Partying down South for May Day

Story by John Power, le cool London & Slutty Fringe
Photo courtesy Trouble Vision

So it’s the May Day bank holiday weekend and what better way to celebrate International Worker’s Day by huddling under a duvet after a weekend spent clubbing? Luckily, with the volcano cloud blown over, London’s clubs are once again packed out with some of the world’s best DJs, all eager to ease your passage into the recovery position.

What is interesting is how many of those international deckstars will be heading south of the Thames. After years in the clubbing wilderness, the past few months have seen south London enjoy quite a renaissance, with Brixton, London Bridge and Elephant & Castle all competing to steal the spotlight away from clubbing's traditional north/east heartlands. 

Elephant & Castle, in particular, has stepped up its game. Much of that is thanks to Corsica Studios whose forward thinking musical policy and regular nights like Trouble Vision, which this Friday sees Toddla T and Raf Daddy launch their Girls Music label, have rightly made it one of the UK's best loved clubs.

Mixing up everything from bassline house and dancehall through to funky, dubstep and electro, Trouble Vision is currently one of the best parties in town. The last few have been total roadblocks, so my advice is to get there early.

Meanwhile next door, The Coronet is enjoying its own purple patch. Whilst Corsica Studios remains a hit with the more underground crowd, The Coronet is scoring big with their weekly Together party which this Friday reaches the midway point of its incredible genre bending first season.  

Having already played host to the likes of Mylo, Cassius, Todd Edwards, Rob Da Bank and Sinden this week, it’s the turn of genuine house legend Felix da Housecat to headline another massive, eclectic line-up that also features Digitalism, Wild Geese and rising star Burns. 

What’s all the more surprising though is that Friday’s Together party isn't even the best thing on at The Coronet this weekend. That honour falls to Saturday when globetrotting electro party Planet Turbo powers in. Put together by Turbo Recordings’ Tiga, the night promises to assault all your senses with an over the top light n' laser display and heavyweight acts such as Erol Alkan, Boys Noize and Trevor Jackson playing alongside the Canadian superstar producer/DJ.

With Monday to sleep off our excesses, there’s no let up on Sunday. And though it's tempting to just hide in the toilets and wait for The Coronet to open for their third big party of the weekend (This Is Not London with Armand Van Helden) it's only fair to give the poor neglected citizens of North London a look in.

Polish off a sizeable roast and jump on the Northern Line to Camden where, as long as you can actually get in, few places are as guaranteed to go off on a bank holiday weekend as The Lock Tavern. Hosted by Bloggers Delight, it’s an extra special party tonight as they're celebrating four years of jams that have seen everyone from Justice through to James Murphy take to the decks.

Joining residents Casper C, Skull Juice and NikNikNik in blowing out the candles is quite possibly the only producer around who could find a home on labels run by the aforementioned Tiga and Aphex Twin, DMX Krew. Playing a special disco/boogie set he'll be getting the night nicely warmed up before the brilliant Hot City takes over with his mix of funky, rave, house and garage. Expect pogo-ing room only by early evening.

After all that it's just as well that we've got Monday off work to recover and aren’t expected to stand in the street waving flags at passing missiles. In fact if you really want to strike a blow for worker’s rights you may want to consider taking off the Tuesday as well, after all it's only a few days till the next weekend and you need to keep your strength up.

CLUB URLS

trouble vision - http://www.corsicastudios.com

together - http://www.together-club.co.uk/

planet turbo - http://www.buggedout.net/

bloggers delight - http://www.lock-tavern.co.uk

toddla - http://www.toddlat.com

VENUE ADDRESSES

Corsica studios, unit 4/5, elephant rd, London

The Coronet, 28 New Kent Road, London SE1 6TJ 

The Lock Tavern, 35 Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8AJ

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