Our Eileen gives us the lowdown on what to expect from Discotech and The Waves at Rough Trade this Friday...
Nottingham has hardly been quiet over the summer; from Craig Richards at the Contemporary to rooftop dos at The Golden Fleece, we've had plenty of chance to dance this year. One brand responsible for keeping us grooving over these sunny months has been The Waves, as part of 301 – a Midlands-based musical collective comprising of promoters from Derby, Leicester and Nottingham. Together, they brought heavyweight Jack Wickham to Rough Trade last August, transforming it into a creative paradise filled with art on the walls as well as for sale, to accompany the alternative beats.
Waving goodbye to the warmer weather and the copious amount of outdoor 4/4 activities it brings with it is usually a sad occasion, but it’s not all bad news. Naturally, when students arrive back in Autumn then so does the packed party calendar of mammoth headliners, with one such night kicking off very soon.
On Friday 2 November, The Waves is back again, joining forces with the esteemed Derby-based discotech crew, who’re also part of the 301 collective. Together, they’re bringing rising star Kepler to headline Rough Trade, alongside ex-Leftback label boss, Michael McLardy. Believe it or not, it’s a local affair…
Though he cut his teeth on the well-respected Leeds nightlife scene, holding residencies at Mint club and now, MASS, Kepler’s roots lie in our fine city. With support for his tracks coming from the likes of minimal master, Raresh, to name just one, it’s with open arms that he returns to his Midlands home territory.
Adding to the Midlands crew, Michael is not a local but has been a steady member of the scene for years, running labels (Left Wing and Leftback) and nights in the area. Now championing a slightly new, darker sound, the night acts as a playground to sample his change in direction.
Completing the lineup is The Waves founder, Louis Knight, alongside Blason, with discotech’s Dist'N Streak and Angle.
Ran by serious sound addicts, it’s no surprise they’re kitting out the venue with a premium Funktion One soundsystem, ensuring every beat gets the blasting it deserves. Both The Waves and discotech are also champions of paying attention to the atmosphere, turning Rough Trade’s intimate dancefloor into a warped-out wonderland, with the help of 3D projected visuals.
With both nights and each artist boasting a strong following, we expect this do to be a gathering of the finest Midlands music heads.
discotech x The Waves with Kepler. and Michael McLardy takes place on Friday 2 November at Rough Trade. Grab a ticket online.
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