- Full disclosure: The last time I went to fabric I was a slightly overexcited teenager, bouncing around to drum & bass in awe of a fast-talking MC at a Friday Hospitality night. A few years on, it's the Saturday night line-ups which often catch my eye. Somehow, though, I always end up opting out, generally put off by the hefty door fee, a queue starting the moment you step out of Farringdon Tube and a reputation for a tourist-laden crowd. Earlier this month, however, the promise of Jamie Jones and Lee Foss hosting Room 3 under their Hot Natured guise was far too tempting to miss.
If you haven't been to fabric before, navigating around the super club can be somewhat confusing as you wind down a large staircase with a number of doors leading off in different directions. Halfway down in the main room, the BPitch Control Dust tour was hosting and Israeli Chaim was kicking off to a packed dance floor with warm, bassy house. Along a similar vibe, techno legend Kenny Larkin was pumping out Secret Cinema's "Jazz Me" in a room so dark and smoky you could never be quite sure who you were dancing with.
Photo credit: Nik Torrens
After ascending another spiral staircase, I was disappointed to find Lee Foss had been given a surprisingly early set and resident Craig Richards had already taken over. Jamie Jones soon grabbed the reins, though, and delivered on Hot Natured's promise of "a fresh fusion of disco and house." Groovy, disco beats were the order of the day, along the lines of "Ruckus" and Foss' more soulful "U Got Me." Foss quickly returned to go back-to-back, both showcasing much of their own material, as well as re-edits of a diverse range of old and new—anything from funk to soul to pop star Jennifer Hudson.
Turning a little deeper with the likes of Seth Troxler and Art Department, the atmosphere benefited from the intimate space and the fervent crowd. Craig Richards chipped in as well, until—at one point—there were clearly too many hands on the decks and a technical glitch temporarily brought a stop to the music. No matter: Jones immediately launched into "Sleep Moods" from new signing Robert James, prompting woops and cheers all round.