We’re chucking another log on it. Rehab, Boxing Day 9pm till 4am

We’re getting a few hundred FIRE branded 3D glasses made up, we’ve booked some top class DJ’s, they have been making and collecting some super-doop musics, we’ve been creating some head mashing 3D video and planning what lights, props, toys, tricks, boxes and bits to bring.

This time I’m hoping to capture it all on time-lapse – 12 hours or so from get in at 4pm ish to last orders at 4am. Quite excited about this one. I’m hoping to do two DJ sets – one early doors, chilled vibes, South American textured, heavy bass line stuff, then perhaps another set upstairs on the brand new booth later on – some right old funk and beats. Still not quite sorted the full line up upstairs, but downstairs looks like a doozie! Check out the facebook page for more intel. Hope to see you there!

FIRE 50 photo set on flickr

What an innings. x 50 FIRE parties. Officially half centurions. I am the only person who has attended every minute of all of them (Allan nearly has, but he had to chip off early from one a few years ago as his better half went into labor – pathetic excuse if you ask me.)

What a party the 50th was. We were the official after party to the Harrogate Fringe festival – which itself was brilliant fun from what we saw. The set up for this FIRE, even though we were in a smaller space was way bigger than it normally was. We decided to go on the slightly smaller top floor and have it as more of a VIP party – wristbands and guestlist. It worked. Such a nice atmosphere in there. Those that were there had made an effort to get in there and as a result, it was spot on.

Only downside was that Dharma was away – playing a festival in France (again, pathetic excuse) – but we got old fave Craig Cameron in to fill the void and fill it he did. Loved his set. Len and Jimmy on the sax and trumpet were on top form as well and I had a right good bash on the congas for quite a while. All the other DJ’s were also superb – including new boy Nick Wakefield who did the tricky 4 – 6am slot.

Bottom Of The Bottle downstairs was so complimentary to our gig – and vice verca – I’m surprised we haven’t done it before! We declared the v’s bit and official draw. A second test is on the cards.

Looking forward to the next one – a new invigoration of enthusiasm has come about us – probably something to do with the milestone, something to do with the new format we tried out, something to do with it being such a top fun good times great songs ninety seven point two.

Harrogate Fringe Festival ‘Grand Finale’. We’ve been asked to chuck another log on it for the official after party to the Harrogate Fringe Festival. There’s the ‘Crawl’ day on the 31st featuring shed loads of bands across umpteen venues in Harrogate and we’ll be wrapping up the show with double dose of  party at Rehab, downtown Harrogate.

“It’s gonna be a belter”. We’re taking on the mighty Bottom of the Bottle =- we’ll do one floor, they’ll do the other (TBD which way round..) Wrist band holders from any of the day event means FREE ENTRANCE / priority clearance (subject to capacity).

For some reason, the last two FIRE parties have borne the above mantra.

Having thought that the VOTE fire edition was incredible, I was secretly worried that this would not come close, but it did. Musically I kicked off the night with some down tempo / lounge / Latin type stuff – which people seemed to (gulp – dare I say) like. By 10 the bar was buzzing and smilling, drinking and chatting. Dharma took the musical helm at 11 and played a superb house / funk type vibe for a couple of hours, then into the legendary set of Archio Banquarta who rocked the joint. Wrapping up the night – the freshly named K2 Brothers went with a deep tech set. Meanwhile Blake was playing upstairs – He’d been briefed on doing a Dub / Reggae / Babylon and ting type set but ended up playing Balkan Gypsy set. I liked what I heard – he also played out a couple of tracks that himself and good friend Vicky had made – sounded superb. It was pretty rammed upstairs as well as downstairs all night, till about 3 ish anyway before the aircon blew upstairs (it’s no good cap’n, they cannie take it) flooding water into the top bar, rendering it unpunterable.

The look of the place was at another level as well – along with the acre of red and yellow material donning the roofs (that we blagged from someone who blagged it from someone who took it off the top of the millennium dome) we were also blessed with two screens, one of which I’d put a couple hundred vintage FIRE PHOTOS on there, the other screen Si Hudson did a superb VJ set upon.

Thanks to everyone involved – the artists, the performers, the staff and everyone who brought smiled and dancing shoes.

Photos to follow (soon!)

Next FIRE – 31st July : FIRE v Bottom Of The Bottle @ REHAB

30th May : FIRE, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

A poster design for the next FIRE party at Rehab, Harrogate on the 30th May. It’s a Bank Holiday Sunday. Pop in for details.

Bit bored of politics?

Then why not

THIS VERY SUNDAY

more deets and what have you : here>>

FIRE : May2, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

We’re chucking another log on the FIRE. A Bank Holiday special. 2nd May, Rehab, Harrogate (pictured here).

I’ve uploaded 36 of my photos from FIRE last Sunday..

Click to visit the set on flickr.

It’s…

Links:
FIRE website
Facebook event page

Doors open about 9.30. See you there!

Anyone up for a party? We’re chucking another Yule Log on it.
Christmas Jumpers for goal posts. . .It’s..

TONIGHT:

Bloggin from the field – quick on the spot report from Lime Tree Festival, Stage II, aka the Jason Rae, aka circus circus, aka the fun zone, aka the Smyth and 3 Matt’s stage. What a festival it’s been so far. The Gentleman’s Dub Club on early doors yesterday were the dogs – should of headlined this tent last night (imho). It’s bigger than Thornborough was (on the same site a few weeks ago) Where as that felt like a gathering, this feels more like a festival – partly because we don’t know everyone and partly because it’s got a different raw edge to it. Or something. Loving it anyway – shouldn’t compair the two really, both totally different things but this fest, thanks to it’s £60 pre sale ticket price has had more buying power for some ace acts. Not sure about some of the music policy decisions but it’s all worked out nicely! ANyhoo – we take over tonight.. FIRE ! bish bash bosh.

Just about to sound check Light Garden who seem a lovely couple with a range of fascinating instruments.

I’ve just watched Harrogate Brio’s (the town one, not Hornbeam) restaurant burn down. Working at the Harrogate International today (doing tekky stuff), glanced out and the whole area was covered with really thick white smoke. I got outside and I could hear what sounded like a fireworks display – loads of cracking and banging. I followed that and the first thing I saw was huge flames coming out the roof and hundreds of tiles exploding. The flames got bigger and swept across the roof, 5 minutes later the fire brigade turned up and started tooling up. They initially pumped loads of water on adjacent buildings. Paul Q (yes the an ex FIRE resident DJ!) turned up with a digital camera and we took loads of shots


After a while we watched what was left of the roof cave in and the fire rip through the first floor. It took the brigade quite a while to tackle the blaze but eventually the reduced it to smoke. Everywhere now stinks of smoke (I’m currently in Queens Suite) Just come from the the main auditorium at HIC which is still filled with smoke as the air con in take must have been in direct line of the smoke.

So quite an eventful fathers day! I got a keyring torch off the boys. Felix made me breakfast in bed which consisted of cornflakes and strawberry blamanche. Nice!

Follow the link below to see the fire photo’s.



Fire II Photos

What a night that was. Superb. Thanks for coming and participating if you were there. We are already thinking about the next one!

Email just in.. I’m patiently awaiting your reply to my e-mail sent to you several days ago,

I must confess to being slightly perturbed at your slow response, also after

touch ) gobsmacked.

Dear Kind Sir,

On account of breaking down last nights gig equipment and driving to Cambridge and back today, I have not had chance to publish my warm words of praise and thanks to all the DragonDroplets out there for their support and participation, but please – stay tooned for a cracking collection of photo’s and stuff.

Warm Regards,

Matt.