Attending No 90’s 10th Anniversary celebration on behalf of Broke Mag definitely set the tone for this Easter Weekend. A short walk from Hackney Wick station, the night was alive with creatives in search of the hottest motive. Kelly and I approached the warehouse lot with the excitement of what was to come; however, we couldn’t even begin to prepare for the night that we were about to have.
The interior of the vast warehouse was decorated like a birthday party. There were streamers hung up, and balloons with the numbers ‘10’ floating around. Sofas were available for people to sit, although there wasn’t much time for that. The dance floor was packed, everyone’s feet shuffling to the rhythm.
Upon arrival we headed straight through the first room and into the smoking area. Phonica Records hosted a takeover, introducing a fantastic selection of DJs including Josh Fortune and DC Fslman. Throughout their set, they offered a variety of disco inspired tracks, often accompanied by a bumping house groove.
The multi level space offered many different areas for exploration, and I really enjoyed the versatility of sound between the rooms. I was also highly pleased to discover one of the bartenders handing out free earbuds. Aside from being cheeky and asking for more than one pair, I think it’s important for venues everywhere to be handing out free earbuds in order to make events more enjoyable as well as accessible for all. So, with mine secured, and a drink in hand, I was ready for a night of non-stop dancing.
Like all club smoking areas, this one provided a much needed break from the ongoing party, not to mention that it was floating on the canal! Kelly and I engaged in many conversations with various people throughout the night, some of which I was lucky enough to photograph. This crowd was extremely diverse in every sense of the word – from the Irish 30-something year olds on a lads holiday, to the second year engineering students looking to start the weekend off right – the event catered to all.
Then, there was the highlight of my night. Scarlett O’Malley performed a set that left everyone stunned. Equipped with the most incredible selection of groove house, Brazilian funk and afrobeats tracks, O’Malley played with passion and finesse, and left me with my feet aching for the rest of the night. Her high energy, audience interaction and just general vibe resonated strongly with the crowd, and had everyone raising their hands with excitement for almost the full two hours.
Finally, A Guy Called Gerald (that is in fact his DJ name) performed a killer closing set. The dance music legend mixed acid house with some bass heavy techno, and it was the perfect end to the night; it kept people going just enough to stay for the final two hours.
Photography – Zawadi Odari