February 2014 Picks: House and Techno in London

Image: Death in Vegas

February may be one of my favourite months. Yes it’s bitterly cold and yes you’re still skint, but in February you can be thankful that you made it through the first, and most depressing, month of the year. So you already broke all of your New Year’s resolutions by the 18th, but you do always have next year remember? You’ve subject yourself to the torture of ‘dry January’, and now you’re looking forward to undoing all of that hard work and get back to killing brain cells again.

Fortunately for you, like an oh so sweet gift from the gods, February 1st falls on a Saturday this year, and to help you celebrate some of London’s best promoters and clubbing brands are kicking the REAL beginning of the year off with a bang. Straight from the off we have yet another exciting offering from Oval Space.

For what is quickly becoming one of London’s best venues, Oval Space kick off the first OSM event of 2014 by welcoming Underground Resistance founding member Robert Hood (watch him in typically destructive action below on the Boiler Room), Luke Slater, jozif and Jerome Sydenham. With the recent addition of a new soundsystem, February 1st acts as the perfect occasion to experience this truly great space (full details here). 

For those who like their 4/4 less 4/4, then I would fully recommend heading on down to The Queen of Hoxton for the amazingly titled Orlando Boom. Regular Andrew Weatherall collaborator Ivan Smagghe will go back-to-back with Nathan Gregory Wilkins. Having hosted some of London’s best parties spanning the past half decade, welcoming the likes of Erol Alkan and Daniel Avery, experience why this is such a gem.

The one major problem with London nightlife is that sometimes there is simply too much choice, and the 2nd weekend in February is a fine example of that. On the 7th we have Daft Punk collaborator Todd Edwards playing alongside SCNST and Radio 1’s Jackmaster and Monki at Fabric. Over at the Bussey Building we have master Glaswegian selectors Optimo and Mister Saturday Night, and if you’re looking for something a little more low-key Gazebo at Horse and Groom play host to Richard Fearless of Death In Vegas - tickets just three quid for that one. 

The 8th is equally as impressive (deep breath needed for this one). Firstly, Alexis Raphael of Hot Creations will be bringing his trademark funk-inspired house to the surroundings of Warehouse LDN. Over at Egg London house legend David Morales will be teaming up with fan favourite Lee Foss, crafting a true soundclash of the genre at it's funkiest form (tickets for that badboy here).

If you were to ask me for my personal choice however, as I tend to lean more towards experimental stylings of music, Perc will be celebrating the release of his new album at Corsica Studios. As the night also coincides with the fifth anniversary of ‘THEM’, the night will also feature extended sets from Clouds, Shackleton and Truss. For those who are all too familiar with the term ‘doof’, this is simply unmissable. 

And now we get to the 15th. To celebrate 10 years of one of the UKs finest, and most popular record shops, Phonica will be taking over Fire in Vauxhall for a suitably heavy lineup. Both Henrik Schwarz and Kassem Mosse will play live on the night, while serial remixers Psychemagik, Midland, Appleblim and Krankbrother will also feature across the 2 rooms. 

To close the month off we have a double header of events from, yes again, Oval Space and Warehouse LDN. The masterminds behind Innervisions, ÂME, will take over the former for another famed gargantuan set. Taking you through a whole eight hours the duo will perform as DJs as well as a live act, showcasing what makes them one of the most exciting acts in house and techno today - listing shebang right here. 

Over at Warehouse LDN StereoType will present another formidable duo in the form of Infinity Ink. The team, who are made up by Ali Love and Luka C of Hot Creations and Crosstown Rebels respectively, have been fixtures on the strung out house club circuit for a hot minute, and will feature alongside a ‘special guest’ of DC10 (head here for info). 

Golden Ticket

This months we’re going to take you on a journey, or at least the guys from Memory Box will. Everyone wishes they grew up in the time of acid house, the birth of a genre that has defined dance music as we know it today. Memory Box have excelled at taking a reflective look at that halcyon period (read a review of their recent forage with A Guy Called Gerald), and will be welcoming London acid house pioneer Trevor Fung to Horse and Groom on Sat 15th February.

It's their event six days later that wins my selection this time round. Well, The Rhythm Factory on February 21st will take you from that era to the present day, welcoming Altern 8, Pinch and Plastician (check him in the mix below) to take you through the years. Expect ‘A History of Bass’ that takes you from the birth of house and techno, to the present day sounds of the underground.

Looking into what Festivals to do this summer? We are too. Keep your finger on the festival pulse at our special section right here.

Tickets are no longer available for this event