Fashion will be rocking up in Manchester tonight as part of a celebration of the city’s new designers.

Manchester has always been at the forefront of fashion and music — from Matthew Williamson and Agyness Deyn to the Hacienda and Oasis — and one-off event BEATMODE rejoices in that.

The event at The Ritz nightclub in Whitworth Street West will showcase up and coming fashion designers, bands and DJs. Organised by nine young creatives from Manchester School of Art in collaboration with River Island, it promises to be a unique night of entertainment.

The jam-packed event starts at 8pm and includes a catwalk show from fresh fashion designers along with the best of River Island’s current collection.

Highlights will include bands Taka Pow, The Crookes and Mount Fabric. DJs Audiofarm, Eat My Beat, Prostitutes & Policemen and Belly Of The Beast will also appear, as well as scouts and trend spotters from Nemesis Models, Models North and the Manchester Fashion Network.

BEATMODE has been created by fashion students at Manchester Metropolitan University in response to the River Island Rocks competition. Their proposal caught the judges imagination and was selected as one of four across the country to go ahead as an actual event. Two River Island executives will judge whether BEATMODE deserves to win.

Tickets cost £3.50 and are available from River Island’s Arndale Centre store and at www.skiddle.com. Tickets on the door cost £5. For more information visit www.beatmode.co.uk.