Venom 5th Birthday @ Zest Nightclub :: Ipswich :: 03.02.2006

Now into the first weekend of February, the raving year was already into its second month. With January flying past at supersonic speed, there was already a numerous amount of big events gone by such as 'Fever' at Heaven and 'DNBA Album launch' at Herbal. So what was on then? It was time for the first big event of February. There was only one place to be this weekend and that was Ipswich where Venom’s 5th birthday was taking place at the Zest Nightclub. With a nice little line up on the flyer consisting of DJs Flapjack, Friction and MCs Skibadee, Shabba and Riddla, you know that you were gonna get your moneys worth!

This being my first time going to a rave in Ipswich I was unknown to what lay ahead of me at Zest Nightclub. I was very soon going to find out, as I was in the car making my way to the nightclub. Now outside the nightclub at 11:30pm and there was no queue, oh dear was anyone gonna turn up? After a search upon entry (pretty standard really) I was inside, and there of course were the ravers which I was worried about, they were just inside raving it up. The nightclub still not really packed though at the moment, looking around I’d say there was around 300 people inside. You knew for sure that the club would fill up as the night progressed .

So who that upon the decks? That be the DJ by the name of Perfection. Getting the crowd warmed up for the night ahead, dropping some jump up selection and then getting a rewind for that tune by Fresh, wait for it... ‘Watch-This-Space’, yes he dropped ‘Signal’ By Fresh. So Perfection’s now at an end, and time for the next DJ to step up. A nice set from Perfection, big up.

Up next a man who needs no introduction, but got one anyway by the MC Riddla, Reppin Shogun Audio Recs, DJ Friction. Not wasting any time at all Friction double dropped ‘In the Grind VIP’ with a tune not to sure of, but you know he hottened up the place with the double drop. Riddla Spitting his lyrics on the mic, drawing the crowd in towards him upon the stage, the atmosphere was for sure heating up. Raving it up on the dancefloor with my wicked mates inside the place with me. Friction then dropped an absolutely heavy tune from last year by Shy Fx & T Power, 'Feelings', "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll feel for you baby !!!!" .Frictions set flew by and it was already drawing to a close, another heavy in your face set from Friction, always guaranteed to please the crowd.

Deciding to take a break from the main arena and from up to date drum and bass, I strolled into the second room where I took a step back in time with old skool jungle / drum and bass.

On the decks was the DJ Sparxx accompanied by the MC Flux but not for long as Sparxx dropped his last tune and handed over the controls to …. Wait for it …. Wait … the Dj Flapjack . Oh my gosh you know this set was gonna be absolutely heavy from the selecter. Opening his account on a absolute high Flapjack dropped killer tunes from 'Mask', 'One time' and 'Killer people' both of which are on Dope Dragon Recs. Getting the rewind’s in at this early stage already. Slipping and sliding with precision Flapjack switched it up dropping Mampi Swift’s 'The One' in the mix, did this get the crowd absolutely hyper, ohhhhh yes. As if things couldn’t get any better the mic was blessed with the amazing vocal talents of Cat Knight, complimenting the neat mixing from the Flapjack. Continuously looking at my watch, I was sad to see that Flapjack's set was coming to an end, a set which I wished had been on for a bit longer. As Flapjack handed over the controls he got a really good response from the crowd, big up the Flapjack for a heavy set. Also a massive big up to the Cat Knight on the vocals, hosted the set for bit very, very professionally .

Now back into the main arena, and on the stage was the MC Skibadee alongside the MC Fun I do believe, getting the crowd lively with there tongue rolling lyrics. Not too sure who was on the decks at this moment in time, but nevertheless getting the crowd moving. Deciding to leave the night on a high, I made my way to the exit with my friends and headed back to theirs for a bit of an after party, 'heyyy' 'heyyyyyyy'.

A heavy night out in the town of Ipswich and highly recommended if you’ve never been out in Ipswich. The venue looking lush to if you don’t mind me saying so. My set of the night had to be the DJ Flapjack alongside the vocals of Cat Knight without a doubt, getting the crowd 'brocking' out. I don’t know why these guys aint getting booked week in week out, they are a force to be reckoned with, in my opinion up there with the best . Sooooo, big up all the crew that made it down to Venom’s 5th birthday bash .

Written by: Rampant Rivah.
courtesy of londondnb.com, many thanks.

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