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This review was posted in the epidemik 12th Birthday Christmas Rave Carnival forum

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epidemik 12th Birthday Christmas Rave Carnival @ Ministry of Sound in London (UK)

Fri 07 Dec 2007

Review

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The 12th Birthday of Epidemik Review

Vinyl-Vera

Well ravers, you knew this rave was gonna be the shizniz and once again Crazy Grant did not let any of us down. You may not be aware of this fact but because I am so lucky to be quite close to the source...that being Grant himself.....I want you all to know just how much hardwork and effort this man puts into ALL of his events. He not only holds down a very tough full-time day job, but works every damn weekend with his flyer packs Paradox Promotions, 52 weeks a year and if that wasnt enough, he also puts on these wicked events that we have all come to love and hold very close to our hearts....so before i write my accounts of the night, I would like you all to take just 10seconds out of your day today and realise just how much of this mans life goes into putting these raves on...raving and promoting raves are his life.....its not easy, sometimes it isnt much fun....but its what he does best and in my opinion...he deserves a big fat raving medal!

The line-up was 2nd to none...we are always so spoilt for choice when it comes to an Epidemik line-up, whenever I show people a line-up from one of these events, people are normally blown away by the top selection that there is on offer and always at a very reasonable price too. I dont know about you but I always find myself running from room-to-room trying to make sure that I dont miss anyone out but always find that by the end of the night I have infact missed quite a few, so my sincere apologies if I wasnt in your room Aving It, it was because I more than likely Avin It somewhere else.

Upon arrival, the queue was fairly long but was moving at reasonable pace. Within 10mins we was in the building and walking up the very warm tunnel. We arrived around 11pm and the place was filling up very quickly. The Main Bar looked looked very plush with swooping white backdrops and extra large snowflake's hanging from the ceiling. I ended up staying in this room for about an hour and not wanting to go anywhere as my guest's had never been to the Ministry before, so wanted to break them in gently. Bubbler and Jason J were doing a good job of warming us very cold ravers up, as did Steve Jackson and Chalky.Dj's in this room consisted of Huckleberry Finn, Wayne Eldridg, Mister T, Slipmatt & Bunter, Brandon Block and myself and DJ JC. So time for a club tour for my fellow Minstry Virgin's........

At the far end of the club you have the famous Baby Box Bar, a fairly small room I must admit but the many mirror balls and the decent sound system make up for the lack of space. This was where the Hardcore music was to be found with the likes of DJ Upfront, Skywalker, Kevin Energy, Scar & Uplift, Nicky D, Jay Prescott, Billy Bunter and Ruff Trix with added bonus of a wicked vocalist called Carmen..you need to check her out, she is very very good!

In the Main Bar you have 2 sets of steps, one at each end of the room...these steps lead to a balcony that overlooks the bar area, years ago this balcony did not exist so I must take this chance to thank the Ministry for adding this much needed feature. Not only does it act a short-cut up and over the bar-room but also leads you up to the Lounge Room which is where The Vinyl Touch promoters could be found this night alongside Kool FM too.

Of course the main feature in this room apart from the musical factor has to be the lighting display that hangs predominantly from the ceiling. A truly wonderful sight for any clubber and one I have never seen replicated. DJ's in this room had the room pumping from start to finish, I tried 3times to get into this room but on each occasion it was full to the brim...so fair play to all concerned for keeping this room busy.....I take one of my many hats off to you all. DJ's doing their thing were Sgt Spud,TC, Sike, Ellis Dee, Friller, Origin, Uno, Flames, Tru Contender and Soldgie. Gutted I missed the Magnet Men due to us playing at the same time...hopefully I will see them another time, they make some wicked tunes on TVT(The Vinyl Touch)...make sure you check them out.....they are gonna go far!

So now I am heading towards the Main Room...the one that has 2 separate tunnels leading into it and if I'm truly honest...this is where I spent most of my night, I found it very difficult to leave...even to go to loo....the music in here was immense! I was now in musical old skool heaven, my prayers have finally been answered.

The only 2 sets that i missed was Twista's and Demoltion Cru b2b Jackknife, so my sincere apologies but I am sure that you all played a blinder. My first serving of old skool flava's came in the shape of The FlashBack Project PA......I know that Flash has been working hard this year on creating his own sound and has been putting out different varieties of vinyl/tunage. Was good to see you up on stage doing a PA....would love to see you do a video one day Flashback.

Next up was the Famous Five Deck Specialists with their debut appearance not only for Epidemik but also a first at the Ministry too...Apply The Breaks. These guys have been chipping away at the breaks scene for sometime now and have finally moulded themselves into a very tight outfit that makes them very original. Their 5 deck show of DJ's playing, scratching and genrally having lots of fun too fuses together very nicely. The crowd was lapping them up, myself included.

The next PA on stage was of course the famous Baby D with her in-house MC's Nino and Micro.....and we all know that this band have around since day dot. They sang a variety of songs...some new and of course some old.......am looking forward to some of their new material being released in the future. Their new stuff had a kind of drum and bass feel to them....pls pls...release them soon.

Billy Bunter...The King of all things Ravey along with his partner in musical crime The PeaceMaker. Billy certainly is one of the hardest working DJ's I have ever known/met. No style is safe from this mans fingers/mind......and most ravers would have come across him at some point in their lifes as he plays in most rooms at all the top raves in the UK. The chemistry between these 2 musicians certainly reveals itself to you when you have the pleasure of being their company. You both spoiled us rotton with your diversity and knowledge of the decks. I can now see Shut Up & Dance waiting in the wings....bring it on!

SUAD.....I have seen these guys a few times now in my raving years and I must say, they have never ever let me down...and I'm not just saying that, I really mean it! You can tell they are special professional's from the moment they take over the system. They play a good cross-section of old and new, a formula that works in my eyes. Me and my mates were Avin It very largely up the front from start to finish. You left me wanting more but you had to step aside because now it was Dr S Gachet & Randall's turn.

Must admit I have never seen these 2 DJ's play b2b before. The jungley drum and bass beats was rolling out of the phat speakers that Ministry has to offer. I love Gachet's style of mixing, so much so I had run up to the decks and take a peak at the master in action. Randall surprised me too, he actually played some old skool tunes from back in the day. The dark beats kept hitting us where it hurt.....mainly the feet! But we had save some energy for the next 2 contenders...next up...Slipmatt & Ratpack.

The evening was nearly coming to a close and the next DJ and PA was an Epidemik Birthday Special Showcase in the shape of DJ Slipmatt and the legendary Ratpack. Now having been in the raving scene myself for quite a few years now, it has come to my attention that over the last couple of years or so alot of people have been slating the likes of Ratpack. They are a very popular PA to book because they are full-on entertainers and any promoter certainly gets their money's worth. Yes they do play alot of their old tunes in their sets but this would be due to them coming from old skool scene since it all began. At any rave I have ever been at, Ratpack are the ones that fill any room up, no matter what the roomsize is. So now they are fusing together the new rave sound along with their old skool sounds to make their show have that extra edge. Lipmaster Mark,Slipmatt and MC Everson have been friends many, many years...infact many old skool DJ's have known and played alongside each other for well over a decade now and I think this just goes to show how strong the rave scene really is....one big happy family that we should all be proud to be a part of. The highlight of their set was when Ev got the famous Legend that is Roy up on stage and allowed him to stay there for the duration. Roy has been around for years too, and in my eyes is a musical sponge that absorbs the aurra and atmosphere of the night. I often feel when I see him I need to give him a couple of Jos Sticks to hold. Big yourself up Roy..you a legend!!!

So last but not least we have the true raving soldier of them all, the one and only Danish Mike! Danish.....every time I hear you, you just keep on getting better and better! And I for one know just how much of your time and effort goes into helping these events be in the Top Ten of All Time raves...Your hard-work has not gone un-noticed sir! All we ask that you never stop what your doing....because you do it so damn well.

Oh My God! Its now 6am and it is time for us to leave the building. I of course now have to big up all the MC's...Fearless, Strict, 3Flow (Oi Oi), Ribs, Lurch, Fleximus, Smiley, Cutter, Ice, Chucky, Spenno, Chit-Chat, Rizla-Dizla, DHD, Elmo, Lyrical Groover (EZ, Congrats on your engagement), DVS, Johnny Ka$h, Rinsa and last but not least MC Wicked.

The entertainers for the night were in the shape of the TNT dancers.....Sugah Dee Dancers...Twisted Bliss.....Skin-On-Skin on the bongo's.......filming was recorded by Busby Productions. A 1000 thanks-you's to you all for your hard work and dedication to the scene.

And of course...all you ravers out there......the biggest thanks goes out to you for making it to this event. Without you all.....these events would not be possible...just dont ever stop...that all we ask.

Reply Quote
Posted Thu 13 Dec 2007
Edited Thu 13 Dec 2007

Vinyl-Vera

pls note that the above review is nearly complete

i have a few more photos to add....but the actual reading is complete

bloody took me ages