re: The Best Night In Oxford

[Manikular]

Nicky has brought up a good point. Oxford does have loads of nights, too many which are sustainable, obviously at some point some will fall by the wayside, but what does quantify what the best night in Oxford is?

1. Best Venue?
2. Best Guest Artists
3. Best Local Artists
4. Best System?
5. Best Visuals?
6. Best Value For Money?
7. Best Atmosphere?
8. Best Drink Prices?
9. Best Flyering/Advertising Crew?
10. The Comedy Tenth Option?

Of course this forum will not represent AT ALL what the best night is becuase everybody will vote their mates as usual. Also would it be fair to include some of the other events which Oxford has had in the past... Depthcharge, Raging Rabbit, Totum Soul, Prism, Pharoah, Helter Skelter [yes even Helter Skelter]..

What makes a good night? To me it's a combination of good tunes and good people, I don't care who the DJ is as long as they play a good set. I like events like Source becuase you will blatantly get to hear all the freshest dubs and when the Zodiac rig is engineered correctly no other venue in Oxford can touch it.... Well that is a lie.. Dougie's rig can make any venue drop... so Expressions runs things too.

I'm loving the fact that Oxford has so many events to offer, it's great.... However will lack-lustre promotion lead people to resent the music and the events? There is a night every weekend? when will people start to get bored? Will they get bored?

Matt and I never decided that the inception of HQ would be to offer any competition to the other nights. I try to liase with the other nights so we don't clash with anyone or anything. I'm trying to book differet DJs too, Djs that I feel play good music and also ones who have never played in Oxford before. I also try and book the new breed of DJs who are just breaking through.. Who were the first people to book Fracture & Neptune nearly 18 months ago? Us. Now look, they are signed to Paradox Music, the most prolific breaks based d&b label in the world. We have also brought down the likes of Kasra [Critical Recs], Nexxi [Gain/G2] and many many more. I'm not saying HQ is the best night in Oxford, becuase I don't think it is.. Its just a way of expressing how Mike [Chemical], Matt [Mattrick] and me feel about the music we live for.

If you ask me what the best nights in Oxford are well I will say this..

in no order!

Source
Depthcharge
Metro

In fact.. the best night to ever happen in Oxford was Metro... ask Juicy! it was something else.. Coven rammed.... on a Sunday?? you better beleive it!

All these events are great for the punters.. Choice! value for money! price wars... Basic economics and survival of the fittest will ensue!

Good luck to all the nights going on.. I love you all and I wish you the very best of luck, I have no beef with any of you and I'm ttoally loving your work.. I look at it like this... If a d&b night isn't on in a venue, it could be a shite Hard House night instead... so lets keep it rolling!!!!

[Manikular]

surely someone has some points to add?

[vyper]

I have some points to add...but I need longer, so when i've got longer on the net I will express my views! :)

[System Exclusive]

In fact.. the best night to ever happen in Oxford was Metro... ask Juicy! it was something else.. Coven rammed.... on a Sunday?? you better beleive it!

Ohhhh yes. The Metro nights were rude. I distinctly remember seeing LTJ Bukem, Ed Rush, Kemi and Storm down there. Superb. And yeah....on a Sunday,... total devotion from the Oxford cru!

[Mikee Merge n C]

I decided to bless Oxford with my presence in about Feb 2001 so can only comment on the last 2 years! :D

Obviously it's nice to see DJ's who you are a follower of.
DJ Ratty @ HQ! Blaaaaow!!
Twisted Individual @ BBL Sound and Expression...

I prefer raves with visually impressive shit as well as good clear sound [big up Brillo and Duggie]...

I'm not a fan of selling a party on the name of the last 90 minutes DJ or MC. That's really gay. This ain't a pop concert business... [No disrespect - but you all do it! :huh: @ promoters]

Drink prices are important [big up Expression] if you aren't rushing your tits off...

Atmosphere is crucial whether the rig, artists etc are good or not...

Outside Reload someone commented on the system being a bit distorted but who cares? The people in there were having it! I was impressed. Proper rave atmosphere I thought! Choons were good as well! B)

Breakin Science last week - huge system but no atmosphere [IMO]!

You can't win really!

[Got more to say but in too much of a rush right now! - Good thread Manik...]

[Jibba]

[QUOTE]1. Best Venue?
2. Best Guest Artists
3. Best Local Artists
4. Best System?
5. Best Visuals?
6. Best Value For Money?
7. Best Atmosphere?
8. Best Drink Prices?
9. Best Flyering/Advertising Crew?
10. The Comedy Tenth Option?
[QUOTE]

My ideal night out in Oxford would be...

At Oxford Brookes Student union

With Raiden, Twisted Individual, Kamanchi, Frenzic and MCs Dynamite, Fats, MC MC and all the local talent doing backroom ol skool sets and warm up sets for the big boys.

Expression soundsystem in the backroom with Brookes in the main. The Zodiac lazer show.

Entry at around a tenner with student drink prices.

An atmosphere like the Source 6th birthday bash (When Andy was on, didn't rate Hype)

Promotion via all the local pubs/clubs that matter ie Bully, Coven, Cellar etc

And tenth bonus - all punters on the night get a signed dub from all the headliners!!!

[Misdemeanor]

1. Best Venue?

I have issues with oxfords venues. I find it amazing that ppl pay a tenner to get in anywhere in oxford thats only till 2am. We must have teh shittest venues in the country!!!! Brookes is the best, but 2am license isnt ideal at all! STill like the coven, I just havent seen it properly packed out like it used to be 7, 8years ago at the house nites! If it could be that busy again i might even say that shit hole would be my fave...!

my favourite venue was the pub that SPLASH used to be held in. Anyone ever used to go to them (other than vyper :P )


2. Best Guest Artists

thats all down to personal taste isnt it. We get some big names in oxford, i was thinkin that as i walked past a load of flyposters yesterday!!!

House nights often do joint promotions. Why dont we see that much within dnb??? (thinks about tongue & cheek doing mixmag nites, miss moneypennhys, Sundissential -okay it was years ago, but for a one off ppl make the effort n wanna go!)


3. Best Local Artists

i dont actually know who that many ppl are!! lol. ITs always good to hear your mates play thou!


4. Best System?

?? Cant remember last time i went anywhere in oxford and thought "Fuck me thats some proper heavy system!"



5. Best Visuals?

Brookes probably!


6. Best Value For Money?

Everywheres pretty much the same if u get tickets in advance i think! Cellar always reasonable. Thou a tenner might be necessary to cover costs, its only £12 to get in The End, (and with this quid to london promotion on the go as well) you can hear several big names, and on the thunderidge sound system. Id rather stay in one week and go london next really!


7. Best Atmosphere?
not sure lol


8. Best Drink Prices?

dunno usually drink before i get out and only have one or two!


9. Best Flyering/Advertising Crew?

The ones who dont flyer all over other ppls nites of course!


10. The Comedy Tenth Option?

Depth Charge, Tongue&Cheek, and Splash used to get the biggest crowds in! But there was less choice. Excuse the ramble o wasnt sure what this comedy option was all about to be fair
:rolleyes:

[Manikular]

seen!

i used to dj at splash in my house guise :]

the brookes system is awesome.. gave me tinnitus ffs :]

next brookes looks a good one... Goldie, Shy FX, Total Science + More TBC

you can thank the uni for oxfords shitty 2am licences... the buggers!

[Misdemeanor]

okay my memory is shockin so maybe i'll have a suprise at the next brookes thing!

2am licenses more or less all round thou innit. Not alot can be done i dont reckon. A 6am license would be decent....thou not sure i'd wanna stay in any of the venues till 6 lol. What im sayin is that teh things ive moaned about cant really be changed and is praps more statin the obvious.

At the end of the day oxford scene has its issues..but if you cant afford to get out of the town for a few weeks, you can guarantee plenty of choice dnb wise l :D

[Mikee Merge n C]

Originally posted by Misdemeanor@Aug 27 2003, 02:16 PM
We must have teh shittest venues in the country!!!!

No, you ain't been to Exeter! :D

[Jibba]

@Misdemeanor I think you're right about the 2am licences but I've heard that the coven has actually got a 4am licence coz its not within 100 yards of a residential area. They just never use it...probably coz they know there'd be about two stragglers left on the floor at 4am!!!

Dunno if this is true tho?

[Manikular]

coven has a 3am licence, as does dtms
the zodiac have just applied for a 4am licence
park end can go to 4am a few times each year

anyhows it's not about the venues... it's about the people that fill them.

[Jibba]

anyhows it's not about the venues... it's about the people that fill them.


Very true. Places like Park End can fill with fucking twats. Either complete Raa Raa's ie Oxford uni students who's daddys say they matter, or groups of lairy grimacers just looking for fights.

Get em outta clubland!!! :angry:

[Misdemeanor]

Originally posted by Manikular@Aug 30 2003, 10:29 AM
anyhows it's not about the venues... it's about the people that fill them.
Yea you need a good crowd...just one that doesnt fuck off/drop dead at 2am. lol (was good to see the coven still busy at 3am in the bar this weekend!)

And sadly venues do make a difference. Not jus size thou - The End for example isnt that big, but the crowd are always up for it, and its always rammed!

[Manikular]

Originally posted by Misdemeanor@Sep 1 2003, 12:10 PM
Originally posted by Manikular@Aug 30 2003, 10:29 AM
anyhows it's not about the venues... it's about the people that fill them.
Yea you need a good crowd...just one that doesnt fuck off/drop dead at 2am. lol (was good to see the coven still busy at 3am in the bar this weekend!)

And sadly venues do make a difference. Not jus size thou - The End for example isnt that big, but the crowd are always up for it, and its always rammed!
the end is the uks mecca for cutting edge music. there isn't another venue which can touch it. i would imagine the end attracts at least 80% real headz, people who really have a passion for the scene. oxford probably attracts about 20% purist headz in comparison. maybe we could convince mr c to build another end in oxford [ i wish! ]