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Spacific
Spacific's monthly bar event introduces London to great music from about as far away from Brick Lane as it's possible to get. We find out more from the Spacific crew...What's your night called?
Spacific
Who are you?
Spacific is a multimedia collective dedicated to promoting creative culture, especially music, from Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Our first event was held back in 2001 at Cargo and was intended as a one-off night to showcase Pitch Black to UK labels, with Mike Hodgson from the band bringing most of the team together to work on the project. We were all shocked by how popular the night was but thought nothing of it until April 2002 when emails began arriving announcing the prescence in Europe in July of Salmonella Dub (on Tour of France), Fat Freddys Drop (going to Germany to sign a record deal), Pitch Black, International Observer and Epsilon_blue (all playing at the Big Chill festival). such an confluence couldnt be ignored and we managed to wangle hiring Fabric for the night.
In 2003 we formally adopted the name "Spacific" as we found most Brits couldn't pronounce Aotearoa (the nights had previously been called "The Underground Sounds of the Aotearoanz" and "Return of the Aotearoanz" respectively). since then we have stumbled on, with no major game plan or motive other than promoting the music we love. we have hosted events at Cargo, Fabric, Koko, The Forum, Plastic People, The Big Chill Bar and Neighbourhood in London, La Sal in Barcelona, Taboo in Madrid and the Batofar in Paris. In February we pay our first visit to The Big Chill House to commemorate Waitangi Day, New Zealand's defacto national day.
What's the music policy for your night?
Our main focus is obviously to promote New Zealand music, so we only book New Zealand based artists or New Zealand DJs. Our residents also spin 100% New Zealand music in their sets, although our visiting DJs are free to play what they like.
Who has played, or is going to play at your residency?
In the past... Pitch Black, International Observer, Nathan Haines, Mark de Clive Lowe, Pacific Heights, Ike, Flic and many more. Coming up... Jason Lonsdale, Usha, Jamie Robertson, Dean Webb and whoever is in town over the next year or so.
If money was no object, and you could book any line-up of DJs and bands living or dead, who would play?
From New Zealand, would have to be Pitch Black, Salmonella Dub, Fat Freddys Drop, Trinity Roots, Opensouls, Kora, SJD, Dimmer to start with ...
From the world at large Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Fela Kuti, The Beta Band, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley and the Wailers and so forth ...
What are your current top 5 tunes?
From New Zealand:
1. Believen' - son.sine featuring D.E.W.
2. Collie Dub (Sola Rosa remix) - Katchafire
3. Bring Change - Shapeshifter
4. Heavy Mono E - The Black Seeds
5. Dressing Down - Hummel
From the world:
1. Blue Eyez - Skream
2. Make Animals Happy - Warp Technique
3. The Growler - 3rd Ear Audio
4. Thursday Night at the Fillmore - Miles Davis
5. Babyboomtown - Babyhead
What three things would your ideal bar have to have?
A humidor, lots of speakers so that you can always hear the music and the person you are talking to but without the volume being too loud, an outdoor area.
I'm just on my way to the bar - what I get you?
A cold pint of Budvar to start with, then an Appleton's on ice, please!
Ideal evening chilling at home?
Bottle of pinot noir and a good movie, thanks.
Favourite places?
Golden Bay, New Zealand
San Francisco
Barcelona
What are you working on at present?
Shows by The Feelers for February, Elemeno P for April, Katchafire for July plus album releases by 3rd Ear Audio, International Observer and Pitch Black, as well as co-ordinating bookings for Babyhead's new album tour. Oh, and our new online cd store, at www.spacific.net.
What would most like to achieve over the next five years?
For the company, a hosted stage at The Big Chill Festival would be a good start! Other than that, for more music lovers to become aware of the amazing talent down under.
What was your Top Big Chill moment?
Last year Jamie Lidell and Amadou & Mariam. Best monent ever, Antibalas on Sunday night in 2003 - it was raining, and the crowd was only 400 odd but the band were on top form and the energy was amazing.
Thanks!
www.spacific.net
Written: 4th Jan, 07
Read: 2026 times
