The “Godfather of Wild Pitch” and all-round acid house legend DJ Pierre is coming to Bristol on Friday, July 27, and Bedmo Disco has been asked to get involved with the party. We’re delighted to announce that we’ll be hosting a room, The Bedmo Disco Ballroom, offering a deliciously hedonistic alternative to the jackin’ fare featuring in the main room.
The party is a one-off affair at Factory Studios, a rehearsal space that’s already hosted infamous events from Alfresco Disco and Just Jack. This one should be just as messy and, with any luck, just as memorable. The event is called MUZIK, and the organizers plan to make it a very special affair.
The main room is headed up by DJ PIERRE, who we’re reliably informed hasn’t played in Bristol for 20-odd years. He’ll be doing his “Afro Acid” thing, and hopefully slaying the dancefloor with some of his Phuture and Wild Pitch era classics. The support bill is headed by our old pal PLACID, undeniably the best acid house DJ in Bristol and arguably one of the finest in the UK.
So what about our room? Well, it’s called the BEDMO DISCO BALLROOM and the general idea is to recreate the “anything goes” musical melting pot of New York in the early 1980s. Then, DJs and dancers from across the spectrum – all different ethnic and sexual backgrounds – were inspired by a mix of electrofunk, freestyle, hip-hop, electro, proto-house and early garage. That’s the sort of vibe we’ll be going for. To help out, we plan to decorate our room in truly memorable fashion. More details to come.
The line-up for The Bedmo Disco Ballroom features a mix of label regulars, extended “BedmoFam” members and Bristolian party-starting talent:
THE KELLY TWINS
(UFO/Crazylegs/Idle Hands)
Identical twins Sean and Dan Kelly have earned a reputation as Bristol’s finest party-starting DJs. With a record collection that spans four decades of dance music, impeccable DJ skills and a rare ability to mix it up between styles, The Kelly Twins have earned a reputation far beyond the city limits thanks to a string of brilliant DJ mixes. Now residents at bass music party Crazylegs, Sean and Dan built their reputation as resident DJs and promoters of UFO, a monthly party whose DJ guestlist included Daniel Wang, Krystal Klear, Jackmaster, the Unabombers, Andy Blake, Rustie and Hudson Mohawke. Just as happy playing original 80s electro and boogie as garage, acid house or hip-hop, the boys will guarantee that the Bedmo Disco Ballroom will go right off!
JAY-L
(Falling Up)
Part of the trio of DJs behind Bristol’s brilliant Falling Up Night, Jay-L will bring a soulful flex to the Bedmo Disco Ballroom. Inspired by the soulful side of electronic music, from disco, boogie and hip-hop to Detroit techno, acid and broken beat, Jay-L has played all over the UK, including appearances at Glastonbury and the Big Chill festivals. He’s also a regular at Bristol’s legendary Alfresco Disco parties and Croatia’s Garden Festival, where he regularly plays alongside the Futureboogie crew. Like his friends The Kelly Twins, Jay-L can mix it up between styles with the DJ skills of a true master. Expect him to bring the party on July 27…
NU-BALANCE
(Aspects/Dusted Disco)
Turntablist Nu-Balance made his name as the original DJ for legendary Bristol hip-hop crew Aspects in the late ‘90s and early noughties. Since then, he’s gone on to hold residencies at the Switch and Dusted Disco parties at Timbuk2. Now a member of the extended Bedmo Disco family, Nu-Balance’s DJ style recalls the early days of New York block parties. Expect a white-hot mix of original block party beats, classic boogie, simmering disco and party hip-hop. If you want a glimpse, you can check out his recent BedmoCast mix here>>
LEGENDARY TONE
(Wild Honey Soundsystem/best before:)
We love Legendary Tone. He is, as his DJ moniker suggests, a legend. He was given this distinctive pseudonym while promoting events in Nottingham, where he was famous for mixing up disco, boogie, Balearica and high quality house. He also gained a reputation for putting on extra-special parties in unusual spaces, with high production values. After moving to Bristol, he became a resident for the notoriously eclectic, disco-centric best before: parties alongside Bedmo Disco’s own Sell By Dave and the Kelly Twins. Since then, he’s played all over the city and beyond, with regular sets at WOMAD events where he can mine his fearlessly eclectic record collection. Famed for mixing it up and hitting all the right spots, he’ll bring the party on July 27. Tone has already done a DJ Pierre tribute mix, which you can listen to on Mixcloud.
And not forgetting, of course, AWON and BEDMO DISCO.
Sounds alright, yes? Well, if you’d like to find out more about the rest of the line-up – there’s also a third room featuring ambient stuff, which excites the wrongspeed heads amongst us – and other plans, you can check out the MUZIK website at www.muzik.org.uk
Tickets are on sale now, priced £10. We’d advise getting tickets in advance – not just because it will be more on the door, but also because the organizers expect it to be pretty busy. Tickets are available from the following outlets:
Idle Hands (in store, Stokes Croft, Bristol)
BEDMO DISCO 