When somebody thinks Circoloco Ibiza, Monday sessions instantly spring to mind. Since 1999 – the brand has made a name for itself and has secured an established presence in the electronic music scene, travelling around the world with the ubiquitous and familiar clown face logo, gathering a culture of celebration and dance with headliners from all corners of the world and building a progressive sound that to today’s standards builds to something encapsulating all corners of house and techno and everything in between.
Expect to see any house or techno DJ make a debut throughout the years, each and every artist migrating away from their usual identifiable sound to something a little dancier, a little more energetic but still incorporating their unique signatures that blends Circoloco to an evening of cutting shapes, head-bopping and shaking around. Saturday, 14th December, the brand made their only UK debut of the year in Enfield’s larger than life new venue The Drumsheds, sending the year out with a bang for their UK fanbase.
A 10-minute walk from the station (and easy access to London’s mainline Liverpool station), the event was well managed with ample staff in place directing attendees and providing information where and when necessary. The venue was subject to diligent searches and was ultra secure – the entrance process was streamlined. A welcome change to see drink prices reasonable, enough bartenders to sustain an army. Chill out areas, water fountains, highly organised locker system, food stands at the terrace, first aid – outstanding service as you would expect to see at Printworks and Tobacco Dock.
The Drumsheds at Meidian Water is a force to be reckoned with. Fitting up to 10,000 people, this venue is perfect to host any event that will appease en masse. From the creators of Printworks, expect nothing less than a BIG sensory experience. Huge interconnected warehouses, with high ceilings higher than high, all engulfed in the familiar dark red hue of strip lights across the beams and a ton of red lazers over the DJ booth setting the precedent for the day. The line up comprised Smokey, Gideon, Carista, Bedouin, DJ Tennis back-to-back Job Jose and finally closing with Joseph Capriati and Seth Troxler back-to-back Gerd Janson. All artists working together to create the energising vibe that gets the groove on for a multi-layered auditory experience. Uterecht-based Carista opened on old-school hard beats, mixing in tracks the likes of ‘Blawan – 6-6 lick’ cutting up with other house and techno floor fillers.
Bedouin‘s impressive set comprised their recognisable idiosyncratic flare and vocals while also maintaining a higher energy and upbeat track selection. Deep male vocals with arabic and desert hearts inviting and longing sounds seized the main room with aspects of piano, far east sounds of oud, sitar and percussions while encompassed with drifting baselines and drops that then get blended with infamous vocals from The Clash ‘London Calling’ and their own spin on Madonna’s ‘Justify My Love’, which made debut at their Burning Man set earlier this year, which sent revellers transdimensional. Onto a heavier and more fun-ominous kind of way, DJ Tennis and Job Jose indulge the real naughty side of CircoLoco, the side I love the most with tracks like Rafa Barrios – ‘Dumper’ and Joseph Capriati taking into the next level with heavier tech house mixes, incorporating songs with insane beats that keep on giving” Tom Wilson’s ‘Techno Cat (Dance Like your Dad Mix)’ and with a few Cajmere essentials, while Seth Troxler drops classics such as Members of The House’s ‘Party Of the Year (Stereogenius Remix)’ and Bicep’s edit of Dominica – ‘Gotta Let You Go’ and Josh Wink’s ‘Higher State of Consciousness’ for good measure.
As always, the fun Circoloco promises did not falter in the new London venue, keeping all faces smiling all the way through the walk home in the pouring rain. One thing we can thank the Drumsheds for, just like any other daytime party is that we were all home by midnight on a Saturday leaving less opportunity for a brutal hangover for the morning after!
Photo Credits: Gemma Parker
