NEWS
EVENTS
Event Review: FOUND Horror Series with Maya Jane Coles & Friends
House | Friday 7th November 2014 |
Found has worked hard to become one of the most credible names in the UK's clubbing scene, and their Halloween offering was no exception.For their Saturday night at Building 6, they'd managed to book arguably one of the most in-demand DJs in the world; the irrepresible Maya Jane Coles. Arriving around midnight, we make our way through the huge O2 complex, to find an enormous crowd eagerly queuing up; it was clear that this was one of the most hotly anticipated nights of the Halloween season. Whilst Building 6 boasts of its 3000-capacity space, they seemed unprepared for this many people outside of the venue, who had seemingly arrived all at once.
After fighting our way through the chaotic queue, however, the crowds were dispersed across the 3 different floors; the enormous Room 1 made up the ground floor, featuring an elevated stage at the front and an almost unnavigably large main dancefloor. Room 2 was much smaller, tucked away behind the toilets on the second floor. Floors 2 and 3's most striking attraction was the balconies looking down onto the dancefloor, whilst the third floor also included some slightly sad-looking VIP booths but also perhaps my favourite feature of the venue: a two-person wide walkway enclosed in a metal cage, stretching right across the two sides of the floor and several metres above Room 1's dancefloor. It offered great - if slightly dizzying - views of the artists on the main stage. Building 6 appears to have managed to pull off the industrial, warehouse-type vibe du jour - save for the slightly surreal experience of seeing the indoor tennis-set up in the main room of the O2 through the window every time we were in the stairway.
Room 1 was getting hectic with everybody arriving, so we decided to check out the Menendez Brothers in Room 2. We'd heard good things about these guys, but were slightly disappointed to find them playing a very commercial set which wouldn't have been out of place in any small club in England. People seemed to love it, however, and the room was packed for the duration of their set - perhaps this was a rather strategic move to warm up as it was still relatively early in the night. Besides, why take life seriously when your crowd is comprised of zombies, witches, and even a sanitary towel?
After they'd finished up at half 1, we decided to take half an hour to explore the venue and appreciate people's costumes, and enjoyed some extremely credible grooves coming from Alex Arnout on the main stage. Whilst we didn't immediately recognise his name, it turns out Alex has had over 20 years of experience playing in the world's best clubs, and running Dogmatik Records - the label which helped launch both Dusky and Maya Jane Coles herself. It was hardly surprising then that his set filled up the garagantuan space so well.
At 2am, however, everyone flocked from all four corners of the club into the centre dancefloor for the main event: Maya Jane Coles appeared on stage to the whoops and applause of 3000 extremely hyped ghosts and ghouls with smartphones.
As always, her set did not disappoint: the trademark tech-house blend was brilliantly powerful, sending vibrations through every single person in the club, including - rather worryingly - those on the overhead walkway. She was accompanied by huge CO2 cannons at the front of the stage and a whole crowd of dressed up friends dancing away behind her. Dressed in a gold bondage-esque devil outfit, MJC smiled throughout her whole set.
The combination of great music, a staggering venue and crazy Halloween costumes made for a truly memorable night. Maya Jane Coles never fails to deliver and Found truly are a name to watch out for in London's clubland. We had a fantastic time.
Words: @MiriamEJohnson
Photos: Callum Mclarty
