Over the last 12 years international club night Bitch, has gone from strength to stength with its passion for House and ‘bitchen’ banging music, renowned for its epic guest DJ line ups each month that have included the likes of Nicky Romero, the Martinez Brothers, Arno Cost, Tim Mason, Eric Prydz plus many more.

Now the Bitch is back to its roots and kicking it in Manchester and after being hosted at the likes of Sankeys, The Warehouse Project, Venus and now its new residential home is the Ibiza inspired Lazy Lizard.

VIVA caught up with Paul Griffiths and Ric Feingold the guys behind Bitch Events prior to their big night, Bitch Classics, this Saturday at Lazy Lizard…

VIVA: Tell us the history behind the brand Bitch!

Bitch Boys: The brand was set up through a pure passion for music and clubbing.

When Sankeys was in its hey day, and being a group of 18 year olds in Manchester, Bitch was born on a Sunday morning after a full night of raving.

Manchester was always famous for its non stop partying but we got to a point where we had nowhere to go on a Sunday so the light bulb moment came and we thought let’s throw a Sunday party and that was it Bitch was born!

The brand went to levels we never expected always evolving with the times always finding the right talent at the right time and that was a big reason we got it right at venues all over the UK and Europe.

VIVA: What big name DJ’s have you had playing over the last few years?

Bitch Boys: Over the 11/12 years some of the standout club bookings we have had are Martinez Brothers, Eric Prydz, Laidback Luke, Nicky Romero, Hardwell, Michael Woods, Chris Lake, Danny Howard, John Dahlback and many many more.

Our festival line-ups have included Eddie Halliwell, Nervo, Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike, Sander Van Doorn, Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, Thomas Gold, Third Party  and more.

VIVA: Is there any one night of Bitch that has stood out from the rest?

Bitch Boys: April 2012 with Nicky Romero at Venus was massive, the queue literally went round the building and was a complete sell out.

The 5th Birthday at Venus with Arno Cost and Tim Mason has always been recognised as one of our best ever parties! It was Halloween weekend and the whole club were in Fancy Dress!

We had Hardwell, who was DJ Mags’ number one DJ at the time, at Digital in Newcastle and then Leeds in the same night! (Later set) that was a bonkers weekend!

In the early days hosting Warehouse Project for our 3rd Birthday with Eric Prydz was also special.

Being one of the first brands to book the Martinez Brothers in the UK at Sankeys is incredible when you see how much they have achieved.

VIVA: Has there been any DJ you have invited to be on the line up that you would never have back again and if so why?

Bitch Boys: There’s none we wouldn’t have back but there’s quite a few we would struggle to be able to book due to how big the have become! The industry has changed a lot and a lot of the big names are now tied into deals with the big event companies and festival brands etc which makes it very hard for independent club nights to book.

Not that we don’t like the big events and festivals, it’s just a shame we can’t do club shows with some of the DJs we have loved over the years.

VIVA: We love the fact you have on your line ups, up and coming female DJ’s. Who recently has been your radar to watch move up the ranks in the DJ world?

Bitch Boys: We have always prided ourselves on trying to recognise up and coming talent both male and female. It’s been one of our USPs since day one! When we had Third Party I think we were there first ever club show.

We had Radio 1s Danny Howard just before and just after he won the Superstar DJ competition, we also booked Hannah Jacques who won the same competition.

Kellie Acreman is part of the family and she was Ocean Beach Club Ibiza’s First female resident. We had a DJ called Rebecca Remelie play for us at Lazy Lizard, she’s definitely one to watch.

We have E.M.A from Unity Radio playing this Saturday for the first time, with percussionist Rachel Lasham from Girls That Mix. These girls are smashing it at the moment so we are excited to see what they bring to Bitch.

For tickets to Bitch this Sautday at Lazy Lizard CLICK HERE

VIVA: The nightlife industry economy is struggling a bit in the UK and Europe, what tips would you give other club night promoters to putting on a successful club night?

Bitch Boys: It’s a very difficult industry for independent brands and club nights at the moment. I think the biggest piece of advice is, don’t be scared of failure and don’t be put off if you don’t have successful nights every time.

Over the years we have sold clubs out before we open, we have had roadblock queues and filled festival arenas, but we have also had our fair share of quiet nights.

You can make and lose money quickly in this industry. We have never been purely about the business side of it, we have always wanted to throw top parties and have a mega atmosphere, if you achieve that then the financial rewards will follow.

VIVA: It was devastating news about Sankeys and then Venus closing down. How does Lazy Lizard compare to these two venues?

Bitch Boys: I don’t think you can compare them. I think they are all very different in their own right. Sankeys was a Manchester institution, Venus was like one big family clubbing for 18 years and Lazy Lizard is only just starting its journey and finding its place in the Manchester clubbing scene.

We think there’s great potential for Lazy Lizard and there’s some great promoters and brands involved so it’s exciting times.

VIVA: Whats the end goal for Bitch?

Bitch Boys: Being honest I think we have exceeded our expectations with Bitch and we have loved every minute of it. I suppose our goals moving forward is to still give the people of Manchester top parties and maybe some special one off parties to bring some of the old faces out of retirement.

The Bitch archive

Residencies at Sankeys, Venus, Area 51 and Lazy Lizard Manchester.

Events at Warehouse Project, Victoria Warehouse, Mint Club and Warehouse Leeds, Gatecrasher Leeds, Digital Newcastle, Syndicate Blackpool, Lush Ireland, Digital Love Aberdeen + More.

Festival Arenas at Mint Festival, Wickerman Festival. Clubbing partner of Parklife Festival.

Residency at Papaya Croatia, branded holidays to Ibiza.

Weekly radio show on Unity Radio

Hugely successful monthly podcast on iTunes

Numerous features in Mixmag and DJ Mag and now VIVA

For tickets to Bitch this Sautday at Lazy Lizard CLICK HERE

We’ll see you ravers and misbehavers on the dance floor! 

Follow Bitch: 

Instagram @BitchEvents

Twitter @GriffBitch

BITCH GALLERY