On the 13th of November, Northern Groove Association return for their 13th edition at their favourite Manchester establishment, Eastern Bloc. Records.
For their final show of the year, they welcome renowned international techno juggernaut, Keepsakes alongside support from rising start of the Irish underground, Shannen Blessing and, NGA resident Balrog.
Keepsakes, the alias of British-New Zealand producer and DJ James Barrett, has been a strong and distinctive voice in techno since 2014, showcasing his powerful and menacing, yet often cheeky and playful, productions on influential labels including Boys Noize Records, Turbo Recordings, KAOS/OAKS, Perc Trax, South London Analogue Material, MORD, and Earwiggle.
Furthermore, he founded the Haven club night alongside Jaded Nineties Raver in Tāmaki Maraukau, Aotearoa (Auckland, New Zealand) in 2015 and in 2018 Haven also expanded into a vinyl-focused record label – going on to release many leading international artists including VTSS, Tommy Holohan, New Frames, Peder Mannerfelt, Ayarcana, Ansome, and Ryan James Ford, as well as becoming the main home for Barrett’s own productions.
Now located in Ōtautahi, Aotearoa (Christchurch, New Zealand), Keepsakes is focused on bringing his tough and eclectic sound to dance floors worldwide, with regular appearances at international techno institutions providing a platform for his formidable DJ sets.
Shannen Blessing, is an Irish DJ and producer from the east coast, known for her driving, groove-led approach to techno.
Over the past seven years, she has become a mainstay on Irish dancefloors while steadily building an international presence.
She has supported artists including Dax J, DVS1, Sunil Sharpe and Jeff Mills, and has
performed at institutions such as Boiler Room, Teletech, Sub Club, Shine, Index, SWG3,
Remise and Club OST, with appearances in Vancouver, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh,
Berlin, Belfast and Dublin.
Her sound centres on bouncing rhythms and modular-inspired synth sequences — a nod to
classic, old-school techno foundations while carving out her own churning, high-impact groove.
With a deep respect for the roots of the genre, Shannen seamlessly blends vinyl selections with forward-thinking underground energy.
Balrog is the founder and resident of the Northen Groove Association. Hailing from Leeds in the north of the UK, Balrog (Alex) is an artist whose musical style focusses on combining heavy rolling percussion, funky synth stabs, driving bass lines and distorted vocals, all with an injection of industrial power.
Developing a signature sound characterised as industrial groove techno has seen Balrog release on highly regarded labels including Soma, Ear To Ground, HAVEN, Hydraulix, Crisis Of Man, Player, NAKT, Instruments Of Discipline, Moments In Time and Green Fetish.
The industrial groove sound also characterises Balrog’s high-energy DJ sets which have seen him headline events in New York, Berlin, London, Leeds, Manchester, Riga, Budapest, and Glasgow, playing at renowned clubs such as Tresor, FOLD, RSO and Mint Warehouse.
In 2019, Balrog also created his own imprint, Khazad Records, which provides a platform for him to release his own music as well as support up and coming talent. Through the guiding hand of Balrog, Khazad Records has been at the forefront of the underground techno scene, helping to discover and shine a light on artists such as Azyr, Charlie Sparks, Grace Dahl, Vera Grace, Isaiah, madwoman, Samantha Togni, Daniella Da Silva, Cynthia Spiering, MOIA, Aero, Lee Ann Roberts, Skoden, vrov, Eubo and many more.