HHA FRANTIC VS HQ @ Brixton Academy Saturday 25th February 2006

LINEUP

Arriving early for an event such as this is always a good idea, particularly when there are 4,499 other clubbers coming too. The club may be a little reluctant to let you in first if they have no one to man their doors(!!), but standing out in the cold always make the night seem that little bit more worth it once you are inside! For those of you reading this who have not yet experienced a night out at this venue, I suggest you add it to the top of your list of clubs to visit. It is simply amazing and once inside you will realise why.

The main arena with sloping dancefloor is immense, boasting one of the biggest spaces for clubbers to dance in, in London. If you come in the side entrance, the main arena is the first room you will see, the stage will be to your right and believe me you will be impressed at its size. Rows and rows of lighting rigs tower over the stage and the various Dj set ups are scattered neatly around the open space. As we entered this arena tonight, new up and coming Dj/producer, Greg Brookman was playing his “Alive” set to the early arrivals. Greg is one of the biggest, brightest and boldest producers that the Hard Dance scene possesses at the moment and partnered with his guest scratching buddy Craig, he played an interesting and lively warm up set, dropping new tunes such as his own collaboration “Panzan”

For me, the way to enter this club in true style is not through the side door, but instead by via main front entrance. Again for those novices out there who have not set foot into this venue, entering through the main door is a must! Walking in this way, you feel as if you are walking into a millionaire’s mansion. The marble floor and high ceiling of the opening hall is impressive and you feel as if you are making a grand entrance into the building. Sweeping staircases each side of the foyer lead your eyes up stairs, but the real focal point of this area is the Dj booth. This modest Dj set up, with large speakers and cute lighting is inviting. This is a unique room that at the start of the night tonight was playing host to Andy Rise and Paul Divine. This back to back duo were serenading the clubbers in true hard bounce style, starting most clubbers night off with a gentle kick!

Brixton Academy is a maze of rooms and corridors, and the next place to explore by adventurous clubbers is the balcony bar. This room is cleverly hidden and for those who stumble across it will feel a sense of exclusivity and excitement. Located to the right of the Foyer, this almost secret den is accessed by thin winding staircases, which actually give you a chance to breathe for they are always fresh feeling. The balcony bar tonight was being hosted by Oblivion Records, who had laid out a smart line up including Wid & Ben, and Wales’ very own Miss Frisky. Wid and Ben played a quality hard dance set, and whilst smiling away throughout, they treated the crowd with their very latest remix of The Thrillseekers “Synthasasia” – well done boys, we like this a lot!

To finish my brief tour of this mammoth club I will take you upstairs to the balcony. This is by far the second best place to go to in this club (the first of course being the font of the dance floor!). Words to describe this area include high, spacious and social. Empty at the start of the night, by midnight this large seating area will be completely buzzing with clubbers dancing, sitting, chatting and more. Frantic spend thousands on their light shows and tonight was no exception as they and HQ had teamed up with lighting experts “Halo” to bring one of the best ever lighting displays in the UK. This included an incredibly powerful laser, that in order to fully appreciate the extent of you needed to go and take a seat on the balcony. When sat up high the lights blow you away, and partnered with the cracking tunes of some of clublands best dj’s, this is one seat you do not want to let go!

This club is the perfect setting for a immense party. If you have not been, I hope this review has made you want to taste the delights it has on offer. For those who did join me tonight, to enjoy the full on clubbing experience, I’m sure you will all agree that it could not have been missed. To finish my review I shall provide you with my count down of the top 5 highlights of the night:

1. Kutski played his first ever back to back with The Organ Donors, and they all opened the set with an explosive scratch off. This was a display of pure talent that was being enjoyed by everyone in the main room, including the super star dj’s themselves!
2. Cally Gage grinning gorgeously away as she engaged the crowd with a classic set in the Foyer, showing off her fantastic new slip mats
3. Steve Hill vs. JP, playing in the main room. This unusual back to back combination of dj’s worked superbly, and JP really showed Steve how hard style should be played as he dropped Zero Visions “Overdrive” early on in the set. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this hard style tune, I suggest you purchase a copy now, as it is banging and it completely blew the roof off, of Brixton Academy off tonight!
4. Lisa Pin Up’s personalised intro impressed the main room crowd and as she proceeded to play a full on classic freedom set that included JDS “Nine Ways” she reminded us all of why she simply is the Queen of hard house.
5. Two words: Andy Whitby! His set was by far the set of the night and takes top spot of my highlights. Andy never fails to provide a unique, energetic, mind blowing set and tonight was no exception, it was simply amazing. The whole crowd in the main room were going crazy to every single tune, stomping away to hard happy tunes including Ratty “sunrise” and his own tune of the night “Blacker than black” Andy quotes:  “Kicked right off as well, so we'll have that as tune of the set!”

Written by Caroline Greatwood

Pictures by Saqib Sabir

Venue:

Brixton Academy
211 Stockwell Road
London
SW9 9SL

Info:

Tel: 020 7771 3000
Fax: 020 7738 4427
Email: mail@brixton-academy.co.uk