Dirty electro disco Trailer Trash embodies the cool essence of East London clubbing (fresh sounds, sexual inclusiveness and a prevailing sense of randomness) while avoiding the less attractive trappings of Hoxditch hipsterdom (namely, inflated prices and a pretentious, too-cool-for-school attitude). It’s no wonder then that the once-weekly fixture at basement bar On the Rocks is now a mobile party, exporting its upbeat sounds and anything-goes vibe to festivals and venues across London and beyond.
Next up is a New Year’s Eve party at Scrutton Street Warehouse in Shoreditch co-organised with Bugged Out! which is bound to be utterly hectic. Hard-hitting French phenomenon Brodinski and zany London talent Boy 8-Bit headline alongside long-time residents Hannah Holland, Mikki Most and Ian Robinson. For those keen to keep going, bass-laden mayhem paves the way for a cheesy after-hours Pie n' Mash-Up at Hackney pub The Dolphin.
I had the privilege of getting the scoop on Trailer Trash’s past, present and future from head promoter and co-founder Dan Pope, who, may I add, is a completely down-to-earth dude and not some sullen hipster...
Hi Dan. Could you tell me about the origins of Trailer Trash?
Mikki Most and I started it back in March 2004. It was a monthly Saturday party at a place in Shoreditch that got closed down, and then we moved across the road to On the Rocks.
Hannah Holland is the DJ most closely associated with Trailer Trash. Was she part of the team then?
No. We came across her later on and she fitted in perfectly: she had the right attitude and the right sound. From then on she helped shape Trailer Trash.
She defines her sound as ‘batty bass’. Is this an apt term for describing the Trailer Trash music policy in general?
Um, yeah. As good as any! Our sound has changed over the span of the five years we’ve been around, but at the core we play music that gets people going. In that respect, yes, it works.
I used to go to Trailer Trash in 2008. How come the weekly Friday night parties at On the Rocks came to an end?
We opened our bar, Dalston Superstore, back in April and it was just too much to do both things. Mikki and I went back and forth on whether to carry on with Trailer Trash, as we were quite emotionally attached to it. In the end we felt it was important to finish on a high; we didn’t want it to start teetering away. I’m sad that we ended it, but we’ve got happy, good memories – we never wanted it to become just a job or a business.
So the Dalston Superstore... What are you hoping to do with it?
We have nights there with a similar ethos to what Trailer Trash used to be back at On the Rocks, drawing the same kind of crowds – perhaps slightly older – but still a big mixture.
Your upcoming New Year’s Eve party is held at the Scrutton Street Warehouse. Why this venue?
It goes under various names, actually. Some people call it the Black Lotus Karate Club. For a warehouse it’s quite nice and clean, and they’ve got some weird graffiti on the wall... We did our fifth birthday there. It holds just about 1000, which is relatively small but a good number.
How did you decide on Boy 8-Bit and Brodinski as headliners?
We had Brodinski a while back and he was fantastic, so we wanted to get him back. Ian Robinson helped out with bookings and he was really keen on Boy 8-Bit – he was on his wish-list. We always want DJs who play for the crowd. I’m not really into the idea of just standing there listening to the music!
Tell me, is London where it’s at for clubbing?
Yeah, but it’s a case of finding the right little parties and one-off things. There’s a lot happening in Dalston and Hackney which is still quite exciting. Although I’m sure a lot of people will say that Berlin is where it’s at – try-hards! Of course, Hannah has moved over there permanently, so... [laughs]
Best of luck to her! And thanks, Dan. I’m sure the Trailer Trash New Year’s Eve party will go down a storm.
Thanks, but the New Year’s Day Pie n’ Mash-Up is the party we’re all looking forward to! We get to play Whitney Houston [laughs]. Oh, and in the New Year, we’re going to have a big sixth birthday party in late February or early March, so be on the lookout for that!
Trailer Trash and Bugged Out!'s New Year's Eve party goes from 9pm to 6am and you can still buy tickets here for £25 plus booking fee.
The Trailer Trash Pie n' Mash-Up New Year's Day party goes from 6am to noon and costs £5.
Pictured: Hannah Holland
Photo copyright: Lastfm
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