Fabricated is a party that happens on the 3rd Friday of every month at Stone Lounge, in the basement of Revival Bar. A tight crew of what appears to be life-long friends is running this jam. They’re on two years now, and it really seems to be working. Fabricated has a consistent vibe to it, that is attributed to their sound, but most importantly, their patrons. It is without a doubt in my mind the people that make this event series so successful.
After two years, they have one main resident: Matt Coleridge. Matt and his partners program the events each month, and do a really good job of changing up the sound. The 2-year anniversary party featured The Timewriter which was a real treat for house music lovers. I was also fortunate to participate in an event with SCOPE in May. What a blast that was!
A very cool addition to their line-up was also the introduction of the night: Regressive House. Matt and local friend Brad Copeland get out the progressive house vinyl from the early 2000’s and rock it out together for 5 hours. The August installation was amazing!!
They finish each year with a Boxing Day event featuring none other than Neil Quigley. I can honestly say this past one was fabulous. Capacity was reached by about 11pm :)
Well done Fabricated! A brand that has really come into its own in 2011.
BEST SEASONAL SERIES - bouncebythelake @ KCP (like them here!)
So the bounce summer series was so dope this past year. It’s simple; every long weekend in the summer, they throw a FREE 14-hour daytime jam on the patio of a local pub: Keating Channel Pub. This series actually started in the summer of 2010, with a local partner, The Preacherman (who now resides in the USA....so sorry to see you leave man). The great thing about this series is that each party has a different theme from the one before it: nu-disco, techno, funk, deep house.... They hire their favourite local talent to complement each theme. Speaking as a dude who has had the pleasure of throwing down some beats at these parties, I can say that without a doubt, the 2011 series exploded!!! Especially with the beefed up dj booth on the back patio. My god, a pair of CDJ2000’s, usually with an Allan & Heath Xone 92 mixer, all sitting aloft FOUR MASSIVE BASS-BINS!!!!
So this past summer’s series really came together well for these boys. With the weather cooperating on pretty much every event, people have just loved the experience. I know I always say that I’m gonna hang for the whole jam, but the Kronenburg Blanc’s tend to kick in pretty early on the patio, which shamefully sends my ass home early. Each event starts with people hanging at the tables and bobbing their heads. While there is a pretty sizable dance floor in front of the booth, many early dancers tend to keep the party to their individual tables. Of course, as the day progresses (and people have more Blanc’s), the people move to the dancefloor. As the sun goes down, you get this amazing view of the western sky as the beats pick up in tempo and volume. Typically, by 10pm, the whole place is on its feet, hands in air, and just screaming out loud. It’s pretty funny actually. For those that arrive a little later, you actually wonder what the hell is going on out back as the front door seems so tame.
I’m thankful I experienced every single Bounce party at Keating Channel Pub this past summer.
Until 2011, I really spent most of my party times at a petite boite located @ Brant & Adelaide. Times have changed a little for me, and I found myself really interested in some of the events that were going on in Parkdale, specifically on Queen St. W.
Venues like Blondies and Wrongbar come to mind immediately. I loved the diversity of events being offered at these venues this past year. Anything from house music events to punk bands really. These venues are also really interesting as the people have the opportunity to dance their asses off on a great dnacefloor, but also head up to the bar and chat with friends when you needed a bit of a break.
The Great Hall has also re-opened for business effective the Fall of 2011. man, I had no idea this venue could have so much potential for EDM events. It didn't get a load of hype in 2011, but I think that will change in 2012, as more people throw parties there, and hype accompanying these. Check the venue here to read more about it --> THE GREAT HALL
p.s. The photo gallery is limited on that site. Hit me up if you want some other photos of the venue in action ;)
Man...like many other lovers of EDM in Toronto, I've been loving the direction these artists have been taking house music. A chance to see them face-off together could not be missed.
I rolled in the doors by around 11pm and W+L were kicking off in true form. My description of the opening theme was 80's re-edits and remixes. A sound that had a really nostalgic feel, but of course with some modern updates. It felt a little weird to be at FW dancing to this music, but you can't argue with good music. I think I even had my arms up shaking to a few Parachute Club re-edits early on in the eve.
Soulclap rolled into the venue shortly after midnight, and they really took the party to another level. I seem to recall them getting on the mic a few times to let the crowd know some of the tracks that were being played. They seemed to be particularly stoked about playing VOICES OF BLACK. Solide tunage.
I literally danced the entire time I was at this party. It was a blast to here remixes of old combined with cutting edge newer productions.
BEST HANGOVER - Maya Jane Coles @ Wrongbar (like MJC here!)
Thank you Platform and Wrongbar for the worst Friday hangover I've had in years. This Thursday night jam was totally hot!! I got there as doors opened, and it was amazing to see this place fill up so quickly. I'd say by midnight my friends were texting me from the line outside. Intense man.
I can't remember when I left this party, but it was all about the tunes being delievered by this tiny girl in the booth...lol! MJC had a really interesting mix of some house tunage with some super fantastic basslines. The track that comes to mind for me at this party was EATS EVERYTHING - ENTRANCE SONG.
Our photographer used some interesting techniques to get this panoramic view of the venue. I thought it would be impossible to get the entire space in one image. I proved wrong...
Yohan
quote:
Originally posted by jon jon
lolz woops forgot that one!
the vibe on this boat is always next level, + getting to open for C&C was :crazy: :crazy:
lol. reka doing the yohan pose. (everyone looks like they are having a blast except one person looks so serious)
Skipper
quote:
Originally posted by kotsy
Tale of Us @ Old Miami
Great track! Even Verona likes it :D
patpicos
Sasha @ Stereo (mentalllll)
Digweed @ Guv
Prosumer @ loft on Parliament
C&C labor day boat cruise
Carl Cox @ Downsview
Whole labor day weekend (best weekend of the year with DEMF)
-Nicole Moudaber + Carl Cox @ Stereo
-Misstress Barbara @ Piknic
-Alan Fitzpatrick @ PikNic
DEMF - Old Miami
DEMF - Sven Vath
DEMF - Fatboy Slim
Robert Babicz @ FW
Disapointments:
Digweed @ Circus on Labor Day wkend
Marco Carola @ FW
kotsy
quote:
Originally posted by Yohan
lol. reka doing the yohan pose. (everyone looks like they are having a blast except one person looks so serious)
That's my pose, actually (holding a camera steady to shoot a video)
Nobbie Q
Hmmm...didn't go to too many parties last year. But I'd say Digweed at Guv and Manuel de la Mare at Cobra were the two best parties for me. I actually really liked what Manuel was playing. Musically it was awesome.
Disappoints? I'd say Lee Burridge at Stereo in Sept. That was really boring.
Skipper
Seeing as I was not in Toronto for 8 months of the year, I went to even fewer parties than usual, but one that stood out that was a complete random decision was the Prosumer party at the Parliament loft. A complete sweatbox of deep house and tech, a crate of vinyl, a down to earth DJ, a packed dancefloor, booze served til closing and a huge outdoor patio.
I didn't go to very many parties while I was traveling, but these stood out:
SONAR - Barcelona
This was my first time at Sonar and it exceeded all of my expectations. Arrived Thursday, and first order of business was the Friday Watergate party at the Hotel Miramar. This was a party you had to RSVP for in advance and there was no general admittance at the door. Line up: Sebo K, Solomun, Soul Clap, Heidi and some others.
Logistically, the party was a bit of a mess. From late afternoon to about 10pm, the DJs played on the roof, where the dancefloor was tiny and there were NO bathrooms. Although you could ideally walk down one level to the bathrooms where admittance was, once the party filled up, security managed a 1 in, 1 out deal to the roof. We were lucky enough to see this happening and didn't lose our place on the roof. However, eventually this caused an extreme bathroom situation where people began urinating in the planter pots that separated the party's area with the hotel's rooftop restaurant.
Soul Clap was the highlight. Lots of hipster Berlin folks but also randomly met someone from NYC that knew our friend She_Fitz :)
View was amazing.
After Watergate, we went to Sonar the actual party. It was worth seeing once but the music left much to be desired. Relentless, souless, grating, and the enormous venue was just too impersonal. Tiga's closing set improved things slightly. At this point, the party was a major sausage fest.
Saturday - sleep until 5pm.
Sunday - wake up for the Drumcode party @ EL ROW. El Row is a club located near the Barcelona airport and run by the guys that do Florida 135 in Fraga and Monegros desert festival. Bangin techno is usually the order of the day. This party had Ben Sims, Adam Beyer, Joseph Capriati ,Paul Ritch, Umek and others. Arrived to Ben Sims throwing down to an absolutely packed house (total venue holds 800 in 3 rooms).
El Row is a major pain to get to (cost 50 euros and took us three separate cabs to find the place) but it was worth every cent. We all left covered in random like stickers and glitter, carrying pool noodles and deflated inflatable devices.
10/10
I wouldn't hesitate to go back to Sonar this year since I will be living in Europe, however there are so many other good festivals to check out.
August - Riva Discotheque - Split Croatia
The only other party I went to was in August in Split, Croatia. This is an open air party on the main promenade and apparently in its first year when Carl Cox played (2010), it earned the title for the world's biggest dancefloor. It's the largest party production I have ever seen and I really figured out how Croatians like to party haaaaard!
Hearing Faithless perform Insomnia live with 10,000+ other partiers was just aaaaawesome. Videos don't even covey the scale of this event, it was practically it's own postal code.
ItalianPoiSon
I like these threads lol
I havent been to nearly as many as events as most ppl on here but...
Best Dj Set
Steve Angello @ Guv in April for the Size Tour and his 15th Anny were killer
Now i'm trying to remember but I can't recall which night it was but Manzone and Strong closed the main room after some headliner ended and they started around 4am but they proceeded to kick that clubs ass... one of there best sets i hered from them...
I enjoyed Sanders set also in the main room back in Oct...
Worest Dj Set
Martinez Bro. at This is London in Sept
Avicii @ LoL, way tooo comercial for my liking and i can generally put up with that...
Best Compilation Album
Avicii - Strictly Miami and yes i bought it!
My Biggest Misses
Steve Lawler boat cruise
Carl Cox @ Warehouse
I'm also happy to say Sander van Doorn is finally starting to play good music again, after the last 2 years of playing uplifting fluffy trance......
kotsy
quote:
Originally posted by Skipper
wow!! that looks ing incredible!
I really want to check out row 14 at some point too. Read a couple articles about it in some UK mags and it sounds completely BONKERS!
quote:
Originally posted by ItalianPoiSon
Worest Dj Set
Speaking of worst... :p
The Highroller
quote:
Originally posted by Skipper
At this point, the party was a major sausage fest.
That's a surprise. When I went there, the girls were stunning, right until when the party finished at 8am.
irGO
quote:
Originally posted by Skipper
WOW - that video view from the roof of MIRAMAR is unreal!!! Not bad to check out whilst jamming to Soul Clap.
