The Wherehouse? Nottingham
Line up ::
Matt Tolfrey (Leftroom, Cocoon)
Inxec (Cocoon, Murmur)
Romulus Schwarz (Shrink)
Nick Lawson (Multi Vitamins, Shrink)
Moid
Ben Start
The warehouse party is a tried and tested concept. Nottingham’s stale party scene has needed an shot in the arm for a long while and on Saturday’s evidence this could be it. Combining stripped back decor and a well thought out lay out, The Wherehouse? creates an open, friendly and inclusive vibe. Just as the club circuit in the UK has taken influence from the past in using derelict spaces, most notably in Manchester, so has the music chosen to conduct Saturday’s proceedings. Energetic and full of bounce, house music has made a real comeback from being all but down out a couple years ago after being subsumed by clicks, pops and bleeps. The energy levels rose throughout the night, with each DJ playing his part to help build a great vibe that lasted until the party ended. At around three in the morning, with the arrival of Matt Tolfrey, the sound system woofing and everyone jumping, the venue really came alive. This peaked the party, the moment everyone was waiting for. Unfortunately due to licensing wrangles things had to be cut short just when things were really hotting up.
The party itself had drawn people from all around the Midlands and North, becoming a word of mouth success. Even the freezing portaloos in the car park gave it a festival type feel. Along with all the hard work that had gone into transforming the space, the Zuker Glider boys were on hand to supply their trademark visual mastery. With a large panel on the wall opposite the oversized booth, their dark images writhed and squeezed in perfect sync to the music. Starting with a walk through disco and light house, the b lines started rolling around midnight. Taking over from Moid, whose smooth grooves had got the floor moving, Nick Lawson crafted out an excellent set. Experience at his own Busta Groove* night at Berlin’s Dice club has certainly taught him a thing or two. Smashing out a tough and pacey set that featured the likes of DJ Ali’s You Dont Know, he set the stage for Shrink Records boss Romulus Schwarz to dive in with some crowd pleasing action to set things off.
Joint headliner Inxec never disappoints. Whether its a main room or back room set, at any time to whatever audience, the man is programmed to make people dance. Experiences at the legendary Bomb and Renaissance have molded him into one of the most exciting DJs around. With an arsenal of select edits ready to come storming out of his laptop, including MJ Cole and Per Eckbo Orchestra, his set was driving and textured, full of quirks and with a techy feel. In contrast, when Matt Tolfrey arrived he went straight for the soul. Dropping massive live bass slaps with plenty of vocals his set was uplifting, fun and full of bounce. Harrison’s edit of Lil Louis and the World’s Club Lonely again did the damage, as did Brett Johnson’s Temptation and Lies. Finishing with the Hall and Oates edit that appeared on Will Saul’s epic Fact mix was a timeless ode to the night and sent everyone out into the freezing world outside a little more positive about the possibilities of partying in Nottingham.
