Review: Fabric 13th Birthday

The Fabric Birthday is somewhat of an institution in the clubbing calendar. Some say it’s because of the list of headliners as long as your arm; some say it’s the 32 hour non-stop party; and some say it’s the unparalleled sound system.

Whatever the reason, all I know is that the 13th birthday party was at the weekend, and I wanted an invite. We arrived at the venue around midnight and were greeted with the customary mammoth queue - granted a little smaller than previous birthdays, but mammoth nonetheless.

This alone is enough to put punters off before they have even begun, but persevere and I promise it is worth it. Inside, and the breathtaking sound system was in full swing, pulsating with the sounds of Italian duo Tale of Us. Playing slightly harder than their usual funky vocal-driven productions, the rolling basslines of each techno track gained interest from the crowd from the offset.

Riding on each high and drop, the duo’s unmistakable groove was reminiscent of a Berlin club and the nicely busy dancefloor meant that the extended four-hour set flew by.

Next up was Chicago house legend DJ Sneak, a personal favourite and one of the highlights of the night. A natural pace-setter, Sneak manages to inject his soulful flavour into any hard techno set, introducing funky melodies and driving beats that create an energetic atmosphere.

Most of the night was spent dancing our socks off in room one, however we did manage to catch some of Levon Vincent in room three. His dark hypnotic house corresponded perfectly with the smaller attic room, with the atmosphere reminiscent of Panorama Bar in Berlin.

Leaving just short of 9am, we left with the feeling that Fabric’s 13th Birthday celebration was one of enjoyment and gratification. The music was first class from start to finish, and although busy it didn’t feel too crowded or oversold, a common variable with venues nowadays.

Another plus point is that you can enjoy all of the niceties of an established nightclub; nice toilets, air conditioning, and top notch audio systems - elements that are so often missed in the prominent London warehouse scene. No matter what, Fabric is and will always be a clubbing institution. Here’s to another year.

Words: Katie Grange

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