UKF and Desperados 'hack' cities with young creatives

The brands have partnered up to challenge artists and promoters to throw a one of a kind party in their hometown, whilst setting them a series of challenges.

Becca Frankland

Date published: 27th Aug 2015

Desperados have joined forces with the electronic music channel UKF for City Hack, a project which has seen DJs, artists, designers and promoters come together in groups to compete to grab the attention of their respective cities.

Each team from London, Manchester and Bristol consists of four creative minds who are taking part in a series of City Hack challenges to establish their urban brand, with the aim of executing an unforgettable, one of a kind dance music event. 

Challenge one was to Hack The System, which required the groups from each city to create a music video that represented their crew and home town, whilst receiving mentoring from some of the most successful professionals in the business. 

The following challenge, Hack The City, was all about making the brand known to the city through a name, visual ID and a stunt (check it all out above). London's team The Big Smoke arranged red coloured smoke to come out of the Truman Brewery to fit their theme, and made history when the chimney smoked for the first time in over twenty years.

Bristol's Shifted Spaces hosted a boat party on an old navy ship complete with tonnes of production equipment and Manchester's Rain City Movement crew put on a night in the city, using a huge screen on a van to generate buzz ahead of the gathering.

All of this took place to push their 'Red' parties as part of the Hack The Space challenge, which will take place on Thursday 27th August. This then leads them to their last hurdle, Hack The Bill, in which all the teams go head to head with themselves and Sub Focus at London's Building 6, with the winner retaining the crowd from the main room.

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