HENTUCKY BREAKS - Sahara Nights - 28th May - In support of Teenage Cancer Trust
Hentucky Breaks was back for its third event after a nine month break, which again was in support of Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT). After new management at our previous venue Matecana, we decided to go and check out Sahara Nights and hire out the VIP room of this club for our return.
After several weeks of planning and promotion a progressive line up of soul, funk, early hip hop, party tracks, breaks and jungle was billed for the night. With the loan of a banners, donation of balloons donated by TCT and some Hentucky banner/posters we decorated the club to make it our own.
The night kicked of at 9pm with David Joseph playing a fine selection of rare groove, soul and funk. The club was pretty empty for the first hour or so as the sun was shining on the Saturday, and people where enjoying the outdoors. Though unfortunately the lack of use of a beautiful balcony located next to the VIP area wasn't used which could have seated a fair few people at Sahara Nights. A lack of promotion of this ensured that not many people came upstairs to chill outside before the night began. Still with the Bourbon and coke and the quality tracks David wasn't too bothered about the initially spacious dance floor. Come after 10pm people starting to rear their heads, and by 11pm the club was pretty bustling. This is when ESP came on to play a tearing funk, early hip hop and just good time party tracks set. He was playing some serious 'boogaloo' madness that would have been a b-boys dream. More people starting to come in as ESP sets drew on when it came to 12am for my set.
I had quite a few drinks and was feeling a little shaky, but surprisingly not as off my face as previous gigs. I wanted to improve on my last playout, as I thought the mixing was shoddy, mainly fuelled by the booze, but secondly the lack of preparation of such an ambitious set. As a DJ when I was mixing more straight up club style music, it was easy to just turn up and mix whatever you felt like without too much thought. But with this mixing up indie with breaks with 80s pop and whatever, well you need to know your tunes and tempos like the back of your hand. So I spent a while working on a set and judging by the ass shaking I think it went down alright. A few clangers, mis-levels and drunk people asking for 'System of a Down' and 'MC Hammer' (what a combo), I managed to get through it in one piece ending off with a little bit of Grease - Summerloving and DJ Shadow (I think people where singing along to the end bit as well?). Thanks for Joanne and Marcie Merecido for initiating the ass shaking though.
Afterwards Dirty Habit came on to play a fine breaks set. Towards this point of the night though not coincidental to Habit's set, people where feeling beat down and had to leave for work in the morning (on a Sunday…damn), various other commitments or just feeling their age where gradually leaving. Dave's mixing was on point and tune selection was superb though, but he thought 'he' was the reason people left. NAH MATE! The crowd on the night was mainly more your chilled sort, who likes a boogie now and then, but not really the proper raver types. This set would have been lapped up at your typical nights Fabric, The Egg etc. though without a doubt
Finally Genocide came on to play a Jungle set. There where a few hardcores left to enjoy the jungle sounds and where shocking it out though regardless. Big up one of the Breakfish promoters (sorry I didn't catch your name sir, you was a top guy though) who was brocking it out like it was 1995, absolutely superb.
Main points of the night.
Unfortunately due to the booking fee of the venue this cut into the money made on the doors and we just broke even. This in turn lead to no money being raised for TCT. This was disheartening to say the least as previous events have been doing well and raising decent money. But we where getting a lot of favours from the previous club owners which helped us in our way to raising the figures we hit before. In terms of the night itself, we are hitting our basic targets of getting the people we want through the door and are being consistent with the amount of people we are getting in. For a young and up coming night this is an amazing thing. It will take a while to establish the Hentucky Brand, so if we continue and build on this then the only way is up. Judging by people's comments, they had a great night and enjoyed the music and the sentiment of the night greatly.
Remember this though. Hentucky Breaks isn't a fly-by night, which only does the occasional charity events. By that, we are looking on putting on a variety of nights under the Hentucky Breaks promotion and thus we intend that at least one of our nights to be associated with decent causes for a long while to come. It's all about building up a rapport with a cause, and to see our effect that the money and awareness we help to raise.
Sahara Nights itself is a really good venue for its size and location, but due to a variety of mishaps and resistance between staff and punters of the night, it wasn't exactly ideal for us. The last thing you want on a night out is some ex-con bouncer snarling, "Once you come in you can't leave and come back in. We won't let you back in." Also the lack of knowledge that a charity night was going on despite trying to brief as many staff and management members as possible in the run up and on the night itself was a task in itself. A little help wouldn't have gone amiss guys. Though big up Naaman and our bar lady for helping us out, much appreciated.
None the less, it was a great and young night that we need to continue to build on. I'll be going away for a few months during the summer to do the whole 'travelling' thing as you do. But once I come back in the autumn we are looking to put on more nights at greater regularity. Also we will be looking at a variety of areas within London and maybe around the country if possible. But all will be revealed once we know for sure ourselves.
Finally... SHOUT OUTS
Firstly I want to big up Genocide for sorting out the DJs and showing his support at the night. Big up Dirty Habit, ESP and Mr David Joseph for taking time out for playing on the night, many thanks. Big shout out to Lara, Marcie and Edward for helping me set up and flyer and helping to run the show, couldn't have done it without you guys. And finally to everyone who came down, thanks very much. Most importantly I hope you enjoyed it and hope to see you at the next one. Also there will be a little shindig in July which is to be held in Living, Brixton. It isn't a night or anything, just a meet up with a few touches. More to be revealed closer to the time. More photos can be found here.
Ivan M
To check the out the profiles of the performers on the night and other people who have helped contribute to Hentucky in any way, check Click Here. If you would like to contact me regarding Hentucky Breaks then please do so. The Hentucky Mix can be downloaded below. So I hope to see you at the Hentuckybreaks night and hold tight for further mixtapes from Hentucky Breaks.
