Review: TURF All-Nighter
Philip Shipley wasn’t let down by Rudimental’s May Week offering
It’s certainly become cliché to say that Rudimental provides a refuge for real dance music in the wasteland of Cambridge night-life, but that’s not to say it’s not true. After the Turf garden party’s oasis of Eglo Records stars, the next night’s line-up promised a darker and deeper affair. Weary heads were ready to queue up early to get stamps and get on it. Although there may have been murmurs of complaint about the steep on-the-door price of £14, the artists continued to get bigger and this all-nighter certainly delivered.
Napper’s familiar presence on the decks coaxed the crowd away from the bar and onto the dancefloor – I don’t know how many sets he has played this year, but there’s no danger of over-exposure if he keeps up this quality. Headliner Zed Bias was up next, a hulking figure in Fez’s tiny booth with releases going back a decade and a reputation to match. The first hour hit all the right spots with crowd-pleasers from Swamp 81 labelmates and plenty of big anthems, before transitioning into more esoteric beats.
The highlight of the night was Dark Sky’s set, pitched perfectly to a buzzing Fez eager to step up the energy. He propelled the packed club into the late-night sessions of Kahn and old-hand Alix Perez. At each stage the atmosphere was as good as any of the previous events, despite the lack of any visuals. By now it has become clear where the priorities of Rudimental lie: getting the best DJs possible in Cambridge. Success here leads to great nights whatever else is on offer.
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