Clubbed To Death

Clubbed To Death

19 December, 2008
by: Lowri

2008 has been one of the most tumultuous years to date for the indomitable world of London club culture. Things have been shaken up, spun around, knocked to the floor, resurrected, given a bump of K and sent on their way. It's been a strange and exciting time for Club Promoters and DJs alike. With strength being shown in the unflinching way everyone has just gritted their teeth and carried on. But a change is as good as a rest or so the mad old lady who shouts things in the street told me. And it appears to be true, because the ones who have survived have come back stronger.

Cast your mind back to how 2008 began. The hallowed and adored King's Cross complex of Canvas, The Key and The Cross was razed to the ground, displacing swathes of promoters who had called the clutch of excellent nightclubs home. In such a transient industry, it's rare to find brands so enduring as the ones which were held at these three venues. Space, Vertigo, Serious and Renaissance had been in situ for a decade or more. Clubbers bitterly lamented their passing, saying there'd never be a place like it and 'thank God we've still got Turnmills.' Ah, but come Easter, another cruel twist of the developer's knife saw the mighty Turnmills hang up its headphones forever. The messages on their goodbye forum are still pouring in to this day. Together – one of their most iconic nights – shifted to Scala, and then Ministry, looking to recreate the lost vibe.

So who would have thought that as the year changed, London would lose another superclub – arguably the best – and certainly the one which represented the most diversity in the promoters who were lucky enough to call it home. The End. The End of The End. It's a massive blow. But already, new venues are popping up, rising from the ashes. Ghost has arrived at the perfect time for Jaded – the decadent afterparty which fizzed away every Sunday morning, starting at dawn. It's a new club in an old Victorian paper mill in Farringdon.

Bar Rumba too has stepped up to the plate, becoming a serious club in house and techno terms thanks to new Head of Programming James Manero. And of course the giant Matter launched and immediately established itself as a global player, attracting artists from around the globe. Lightbox too has become a venue of choice since the Richie Hawtin's Minus ship held their afterparty there.
East Village is one of the best new clubs – with a bristling events schedule, a pant-wettingly crisp soundsystem and reliably excellent, friendly and energetic crowd.

But the real heroes of this piece are the promoters. What does the 'economic downturn' actually mean for promoters? People will always want to party won't they? Well, not exactly. It's the smaller guys who've suffered this year. Wonderful parties have sprung up for a few bright months, were loved, and applauded, before falling back down again.

Transient – a techno label and clubnight – held a series of excellent parties at the Horse and Groom, before putting it on the back burner in favour of more permanent, secure ventures. Kik Bak – a collaboration between a number of talented DJs – Ficklegruber (Mayo Clinic), Pogo DJs and Badlands (Chew The Fat!) – was another night which suffered the fate of simply not enough bods through the door.

The success stories have had to work hard. Laser Magnetic's innovative spearheading of the disco revival provided something new, cosmic, shiny and star-spangled which was loved universally. They have gone from strength to strength this year, effectively touring London's hotspots, with guests ranging from Andy Blake to Andrew Weatherall, Trevor Jackson and Padded Cell. Applauded in the press and rewarded with packed, grinning dancefloors, their latest Tropicana Sunday parties at the Horse and Groom are always rammed and usually one in one out. Last One In Is A Rotten Egg – the excellent monthly at 333 run by talented DJ duo Jac The Disco - have also had an excellent year, kicking things off with mash up wonder-boys the Streetlife DJs as well as booking Institubes Jean Nipon later in the year.

So who will triumph in 2009 dear readers? Just what is in store? Will the downturn worsen? More clubs close? Some dealers go out of business? DJs forced into regular desk jobs? Who knows. But it's gonna be a lot of fun finding out...

As always, I'll see you down the front.

Click here to see the best of January clubbing.

Lowri