Tramshed, Cardiff
Fri 26 Aug
Manchester comes to Cardiff this August bank holiday, in a massive, sun-drenched lineup of house pioneers who go back over 30 years, with a clutch of A-grade DJs spanning both sides of the Atlantic, plus a host of longtime Cardiff favourites. The northern city’s most iconic nightclub, The Haçienda may now be a distant memory turned into a block of flats, but its legacy is kept alive via nights like this one.
[wpdevart_youtube]QAR8cq5Bl94[/wpdevart_youtube]
Two Chicago legends are in attendance, the first of which, Marshall Jefferson, goes back to the very beginning of house music as we know it. Marshall Jefferson’s first releases, on the pioneering Trax label, emerged in the mid-80s, and he was a early creator of what became known as acid house, creating the blueprint for pretty much all dance music that came afterwards. Tunes like Time Marches On are held up as artefacts of a life-changing shift from boogie and electro into the solid, bass-twisting pulse of the acid house sound that took over the world. Derrick Carter [pictured], one of the true Chicago pioneers, is known as a stalwart DJ to this day, able to rock the floor for many hours whether with high energy house or sweaty, headspinning disco. He’s still a very credible producer, though if you’re of a deeper mindset, check his psychedelic Sound Patrol releases from the 90s; vinyl copies sell like hot cakes to this day.
[wpdevart_youtube]lPd2A1DbG2s[/wpdevart_youtube]
Graeme Park represents Manchester and the club this night pays tribute to. Beginning his DJ career in his home town of Nottingham, when acid house began to transform UK club culture in the late 80s Park was a Haçienda lynchpin, and he continues to carry the torch. Jon DaSilva might be less known than the rest, but, though less trumpeted, he was a powerful force in his time; Wales’ own Sasha, who we covered last month, says he was “the most influential DJ in my career.”
Covering the second room are local names like Craig Bartlett, Dave Jones, Gareth Hopkins and Darren Stewart. Hopefully this night should bring everyone out, from teenage to the almost middle-aged.
Tickets: £20/£18. Info: 029 2023 5555
words GWYN THOMAS DE CHROUSTCHOFF