April 2012

REVIEW: Slam At The Arches - 20th Anniversary Party
WORDS: Laura Forsyth

Jesus who? Sorry messiah, you’ve been upstaged this Easter weekend by an outrageous techno session at Slam‘s 20th Anniversary. You know a night means business when the club is already buzzing before 11pm, and with the crowds heaving half an hour later thanks to one of two sets from the birthday boys, it was obvious we were in for a big one.

If you were bold enough to sneak through the crowds as Laurent Garnier took to the stage, it was worth the disapproving looks from the chumps behind you when you got to the front. From start to finish it was total mayhem, and as expected the atmosphere was exceptional. The obvious highlight from his 4 hour set definitely came from ’Man With the Red Face’, the opening notes inspiring mass hysteria. Every inch of the floor was packed, the music and vibes surging through the crowd until we eventually drifted to the next arch.

There was no need to jet set across Europe to hit Berlin’s prestigious Berghain this weekend as their resident Ben Klock was unbelievable in the main hall. The man knows how to work a crowd and was more than ready for a photo session with his many fans afterwards. It was all too easy to get lost in his tunes, especially when the likes of ‘Goodly Sin’ filled the air.

And if you could peel yourself away from the dancefloor for long enough, you’d find a hugely diverse crowd representative of Slam’s soaring popularity. Long-time techno lovers and fresh faced newbies made a friendly mix, with plans made for the inevitable after party and a promise to meet outside later. At 4.30am it was total devastation, the night had been a whirlwind of slamming tunes, major moves and new best friends – the product of twenty years as one of Britain’s most beloved residencies.  

Catch Slam with Nick Curly tonight at the Sub Club for Return To Mono

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