Opening its doors for the first time on the 4th of February 2017, the way in which Printworks has retained its relevancy is something all of clubland can admire. Not only this but the way the venue continues to push boundaries, as it has done since it first opened, is another factor to behold. As various programmers have come and gone, the spaces ability to maintain it’s stature as one of the capital’s most impressive venues is far from flailing, especially when considering the wealth of talent who have just been announced to play in its Spring schedule.
Even prior to this announcement, however, there was already an excellent bill for 2019. Offering an array of talent that caters for electronic music fans from nearly all ends of the spectrum, this run-through of our favourite upcoming events is a nod to the more underground side of the venue’s programming. If an event tickles your fancy then we would advise not to sleep on tickets.
Kicking things off on February 1st is La Discoteheque. As one of the UK’s most renowned disco brands, the fact that they will be bringing a bonafide icon to the Surrey Quays venue should come as no surprise. Horse Meat Disco, The 2 Bears, Cassius, and Jocelyn Brown will all be warming up the Press Halls, setting the tone for Derrick Carter to close proceedings. A certified legend of Chicago house, this will certainly be something special.
Fast forward a month, and the 9th of March sees Kerri Chandler present a Kaoz showcase. London showcases seem to be few and far between for the label frontman, so any opportunity deserves to be jumped upon. Supporting him are some heavyweights of the electronic music scene, ranging from Motor City Drum Ensemble to one-third of Apollonia, Dyed Soundorom, right the way through to a live set from Mr. G.
For those looking for a techno dose, look no further than the end of March where Ben Klock‘s renowned Photon party will be returning on the 30th. Having occurred consecutively for the last two years, the industrial, cold metal setting of the former printing factory is a near-perfect backdrop for the hard, driving sound of all those on the bill. Rodhad, Dax J and techno duo FJAAK will all be in attendance, alongside a unique set from hardware maestro KiNK who will be performing a special vs. set with his alternative alias Kirilik.
The cream of the crop, in our opinion, will be the event occurring on the 21st of April. Having just been announced in the Spring schedule, RPR Soundsystem will be making a special appearance in the Press Halls. The trio, formed of Raresh, Petre Inspirescu, Rhadoo are, arguably, the figureheads responsible for bringing the Romanian minimal scene to a wider global audience. Legends in their own right, though their humble modesty would never see them admit to such a title, their label, [a:rpia:r], is responsible for fostering and nurturing the careers of many artists who are now world-renowned.
What makes this outing particularly special, however, is that the trio will be performing a rare live Audio-visual set, in conjunction with DreamrecVJ. Within the Romanian scene, the visual element of the party is arguably as important as the music being played. It is an integral part of the event, where both elements work in conjunction to craft an atmosphere that allows a narrative to form and a story to be told, and the 21st of April will be no different.
The full billing is another string to this events multi-faceted bow. Head of Melchior Productions Ltd, Thomas Melchior is a staple of the global minimal scene, having first cut his teeth in music making at the dawn of the 1990s. Joining him in the Press Halls will be Perlon mainstay Fumiya Tanaka, a DJ and producer who flies the flag for the minimal output from Japan. To round things off, London party starters Half Baked will be taking over the dark room, with an unannounced lineup as of yet, in celebration of their tenth anniversary year. Perhaps we can expect to see Greg Brockmann and Sam Bangura, two of the label’s leading forces. And with the cozy nature of the Dark Room providing the perfect contrast to the thriving bustle of the Press Halls, it’s safe to say we’re in for a real treat all around.
With twenty-five events on between now and June, there is certainly something to keep all electronic music fans content. Our selection is based on personal taste, but the fact there is such an eclectic range of events to choose from speaks volumes about Printworks’ ethos. Catering for the masses, whilst still retaining an underground spark, there is a fine balance to be found between a sell-out show and selling yourselves out to make such a show happen. And, with everything considered, there’s no doubt Printworks have found such a balance.
RPR Soundsystem Live AV Show will be taking place at Printworks London on April 21st, tickets available here. For everything related to Printworks, including all lineups, event dates, and tickets, click here.