clubs
ADAM ELLIS
Journey @ A:M, Cardiff
Sat 15 Mar
Trance doesn’t always get its dues on this page, but when the Journey crew go the extra yard and
put on all-nighters like this we’re happy to give them the lion’s share of space. Also high on the bill
is Bristolian Ian Standerwick, who cut his teeth as a producer and artist signed to Zomba, but then
turned to the electronic side which led to releases for Slinky and Extravaganza. But it’s Adam Ellis
who finds his roots more traditionally planted in Sheffield, and what was at one point the epicentre of
the UK trance scene thanks to the mighty Gatecrasher.
“I went to Gatecrasher many, many times since the age of 17,” says Adam. “I only got into trance
around age 20 and went to four Crasher nights. It was a massive shame but it burnt down right when
I got into it, but I moved to Ibiza just before it burnt down so I was in Amnesia twice a week for four
months. The Sheffield scene is not as popular now because Gatecrasher was such a big pull. People
travelled from all over the world to go. Now we have a solid night in OTR which puts on some great
events and is consistent. It’s never going to be the superclub Gatecrasher is but I don’t think anyone
can compete with that. Trance is still going strong in Sheffield and I would like to think it always will.”
Having previously remixed for Oakenfold’s Planet Perfecto and Paul Van Dyk, there is no shortage of
demand for output from Adam, which he is happy to accommodate.
“My first track of the year, ReOrder’s Gemini (Adam Ellis Remix) has just charted at number six in
the Beatport Trance Top 100 chart, which I am over the moon about. My second, Menno De Jong’s
Creatures Of The Night (Adam Ellis Remix) is due this month. Both have received an amazing
reception and seeing my tracks entering the top 10 on Beatport is a really good indication that the
trance fans are enjoying music that I am producing.” Tickets: £8. Info: 07877 959122 RYAN HEEGER
MIKE DEHNERT
Mood @ Undertone, Cardiff
Fri 21 Mar
This date marks one of those currently
scheduled as part of Mike Dehnert’s
tour celebrating his fourth album,
Lichtbedingt, due out this month on
Delsin Records. It’s been three years since
his last full-length release for the label,
Framework, which showcased relentless,
balls-out techno usually reserved for the
darkest of back rooms and was definitely
not for the fluffy breakdowns brigade. This
time around we are assured of variance
including broken bass, swinging house
and beatless electronic experimentalism
amongst other things.
From his HQ at the epicentre of
underground techno in Berlin, Dehnert
has also spent the last seven years reaping
rewards and accolades from his peers and
fanbase by running Fachwerk Records. As
well as showcasing his own output, the
label also has Limo, Roman Lindau and
Sascha Rydell on its roster and has seen
releases by Gregor Tresher, DJ Rolando and
Josh Wink. Meanwhile Dehnert has also
lent his talents to other labels including
Hotflush, Clone and Deeply Rooted House.
Given his status as a DJ’s DJ and the
calibre of his tunes, this promises to be
one of those appearances that’ll draw
producers and chinstrokers from far and
wide, so you may want to get your ticket
well in advance. Solid back-up will be
provided by Mood residents Tom Bateman,
Ben Smith and Dai Murder. Admission:
£8-£12. Info: 02920 228883 (RH)
BUZZ 36
AGNÈS
Delete @ Undertone, Cardiff
Sat 29 Mar
Switzerland’s Agnès has been doing a
grand job of putting out quality music on
his Sthlmaudio imprint for over 10 years
now, so he’s an ideal choice for the latest
Delete get-together. Surprisingly this is
their first Saturday night event for many
years, given their usual form of riotous
Sunday summer parties at Gwdihw,
and Friday winter nights, including
last month’s appearance from Jeremy
Underground Paris in Clwb.
“At each event we try to focus on guests
who bring different types of house sounds,”
explain the Delete boys, “which mixes it
up and offers variety, but it’s always house
music. Agnès brings his own unique sound
with him, very deep and solid bass and
strong records from decades past and
present. We are really looking forward to
having him over to play for us.”
With Delete consistently holding
popularity alongside a few others that
pioneer a more underground approach,
guest names such as these are now
the standard and are influencing new
promoters on the block.
“It’s about cycles and trends of different
genres of music,” say the Delete crew,
there’s enough space for everyone here in
the capital and as always we are very happy
to be a part of the Cardiff music scene and
bring DJs to the city that we like.”
Tickets: £10. Info: 07921 157252 (RH)
DJ ZINC
Sink @ Sin City, Swansea
Sat 8 Mar
There are genre DJs, then there are DJs
who have successfully breached so many
genres that anything they turn their
hand to hits the mark. Such a veteran is
Benjamin Pettit, who rode the crest of the
wave that was the peaking mainstream
popularity of drum’n’bass in the mid-90s.
His 1995 jungle track Super Sharp
Shooter under the moniker of Zinc came
just as the likes of Goldie, Metalheadz and
Roni Size made their names across UK
households, and held its own as one of the
genre’s club favourites of the year.
Prior to that, his was a name to watch
across pirate radio stations since
1991 including Impact, Format and
Eruption, where he channelled the
progression of hardcore and its hybrids
and fusions with house, rave and ragga.
The Brain Progression label brought his
production work to the forefront, when
he collaborated with Swift for the eightrelease run Swift & Zinc.
In more recent times Zinc has left
drum’n’bass behind an