I had originally planned for this entry to be a review of last night’s Faithless iTunes Festival gig at The Roundhouse, Camden. However, such a plan demands the pre-requisite of having actually attended the gig. So instead this entry has become an enquiry into the venue and promoter’s ticket policy.

We had been reliably informed that Faithless would take to stage at 9.15pm. As such, we innocently and quite sensibly turned up in good time at 8.30pm, only to discover a very long queue of disgruntled punters. The predictably curt bouncer announced that there was ‘little chance of us getting in because the venue was full.’ It turns out that they oversubscribe tickets and having filed through the small print, we were stone-walled by the discovery of a ‘NO GUARANTEE OF ENTRY AFTER 8.15pm’ notice. Unbelievable.

Now I know they also do this on planes, particularly long-haul flights, and I don’t mind this because it helps to guarantee that it’s full to capacity, which is better for the environment, but more importantly I have never been a victim of this particular type of admin abuse.

I have however suffered this fate at the hands of Chew The Fat, one of the very best club nights in London, for their last ever gig at The End. Nonetheless I do feel differently when it comes to a club night. Generally speaking, given the long format of a dance event and the way the music is consumed, it means you can drop in and out, move from room to room and not discernibly miss much.

A gig however is an event of finite duration and focus. The band comes on stage, the crowd watches them play and then everyone leaves. I was going to see Faithless - the band, their performance and their songs. The subjective, personal experience of a gig is different to the objective and collective ride through a club night. So with a ticket in hand, I did not expect for a moment that this opportunity would be denied.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the iTunes Festival is a wonderful idea and it delivers a month long programme of world class music for FREE. It doesn’t guarantee true fans will get in but the idea is one that is rooted with a passion for music. And I think only a platform as powerful and as popular as iTunes could realise such spectacular ambitions.

But, and here is the crux of the issue, it is really just a big brand project for Apple, it is about data capture and it is about MONEY (just as it is for the airlines, by the way.) The more people have tickets, risks are reduced and revenues increased. And furthermore, if you are encouraging them to turn up early, that is even more money spent at the bar.

In an ideal world, if I were running these events, I would guarantee that all ticket holders get in and if there was still space to fill in the venue, I would grant entry to the real fans queuing outside. Not such a water-tight business plan I accept, but at least my way no-one leaves unjustifiably angry.

And this brings me to my final question – what have iTunes lost by denying me (as representative of all others in the same boat) entry to Faithless? Not much to be honest. I am annoyed and frustrated but I am not going to stop using my iTunes account - it is the best and most intuitive music library out there. Apple already has a huge amount of data about me as a MacBook and iPod user. And I will definitely continue to apply for their awesome gigs. I see this experience more as a lesson learned.

Read the small print kids because it might just guarantee that you won’t miss seeing your favourite band.

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We have been given this early Christmas present to head back up north to the corner of the globe in which we learned our trade (Leeds is near enough right?!) and boy are we excited.

These promoters are brimming with enthusiasm and enterprise, and all the early indicators are suggesting that it is going to be rammed so make sure you get down early. And if that wasn’t inspiration enough, our set is being bookended by two incredibly accomplished local DJs and we will be in the intimate and perfectly formed Market Bar which boasts a Funktion One Soundsystem.

No excuses. See you on the dancefloor.

AB x

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Hello one and all. Here are my top ten tracks for the autumnal Charts of October. Cosy blankets of electro-breaks to keep you warm for the approaching winter. The chart is topped by the ever-rising star Calvertron and his new release Buggin’, which boasts an infectious driving beat, a massive drop and some old skool hip-hop vocals…AngelBreaks gives it two thumbs up. Beyond that, an Organ Donor remix, a Praise You rehash and a bevy of fun lovin supermodel criminals in A1 Bassline’s video. Please enjoy.

1. Calvertron – Buggin’ (The Afterschool Special Mix) [BugEyed Records]

2. A1 Bassline – Bad Man Horror Theme [Southern Fried Records]

3. Trevor Loveys – Organ Grinder (The Count’s aka Herve Big B Morgan Remix) [Cheap Thrills]

4. Villains & CLASSIXX – I’m On It feat. o8o (AC Slater Remix) [Villains Records]

Listen here

5. Joe and Will Ask? – The Rusty Pig [Gulp Communications]

Listen here

6. Kelevra, MC Flipside & Sharooz – House Muzik Hustlers [PBR Recordings]

7. Santiago & Bushido – Head Trick (Keith Mackenzie & DJ Fixx Remix) [Potty Mouth Music]

8. Bad Boy Bill – Do What U Like feat. Alyssa Palmer (Bad Boy Bill’s Push The Feeling Remix) [Menage]

9. Fedde Le Grand vs Fatboy Slim – Praise You 2009 [Skint Records]

10. Oblong – Playing on my Mind feat. Adam Parker (Elite Force Mix) [Exceptional Records]

Listen here

Happy October listening!

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AngelBreaks.co.uk Launch Party @ The Westbury, Kilburn, June 26th 2009
 

You may know Kidda for his hip-hop-funk described as “slick soul breaks, hip hop beats and ‘big party vibes’. You may know Kidda through his righteous live sets, a mix of funk, soul and blistering electro-house, pop, and breakbeat. You may have heard of Kidda because of his tune, Under The Sun, featuring in Bacardi’s nationwide TV campaign, as well as electrifying remixes from artists such as Herve which Annie Mac called her ‘tune of the year’ for 2008!) and Jack Beats. He’s played the biggest clubs, the best festivals (“Perfect” was how The Sun described his Glastonbury set) and his shimmering, summery beats leave big smiles wherever he goes. And now – he’s here. 

AngelBreaks co-runner and all round nice-guy Mr AngelBreaks will be kicking off the big beats with an eclectic mix of international house, breaks, electro and some weird Samba stuff we found down the back of the sofa. Jonny5 (Kid Bass) will be opening the night and waving goodbye to the sun with a smooth combination of old school hip-hop, funk, soul and disco. 

See you down the front.

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To mark the occasion we have put together a disgustingly stellar line-up for the AngelBreaks room:
CRYSTAL FIGHTERS (Kitsune)
LEATHERHEAD (Fiasco)
BI BOP (Bugged Out!)

Plus the infamous AngelBreaks residents…
CHIPO (Gouranga)
MR. ANGELBREAKS

Featuring other luminaries such as Far Too Loud, Dreadzone, Shit Disco, Meat Katie, The RGB’s and more, how can you afford to miss this?

Click here to buy tickets for this absolute blinder of an event.

Fur full line up and details, hit the jump. See you there.

It is going to be a corker and the way things are looking YOU WILL NEED AN ADVANCE TICKET http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=306846&REFID=angel

Held in the massive Scala this night promises to be the greatest singular achievement mankind has ever known. Consider yourself warned. Featuring artists from Southern Fried Records, Kitsune, Lot49 Records, Bugged Out! AngelBreaks, Broken Robot and more, this promises to be more like a festival than a clubnight, but with less mud and more face-melting. Get yo’ electronic asses signed up!

—————————————

FULL LINE-UP

Tweak&Bleep Present: WeAreLive

A Live Music Bonanza for Festival Lovers, Starring the finest Bands & Electronica Heavyweights.

MAIN STAGE:

Dreadzone Live
Cagedbaby
The Young Punx Live
Subsource Live
Tweak&Bleep
Kasparov & Wonka

BROKEN ROBOT Presents:
Cutting-edge tech-breaks, psy-breaks and electro, hosted by 2009’s most exciting new record label.

Meat Katie
Far Too Loud
Rex Live
Hedflux
RMS & Peak
Mr Snook
VJ Air

ANGELBREAKS Present The Glass Room:
Infamous Leeds clubnight, now London based, presents the finest and the funnest electro, house, breaks and techno. Is funnest even a word? Who cares.

Crystal Fighters
Leatherhead
Bi Bop
Chipo
Mr AngelBreaks

FARMFESTIVAL Presents:
FarmFestival bring the countryside to the party with their eclectic mix of electro, disco and bands that’ll make you dance your socks off until the cows come home.

Shit Disco – Live
The RGBs Live
E-Disco Live
The Out There Brothers
Si Arnoldi
Dubious Goals Panel
Joe Duhig
BUY TICKETS

http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=306846&REFID=angel

Contact Us:

teaque11@aol.com / adamjohnstone@btinternet.com
www.scala-london.co.uk
Tel: 07932 648 114 / 07817 695 622 / 07810 640 998

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The benefit of this is that you’ll have an easy website address to link to rather than http://somerandondomhostingsite.com/fdhgadghdjhgkffaghjghaghajj.html. You’ll get http://www.angelbreaks.co.uk/yoursetname.mp3, which is nice and easy to remember. We’ll create a unique page for you to put graphics on if you want, as well as tracklistings and a description that can be as long or as short as you want, and we want nothing in return - except for perhaps the odd link back to the blog (the page with your tracklisting is fine).

We can also pass your tapes on to promoters and organisers who might want to put you on at their night - or maybe we’ll put you on ourselves (and yes, we pay).

If you’re interested, send an email to Adam with a description of your music, and maybe a few links to some music, or even the whole set if it’s hosted at one of the rubbish sites Please do not try and attach the set to the email, my account will not accept a file that large.

So get going!

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