Hello London,

By the time this email reaches you, I’ll be in Ibiza for IMS — the electronic music conference that more or less kicks off spring/summer party season on the legendary island. If you happen to be out there too, come say hi.

If you came to our Open Decks last week, you’ll know the Lab.Club venue just got a little upgrade: Klipsch Heritage speakers and a full club lighting system. So, in honour of high-fidelity sound, I’ve pulled together a list of hi-fi listening bars that deserve a spot on your radar.

Also, If London’s rave scene has felt exciting but hard to break into, I’ve written an article on how to find your tribe and why the right community often comes through consistency, curiosity and showing up. Read here.

Now for the raves.

I’ve been seeing ads for this one for months: Carl Craig lands at The Roundhouse for a live show this Friday, and honestly, I’m jealous I can’t go. Jimpster is at Hootananny with his signature deep house sound, and if you want something with more of a community feel, head to Scuttlebutt.

On Saturday, BASHKKA will be bringing the house down at Number 90 for BRAMA, where I also happen to be playing the chillout room on the boat — plug. Next door, local queer party heroes The Blocks are hosting a free warm-up, so don’t miss that either. But the main event is probably Art of Dark going all out for their April Bonanza across FOLD (on Saturday night, and The Goose & Number 90 (Sunday daytime), with Jane Fitz, Jeremy Sylvester, and a host of DJs worth showing up early for.

On Sunday, you can go soft with Giant Steps or harder with some industrial sounds at The Tate Institute.

Ready for the floor,
Afaan

PS - We’ve been working behind the scenes to create a Lab.Club App. Sign up here for early beta access.

Listening Bars

  1. Bambi
    A London Fields listening bar that leans as hard into Mediterranean plates as it does vinyl.

  2. Behind This Wall
    Hidden under Hackney Central, this basement favourite is all about a warm vintage system, seated cocktails and eclectic vinyl-led listening.

  3. Hausu
    Right by Peckham Rye station, Hausu brings together a vintage hi-fi setup, strong cocktails and a small-plates menu.

  4. Jazu
    Deptford’s Jazu is a stripped-back hi-fi bar with a custom soundsystem and expansive vinyl library.

  5. Space Talk
    In Clerkenwell, Space Talk pairs a bespoke sound system with genre-spanning curation and a more design-led feel.

London Raves This Week

Wednesday & Thursday

  1. Drum & Lace (EP Launch) + Kate Fleur-Young
    @ The Waiting Room (Live Electronic, IDM, Ambient)

  2. Solar Flares: Earth Night Fundraiser [Free Event]

    @ One Eighty One (Disco, Soul, House, Trip-Hop)

  3. MID WEEK SESSION XXVIII
    @ The Glove that Fits (Techno, Electro)

  4. SISU - Kitsch, Little Hats + More

    @ Ballroom at Palais (Women-led crew, multiple genres)

Friday

  1. Carl Craig Live and Octave One Live
    @ The Roundhouse (Detroit Techno, House)

  2. Jimpster, Irfan Rainy + KISA
    @ Hotananny Brixton (Deep House)

  3. ||||||||||||||||||||, Louf + More
    @ The Glove That Fits (Experimental, Electronica

  4. Sounds Crazy presents LDN 001 [Secret Headliner]
    @ The Waiting Room (Drum & Bass)

  5. UPSAMMY, TORUS, EMMA DJ & MORE
    @ MOT (Experimental, IDM, Club)

  6. Scuttlebutt 4.0
    @ Low Profile Studios (Breakbeat, Electro, Electronica)

  7. Tilted: Chris Husky, Paperplane, Simik
    @ Nico’s Bar (Electronica)

Saturday

  1. Art of Dark - Jane Fitz, Jeremy Sylvester + More
    @ FOLD, Number 90, The Goose (Minimal, Tech-House)

  2. Pangaea (All Night Long)
    @ Palais (Techno, UK Bass)

  3. BASHKKA, Stella Zekri, Michael Upson + More
    @ Number 90 (Queer Techno, House & Disco)

  4. The Blocks [free Brama warm-up]
    @ Number 90 (House)

  5. Beatrice M. b2b Manami, INGI (live), Wordcolour

    @ Ormside Projects (Dubstep, Bass)

  6. HOWL Queer Rave - LSDXOXO
    @ Colour Factory (Cunty Tech, House, Club)

  7. Surusinghe (All Night Long)
    @ The Carpet Shop (Broken-Beat, Techno, Bass)

  8. QUEENIEPRINX&pals [Fundraiser]

    @ Groovetank Live (Bass, Techno, House)

Sunday

  1. Russell Haswell MICROCORPS Wes Baggaley
    @ The Tate Institute (Experimental, Industrial, Techno)

  2. GIANT STEPS - Alexander Nut
    @ The Bath House (Chill, Multi-Genre)


Collaborate with Us

Our mission at Lab.Club is to serve the growing electronic dance community in London. Got some news to share with us? An event? A DJ? A set we should listen to? Feedback on this email?

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