Bou @ Cambridge Junction review: an ultimate utopia for drum 'n' bass
We sent Ben Jolley to check out Bou's latest show over in Cambridge.
Date published: 26th Feb 2024
When it comes to drum ‘n’ bass, Cambridge’s underground scene is among the strongest in the UK. This is largely thanks to local promoters Warning who, over nearly three decades, have hosted countless raves and huge names at their outer-city home of the Junction.
Having sold out long ago, the 850-capacity venue’s booking of British d’n’b scene leader Bou is an equally big deal. Not only is the Mancunian DJ and producer headlining but he’s also curated this line-up as part of his ‘Bou’s House’ UK tour. Consequently, long before the main man’s arrival, there’s a wealth of rising d’n’b talent to discover.
When Skiddle arrives at midnight on a cold February evening, the dark, intimate room is packed from front to back with an equal split of guys and girls as DJ Jade Louise delivers heavy d’n’b beats. Finishing her hour-long set with DJ Limited’s remix of Dominica’s ‘Gotta Let You Go’, and Sub Focus and Dimenson’s ‘Desire’, she’s ensured that the audience of mostly twenty-somethings - which develops into a good-vibes-filled community as the night goes on - are fully warmed up.
Minutes later, as an old-school Nokia ringtone reaches a voicemail, MC B Live arrives to introduce the “hardest and baddest in the game, DJ Bou”. Immediately, the whirring bass rumbles the chest while chants of “Who’s House” erupt. His selections are refreshingly broad: while ‘Nan Slapper’ and ‘F*ck Jump Up’ set the pace, unexpected singalong edits of 90s house classics (with pounding bass at their core, of course) make it hard to tell which direction he’ll go in next. A remix of Junior Senior’s Nicki-Minaj-sampled ‘Move Your Feet’, shortly followed by Skepta’s grime classic ‘Shut Down’, results in an excited guy in a floppy-eared bunny hat almost hopping over the barrier.
Image credit: Kath Sansom
Later, Bou’s Bru-C-collab ‘Streetside’ is recited back, word-perfect. “This could be the best night of the tour so far, and that’s down to the ravers inside,” B Live says, before the opening rumbles of ‘Baddadan’ (Bou’s top-five-chatting collaboration with Chase & Status and Flowdan) result in some serious bass faces.
The energy remains high as Turno takes over, delivering a beaming smile, boundless energy and great tune selections. He’s his own hype man, too, regularly getting on the mic. His recent smash Charlotte Plank and Skepsis collab ‘Rave Out’ is a real highlight, while the night’s most poignant moment comes when Turno dedicates his final song, the deeply personal 2022-released ‘What’s On Your Mind’, to his late brother while urging anyone struggling with their mental health to speak out. It’s a genuinely powerful moment, and great to see an artist using their platform to such positive effect…
All that’s left is for Disrupta to close the night by doing exactly as his artist name suggests. Although his sonically challenging take on the genre is, at times, certainly not for the faint-hearted, the hordes of 3am diehards show no signs of going home. As they prove time and again, Cambridge’s dedicated d’n’b ravers will always be there until the lights come up.
If you want to discover the best club nights and raves across the UK then visit our Clubs page or our UK Rave Guide Inspire Me.
Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
