RENAISSANCE

Renaissance go “wild in the city” as they announce Sasha to headline a special Bank Holiday event on Sunday 4th May at Birmingham’s Custard Factory. The event will feature three diverse arenas, covering everything from house through techno, electro to live bands, visuals and a chill out spaces. The International club brand welcome Sasha back to Birmingham for his first show in a long time, bringing their unique blend of international DJ talent and beautiful décor.

OVER the last 12 years, Renaissance has established an enviable international reputation for great club nights, star DJs and fantastic music. This is a British club brand that has successfully expanded into international tours, one-off spectaculars, live events, and a series of high-quality mix CDs that have sold millions. For hundreds of thousands of clubbers all over the world, Renaissance nights are synonymous with glamour and excitement - for transforming ordinary clubs into palaces of pleasure. A Renaissance night is not just about dancing, but about an all-encompassing nightclub experience.

www.renaissance.com

SASHA

There are DJs who turn up, play records and make people dance. And there are producers who make the dance floor-igniting records those DJs will kill for. There are very few people in dance music who can do both but Sasha is the leader of the pack. Ever since he rode in on a tidal wave of adoration from the North of England's explosive early 90s club scene, that magic touch has made Alexander Coe one of the most famous, most revered DJs on the planet.

Sasha's DJ career started at the seminal Manchester club The Haçienda before he went on to make a name for himself with a residency at the renowned and much loved Shelley's in Stoke. When all the other DJ's were playing US House, Sasha's style was much more uplifting, and he captivated clubbers with his mixture of piano led Italian House whilst playing acapella tracks over the top.

Shelley's was the launch pad for Sasha’s residency at Renaissance, where Sasha created his niche and helped forge a new style in UK house music. Since then Sasha has been inextricably linked with the Renaissance brand both in the UK and on the International club circuit including regular events at Ibiza’s most glamorous club, Pacha.

There are many examples of Sasha’s superstar status. In fact he was the first DJ cover star - on Mixmag in early 1991. He has even achieved where hundreds have failed by becoming a household name for many teenagers in America following a gruelling three month coast to coast tour.

Now Sasha brings his trademark sound to Birmingham’s Custard Factory where he will yet again team up with Renaissance’s to headline “Wild in the City” on Sunday May 4th.

www.djsasha.com

FREELAND LIVE

Freeland is DJ Adam Freeland's band. Four years in the making, their debut album "Now & Them" has stuck a healthy two fingers up to dance music norms, fusing punk, rock, reggae, roll, hip hop, breaks and soul into a genre defying masterpiece.

Their debut single 'We Want Your Soul', an edgy dig at a force-fed consumer culture has been a world wide smash and the first hit record to evolve from the UK breaks movement where Adam set down his roots.

The live six piece band features Alison David and Juice Aleem on vocals (occasionally Martin Fishley), Jim Carmichael on drums, Carlos Fortin on bass, Antonio Styles on guitar and Adam Freeland on samples/dex/fx, together with a mind frazzling visual show.

The band has toured the UK and Australia and is primed for some of the world's biggest festivals over the next few months. They are currently working on their follow up album.

www.marineparade.net/artists/freeland/

THE CUBAN BROTHERS
The Cuban Brothers are unique. Born of the loins of seventies Havana nurtured on a diet of soulful, sexy tunes and inspired by Cuban historical fact and mythology – their fresh approach to live entertainment whips up a frenzy at every gig. Their legendary performance combines music, which evolves with every show, riotous comedy, both physical and observational, and sensational dancing – consequently the energy at every show is incredible.

Taking it right back, The Cuban Brothers launched by storming UK club land with their passionate attitude towards partying and performing. Their unique flavour made nights out tasty again and their rise to fame has been meteoric. From stealing the main stage at Manumission to hosting the NME Awards The Cuban Brothers soon became the most desirable act to book for the coolest live events. MTV were soon hot on their trail and in 2002 The Cuban Brothers started presenting music specials including festival coverage of Homelands and Creamfields, MTV in Ibiza and the MTV Music Awards. They are now working on their own TV series.

www.thecubanbrothers.com

NORMAN JAY MBE

Norman is an innovative and pioneering British DJ. He first came to prominence playing unlicensed warehouse parties in the early 1980s. His diverse and deep musical knowledge and his refusal to be restricted to playing from any single genre distinguish him from his peers.

Norman established himself through the London pirate radio station Kiss 100, which he co-managed alongside Gordon Mac and George Power. Kiss 100 was launched in 1990 and Norman's show became legendary, and he soon joined Gilles Peterson at his label Talkin' Loud.

His Good Times Sound System, which he started with his brother Joey, is a major attraction to many music fans who attend the two day August bank holiday Notting Hill Carnival. Good Times now attracts an estimated 3,000 revellers a day during the carnival.

Norman describes himself as a house music DJ, but the Good Times concept includes classic 70s and 80s funk, soul and Jazz-funk. The BBC website describes his music as "the cream of 70s disco with the latest club anthems." Meanwhile the Good Times brand has extended into a series of compilation CDs.

Norman was one of 20 DJs who played one track each at the 2005 BBC Worldwide Awards which produced three specials for BBC Radio 1 over Christmas and New Year, hosted by Gilles Peterson. He is an established regular at the Big Chill festival where his Sunday afternoon slot on the main stage is widely regarded as one of the highlights of the weekend.

www.normanjay.com

MATT TOLFREY

For the last few years, everything has been falling into place for Matt Tolfrey. He quickly stepped up from playing at local bars to holding down residencies at The Bomb and Stealth in Nottingham, two of the country's most respected underground clubs. More recently he also started his own night named Leftout at the TBar in London, which has now been successfully running for two years. He's played at some of the best clubs in the UK, notably regularly slots at London super club Fabric, and worldwide he has been a guest everywhere from Ibiza, and Berlin, via USA and Australia.

So how did he come so far so quickly? The answer is simple. Matt is a workaholic with a seemingly tireless dedication to forging his own unique style. Drawing on everything from deep house and techno, through to stripped down bleeps and Germanic mayhem, he's spawned his own hybrid strain of electronic funk. Anyone lucky enough to have already witnessed Matt in action will know that his particular brand of wobbly house and techno has the power to win hearts and destroy minds on the dance floor.

www.myspace.com/matttolfrey

ULTRA+ DJs
Ultra+ was recently voted 3rd best night in the country by Mixmag and has also been featured on Pete Tong’s show on Radio 1.

The Ultra+ brand is known for producing quality events with a party atmosphere. The music styles range from underground electro, techno, breaks and drum n bass, but the main focus is progressive and tech house. The House music heard at Ultra+ events is always supplied by the worlds best DJs and this night will be no exception. The main resident DJ, Ben Nott is also the creator of Ultra+.

www.myspace.com/ultranights

Sunday May 4h 2008 @ the Custard Factory 10pm – 6am
Limited £15 Early bird tickets available from
www.renaissance.com www.theticketsellers.co.uk
www.factoryclub.co.uk / www.myspace.com/custardfactory

Sunday May 4th 2008 @ The Custard Factory 9pm – 5am

Limited £15 Early bird tickets available from

theticketsellers.co.uk

Sasha in the marquee at the factory