Hello London,

After a month and a half on a rave-fast, I can genuinely recommend taking a break if you tend to go out regularly. It really puts things into perspective. Naturally, my first all-nighter back ended with me in a WW2 bunker listening to brain-numbing hardcore that could probably raise the dead. I sure have missed raving!

This week brings AVA London, one of the city’s few conferences dedicated to electronic music and nightlife. There are talks with industry stalwarts, as well as mixers and events spread across the city, so it is worth checking out if you work in the scene. We’ve also pulled together a list of October events worth booking early – before the ticket prices start behaving badly.

Now for the raves.

Thursday is stacked with promising, and mostly free, options. Sama’ Abdulhadi is at DJ Mag, while fabric hosts two AVA-related events, one at the Mezzanine and another at The Cross with Or:la b2b YuSu.

I usually find Outernet Live a little too polished and corporate for my taste, but a lineup with Blawan, Mala, and Bitter Babe will be hard to ignore on Friday. If you want something housier, Youandewan and Liquid Earth are at Village Underground. Also worth a look is SHIFT_Mixer, an industry social hosted by melodic house duo Nichols+Roark.

Saturday has a strong mix of big names and local heroes. 808 State will bring some old-school acid-tinged house to The Fox & Firkin, while TIMANTI is celebrating Tribelife’s first birthday in the FOLD Steam Room. If you want something more community-led with excellent value, head to Bread and Butter for the FrontLeft Fundraiser, then roll on to Nan’s Basement at a (very) nearby secret location. You can get into both for under £12, and hear the very best of underground house sounds. Shhh... you didn’t hear that from me.

Sunday is just as busy, with Terry Francis, Grace Sands, UNFOLD, and GIANT STEPS all in the mix. You are going to be spoiled for choice.

Cheers,
Afaan

P.S. There’s a discount code hiding somewhere in the links ;)

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