Coming Soon: 2Klub's Take on Clubbing Web/Message Boards

Feel free to write to me and let me know your opinions of clubbing web/message boards like 4Clubbers, HarderFaster, Gurn, BiscuitMonsters, Tidy, Polysexual/God's Kitchen, Sundissential and more. Do you use 'em? Are they useful? What do you like or hate about 'em? Let me know: Jonathan@2Klub.com

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Release at The Nightingale, Birmingham
Birmingham's new Sunday underground event featuring Andy Farley, Sarah G. and Si Griffiths and guests is taking a break during January when Andy is away on tour. Stay tuned for a formal announcement of the re-start date.

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Sin:ergy, Manchester
Since 1999, my ex-2Klub partner, Jeremy, has developed and successfully run his own hard dance club in Manchester (first called Utopia, then renamed Sin:ergy). As of January he has sold his stake in the club and will be setting off for Eastern Europe and Australia next month. We wish him bon voyage and a safe journey. Sin:ergy will continue under its new ownership.

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Congratulations to Hard Dance Awards Winners
The first Hard Dance Awards were held recently in London. Here are the results in full (Thanks to 4clubbers.net):

Best DJ: Yoji Biomehanika
Best Label: Tidy
Best Large Club: Sundissential
Best Small Club: RIOT!
Best One Off Event: Tidy Weekender
Best Track: Hostile - Paul Glazby
Best Producer: BK
Best Remixer: Nick Sentience
Best Shop: Banging Tunes
Best Web Site: Tidy.com
Best Resident: Lee Haslam
MixMag Future Hero: Amber D
Industry Animal: Lisa Lashes
Best Compilation: Vicious
Message Board Hero: Joe Black (HarderFaster.net)
(Source: 4clubbers.net)

Results were determined by people voting on line at http://www.harddanceawards.com/

If this was a case of London versus the rest then that looks like an overwhelming victory for the rest to me, but then of course I'm sure nobody would ever think such a thing. ;o)

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Backing up Your Records

It struck me recently that DJs lose their records more often than one might have thought. First was a local DJ whose car was broken into in Birmingham, then I heard of an international DJ whose records disappeared during a trip to the Far East. Stories then emerged of the same thing happening to Sasha.

As a DJ's records are their livelihood, I presumed they must make sure they have back-ups. How wrong was I! Just like the rest of us they often "don't have time". Well it's January now and there's a lull in clubbing nationwide, so make time and, if you're one of those DJs who's jetting off for gigs in Australia, or Timbuktu, then maybe it's even more appropriate for you get those favourite bits of vinyl backed up to CD. A belt and braces alternative is to also store your backups on the web, so that even if the vinyl and the CDs get lost or are stolen, you can access your fave tunes from anywhere in the world and burn some replacements.

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Two Reviews both of Action & Trade

Yes this week we have two reviews provided by two separate people who both went to the same two clubs, and wrote about them. Interesting to compare two people's perspectives on the same night out.

Review No. 1 of Action & Trade
by Ken
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Action was very good...although it opened later than advertised, midnight was handled very well, a subtle blending of dj/music/glitter drop rather than an enforced pa countdown, and it did not get really busy til about 2am...many arrived after having their own NY at home or parties and then going clubbing...and even had space to dance! They introduced a second laser in the overspill/chill area that was very effective. However it took a bit of a downturn when Gonzalo came on (3rd set)...he spent a noticeably lot of time rummaging in his record box and even less time playing my idea of decent music! It goes that way sometimes.

A happy vibe and Action gave the same format as usual...not pretending to reinvent the number of djs in a night or anything else...and as a result worked as compared to Universe last year which didn't!

Looking through QX at the listings and the paucity of available new year venues, I hope that the ones that did try to do sensible things got rewarded for their efforts and no doubt mega-increased rents by the money-grabbers...and wonder who (in their right minds) went to the NYE at the Fort?! {exploding your thong in the cold in tune to Big Ben is an option only to be considered by the well hung or well twatted!}

Trade was also very good...although got the impression that the music was not really going anywhere other than octane level...and was surprised that although it was busy it was not unpleasant or overcrowded. I was expecting shoulder-to-shoulder and shaven chest-to-shaven chest [Muscle Maries velcro'ed together to keep their combined brain cell intact] but instead you could move around in relative comfort and even get a cool draft at the back end of the dancefloor - the heating was still kept on though as normal! - no doubt to maintain the £2.50 water sales? Methinks the club also did well on the ticket sales - most people I knew or spoke to were aware of others with tickets who were not coming for various reasons.

Review No. 2 of Action & Trade
by Rudehamster

I thought you might be interested in a breakdown of the Rudehamster New Year experience.

First off: Action.
Not bad at all. We've all had fairly shitty New Year's in clubs in the past, where the atmosphere hasn't been quite what we would like it to have been - this has often been because too many people have been squashed into a small space, making the first eight hours unbearable.

Despite it being very busy at Action, there was enough room to move around...apart from where the muscle-marys were rooted to the spot with k - not a pretty sight, and impossible to move through. Action were still selling tickets at the door, and many people were still arriving at 2am. I think this was the theme throughout the scene this year...private parties and maybe a club afterwards. I say maybe, because we spoke to a fair number who had members of their party who had stayed at home, despite buying a ticket.
The music is a problem at Action - the atmosphere is always good, but the music is often disjointed and never seems to take off in an upwards direction. It remains fairly constant throughout. Again, this plays to the ketamine crowd (which makes up a large percentage), but wading through twenty minutes of miserable thumping before an uplifting melody rears its head, becomes a little tedious.

The biggest culprit for this is Gonzalo (but certainly not the only one): a man who plays each set with as little effort as possible, and with no little or no vision as to where he wishes to go with the set. He is named 'super-dj' in QX...with no irony either, which is a worry.

Trade was busy, but not as busy as it has been in previous years. Noteable that they didn't open every room (falling ticket sales, or general apathy?) and that, although there were a lot of faces I knew, it was more the people that weren't there that stood out. One thing that I really didn't understand though, was why the music hit peak speed at 11am when there was still 7 hours left. In previous years, Trade had kep the music relatively downbeat specifically to keep people from getting too tired to quickly. Pacing seemed to have gone out the window this year, which resulted in a lot of people leaving because they were burned out.

The best set of the night? Well, that was easily a Paul Newman cd at the chill-out. Tall Paul (along with Alan Thompson, Craig Daniels, Malcolm Duffy and the late TDV) has his roots in disco and early house. His sets are creative and he has never been afraid of trying out new things. There is a definite art in taking a dancefloor on a journey...and an even greater art in bringing them back: perhaps Gonzalo would like to borrow the CD?

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Review: Sundissential @ The Works New Year's Day
by Nick

I stayed in NYE so i would be fresh for the big one..SS at the works.... NYD !! I arrived at the club about 3.30pm and joined a small queue of about 50 people and was inside the club in about 20 minutes. The club was filling up nicely and eventually all rooms were opened. The top room was happy hardcore, not my cup of tea so i was out of there pretty quickly. The funky room didn't seem to have the friendly vibe of the main room, too many moody beer monsters perhaps? but the music was ok. I spent the majority of my time in the main room where the music although banging did lack rhythm at times. I'm not going to name and shame DJ's but there is nothing worse than getting into a tune only for the DJ to cut it dead and go into some drawn out intro again. A set should be built up gradually, but once its in full flow just let it rip!!!

As a bit of an SS veteran, it was nice to bump into a few old faces from the Pulse days ( a rare breed these days)...Happy times!! This was when Sundissential was not weekly and generally attracted the right type of people from all over the country. Due to the fact that this was the only NYD SS event, clubbers did travel to b'ham from all over the UK, the furthest to my knowledge was Edinburgh, but i met some lovely people from Somerset, Manchester, Sheffield, Leamington and Cardiff....proper clubbers!

On the whole i had a great night with some great people, however there tends to be a minority creeping into SS who just spoil the atmosphere by acting like complete pricks. If ticket sales are open to non-members then I'm afraid you will never stamp this behaviour out. An incident that stands out was when a glass collector, trying to tidy up the dance floor came under abuse from some idiot. When the lad went to get security the scum disappeared into the crowd. I just hope he was later found and had his arse quickly ejected from the premises. These morons are not wanted at SS events, they just spoil the atmosphere, but its probably through desperate measures to sell tickets that they get in. Perhaps they need to tighten up the membership scheme??

My only other gripe about the event, and I'm not on my own, heard plenty of complaints about the price of the drinks..what a rip off ....£3.60 for a bottle, and a lack of staff in the cloakroom!!

On the whole the event went well and i had a top day / night out. When it ended at 1.00am i decided to go to Radius to wait for my train which was due in at New Street at 6.14 am. Our very own "Jonny 2Klub" was kind enough to give me a lift to Radius on his way home. This was my first time at Radius and probably my last, would of been better if it was for SS members only as there were plenty of ugly homophobic nutters in there. The atmosphere was pretty crap, very negative at times and was glad when i left at 6.00am. However, the music was well mixed and varied, its nice to hear some of the old vintage tunes now and then.

Wishing everyone happy clubbing times in 2004!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Review: E-ratic, The Fridge, Brixton, Saturday 3rd January 2004
Hazel Maguire AKA Camden Nurse, Freeze Promotions

When running any kind of event it is important to have genuinely friendly promoters as well as an enjoyable party, so it was refreshing to see the beaming faces and enthusiastic attitude of organisers for E-ratic (X-static on Friday’s) at The Fridge.

Being the beginning of 2004, and with all the exhaustion of Christmas and New Year celebrations some were slightly dubious about going out so soon in January, but those who did proved that they would start as they meant to go on. The usual array of cyber, hotpants and the common jeans - and - a - top combo, gathered in the popular Brixton venue, covering the shiny maple floors.

DJ’s banged it out as they knew how, and showed no signs of stopping through out the night, with clubbers doing much the same. Classic tracks, new tunes and those you think you know but cannot quite recall their names were heard through out the night, whilst people gathered and smiled and pranced around, with obvious signs they hadn’t had enough.

Several comments on the small yet bright ceiling lights were heard through out the night, whilst even more were said about the lasers. It has been a huge factor within the scene to be able to enjoy the sight of brightly coloured beams of light flashing to the sound of pumping beats, and this was no exception. We love it!

Not much queuing (reassuring to anyone’s ears) for entry and / or cloakrooms, and it was nice to see that those who were able to get backstage also made the effort to join the rest on the dance floor.

The smaller second room, which was initially going to be used to judge a DJ’ing competition, could be viewed with a smile as those surrounding the DJ box where jumping all over the place with a certain hint of un balanced movements.

All in all, an enjoyable night and respect to the crew who weren’t scared to put on a party right at the beginning of a New Year when most were recovering from former wreckage. Let the games begin!

Sundissential, Cobarna, Birmingham

SUNDISSENTIAL SATURDAYS
Sundissential is re-launching on January 17th with a FREE members party as a thankyou for your loyalty and support 2 YOUR CLUB!
The full line up is still being confirmed as we have just added in this event as the official re-launch was due to be Jan 24th but will be released ASAP!

OPEN FORUM MEETING
Sundisential's Next open forum meeting will be held on January 17th the last one was a great success and we look forward to another honest open session with our members this takes place at Cobarna 17th Jan 8 PM - 9.30PM before the club opens, once again we hope as many of you as possible can make it to this meeting to hit us with your thoughts, ideas, suggestions for the start of the New Year!

Jan 24th sees SS favourite Eddie Halliwell doing his debut @ Cobarna! - Not one to be missed!!

AFTERSSENTIAL
Afterssential will be officially launching on the morning of January 25th 4 am -> @ Our new stunning venue 9 Bar! Sundissential's official CARRY ON!!

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SpeedQueen @ The Warehouse every Saturday 10pm-4am 19-21 Somers Street, Leeds LS1 2RG. Capacity: 550

Dresscode: Trainer and Stiletto friendly - leave your attitude at home. £8 members /£10 guests.

SPEEDQUEEN IS A GAY- FRIENDLY NIGHT FOR ANYONE WITH AN OPEN MIND

Resident DJs playing funky house in the main room, and an eclectic mix of disco, soul, r’n’b and classic house in the upstairs bar include:

Lucy Locket, Jamie Bull, Nat Hill, Gareth Oldreive, Miss Melodie, Ewan Mitchell, De Hooch, Tin Tin, Alice Bailey, Dean Lomas, Danny Kwang, Queen B, Elvis, Corey, Amanda Hammond, Della 5, Daley Padley, Alex Rogerson, Ricci G, Joni Foolish, Kiss EP and Dan Tait.

Accompanied by David Biddle on percussion and Liz Wigley on sax.

For up to date DJ listings please check the SpeedQueen website.

Other SpeedQueen news. Our December/ January schedule runs as follows:

Jan 10th – CLOSED FOR HOLIDAYS
Jan 17th – CLOSED FOR HOLIDAYS
Jan 24th – RE-OPENING PARTY 10pm-4am

And weekly Saturdays 10pm-4am from here on.

Dresscode: bling bling, glitter, sequins, ribbons, killer heels, feathers, fluff, sharp suits, trash, shimmer, frou frou, glamour

Information from Lucy at the SpeedQueen office

Please call Lucy Locket at the SpeedQueen office on (0113) 246 1033 for all enquiries

xxx

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Egg, 200 York Way, Kings Cross. London. From 4am.

AfterHours @ Egg, London

This new weekly after-hours, every Sunday morning, promises to transform the face of club land. Each month Egg is hosted by a different spectacular party, each offering its own distinct sound and flavour. Upstairs in the Loft you will find the notorious Fat Tony and his guests spinning soulful house, club classics and funky disco every week. Downstairs on the main floor Pete Wardman and residents spin a tuffer sound guaranteed to set the dance floor blazing and providing the perfect contrast to the 4 distinct sounds that feature at each party; US House, Tribal, Latin House & Techno. Parties to watch out for are:

AFTERHOURS AT EGG EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT/SUNDAY MORNING 5am TIL 1PM £15 / £12 with Flyer ONLY £10 WITH ACTION/FACTOR 25 MEMBERSHIPS {ALL OLD f25 MEMBERSHIPS ARE VALID!} EGG 200 YORK WAY KINGS CROSS

Only £10 Members or with Latin ID otherwise £15 or £10 with this e-flyer

Egg, 200 York Way, London.

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Shaft, at Radius, Horsefair, Birmingham. Sundays from 10am to 5pm.

4th jan mark h., colthemedik, gaz james, tim k., alex towse.

11th jan colthemedik, mark h., james birch, steve Arnold, fitzie.

18th jan SHAFT V TOAST mark h., colthemedik, strange dave, morgan, ben stevens, colin romeo.

25th jan colthemedik, mark h., zippy, craig lee, andrew max b2b dan(the man)owen.

Entry is £5. SS Members £4. Open from 10am till 5pm Info : 07817 653560/07970 665756

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Sin:ergy in Manchester has moved to the 2nd Friday every month @ Club Phoenix, with monthly After-Party's at Satan's Hollow (excluding Jan 9th).

09/01/04 - 'MEMBERS PAYBACK NIGHT' - Starring Vicious Circle's major new talent Mr Ben Stevens making a debut appearence at the 1st Sin:ergy of 2004 alongside residents Flash and Lord K, and Stu Angus. Members entry only £5, others £7.

Website: www.ClubSinergy.com

DressCode: No tracksuits. Club/cyberwear appreciated. Can I wear trainers?: Yes Hours: 10pm - 4am Venue Name: Club Phoenix Address: University Precinct, Oxford Rd (Booth Street West) Manchester. Capacity: 500 Normal Admission: Members £8 / Others £10 Main Residents: Paul Glazby & Ian M.

*Sin:ergy After-Party 4am - 8am, Satan's Hollow, off Princess Street (10 mins from Club Phoenix) Manchester

Capacity: 400. Normal Admission: £5

Sin:ergy After-Party DJ line-ups: 12/12/03 - Burg, Lord K, Simon Brighton

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Reckless : Saturday Afternoons 3-8pm @ 9 Bar, Broad Street, Birmingham

Music policy : DIRTY SEXY FUNKY CHUNKY SLEAZY GROOVY CHEEKY DANCE MUSIC

January
10th - Resurection Young Steve Justin Allen Myke Smith TJ Hooker Christian Classe

17th - Colin H Birthday Motherfunker Leeroy Burrell Get Carter Colin H Cameron

24th - Reckless Vs Out of This World Ashley ford Dougy Myke Smith JE2 (4 decks 2 mixers – effects) Myke Smith

31st - Breaks / Chunky house Onephatbillie Ollie collet Gaz Kendrick Dan Massive

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THE HI SCHOOL OF HARD TRANCE AND HARDCORE

JAN 10th- Here, Canal Basin, Coventry, England

Brisk (STIMULANT DJS) Craig Regan (FIDGET) Barry Diston (FIDGET) Mister Stewart

Celebrate new-years-eve AGAIN at the HI school of hard trance and hardcore. Mister Stewart and the team hate the fact that new-years-eve is on the same day each year, so join us for the all important countdown on January 10th. Easter is not on the same day each year is it!! On the night Hardcore legend Mr Brisk will be joining us for lessons that will take us on a musical journey from Hard Dance to Hardcore. Mr Barry Diston will also be a supply teacher on the night, Barry being the headmaster at Fidget school. Once again you can expect the wicked atmosphere and décor of our previous two nights so experience both new-year-eve and the first school day of the year at HI.

Bring Twister and Ker-Plunk!

FEB 14th- Here, Canal Basin, Coventry, England

Kevin Energy (Nuenergycollective) Rowland and Wright (Nukleuz, Sundissential) Craig Regan (Fidget, Tonic)

Join Hardcore legend Kevin Energy and hard trance masters Rowland and Wright for a night of dance music mayhem at our HI school behind the bike sheds valentine’s day special. Re-live those first sexual fumblings of secondary school life, even if it was with a fifty year old maths teacher with a beard. Mr Energy, Mr Rowland and Mr Wright are sure to bring on the euphoria of such memories with wicked hard trance and hardcore sets. Look out for the valentine’s day décor as we attempt to create a mock-up bike shed complete with cigarettes, old porn mag and pissy smell. Mister Stewart is looking forward to welcoming you again, so bring red candy lips and wear your best underwear.

MAR 13TH- Here, Canal Basin, Coventry, England

Main room Darren Styles (Raverbaby, Nukleuz) Craig Regan (Fidget, Tonic) Andy Nelson (Sundissential) Mister Stewart

Some sort of theme which involves people having to wear just their pants if they forget their kit. Come on !!!! Details to come.

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FRANTIC, Camden Palace, London
We have been told that the Camden Palace is likely to stop trading as a club at the end of February and as a result we sadly announce what is likely to be our last parties at the Palace.

Our first ever party at Camden Palace was back in April 1999 when the queue stretched from the front doors round the block and back again with 2000 people already inside and 1500 desperately trying to buy tickets.

Since then Camden Palace has turned into our spiritual home with over 70 events being held during the Daytime, Nighttime,Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays!

We have had some immense parties and some special memories at our 2nd home and too many to mention but some that have stuck in our mind have been the following:

*Laboratory: A party dedicated to Lab 4!
*The 1st ever Timeless!
*The 4th
Birthday Celebrations!
*Moving the decks from the booth and onto the stage.
*Tidy vs. Nukleuz!

We are holding 2 last parties so we can play the biggest range of our favourite DJs possible and because we know that not everybody will be able to make the first party in January. Come and say goodbye to the Palace at the last ever Frantic parties? at the legendary venue!

Jan 24th - PHILTIME

Our original resident and the man who has rocked the Palace to its foundations more times than you've had hot dinners is in the USA for the last event so Jan 24th is a special celebration of Mr Phil Reynolds and Camden Palace! Phil has hand picked the DJs for his last Camden Palace party to represent the DJs and producers that have shaped the Phil Reynolds experience!

Phil Reynolds (2hr Classic Frantic Set) K90 Live * Nick Sentience * Guffy * James Lawson * Steve Blake * Tara Reynolds * El Greko * Black & White Bar hosted by RUSH

Feb 14th - FRANTIC VALENTINES BALL

Our last ever event at Camden Palace?

It's only fitting that our love affair with Camden Palace finishes with the Frantic Valentines Ball. Frantic are pulling together 6 of our favourite DJs, 3 Boys and 3 Girls to go head to head to claim the Valentines Ball Crown for one last time at Camden Palace?

Lisa Pin-Up / Ed Real b2b *Surprise Guest* / Donna Birt / Guffy / Lucy Fur / Danny Gilligan / The *Ting* & many more!

Tickets for both these events are priced at: £10 Members £12 Non Members

The £10 paying guest list for the event is now open. As these are our last parties at Camden Palace the guest list will fill up very quickly. We STRONGLY advise you to secure your places as soon as possible.

For more information visit www.franticuk.com or call the Frantic HQ on 07949
618035 / info@franticuk.com

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CONVERGENCE. 31st January @ Egg, London 22.00 – 06.00

Lisa Lashes / Paul Glazby / Donna Birt / DJGRH / A-Star / George E / Ali Wilson / Shaf De Bass / Eduardo Herrera / Darz / Mike Devine & more.

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Turnmills is proud to announce the exclusive World Launch Party for the new Technics CD Decks DZ1200.

On Saturday 14th February 2004, Turnmills, London will be the first club in the world to house the new CD Decks. The Grammy Award winning Deep Dish will be launching the new bit of kit on the night (with a 6 hour set) as they did with the Technics MK5G 1200 turntables earlier this summer.

The CD Decks will not go on general sale until May 2004.

This year Turnmills proudly hosted 5 huge midweek events with Technics featuring two parties from Deep Dish, plus long sets from Danny Howells, Felix Da Housecat and Satoshi Tomiie. We're now moving this prestigious Technics event onto Saturday nights beginning Feb 2004, when the night will begin a bi-monthly residency throughout the year.

More details to follow...........

TECHNICS PRESENTS… TECHNICS CD DECK DZ1200 LAUNCH PARTY THURSDAY 14TH FEBRUARY 2004

Turnmills 63B Clerkenwell Road, London. EC1M 5NP Capacity: 1000 Info: 020 7250 3409 Tube: Farringdon NCP 24Hr Parking: £3 Bowling Green Lane, off Farringdon Rd Doors: 10pm – 6am Prices: £12 in Advance / £15 on the Door Web: www.turnmills.com

Room 1: Deep Dish (6 Hours) Behrouz (Technics resident)

Room 2: David James Villeneuve Stu Hirst