THERE'S Tribal, then there's Tribal. And at the top of the Tribal Tree, sits Tribal Gathering.

Regular sessions at Sankey's Soap keep the Tribal faithful happy, along with once-in-a-blue-moon events like the Tribal Gathering, which took place in Southport last year.

But for anyone who remembers the crazy days of the warehouse parties and whole Acid House thing -- which East Lancashire was at the centre of for a time in the late 1980s -- then it's time to roll back the years.

For, on Saturday, August 23, a very special Tribal Gathering is taking place.

It's at a secret Manchester location. Instantly evoking memories of motorway service stations full of people asking 'where's the party at?' circa 1989. Admittedly, the warehouse it is taking place at is due to be knocked down the following week to make way for a housing estate so a bit of research could reveal all. But we didn't want to spoil the fun.

The hope is that 8,000 smiling faces will come along to this warehouse (tickets in advance, details of location revealed before the event) and help recreate the vibe of the dance scene before the superclubs came along to cash in.The event will include a sound system so huge it will arrive on six 40ft lorries. And there will be 20 dance acts too.

The line-up so far includes: A Guy Called Gerald, Bucky, Chibuku DJs, Deep Dish, Derrick Carter, DJ Sneak, DJ Yoda, DJ Marky + MC Stamina, Gilles Peterson, Greg Vickers, Groove Armada (DJ set), Ian 'Airtight' Taylor, Jeff Mills, Krafty Kuts, Krysko, Laurent Garnier, LFO Live, Photek featuring Do or Die, Scratch Perverts and The Rapture.

David Vincent, a Tribal promoter and Acid old-hander reckons: "For one night, the rules will change. Tribal Gathering is the only legacy of the Acid House years and we want to produce an event only seen in those early years."