I now also have an art/entertainment and music blog at the wonderful blogging base The Soc:
http://www.thesoc.co.uk/author/lucywoods/
Enjoy!
http://www.thesoc.co.uk/author/lucywoods/
Enjoy!
Friday 28 October 2011
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Brixton 'Static' Electric
Get Loaded
(14th October) Brixton Electric- nearest tube Brixton (Victoria line).
Ratings out of five:
Atmosphere: **
Value for money: ****
Music: ***
Overall night out: ***
...So we couldn't get tickets to the freshers ball at fabric and as we were not willing to pay £12 to go to Cargo... so Friday was spent frantically searching for a new possibility. Then, my friend managed to win free tickets to 'Get loaded' at Brixton Electric. Where to go to on a budget Friday night out? To Brixton!
We got in straight away and gave our names for free entry. So we were in. Asking for the cloak room we're told to go through one door, then another, then up some stairs that are barricaded. Slowly, I realise others dotted sparsely about the bar and the main dance floor are clutching large bags also. So we get a drink (£2.50 for spirit and mixer, not bad), tell each other it's still early and go exploring - bag and jackets in hand. A loud girl suggests we 'have to go' behind a bizarre black curtain, so we do, to find she didn't follow us in. Behind the mysterious black curtain is a much smaller little area with benches, a separate bar, separate D.J and dance floor that was devoted to drum and bass - apposed to the dance tunes at the main stage. We just perch on the provided benches with our drinks before we are bombarded with males asking us to dance. Fair play, there were all of three girls in the building. We pass, still very sober and in need of the cloak room. Our second attempt, someone finally shows us a door stage right which leads upstairs to a cloakroom. Free of baggage we head back to the dance floor...not the main one, it was empty. We tell each other it's still early.
After making friends in the drum and bass section we get more drinks and given the sparsity of clubbers, make more friends. Intimate. There was no 'flirt and run' possibilities, there was no making a new best friend and loosing them in the crowd...there was no crowd. A max of 20 people on a vast dance floor aching with remembrance of being a packed venue. Still we made a nice little group with some apparent Billy Elliot performers. As you do. We continue to dance and chat with new friends, telling each other it is still early at 1am, the venue could still be inundated with enthusiastic clubbers. More drinks and dancing and talking and having a good time regardless, until...my friend falls over. Normally, you get up ad walk it off, no one saw, everyone's attention has already been stolen by some other event within the crowd...except the crowd was not there, just some people that saw it all, and are still looking. It's 2.30am, it's not going to get better. Grabbing my bag we dash to the exit.
Thank god we didn't pay to get in...but suddenly I recall a wonderful sight on the way in. A burger van. The type that always has onions frying and smells of greasy abundance, found at carnivals and fun fairs. The van was just across the road, fantastic, even if the club was a bit of a let down, decent grub was close by.
'We're closed.'
'WHAT?'
'CLOSED.'
That's the end of that then. We head up the high street and settle for McDonalds, not a beefy oniony burger but a free cheeseburger with an NUS card I guess, jumping on a night bus whilst wolfing down MaccyD's.
The music was alright, I like drum and bass, so would suggest on a quieter night just heading behind the odd black curtain, the drinks were cheap, and I made some new friends...whether I wanted to or not due to the unwanted intimacy of an empty club. To be fair to Brixton Electric, it was a competitive night, I would go again...but only if it's free entry again (check their facebook page for competitions) and a more hyped-up, organised affair, or a special night...that might attract more than 50 people...
http://electricbrixton.com/
http://www.facebook.com/electricbrixton?sk=wall
(14th October) Brixton Electric- nearest tube Brixton (Victoria line).
Ratings out of five:
Atmosphere: **
Value for money: ****
Music: ***
Overall night out: ***
...So we couldn't get tickets to the freshers ball at fabric and as we were not willing to pay £12 to go to Cargo... so Friday was spent frantically searching for a new possibility. Then, my friend managed to win free tickets to 'Get loaded' at Brixton Electric. Where to go to on a budget Friday night out? To Brixton!
We got in straight away and gave our names for free entry. So we were in. Asking for the cloak room we're told to go through one door, then another, then up some stairs that are barricaded. Slowly, I realise others dotted sparsely about the bar and the main dance floor are clutching large bags also. So we get a drink (£2.50 for spirit and mixer, not bad), tell each other it's still early and go exploring - bag and jackets in hand. A loud girl suggests we 'have to go' behind a bizarre black curtain, so we do, to find she didn't follow us in. Behind the mysterious black curtain is a much smaller little area with benches, a separate bar, separate D.J and dance floor that was devoted to drum and bass - apposed to the dance tunes at the main stage. We just perch on the provided benches with our drinks before we are bombarded with males asking us to dance. Fair play, there were all of three girls in the building. We pass, still very sober and in need of the cloak room. Our second attempt, someone finally shows us a door stage right which leads upstairs to a cloakroom. Free of baggage we head back to the dance floor...not the main one, it was empty. We tell each other it's still early.
After making friends in the drum and bass section we get more drinks and given the sparsity of clubbers, make more friends. Intimate. There was no 'flirt and run' possibilities, there was no making a new best friend and loosing them in the crowd...there was no crowd. A max of 20 people on a vast dance floor aching with remembrance of being a packed venue. Still we made a nice little group with some apparent Billy Elliot performers. As you do. We continue to dance and chat with new friends, telling each other it is still early at 1am, the venue could still be inundated with enthusiastic clubbers. More drinks and dancing and talking and having a good time regardless, until...my friend falls over. Normally, you get up ad walk it off, no one saw, everyone's attention has already been stolen by some other event within the crowd...except the crowd was not there, just some people that saw it all, and are still looking. It's 2.30am, it's not going to get better. Grabbing my bag we dash to the exit.
Thank god we didn't pay to get in...but suddenly I recall a wonderful sight on the way in. A burger van. The type that always has onions frying and smells of greasy abundance, found at carnivals and fun fairs. The van was just across the road, fantastic, even if the club was a bit of a let down, decent grub was close by.
'We're closed.'
'WHAT?'
'CLOSED.'
That's the end of that then. We head up the high street and settle for McDonalds, not a beefy oniony burger but a free cheeseburger with an NUS card I guess, jumping on a night bus whilst wolfing down MaccyD's.
The music was alright, I like drum and bass, so would suggest on a quieter night just heading behind the odd black curtain, the drinks were cheap, and I made some new friends...whether I wanted to or not due to the unwanted intimacy of an empty club. To be fair to Brixton Electric, it was a competitive night, I would go again...but only if it's free entry again (check their facebook page for competitions) and a more hyped-up, organised affair, or a special night...that might attract more than 50 people...
http://electricbrixton.com/
http://www.facebook.com/electricbrixton?sk=wall
Tuesday 11 October 2011
Propaganda: proper good night out.
Propaganda
(30th September)
o2 Academy Islington - nearest tube Angel (northern line).
Ratings out of five:
Atmosphere: *****
Value for money: ****
Music: *****
Overall night out: *****
In all honesty fellow London clubbers...it was one of the best nights out I've ever had. Firstly, if you're not into indie/alternative music, jog on. If you are, this club has a live D.J and music acts to the tune of indie fans. This particular evening was the celebration of Ben Lovett's birthday.
There was a small que upon arrival at about 10pm, however, we already had tickets so just galloped in, and up the stairs which were echoing with music and anticipation for the night ahead. There are two rooms, one smaller with sociable seating areas, and the main room is centered around the stage with the bar being wonderfully close. There is a photogenic sign above the double doors to the smaller room, and the (girls) toilets were clean as can be expected with large mirrors to avoid elbowing people when re-applying.
There was a fully engaged and enthusiastic crowd of indie lovers and regulars, reacting with cheers as two clubbers were pulled out for participation in the form of an improvised rap. When there was not a performer on stage the live D.J played a brilliant mix of up beat recent indie tunes to happy dancers below.
Drinks were moderately priced (for students) at around £3 for most beers and spirits and mixers, my drink of choice for the night, being promoted at the bar was a shot named 'diesel fuel' (yes, I am a shots girl, with shots there is little possibility of spilling precious drink paid for with student loan). £2 a go. Dunno if I'll drink it again...who am I kidding of course I would, it was the perfect top up from pre-drinking.
I think the best charm of this night is it is not one of those clubs were you have to waste half the night looking for your friends, it's a small venue for such a prestigious and well known event, but not in a bad way. It's small in a brilliantly intimate, perfect for getting to know some of your fellow clubbers and everyone being able to see and enjoy and connect with any one on stage, and still being able to find the people you came with at all points of the night. (Unless one of them is male, and two of you keep disappearing to talk in the girls bathroom).
In all honesty once the lights went up, I don't remember much. Too much diesel fuel. So I can't comment on near by take-aways, but I do remember the night bus being full with fellow students, so an enjoyable ride home...when I wasn't passed out on my friend.
If this sounds like your scene, find more info below:
http://www.thepropaganda.com/events.php?geonameid=2643743
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=N1%200PS
If you're not lucky enough to be a Londoner, don't worry they do nights around the UK! :
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=N1%200PS
Tuesday 4 October 2011
INTRODUCING...
Are you fed up of biased reviews? Ones that don't answer the really important questions like: How much are drinks? Can I wear trainers? Is there a take-away near by? And the all important, student discount?
If you're a student in London on the night scene, this is a blog from a regular clubber telling you what you really want to know before you tap your oyster into central instead of just having another flat/house party because it's cheaper.
If you want a reasonably priced night out with atmosphere, good music, a lively dance floor, somewhere to get the night bus and chips on the way home...you want the same things as me! I'll rate clubs after recently attending so you can gauge whether or not it's worth some of your precious student loan.
Just occasionally I'll rate other events that happen around London, like comedy nights, festivals, gigs etc too, so if you're not reeeally a clubber, there's probably still something for you.
If you're a student in London on the night scene, this is a blog from a regular clubber telling you what you really want to know before you tap your oyster into central instead of just having another flat/house party because it's cheaper.
If you want a reasonably priced night out with atmosphere, good music, a lively dance floor, somewhere to get the night bus and chips on the way home...you want the same things as me! I'll rate clubs after recently attending so you can gauge whether or not it's worth some of your precious student loan.
Just occasionally I'll rate other events that happen around London, like comedy nights, festivals, gigs etc too, so if you're not reeeally a clubber, there's probably still something for you.
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