Random Concept
The 2007 UK Congress of DNB
Air Nightclub
Birmingham
Saturday 3rd November 2007

After hosting the Drum and Bass tent at this summers Global gathering festival, touring around the UK and overseas Random Concept touched down at Air and presented the ‘The 2007 congress of DNB’. The 2007 Congress of dnb featured artists from various labels across the drum and bass spectrum.

Headed into Digbeth shortly after 11 and met up with some friends before heading down to Air. There was no queue seeing as we arrived over an hour after the doors had opened. Received a thorough search from the security team and made our way into the venue.

Walked straight into the main arena and caught the tail end of competition winners DJ Stanza and MC Dap. The main arena had already filled up whilst these guys were on, Stanza drawing some rollers alongside a number of crowd favourites as he dropped ‘Satellite type 2’, ‘ Game over’ and ‘Shining’

The in house sound system was boosted by the Ev-Lav sound system from Clearsound, this was the same system used for innovation in the sun 2007. The front of the stage was littered with numerous subs and speaker stacks either side.

V Recordings Bryan Gee took to the decks, I really enjoyed his set, very bouncy with a immense crowd reaction when he played ‘Trust me’, ‘Snapshot’ and ‘Clear skies’. His set was also packed with fresh beats thrown in for good measure. MC Foxy had arrived early and was hyping the crowd with his hip hop style, along with Spyda and Rhymes. Spyda was superb with his raga chat that the crowd really enjoyed with Rhymes complimenting his style.

Next up was one of the sets I was most looking forward to, Metalheadz duo of Randall and MC Justyce. Randall and Justyce flipped the switch as Randall played a very deep dark rolling set ensuring the sound system was put through its paces as he dropped ‘Redial’, ‘No Reality’ and High contrast’s ‘If We ever’. Midway through the set Jystyce was joined briefly by MC Bassman and was greeted by a rapturous response.

Following on from Randall was Undiluted records DJ Brockie alongside his partner in rhymes Dett. It’s been quite some time since I last saw Brockie and it was defiantly worth the wait, especially as he had Dett mcing for him. Brockie opened up with Hazards ‘Machete’, which went down a storm!

Dett was joined by not only the SAS of Skibadee and Shabba but also Fatman D. The MC quartet sent the crowd wild, hyping up the crowd whilst the four where sparring off each others lyrics passing the mics as they went back to back. Brockie continued to play ‘Represent’ remix, ‘Mr Happy’, ‘Only one life’ and ‘Battlefield’.

Garry K took to the helm as it looked like Generation Dub was not going to show. A great set from the Random concept resident, plenty of grimey tunes being played as he got the crowd bouncing with tracks like ‘Tink ya bad’, ‘Scan darker’ and ‘New world order’.

Birmingham’s legendary Bassman took to the mic along with Fatman D, Bassman entertained the crowd with his infectious dirty style of mcing, whilst Fatman D hyped up the crowd with his lyrics. Nutcracka MC joined the duo briefly on stage.

It was now time for the set I was most looking forward to featuring the mighty Andy C. Not only did Andy have GQ mcing for him but also a firm crowd favourite Fearless. I was very impressed with Andy’s selection as he mixed up his set with current rollers but also jungle classics.

There was a wide spectrum of tunes being played as Andy opened up with ‘Alien girl’ and continued to play ‘Talk to Frank’, ‘Pulp Fiction’, ‘Babylon’, ‘Disco Dodo’. The two Awol legends rocked the crowd as GQ’s voice reverberated Air’s four square walls whilst Fearless got the crowd into a frenzy with his party style mcing.

As always Andy C’s was performing a number of teases within his 90 minute set, his mixing was excellent but what really stood out from this set was Andy switching back and forth, from oldskool jungle to present day rollers and with the AWOL residents on the mic it was the icing on the cake !

After Andy’s 90 minutes special it was the turn of Audio Zoo’s very own DJ Clipz. Enjoyed Clipz’s set with him playing plenty of crowd favourites as he dropped ‘Raise the roof’, ‘Where’s my money?’, ‘Number one’ and ‘Be True’. Eksman was doing the mic duties and hyped up the crowd with lyrics, getting a massive response form the crowd whilst he kept them on their toes.

Eksman was joined by his fellow new breed member Fatman D. The pair of them were working off each others lyrics. Clipz also dropped a few older tracks for the crowd to reminisce about as he played ‘Grimey’, ‘Champion sound’ remix and Shy FX’s ‘The Message’

It seemed that Mampi Swift and IC3 were unable to attend tonight, so closing the evening was Innovation and Breakin Science residents Subterra and Network. A good set of tunes being played by the pair as they dropped ‘Bass 2 Dark’, ‘Selector’, and ‘Back to your roots’. Leicester’s very own G1 was doing the mic duties keeping the crowd going into the early hours

Really enjoyed tonight but it was a shame that numbers where low, particularly in the other 2 arenas, though the main arena was constantly busy throughout the evening. Also the following week was the innovation weekender in Amsterdam so I’d assumed a number of people would be saving their pennies for their weekend trip to Holland.

The sound system was an improvement compared to June’s event, with it being louder and clearer. Atmosphere was great in here tonight I did notice a lot more people from outside the midlands attending compared to normal.

There was a number of great sets being played tonight particularly Garry K’s 2nd set great tune selection from him filling in for Generation dub, but what really stood out for me was Andy C’s 90 minute showcase. With Andy playing a large number of oldskool jungle tunes throughout the set and closing his set with LTJ Bukem’s classic ‘Atlantis’ really topped off an amazing set.

Massive shouts to Presha, Garry K, Ripper, Spruce, Joe and the Random Concept crew, Fearless, Spyda, Eksman, Brockie, GQ, Bassman, Foxy, Fatman D, Andy C, Daddy Dread, Subterra and Kiera, Escape, Michelle, Helen, Alice, Kiri, Andy Trackin, Darryl and Lisa, Munkeh, Amy, Manny, Gem, CKB, Alpha, Aaron, Josh, Jack, Mark SFX, Barry and everyone else whose names I don't' know but faces I recognize.