Four of the hottest names on the electronic and progressive house music scene head to Ipswich this week for the launch of new club night Houscienda.
Nearly 2,000 people are expected to descend on The Malthouse, Princes Street, to hear Sandro Silva, Tom Swoon, Oliver Twizt and D.O.D play on December 14.
Headliner Silva played to 250,000 music fans at Belgium’s Tomorrowland earlier this year. His Ipswich appearance is his first UK gig since his US tour. With new track Payback riding high in the Beatport chart, Houscienda’s director Kev couldn’t have timed it better.
“It’s fantastic timing and could give the event a real boost because I know Ipswich is a very tough nut to crack. People constantly say the nightlife is dying off a little bit in the town, there’s nowhere for people to go with a lot of people travelling out of the area to go to Norwich and Colchester.
“We want Ipswich as the place everybody wants to go for a night out and give back to the community. I’m not putting this on for everybody all over the UK to travel to; yes, there will be people who do that, but I want this to be focused on Ipswich and I want it to have another huge night out.”
The DJ and music producer, who’s had releases around the world and DJ-ed at some of the biggest clubs in the country like The Arches in Glasgow and London’s Ministry of Sound, promises quite a show.
Expect huge pyrotechnics, C02 and confetti cannons, projections on a LED flat panel screen, a huge laser show... Google Tomorrowland and The Warehouse Project in Manchester, you’ll get the idea.
Doors open at 9.30pm with Houscienda’s resident DJs playing the main stage for half an hour before moving into room two which boasts a more alternative music style including trap and electro house with the main stage reserved for the commercial electronic dance music in the charts right now.
Kev has also approached local DJs and music production students about playing future events; just part of some exciting plans if the monthly nights go well, including more top drawer DJs and holding two events a month - all exclusively in Ipswich.
“This is the launch party... I’m confident, what we’re bringing aren’t just mid-range DJs, these are real names; this is just the start.”
The venue’s former reputation has been foremost in his mind.
“We know there was a bad stigma attached to that place from quite a few years ago (but) everybody involved with the project is very excited, we think the timing’s right for something like this to happen and move on.
“We’ve had to work very closely with police and the local council. We’ve increased security, doubling the minimum requirement; we want it to be an extremely safe place for everyone, safety is paramount. We’re hoping to have 1,800 people there.”
People will be wanded down as they’re joining the queue, then searched on entry. Plastic pint glasses are even being replaced with plastic bottles to avoid the trouble that spillages can cause.
“Those are the kind of fine details we’re going down to make sure everybody has a good time,” says Kev.
For more details visit www.facebook.com/houscienda or follow @Houscienda on Twitter. For tickets, go to www.flipnrave.com/event/houscienda/C131214c4c7Tickets. You can even download the free Houscienda app from the AppStore for the latest news and videos.
Fancy VIP tickets? We’ve got two pairs to give away. To win a pair, tell me where Silva played to 250,000 fans earlier this year? Email your answer to event@archant.co.uk by 9am, Thursday, December 12.
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