A new documentary about the rise of techno is premiering next month

A new documentary about the rise of techno is premiering next month as part of the Manchester International Festival (MIF). 

‘Laurent Garnier: Off The Record’ charts the genre’s rise through the eyes of the French DJ and production hero. It will be shown at Manchester Central on Sunday 11th July and advanced tickets are required. 

Directed by Gabin Rivoire, the movie chronicles how techno spread through the world, focusing on Garnier’s role in the nascent scenes of his native Paris and Manchester during the 1990s, when he was a regular at spaces including The Hacienda, before looking to the sound’s global reach over the last three decades. 

As part of the MIF event, Garnier and Rivoire will take part in a Q&A after the screening, alongside Dave Haslam and Jon Dasilva, both former residents at The Hacienda. 

The film forms part of the festival’s in-person programme, which also includes ‘Rooted in Rhyme’, a showcase of new hip hop artists, and a collaboration with African and African diaspora music festival Homecoming featuring ANZ, who last year spoke with another of Manchester’s club stalwarts, DJ Paulette, about the experiences of Black women in dance music.

This weekend Pie Radio was supposed to host the Afrobeats v Amapiano day party at Manchester’s BEC Arena. Due to the extension of lockdown this has now been postponed to Sunday 25th July. 

Image: Laurent Garnier by Jacob Khrist