Circus presents elrow at Camp and Furnace review

Image credit: J Bannister Photography

Although elrow hails from Barcelona, it was the event's presence at Space in Ibiza last summer that really put it on the map of the British caning public. Then, before you know it, elrow officially became a ‘thing’. And now it’s touring all over the country, and everybody loves it. 

When people first told me about it, the cynic in me thought “so hang on a minute, it’s a night with DJs who I’ve seen a gazillion times before, that has loads of props, and they let off loads of smoke and cannons n’ stuff, and then everyone films themselves jumping up and down and puts it on YouTube... and????” 

The failed music-PR man in me felt jealous too. What a brand to be in charge of I thought... it’s just shooting fish in a barrel promoting this, innit? All those young ‘uns with face paint, camera phones at the ready. Content, content everywhere. But once I stopped sneering and actually went to see it for myself, I thought it was brilliant. Circus presents elrow at Camp and Furnace in Liverpool was my second Elrow, and it definitely won’t be the last. 

The first thing that you’ve gotta love is that it took place during the day, and was all done by midnight. And absolutely no one questioned it. That’s how Elrow rolls, and we all just roll with it. 

There is certainly a lot to be said for these working hours. Why is it that you either have to be up from the night before at a messy after party, or be in Ibiza in order to get wellied and dance to a DJ during the day? 

And yes, I guess it did clash with the Champions League Final, but that can be forgiven in pursuit of an altogether-more-efficient sesh. You have the option of turning in at a sensible hour, or you continue to pretend you’re in Ibiza and you carry on regardless. But to just have the option at all made me very glad. 

Notice I haven’t mentioned anything about the music yet? And that’s deliberate. No disrespect to any of the DJs on the bill, but I don’t think Elrow is about deconstructing everything each DJ does. It’s about having fun, with driving tech house as your guide. And I think the DJs buy into this too - they seem to go a bit more crazy than when you see them playing elsewhere. 

Richy Ahmed and Yousef back to back finishing off the main room summed it up. It wasn't a set that would redefine the genre, but it was absolutely great. Both of them tearing the arse out of it and clearly having a good time whilst doing so. 

It’s a long time since I’ve been in a room that’s so hot, sweaty and up for it. There were some good manic noises in the set and even some bits of rap and hip house that briefly took me back to the psychotic sound of Bad Boy Bill etc. in late-80s Chicago. Brownie points for that. 

Then came that hands-in-the-air moment of the night: Celeda and Danny Tenaglia's 'Music Is The Answer' (above). But what you must understand is that all this was delivered from a DJ booth that looked like the set of Punch & Judy. In my mind, Yousef & Ahmed were basically Punch & Judy, giving a show to a load of buddhas.

As the night wore on, this notion was getting more and more vivid. But just imagine it. Yousef twatting Richy Ahmed over the head with his headphones, and then Ahmed comes back with a right-hook, straight outta South Shields... “that’s the way to dee it man!”. And the buddhas all laugh. Punch & Judy presents Elrow: someone should actually make this happen. 

Anyway, honourable mentions to Black Coffee, De La Swing and Lewis Boardman - I enjoyed it all - but probably my favourite set was from guest Lauren Lo Sung in the brilliantly intimate Blade Factory room. 

But that is not the point. The point with Elrow is this: you take your anorak off and you go fucking bananas, and you’re bloody grateful. Maybe you dress up and utilise an inflatable toy, maybe you don’t. It doesn’t really matter. 

If you combine this spirit with the usual Circus crowd (undoubtedly one of the most loyal and raucous in the country), then you’ve got yourself a heck of an atmosphere and a memorable night. It was worth all the sweat.

elrow is at Space Ibiza every Thursday until 24th September.

Get elrow Ibiza tickets.  

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