-- Statement from the Epidemik Dance Camp ---



"Well what can we say :))

Epidemik are very proud to be involved alongside legends Raindance for the Old Skool tent for East Anglia’s biggest party, Dance Island this Saturday 4th July @, Ely, Cambridgeshire.



It's such a good thing to see a festival of this magnitude in the East Anglia area catering for the many strands of dance/rave music - last year was their first event and they plan to do this every year :) lots of big artists booked and many promoters catering for all your musical moods.



Epidemik have been part of the backbone of the rave scene in the area for many years holding many parties in Essex, Suffolk, Cambridge, Northampton etc as well as doing the final spectacular parties at the legendary Oscars on Clacton pier which was well over a decade ago!



We hope you find time to hit the Old Skool tent and see legends such as Altern8 alongside newer acts such as the Jilted Generation (the Prodigy Tribute) for the PA's & with all your favourites DJ's such as Slipmatt, Nicky BlackMarket & Ratpack and not forgetting our in house residents, Vinyl vera, Jason-J, JC & Cutter to keep the music flavours varied from all your hands in the air anthems to your more discerning underground tunage of the 1990's/Late 80's - 20 years of rave culture all under one roof (well ...tent).



This festival is a God send for ravers in the area & for the well travelled ravers on the circuit who want to have a good old stomp up in the field just like we did 20 years ago with all the usual festival trimmings such as fun fairs, and lighting, lasers and sound production specs to match stadium status! :)



Get yourselves there! - see you at the front - let's ave it :)



Limited tickets left - Grab'em NOW --- £42.50 dance-island.com

Everyone wants to be a big noise on the scene. You’re currently making quite a racket with your parties. What’s the secret of your success?

I’m very pleased you think we are making a noise! It’s really no big secret at all, just a lot of hard work and dedication. As Roy Castle would say, “dedication is what you need.”

Obviously you started with the smaller events, can you tell us what lucky breaks or hard-work catapulted you to having major success with your party label, Epidemik?

Well, I started DJing and running some nights around Essex in pubs, just for mates. I had been clubbing since 1986. Then after the Acid House explosion I started to do promotions work, doing all the hard graft and flyering for organisations like World Dance and Helter Skelter. I learnt the ropes before I started flyer packs around 1995. The main reason Epidemik started was that my local club (Oscars in Clacton) was closing down. I stepped in and took the place over to try and keep a big part of the local rave scene going. After losing my flat, car and all my savings the club had to close, but I kept the parties going come Hell or High Water. It took plenty of overtime to pay my many debts off. From there we have gone on to run events in London, Birmingham, Northampton, Suffolk, and Cambridge. Epidemik has spread to many dance communities both far and wide. The love and support shown by the artists and crew, together with that special bond between all the Epidemik crew is what gives the parties their magical feel. The support and love from Ravers and Clubbers for Epidemik is second to none.

Someone (who shall remain nameless) showed me a picture of Roland Rat the other day and said it was you? Do you dress like that to remain out of the way on the scene?

Well I think Roland copied my style! Before he was big in show-business I met him at the Shed-Vision LWT dept in 1985. Alright, I’ll give you a proper explanation. In Club-land I’ve just always worn a hat and sunglasses; another nickname for me is Timmy Mallett! Yes, I just dress as a Raver; that is what I am and I’m usually found on the dance-floor jumping around like a complete idiot, Kangaroo style.

What would you say to people who claim that promoters are just in it for the money and don’t care about the sound? Has anyone ever tried to tell you this publically?

Very good question this one; I’m glad you asked it! Yes, many people who meet me think I’m loaded. When you’re working your event you could be losing five grand and still have a thousand people in the building, so people get the impression you’ve made thousands of pounds. The bottom line is no promoter wants to lose money, same with any business, but promoting is more like gambling as it is so addictive and at times the chances of making any money are slim. You’ve got to be prepared to lose of break even sometimes unless you either have a very popular event with a big brand and big money, or are prepared to be ruthless and overcharge clubbers.

We always give value for money, we price very fairly and most of our gigs are only £10 to get in, which is unheard of for the line ups we put on. We give the crowd high venue, production, and artist standards. My personal objective is always to put the Ravers, the Party and The Music first and try to break even at best.

We’re stuck in the middle of some typical British city. Its midnight and you’ve got your last fiver in your pocket. It’s been a heavy night on the beers. What fast food do you spend your money on? What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve seen in a late night take-away?

If I was drunk I’d probably get a dodgy kebab, or I’d take the fiver and see if I could find an off-licence that was open then more beers instead. The funniest thing I’ve seen recently in a certain fast food restaurant was Billy Bunter being told by the owner, “looks like you’ve eaten all the pies, son!” Only joking, Dan!

Where do you think the Dance scene is headed now? People say things go in circles so we should be seeing a big Old Skool revival... Do you think it will happen?

The Old Skool revival has lasted a lot longer than the original scene did in the first place! That magical period from 87-92 gave Rave and Club-land it’s roots; just look how many old tunes get remixed with a current new style or format. From Illegal Raves in fields in the late 1980’s to the Super-clubs of today, the rave and club scene has merged to become one and the same thing. I think the Dance music scene will carry on for ever! Once, we were all running round camp fires smoking and beating drums as cave men! So I think humans connect with their spirit and the joy from beats and music on any level; from listening to Heavy Metal in a stadium to listening to opera on your I-pod.

As far as circles go, the new Youth Culture will always need to re-invent the wheel and make music “theirs” for their generation and have that rebel “anti-establishment” ethos. Just look at the 1950’s Blues and Rock and Roll scene, in the 1960’s we had Flower Power the 1970’s were Punk and Disco, the in the 1990’s, the Rave scene! All alleged music of the Devil! I think the future of people using easy to hand technology in order to make their own music/entertainment and to express themselves will play a larger role in the future. Maybe even having a virtual Rave or dance-floor with people across the other side of the world, but for me I would rather have a stomp up in a muddy field with ten thousand other like-minded souls.

Everyone on the Dance scene likes to wear crazy clothes from time to time and thus makes a few bad clothing purchases. What’s the worst garment you’ve ever bought? What happened when you wore it out clubbing?

Have you forgotten Roland Rat? The hat and glasses, I’m still wearing them right now!

I know it’s hard to put it into one sentence but I’m going to ask you to do it anyway. What’s your philosophy on life? What’s the most it’s ever been tested?

It’s nice to be important, but more important to be nice! I am still awaiting the ultimate test so bring it on! He who dares Rodney!

Last thing, just to create a well rounded interview, have you got any message to all the people who like to spend their hard earned money forgetting how they earned it at Epidemik nights?

We would like to thank each and every Raver and Clubber that has supported our events over the many, many years... You each create such wicked vibes and atmosphere that I salute you all from the bottom of my heart. The Ravers matter the most to me! If you can let your hair down and forget life and dance the night away, then carry on, no matter what event it is, keep on raving party people.