GET DOWN EARLY | CLUB REVIEW
The Vaults, Cardiff Bay, Sat 23 Nov
It’s true what they say: the best nights are always unplanned. I’ve been lucky enough to DJ at Outlook Festival, yet regret never making it to Dimensions, Outlook’s more house/techno-heavy sister. When I heard Dimensions were teaming up with Red Bull for an event series that flips the traditional club lineup on its head, I couldn’t resist. A newcomer to house and techno, I’m still figuring what I like, but decided this was a good opportunity to test the water. As it turns out, I ended up falling straight in, head-first.
Get Down Early is only a year old but has already established itself a successful club series celebrating emerging talent from the UK’s dancefloors. In reverse order to typical club lineups, it asks well-known DJs to warm up ahead of a headline set from the scene’s rising talent. It’s an exciting and progressive concept. However, my friend and I took the name a little too literally and were the first to arrive – luckily, the dancefloor soon filled up.
Amsterdam-based DJ and producer Lena Willikens kicked off the night with a carefully crafted warmup set. Her records are often rare finds and this was reflected in her eclectic, experimental track choice. Slowly ramping up the tempo, she moved between atmospheric breaks, minimal techno, and the more obscure edges of electronic music. Lena’s signature sound is recognisable from her regular NTS radio shows and remixes of tracks by Simian Mobile Disco, Ana Helder and more.
Next up was Danielle, who stole the night with an energetic blend of dark techno, acid house and breakbeat. Based in Bristol, she is one of the DJs behind Mix Nights: a DJ workshop run for women by women. Her selection kept the crowd on their toes throughout the set, eager to see which direction she would turn next. It was at this point I realised there was no way I would be leaving anytime soon – I was in for the long haul.
Energy stayed high for the rest of the night and, before long, the lights were on and we were being turfed out. Speaking to one of the promoters afterwards, we agreed that nights like this are essential springboards for DJs starting out in the professional club industry. Get Down Early is not only progressive in its running order, but also its promotion of new, unsung artists and diverse line-ups. To sum up my first experience of the club series in the words of its promoter, “Fair play, you were the first to get here and last to leave!” Always the sign of a good night if you ask me.
words FRANCESCA GARDNER photos SARAH KOURY
