Review: Swing Dash at Everyday People

In a modest little restaurant bursting at the seams, faces glowing under neon lights and heavy grins, Notts-based DJ community and studio Swing Dash cooked up a storm of a party. Snuck inside none other Nottingham’s top ramen joint Everyday People, the restaurant became the perfect, one-night-only location for Swing Dash’s first official solo event. Usually unassuming, the Everyday People was transformed into a buzzing hive of tasty beats and intense energy, courtesy of a sold-out crowd, low lights and a makeshift DJ booth constructed in the kitchen itself.

With no precedent of events at Everyday People, an infamous hangout for the fashionable and foodie alike, it wasn’t clear what to expect. But man, did it deliver. An eclectic mix of international music, disco, dance and RnB cuts, the party hosted a line-up perfectly curated by the founder of Swing Dash, Felix Coulton. Aïcha, Nottingham local and founder of female-run DJ collective Honeydips, kicked off the night, with sweet disco sounds and whole lot of tasty RnB.

Next to spin tunes alongside the saucepans was Bristol-based DJ Bruce, a heavy hitter in the South West and a connoisseur of soul, house and disco who kept the party simmering and the vibes flowing. Accessible even for those new to events such as this, the music throughout the night was seamless and exciting, creating a space to dance but also to meet and mingle within the Notts music community.

Last to play was Morey Cillar, a big name in his current hometown Bristol and a radio regular on NTS and Noods radio, as well as owner of second-hand record store Disk Frisk. He kept the party going well into the early hours with a heady blend of weird and wonky tracks, new beats and old keeping the crowd hooked and heaving until the bitter end. Swing Dash well and truly smashed their first solo event, the natural wine was flowing readily and euphoria was thick in the air.

Never before has Nottingham seen quite so much innovation in the dance music scene, with collaboration between independent businesses and brands everywhere you look and new events and surprising venues regularly being developed and unveiled. Swing Dash x Everyday People was a coming together of two powerhouse names, Everyday People unexpectedly becoming the perfect venue for this party.

The faces of the Notts DJ community and beyond came in full force to support this event, and by proxy our flourishing and thriving music scene, and it was a joy to be a part of something so visceral, honest and community-focused. What a delicious night to remember, and the only question left to ask is – when is the next one?

@swingdash