Brighton (UK) is famous for a lot of things – the mods and rockers, Brighton Rock (the book and the films), the largest gay population in Europe, the only Green constituency in the UK, and dance music.
Brighton’s history with dance music goes back a long way, thanks largely to Fatboy Slim and to the sublime heritage of its many seafront clubs.
Times may have changed, and the clubs have been through more owners and names than cohorts from the city’s two universities, but Brighton still plays host to some of the best clubs to be found in the UK. Here are just 5 of them.
Coalition
Exposing the brickwork of the arches it sits in, Coalition is the kind of place you want to be seen in. Formerly known as The Beach (confusing for tourists), Coalition is well-known in Brighton for hosting amazing club nights as well as a wide range of credible artist. Musicians to have graced the stage at Coalition include bleeding-edge hip-hop duo Shabazz Palaces, grime architect Wiley and local soul treasure Alice Russell.
Life
Open since 2009, Life prides itself on its forward thinking booking policy. Featuring high profile Friday nights from the likes of drum ‘n’ bass heavyweights Metalheadz and the renowned Dubpressure, Life has boasts an impressive back catalogue of both dancefloor fillers like Artful Dodger and DJ Luck & MC Neat and cutting edge artists like Kode9, Skream and James Blake.
Concorde 2
Concorde 2 was voted best independent music venue in 2011 in the annual Music Week awards, and it’s highly deserved. Standing in a genuine 19th century building, the Concorde 2 boasts a highly impressive sound and lighting rig in the genuine period features. Perhaps better known as a venue (recent gigs include Graham Coxon, The Melvins and Bob Geldof) it also plays host to legendary club nights including drum ‘n’ bass regular Devotion, and big name DJs like Goldie and Andy C.
Digital
With a huge Funktion One sound system resembling a military tannoy, Digital does mass-market weekend dance with style. The place might seem like a bit of a labyrinth but if you’re after a party you could do a lot worse than Digital.
Audio
It may not look like much – a low ceilinged basement located below a middle-rate cocktail bar set a couple of streets back from the gaudy Palace Pier – but Audio is a favourite amongst the indie kids, and has over the years developed a reputation for cutting edge booking. Catching the latest sensation in underground electronica is a common occurrence at Audio.
Author: Nick Lewis is a writer who lives in Brighton, and a regular visitor to Life club. For the latest club and gig listings in Brighton, visit www.drinkinbrighton.co.uk
