With a reputation as one of the UK’s most consistent forces in underground music, The Hydra has built a legacy of high-quality events that have united tens of thousands of devoted music fans over the years. Always pushing the boundaries of the sonic underground, their shows bring together forward-thinking DJs and live acts with immersive production and lighting, often set within raw industrial spaces - a true nod to their warehouse roots.
This December, The Hydra teams up with DJ-Kicks for a landmark birthday celebration, marking three decades of the timeless mix series that has charted the underground across generations. The line-up reflects the same meticulous curation: selectors at the peak of their craft, weaving connections across genres and eras for a singular Hydra x DJ-Kicks session at Drumsheds.
DJ-KICKS 30TH ANNIVERSARY — 5 DECEMBER 2025
The globally acclaimed DJ-Kicks series celebrates 30 years this winter with a special Hydra takeover. Launched in 1995 by !K7 Records, DJ-Kicks has become one of the most respected platforms for dance music curation - giving artists the space to craft genre-blurring, boundary-pushing mixes, mirroring The Hydra’s own vision.
The birthday lineup is stacked with heavyweight back-to-backs setting the stage for a series of collaborative exploration - with most of these collaborations taking place for the first time. Cult producer and king of the unconventional, Theo Parrish goes head to head with soulful selector Carista, and also to North London after their False Idols debut, Job Jobse b2b Saoirse will deliver a high-energy tech-house session. DJ Koze faces off with Detroit icon Moodymann - two titans known for timeless releases like “Pick Up” and “I Can’t Kick This Feeling When It Hits.”
Championing UK sounds, DJ Storm joins forces with Future Retro boss and junglist Tim Reaper for a masterclass in jungle and bass. Dubstep pioneer Mala meets the acclaimed Kode9 for a low-frequency showdown. Legendary German group Moderat join - the trio made up of Apparat and Modeselektor’s two members have been key names in the experimental electronic movement over the years. Long-term !K7 Affiliates KRUDER & DORFMEISTER make a guest appearance at the birthday - a team who did their DJ-Kicks release back in the 90s.
“We dedicate this to the memory of Horst Weidenmüller, founder of !K7 Records and DJ-Kicks, who passed away earlier this year. Built with the same precision and spirit as the original DJ-Kicks compilations, 'Hydra Presents: DJ-Kicks: 30th Anniversary' at Drumsheds brings together some of our favourite compilers and selectors from the series and beyond for a one-off evening which honours all those late nights and sunrises over the years, letting our shared love of music lead the way.” - !K7 Records
In recent years, The Hydra has made Drumsheds its home after years at Printworks. For AW25/26, the venue has introduced refinements shaped by guest feedback: enhanced acoustic treatment in Room X to bring full clarity to the d&b audiotechnik system, plus added bass and infra-bass speakers to power the back of the dancefloor. The result: consistent, world-class sound - wherever you’re dancing.
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EVENTS
DJ-KICKS AND THE HYDRA TEAM UP TO MARK 30 YEARS OF THE SEMINAL MIX SERIES
