No Way Out was initially set up by Steve Plant, Sam Collins and Phil Saxe as an occasional 'complementary night' to the Hideaway in Manchester. The current team are Phil Saxe, Steve Plant, Yvonne Love and Sue Walker. It was inspired by Rimini, Outta Sight and other nights where the focus was primarily on dancing and guest DJs rather than record dealing, sitting around and discussing music etc. Basically, in the timeless Shameless tradition of 'having a party', we wanted to appeal to the younger, less hidebound, lively crowd. I suppose we also wanted to put on DJs we wanted to listen and dance to from a much wider area than the North West. Our most recent inspiration has come mainly from Mik Parry and Sheffield’s excellent and sorely missed Pow Wow Club. Our first night was in May 2007, so we’re coming up to our third anniversary.

2. Who are you DJs? Do you have guest DJs coming in too? If so, anyone we might know?

Phil Saxe is the resident and he mainly restricts himself to the beginnings and ends of the nights – the warming up and winding down periods. Besides a half-hour middle of the night set, the nights are for the guests. We have three guests each No Way Out with the vast majority heralding from beyond the North West’s frontiers. Our guests have included such luminaries as Smiler, Lee Miller, Stevie Z, Rowly, Mark Thomas, Les Hare, Marco Moretti, Andrea Mattioni, Mik Parry, Neil Lee, Sugar, Mary Boogaloo, Martin the Mod, Paul Kamczyk, Axel Derie, Graham 'The Rabbi' Wright, Gav Arno, Mace, Johnny Cockerline, Clanger, Vicky Hurley, Mike Warburton, Callum Simpson, Christina Alonso, Tommaso, Alice Fowkes, Steve Cato, Wayne Dearman, Lee Speed, Ted Couldstone, Nashee and, of course, Franco, Michael and Toto from TM Club, Belgium.

3. What kind of musical territory do you cover?

It does what it says on the tin: R&B, Soul & Jazz. 50s and 60s, of course.

4. Give us an idea of a few tracks you might hear if you dropped in?

Ernie Washington - Lonesome Shack, Gay Poppers - I Want To Know, Manny Corchado - Pow Wow, Tony Clarke - A Wrong man, Oscar Brown Jr - Humdrum Blues, Johnathan Capri - Gonna build me a mountain, Billy Hamlin - if you aint got no bread.

5. What do you think you offer that other clubs might not?

We offer great music, good dance floor, small but friendly crowd, smashing basement venue, a select but clique free club.

6. Your current venue - how long and have you been there and how does it work for the club?

All but two nights have been at The Rampant Lion. When the venue changed hands late last year we moved to Barca in the city centre but The Rampant Lion is our natural home. It’s perfect for a 60s-themed mod/R&B club night as it is a real basement club complete with dance floor, featuring a square shaped room meaning that the music’s always on top of you, great bar and friendly staff. It has recently been refurbished and the facilities are consequently first class.

7. And how many people do you tend to attract for each night? Do you think anything might put people off coming along?

No Way Out has an air of exclusivity arising from its size and compactness. Our busiest nights have attracted 120+ but we think it’s just right with 80+. If you like big 1000+ Northern Soul gatherings in community and sports centres this is not the night for you.

8. What's your view on the current state of mod/soul nights?

The loss of the Pow Wow is catastrophic. Otherwise it’s quite healthy with plenty of different nights going on – different strokes for different folks!

9. What's the best and worst thing that's happened with the club?

Having to move out last November and December was the worst thing but the best is that it has become a ‘club’ in the fullest sense of the word. I can never get over the fact that a night at No Way Out is always a night in the company of friends – corny, I know, but there you go.

10. Finally, we need the lowdown on the club - listing details, how often, how to get in touch, that kind of thing.

No Way Out happens six times a year: usually the second Saturday in February, April, June, September and November, and New Years Eve. It’s located at Leos Den, The Rampant Lion, Anson Road, Victoria Park, Manchester M14 5BZ. It starts at 9.00pm and finishes around 2.45am, last orders at 2.30am. It costs £5, has ample free parking and a well-stocked bar staffed by courteous staff. All nights are well-advertised beforehand on Club Scene in Modculture’s Mod Forums. You can contact Steve Plant on 07795028461 or Phil Saxe 07971848725 or pm Phil on Modculture.

Last updated: 9th March 2010