Running and promoting Frantic is a big old job, so naturally we at Frantic HQ need as much help as possible! Meet The Frantic Workers - a crack team of Hard House loving dynamos who help us in all aspects of running our various parties. Meet guestlist Queen Hayley, mailing list mistress Soaps, and all-round star Geordie - the oil in that keeps that Frantic machine running smoothly! We asked them about their memories of Frantic ahead of the 10th Birthday this Saturday @ KOKO...
How did you first find out about Frantic and what was the first Frantic event you went to?
Geordie: First time I heard of Frantic was back in ’02 when I was still at school…a load of my mates had been to a few and after hearing all about them and getting hooked on the Frantic 2002 CDs (Future Sound of Hard Dance), I couldn’t wait to get myself down to one. My first ever Frantic event was Chemistry at Canvas in late 2002, and I haven’t looked back since!
Hayley: I first found out about Frantic in my initial few months of clubbing in 2003. I was 19 and had just discovered the “wonders” of Hard Dance. I had been out clubbing the previous weekend and was planning my upcoming four days of carnage. Frantic vs Sundissential was on at Camden Palace and a few of my newly acquainted friends had decided they were going to drag me along. So I went, paid £15 on the door to get in and thoroughly enjoyed my night.
:o)
Soaps: I found out about it through my friends and they took me along. My first event was January 1st 2006 at KOKO - Frantic presents Genesis - my first ever event as well!
What did you think the first time you went?
Geordie: I was completely blown away by it all! Before Chemistry the only big(ish) raves I’d been too were trance / hardcore ones up in Newcastle, where I was living at the time. So to be in the legendary Bagleys hearing proper hard house being boshed out on huge systems from big name DJs with wicked production and a crowd to match was just incredible. I’ll never forget that night…especially seeing Phil Reynolds and Andy Farley for the first time and being in such a notorious venue.
Hayley: The first time I ever went to a Frantic event I was overwhelmed with excitement. As I walked in through the Camden Palace front doors (which is where I had been to Peach only), I was hit by pumping hard house, a new experience for me and somewhat less upbeat and pretty as trance or even hardcore. As I walked through the infamous tunnel, I was amazed by the amount of effort people had gone to with this event with all the decor, especially the hanging spikey blow-up 'things' with the Frantic logo on them. I proceeded to go to the bar, spend lots of money on alcohol and let the music take over. I don't really remember much more, apart from really enjoying my first Frantic experience.
Soaps: The first time I went I had a really good time, I enjoyed the music and the venue was fantastic! I'm so pleased that we get to go to KOKO on the 11th Aug to celebrate Frantic’s birthday!
Which sets and events stick out in your mind as all time Frantic faves?
Geordie: This is a tricky one cause there’s so many to choose from. Right, three events stick out in my mind the first was Hard House Academy’s 7th Birthday, All HHAs have a special feel to them but Frantic really excelled themselves with this one, the stage production and laser shows were some of the best I’ve ever seen still to this day and the whole place was just going off big style…the main room line up was second to none, but set of the night went to Glazby he smashed the Main Room to pieces! The second is Frantic’s 8th Birthday at KOKO, I remember walking down the corridor and the whole Palace just had that birthday vibe - everyone was on the same level just having it hard, the music was impeccable as it always is at a Birthday celebration but Justin Bourne rocked it for me especially. Last but definitely not least are any of the Genesis events held at KOKO, because you simply can’t beat that Frantic NYD feeling at the Palace!
Hayley: MORE @ SEOne, bloody fantastic Frantic event and definitely my favourite. The first one I went to, I think I was working at and I spent the majority of my night in the funky room, a little while in the hardcore room and the rest was just spent wondering around greeting people I knew and getting in to the swing of things.
My favourite Frantic events have always included more than just hard house. I met Will Patterson at another event a few years back and we had a conversation about bringing hardcore in to Frantic events, he asked me my opinion and I immediately jumped in with an enthusiastic "if you ever put on hardcore at a Frantic event I will 100% be there!" A few of months later I was attending Frantic vs Hardcore Heaven, he did it and I was 100% there. Lol!
Another regular Frantic even that has always been great is Frantic New Years Day. Best way to start the year. ;o)
My favourite sets have always been the hardcore ones; Hixxy, Breeze and Styles, Scott Brown and Sharkey.
The other DJ sets I have enjoyed include Steelo and possibly one or two bouncy hard house sets that I can't remember, being so long ago.
Soaps: Got to be Frantic 9 last August where my friends and I danced all night in the main arena, the atmosphere was electric! I can't name a specific DJ as they were great all night!
What do you think makes Frantic so special?
Geordie: Frantic’s always have a very special feeling and vibe and this is because of the amount of work time and effort that goes into them. Firstly the venues always give you that “wow” factor. What better clubbing feeling can you get either opening those massive Brixton Academy main Room doors or walking down the Palace’s corridor onto the balcony!? Secondly Frantic always go all out on the production they put into the venues, I’ve sat on the Balcony at HHA or at the top of the Palace and been taken away by the shows they put on countless occasions. Frantic line-ups are always very carefully picked and no expenses are spared, this makes them all special, there’s always something for everyone whether your into your hard house or your filth or even more at the multi-arena parties Frantic will always supply the goods. Finally is the crowd…there’s always a wicked feeling when you walk into a Frantic party. All these factors combined make Frantic so special and are why they’re always spot on!
Hayley: I think the fact that Frantic has been going for so long and yet still manages to fill every single one of their events is special in itself. 10 years and Frantic still has its followers who started out with them a decade ago. It's unbelievable really. In my opinion, Frantic is unique, from what I have seen of the rave/hard dance clubbing scene, Frantic have always
come out on top. The events are always phenomenal, the organisation is fantastic (especially the door staff :p), and the atmosphere you get standing in the middle of the dance floor is something that a lot of other parties try so hard to achieve but don't quite reach that mix of excitement, comfort and enjoyment.
Frantic ALWAYS pick great venues, venues that not only suit the event being hosted, but the people, the time of year and the area. For some odd reason, it always seems to just fit.
Soaps: The way that they put so much effort in to every single event that they put on, wether it be a free event like Chemistry right up to the big ones like Tranz-mission and sanctuary.
Which set are you most looking forward to at 10:15 and why?
Geordie: By the looks of things I’ll be in the Main Arena most of the night but I definitely want to catch Andy Rise, Mark H and Nicky D’s sets in the other rooms. It’ll be great to see Steve O’ Brady make his main room debut at KOKO. Andy b2b with Cally will be wicked as I’m sure it’ll bring a lot of memories back to everyone in the room, but without a doubt the set I’m most looking forward to is the Phil Reynolds ‘Special Closing Set’ because nobody can close the Palace quite like he can, and the night wouldn’t be complete without him rounding things up.
Hayley: Phil Reynolds closing set, without a doubt. Frantic isn't Frantic if Phil doesn't close. I'm also looking forward to Cally and Juice, even though my head and ears are a bit sensitive to hardstyle these days1 I can always stomach about 15/20 minutes of a Cally and Juice set, purely because they're awesome. Any more than that and my entire body may explode due to hardstyle overload.
Soaps: I'm really looking forward to seeing Greg up against the NEC boys and also Lisa Pin Up. The reason being is that they always put on a fantastic show and really know how to get the crowd going!
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen going on at a Frantic event? Be explicit please!
Geordie: I’ve seen a lot of funny things go on at Frantic over the last 6 years I’ve been attending. People having sex on the balcony at HHA, talking to themselves in the toilets, people looking confused trying to work out why they’re getting dripped on at the front of the Palace at 5.30am (mmm…sweat rain!) But the funniest thing I’ve ever seen was when a mate of mine was on crutches at Genesis 3 years ago ‘avin it on the balcony to the last set of the day, Bad Ass got dropped and off flew his crutch. It hit some bloke below right on the head. Much to our surprise the bloke brought it back upstairs laughing….lucky he’d had a good New Year’s Day or things could have been different.
Hayley: The funniest thing...erm...that's a tough question, I can't say I have actually noticed anything amazingly funny. The only thing that I can remember that made me giggle, quite a lot was when I was at Frantic vs Hardcore Heaven and I handcuffed myself to Scott Brown, in front of his girlfriend. He took pictures of us handcuffed together, but unfortunately I never got to see them. All for the best really, not too sure I was in the best state to be having pictures taken.
Soaps: Funniest thing I'd have to say is something I started! I had gone to a shop on the way to Frantic 9 and brought some candy letters. I then proceeded to get them out in the club and my friends and I started writing things with them on the edge of a dancer stage in the main room, soon we had about 15 people joining in. Never has a 30p bag of sweets kept so many people amused for so long!
What’s the most random costume you’ve ever seen being worn at Frantic?
Geordie: One thing that always stands out at Frantic is how colourful the room always is…people always make a big effort. There’s always your average Superman and Batman and Robin but the most random costume I’ve ever seen is someone dressed as Barney the Dinosaur (the purple kids TV thing)…random! Also although it doesn’t count as it was part of the show the huge Terminator robot that they had on stage at HHA Live…scary!
Hayley: Nothing is random at Frantic. Everyone used to dress to impress with all the cyber gear and cyber goth shizzle. So anything that was garish and crazy, at Frantic, was really quite normal. I've seen people turn up in suits, which is quite funny seeing them mixed with the cyber kids. I guess it's widely accepted that if you're at a Hard Dance event, you expect a
number of people to be wearing 'random' crazy costumes. I know I managed to get away with wearing fairy wings and fluffy leg warmers, goodness knows how!
Soaps: Gotta be the Bunnys running around at KOKO as it was the first time I had ever seen people dressed as animals at a club. I went up to one (called Swampy) and asked if I could stroke him and he said yes! For the rest of the night I just kept going up to him and stroking him! Talk about random…
All advance tickets for Frantic's 10th Birthday are now SOLD OUT! There will be a very limited number on the door for early arrivals. Please click the following link for full details:
http://www.dontstayin.com/popup/bannerclick/bannerk-7905