Fri Jan 25 EGG, 5-13 Vale Royal, off York Way, London , N7 9AX

It’s the ChockABlock Launch party (the grime, dubstep, jungle and garage party from Northampton) at this beat-ridden, bass jumpin’, neon pumpin’ shambolic electro night. Expect the chains to be thick, heavy and bling as Riko (from grime crew Roll Deep), Tempa T, Chef (FWD), Cormac (Wet Yourself!), Spyro, Man Like Me and a huge host of other scenesters bring the noise with new rave visuals from fashion designer Cassette Playa too! For minimal, tech and house, hit up Temba DJs in the terrace too.

London Kicks a hangover

 Photo: Partygoers @ ChockABlock. Photography by Robin Bharaj.

 I’m fully aware that in this day and age digressing into painful
renditions of perhaps what’s often the nation’s most common dominator
(Come Sunday morning anyhow) is highly unnecessary.

Nevertheless, look beyond the thumping jackhammer-of-a-headache, the
inability to converse with one’s family, friends or peers and the
expressionless disaster staring back at us in the mirror and well,
maybe, just maybe we can extract some good from the dreaded morning
after the night before.

In my eyes, the raging hangovers to which I’ve recently become rather
too accustomed, carry with them a token, a certificate of approval and
a hallmark of well, a bloody good night out.

So, this week it wasn’t Sunday (or not just a Sunday I should say) but
saturday morning that left me reeling with a mixture of delight and
regret. After the traditional drink-up in Shoreditch we headed to
King’s Cross’ notorious late-night party spot, The Egg, where weekly
promoter, Always Fridays was playing host to successful northern
export, underground baseline, grime, and dub step and electro night,
Chockablock.

The long walk up York Way from the station only seemed to enhance the
anticipation (much to the horror of certain friends I had not until
now, partied at The Egg). The walk through countless industrial
developments in what’s best described as your stereotypical concrete
jungle of warehouses, bridges and all, left me with the same youthful
feeling you get when you’re about to step into an illegal rave.

The Egg’s a diamond in a the rough, a throwback
to old skool clubbing that still encompasses modern amenities; an
outrageous system and possibly the best outdoors smoking area London
has to offer, all draped in tacky, festival-style fabrics and a red
carpet that runs throughout. I always think it’s funny how, cheap and
false as they are, additions like these make us feel like we’re
getting the ’special’ treatment.

Chockablock lived up to its hype. The place was packed which left me
thinking that us other promoters have a lot to learn from a brand new
urban night that gets people traipsing fifteen minutes through
industrial nothing, all in the name of a party.

Highlights included Tomb Crew’s jungle set. I’m not going to pretend
I’m old enough to remember jungle in its heyday however, I couldn’t
help but think it wasn’t too dissimilar to that [older readers scream
shaatap now].  

The rest of our night was filled with the new northern phenomenon, baseline
(sometimes known as
niche), a 4x4 meets old skool garage meets...you know what I mean. A surprise set
from dub step don, N-Type was the icing on the cake.

Hangover wise, I’ll give The Egg top trumps. For one, I find myself unable to recall
the names of any of the early-hours DJs dropping minimal tech and electro upstairs,
the spot I found myself in at six, together with the rest of raving ’hardcore’
unwilling to call it a night. Damn that last beer.   

As for the day after, all I’m divulging is this week’s hangover cure: as much
innocent Super foods smoothes as you can stomach and the daily recommended allowance
of paracetomol for an adult over 12.

Until next week, James ’Urban Nerds’ Benenson

www.londonkicks.com

Skepta & Griminal @ ChockaABlock Tonight

Artist: Skepta

 

From Northampton to LDN, ChockABlock has gone from strength to strength since its debut around a year ago.

Continuing the club’s residence at Kings Cross’ The Egg, tonight sees grime, garage, dubstep, nu-rave, bassline and ghettotech come together for a six hour showdown.

Today will be the first chance for many of you to unveil your Rolex Sweeps as Skepta headlines (we know you’ve been practicing this whole week). As well as the new electro dance craze, expect the usual grimy Boy Better Know business from Greatest Hits through to Microphone Champion

Continuing the grime contingent, the highly rated young talent of Nasty Crew’s Griminal will be bringing his tempered MC skills to the masses after impressing with his debut It’s Not Just Bars. Manning the decks during Grimsom’s performance will be Rinse FM and Gully Gang’s DJ Vectra mixing up a storm.

Also on deck duty will be Slew Dem’s DJ Spooky, armed with dubs and exclusives, just don’t expect him to be rolling alone if you know what we mean!

Royalty will also be in attendance as Warrior Queen does her dubstep thing alongside Macabre Unit. A former RWD One To Watch and nu-rave phenomenon; Namalee will also be performing for her throng of following Namazons. Leicester’s JTJ Productions will be providing the bassline massive with dancing material, there will be a DJ face-off between Tape Deck and the Real Heat in the ’Whoreditch Clash’, and Urban Nerd residents Drama and Ordio Kid will go back to back for the best in garage.

When?: Tonight 10-4
Where?: The Egg, 200 Yorks Way, Kings Cross, N7
How Much?: £6 before 11, £8 thereafter

What’s more is that we have three pairs of tickets for the event to give away. All you have to do to win is email clubchockablock@msn.com with the answer to the following question: In which city did ChockABlock begin? Also send emails to the same address for £6 guestlist.

www.rwdmag.com

 

 

Clubs this weekend

A new dance craze is set to hit clubland. After the instant success of Wiley’s Wearing My Rolex comes the "Rolex Sweep" from his Boy Better Know cohort, Skepta. The two, normally known for their grime gun-finger salutes, opted to debut their dance routine to ravers at Coventry’s BBC 1Xtra Live event last weekend – and got a big response.

Thankfully, while Soulja Boy’s dance to Crank That – which has picked up 31 million views on YouTube – left those less apt reeling­ in a mass of cocked-up foot moves, the Rolex Sweep is more Macarena than running man. All that you need are a few arm movements, while you tip some imaginary­ champagne on the floor, turn your head to the left and get sweeping. It’s only a matter of time until City boys get caught up in this madness.

The best place to debut your attempt tonight is ChockABlock­ at Egg. With Skepta headlining, you’ll need to get your Rolex game tight. Those not so light on their feet can enjoy the dubstep rumblings of Macabre Unit, Griminal, DJ Vectra and Spooky. It’s not all rumbling­ basslines and MCs – dance hotties Tapedeck and SuperSuper co-founder Namalee will be in the building, too. "Some people think it’s random," says promoter Joseph Patterson. "But our aim is to get fans of different music to listen to what they wouldn’t usually hear." Tickets cost £6-£8, and the night runs 10pm-4am.
www.thelondonpaper.com