand in September. Although I can’t reveal these just yet, keep checking the myspace for more details.

What`s your favorite club to play in (and why)?

Obviously AREA51, the crowd is always up for the party, even at 9AM! Outside of Manchester it’s Nation in Liverpool, it has so much history, plays host to ones of the world’s biggest club brands and the courtyard is an awesome room to play in!

What’s your favourite track at the moment ?

After being at Space in Ibiza a couple of weeks ago and watching him drop it, it has to be Steve Lawler’s – 21st Century Ketchup! That track is really doing some damage this summer and I fucking love it!

If you could only play one more club ever, what club would it be and what other DJs would be playing?

We Love… @ Space in Ibiza, and I’d have Carl Cox, Paul Woolford, Steve Lawler and Sasha.

What do you think of the UK scene at the moment?

I can’t really comment as I’m not out of Manchester a lot, but from what people are telling me, it is taking a little dip a the moment. But it is getting into peak Ibiza season, and there are so many key players out there for the summer this year. The good thing is a lot of guest DJs who are playing at ours at the moment are shocked at how well we are doing, especially on a Saturday night. Plus even with Ibiza, our Saturdays are getting busier, week on week!

Your quite new to the scene but are already big a huge impact. What got you interested in dance music ?

Just going to a few local house clubs when I was in late teens, Green, Feel and Cream, and then the clubbing bug really hit me. I was going every week for like 2 years all over the north… crazy days!

What do you prefer (producing or DJ``ing)?

It has to be Djing as that is what got me into the scene. Producing is a natural progression to that really, I now get to put all the ideas I’ve gained over the last few years into our very own tracks, and then rock them in my sets! Plus you can’t really make it as just being an awesome DJ anymore, you have to produce.

What do you like to do away from dance music?

Sit in a quiet room as far away from everything as I can! Ha ha… Only on Mondays! On the other days of the week my office is in a gym, so I get in there quite a bit. And I’ve just got my first place away from my parents, so I’m spending quite a bit of time (and money) sorting that out at the moment.

What have you got coming up in the future?

As well as playing AREA51 twice a month, we’re going to be starting quite a bit of remix work for the labels that we’re signed too, as well as getting our other tracks signed. We’re lining up a collaboration track with a well-known UK DJ/producer, who after hearing our stuff was well impressed. Watch this space!

What your latest top five chart ?

1. Steve Lawler – 21st Century Ketchup
2. Josh Wink – Stay Out all Night
3. Curious George & The Agent – Relentless
4. Kurd Maverick – All Over the World
5. Workkidz - Washmachine

CHECK OUT area51club.co.uk or myspace.com for more information on the club and Michael Godsmark.

YOU CAN CATCH MICHAEL AS CURIOUS GEORGE ON JULY 26TH AT AREA51

Line Ups for the Resy of July.