Lotus at NAM: An Evening Dedicated to Celebrating Manchester’s Womxn in Music

Presented by BBC Radio 1’s Victoria Jane, Lotus will host a womxn in R&B panel followed by a heavyweight line-up of DJs taking over NAM’s elite audiophile system.

By Emma Davidson | Last updated 20 September 2022

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On Thursday 15th September, Manchester’s audiophile bar NAM will present the next Lotus event in collaboration with size? – an event series dedicated to uplifting and supporting talented womxn from Manchester’s music scene and beyond. 

Kicking off at 7pm until 11pm, with entry free for all and drinks courtesy of The House of Suntory, Lotus is NAM’s latest listening concept, launched back in June with the intention of showcasing the sounds of the best womxn DJs. 

Established as part of NAM’s ongoing commitment as a venue to deliver diverse musical talent to its community, every Thursday is dedicated to platforming womxn in music in the restaurant’s very own basement.

The House of Suntory, pioneers in the art of Japanese Whisky, will be on hand to shake up Toki High Ball cocktails for guests. A concoction of the brand’s silky but subtly sweet and spicy Whisky Toki, grapefruit, soda and Suntory Essence Drops, it will also present a bespoke menu for the evening featuring Haku Vodka, Roku Gin and Toki Whisky. 

The evening will then deliver a panel of Womxn in R&B – commencing at 7:15pm – hosted by BBC Radio 1’s Future Soul presenter and singer-songwriter, Victoria Jane. She’ll be quizzing four of Manchester’s finest female talents in the R&B realm, serving as a portal into the music industry for aspiring musicians, whilst also shining a light on each of the homegrown artists’ incredible journeys. 

Singer-songwriter superstar, Pip Millett will be joining the panel. Loved for her timeless sound coupled with her natural ability to harness the power of music, she provides listeners a multi-sensory experience. Pip will share an exclusive insight into her whirlwind of a career that’s seen her rise to the top of the UK R&B game in just four years. 

Hope and Millie Katana who form the soulful duo The KTNA, have long championed the Northern spirit, and are true symbols of what can be accomplished when talent is combined with determination. They’ll be sharing their stories from their debut tour and experiences of navigating the complex industry. 

Also sharing her voice, Robin Knightz. A big character blessed with a unique pen game, Robin will discuss how she made her genre-bending sound stand out, her mission to break out of the Manchester scene and her ascent to becoming a beacon for her city.  

Following the panel, in true NAM style, from 8pm there will be a legendary line-up of womxn selectors getting behind the decks to take-over the basement’s elite audiophile sound system. First up, Zèyla, who prides herself on her genre-crossing crate, will provide an enriched mixing style and individual artistry spanning jazz, soul, hip-hop, electronica, Latin, reggae and funk.

Next up, producer, singer-songwriter and DJ in her own right, Katbrownsugar has amassed a global following with her distinctive style, that encompasses neo-soul with lo-fi hip-hop and jazzy feels for the mind, body and soul. With two Mixcloud awards under her belt for Rising Star Best Online Hip-Hop, R&B, Afrobeats Show, we’re highly anticipating her debut set at NAM. 

Closing the night, selector, producer, curator of arts collective RebeccaNeverBecky, and one half of Queer Latifah collective, Mix-Stress, will be bringing a scorching soulful set. Always one to relocate everyone to the dancefloor, her central ambition behind the booth is to celebrate the music of her culture, exposing it to fresh and seasoned ears alike. 

Lotus by NAM x size? will take place from 7pm – 11pm, on Thursday 15th September. Check out NAM’s full programme below.

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Lotus at NAM

Date: Thursday 15th September
Time: 7pm – 11pm
Venue: NAM
Price: FREE