The rise of the Chelmsford scene...

Over the past year or so, the Chelmsford underground clubbing scene has had a period of self-discovery; Adam Saville looks at the major players on the scene



My return from the culture capital, Glasgow, to the culturally backwards, Chelmsford, after four years of mind-expansion was hardly an exciting prospect. The gut-wretching prospect of the Dukes Genesis Experience was alot like the thought of spending a night in an abattoir. However, not long after my arrival during the summer of 2007, I soon realised that things were just getting going and that it was only just the beginning.

The emergence of The Chelmsford Ravers has played a huge part; setting the balls rolling and giving other people the courage to provide something that the town craves even though it is too afraid to admit it. Events like the The Black Holes left shimmering impressions, and we await with baited breath the arrival of Dub:Tech this summer. But one group cannot be held up as sole providers of a wave of mentality that can most certainly be traced way back. A number of recent events have brought to light a communal desire to chemically alter our minds and dance to particular styles of music for want of a higher state of social consciousness.

Notably, Nobody Don't Dance No More miraculously transformed the grottiness of Saturday night drinking at The Fleece into a night that has showcased serious contenders on London's live circuit, most memorably Dead Kids, then followed them up with the pick of Chelmsford's wealth of local DJing talent - with regular appearances from Badspeller, JBic, Ro and TIS's Crossbones. Its enormous success has been such that it has been able to branch out and occupy a monthly slot @ Industry Bar, Old Street, in London.

NBDDNM is not the only example of Chelmsford DJs breaking onto the London scene. The Lost Souls daytime residency at Public Life in Brick Lane, which has become recognised as one of the most significant underground events in London, has welcomed regular appearances from the CR's very own Lee Hume, Lepsy, Ro and Avtex.

Other nights have sprung up in allegiance with the very small pool of local DJing talent bolstering the scene and adding variety; these include Pulse, Dujitex, and Korkus. And not to mention, the outstanding and immaculately organised basement party, Cornerbeats @ Cornerhouse - we all eargerly await the next one.

It is with these developments in mind that This.is.Sick embarks on its monthly residency at Bar Toucan. Its purpose will be to bring together the local DJing talent of Chelmsford and also book bigger names that will attract large crowds of like-minded people.

This movement is set to culminate with the Broomfields festival, hopefully opening up a path to bigger and better things: This.is.Sick, NBDDNM, The Chelmsford Ravers, Strong.Look and The Flea Market have collaborated to present a one-day event at a secret location in the Chelmsford area.

The bands include:

Drum of Death (GrecoRoman)
*A Super Super Special Guest*
The Badical
Futurecop!
Cathouse
The Dead Formats

DJs include:

Crossbones
Adverb
Quailman
Ro
Lepsy
Badspeller
Pocobawa
Mark Wrongson
The Dead Formats Sound System







words: Adam Saville