Review: Apollonia @ Louche, Mint Club, 20/10/12

After years of playing together and partying together, French trio Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundorom and Shonky have become one; forming their new imprint and label Apollonia. Since the collaboration was announced earlier in the year, they have showcased their deep, techy sound in clubs like DC10, Fabric and now Mint Club for Louche.

The three members have individually played some of the best Louche parties we've seen over the last few years; so what better place to have them all back to back to back for seven hours straight!

Prior to the event, Waxwerks record store announced that Apollonia would pop down for a little pre-party late Saturday afternoon, so naturally we went down for the occasion. After a wicked warm up set from Tristan Da Cunha, who runs the shop, Dan, Dyed and Shonky arrived around 5pm armed with their arsenal of top quality deep house vinyl. There could have been no more than 30 or so people in the store and the intimate little shindig had one of the strongest atmospheres ever felt as we all got down and partied with the crew. The boys certainly got us in the mood for what was to follow at Louche...

Louche resident Josh T was warming up the Mint Club crowd as we arrived. Excitement was certainly in the air as the club eagerly anticipated the arrival of Apollonia and the prospect of the extra long set that would soon be in full swing.

Within no time at all, Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundorom and Shonky had arrived, setting up position in the DJ booth. The system was strictly back to back to back, and each member of the trio took it in turns to work from one groove to the next.

Across the seven hours they played for, Apollonia weaved through an array of up-beat and powerful deep house, some of it sexy, some of it dark and some of it just down right groovy. The crowd worked off the tunes and even the DJs themselves; the three pals were having a party and everybody was having a great time. The atmosphere again was electric, as the French deep house boomed out of the Funktion One into the crowd below the warm, glowing disco panel ceiling which was pulsating above.

From start to finish it was brilliant; Apollonia have one of the freshest sounds when it comes to deep house music and their ear for tunes is second to none. As they continued to execute their set in style over the course of the night, the crowd continued to party hard and lap up the constant flow of excellence - and their was certainly never a dull moment. They played well past bed time and Mint Club was still rocking at 8am!

It had been a special day and night all round. First off, those that were lucky enough to be a part of the pre-party at Waxwerks will agree it was one of the smallest yet most effective parties we have seen in a good while. The party was equally as good at Mint Club, with Dan Ghenacia, Dyed Soundorom and Shonky taking over Louche with Apollonia to give an unforgettable experience full of great excitement and fun; the perfect way to spend your weekend.

Words: Jack Law

Photo: IGR Photo 

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Catch Apollonia at Sankeys, Manchester on Boxing Day - tickets here