Events

With our first small steps of 2012 now out of the way (big up Joe, Tom, James and all Blueprint/Cable crew), it's time for our first large one: bank holiday duties at Rhythm Factory. Last year's antics, which saw us team up with London electro rogues Scand for two thumping Sunday night raves, were great fun, with heaps of talent from across the house/techno/electro/bass spectrum doing damage over Rhythm's two excellent rigs. This year will be no different, with the equivalent dates in the bag (boom!) and all kinds of underground goodness in store - starting here.

Headlining room 1 is a man we've been in close contact with for some time now, and who quite literally took the techno world by storm last year: Ali Wells aka Perc. With a debut LP done and dusted (and duly well received across the board), select EPs and remixes consistently hitting the spot, gigs at clubs all over the globe and, perhaps most tellingly, Xmas label of the month status for Perc Trax on RA, it's safe to say he's smashing it right now, and will no doubt be doing just that for us come May 6th. This will be his first London gig of the year, no less, so be prepared. Another Englishman making waves at the moment is Ashley Burchett aka Phase, who's been quietly dropping bomb after bomb on Belgium's revered Token imprint, and is finally starting to get the recognition he deserves, with widespread praise for his latest 12-inch, a recent Tresor appearance in the bag, and Berghain looming large. He's without doubt one of the best DJs to have graced our parties, destroying last year's May bash (and our Summer Rave too), and will be showing east London exactly how to jack the funk all over again tonight. Making a long-overdue trip down from Manchester, meanwhile, are AnD, a duo we've had our eyes on for some time now, having put out a tremendous stream of deep, bass-heavy techno-centric crossover gear on the likes of Horizontal Ground, Idle Hands, their own Inner Surface imprint and, most recently, Felix K's Berlin-based Hidden Hawaii staple. This will be their London debut (about fakkin' time!), and a full-on live PA at that - not to be missed if you know your shizzle. Support comes from Colony ressies Tengui and MB & CB, opening and closing the night respectively with deep, bumping, occasionally evil sounds from across the 4/4 spectrum.

Room 2 is Scand's turf, and they've got an equally hefty billing for the occasion, topped by a true warrior of the UK rave circuit: Billy Nasty. A veteran DJ with a penchant for all manner of D-floor flavours, he'll be dropping in with a bag of filthydirty electro to celebrate the reformation of his much-loved Electrix and Tortured imprints, showing why he continues to get booked at the world's best clubs and festivals (he's a Bloc resident, innit) in the process. Watch out for a clutch of tracks produced in collaboration with Radioactive Man under their RadioNasty moniker, the first pair of which just dropped on Craig Richards's brand spanking new Nothing Special imprint. Dope. Hot on his heels is another British 1210 wizard, Edward Upton aka DMX Krew, whose body-rockin', funk ridden productions - the most recent of which appeared on his very own Breakin' label - continue to amaze and amuse in equal measure. He smacked the 'floor at last year's May bash and will, we're sure, be doing much the same this time round - or your money back! Support comes from Scand regulars Sync 24 & Innume, agent2 and Steve Allman, bringing an array of dark, driving sounds - old, new and unreleased - to bear on Rhythm's feisty room 2 stack. Top stuff.

We're keeping costs low for this one, as per, with free entry before 11 and a criminally skimpy £5 door charge from then on - sweet FA considering who's playing. And, needless to say, Rhythm Factory is the perfect venue, with three rooms, three bars, friendly staff and great sound, located bang smack in the middle of London's jumping east end and going on till later than any of its rival venues (Cafes notwithstanding). If you know what's good for you, we'll be seeing you there.

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