Niche clubnight Antics will hold its last Preston event on Saturday March 1st.
The night, which was previously held on the first Saturday of every month at The Ferret, will then move to Night and Day Café in Manchester.
The Lucid Dream will headline the event, with support coming from Manchester band The Watchmakers and East Lancashire’s The Strange. It will also feature DJ sets from The Ark Preston DJ’s and DJ Garage Flower.
Antics, organised by The Ark Preston founder Gareth Butterworth and former Mad Ferret owner Fraser Boon, has been a highlight of Preston’s night life for the past several years. It seeks to blend the best in unsigned live music with a different type of clubnight.
Gareth said: “Both me and Fraser now work full time in Manchester and couldn’t justify promoting a night in Preston. We’re a bit gutted because we absolutely love the Ferret and the Antics crowd. The last one in Preston is massive.
“There’s no plans for any more in Preston but never say never. Hopefully someone will seize the opportunity to put on another great night because the crowd is there for you.”
Headliners The Lucid Dream have been building a wide array of positive reviews from the likes of Uncut, Clash and The Quietus. Along with The Watchmakers, they create a psychedelic vibe for the night.
Many in Preston will be sad to see the clubnight leave.
Liam Pennington, local music writer, said: “The loss of Antics from Preston is as befuddling as its regular patrons were the morning after. Mixing up the best new bands with DJ sets and a good old fashioned dance-off is not an easy project, but Antics did it every month, and I know there’s many a night called vital to Preston but this always genuinely did.
“I always thought the nights were a slice of Manchester come to Preston, so I know it’ll fit in, but just as a call is made to answer questions about the future of Preston’s scene, it’s a shame a well known part of that has gone.”
Doors open for night at 8pm and the entry fee is £3.