Names on the list included people from China, New Zealand, Argentina and Alaska; all keen to help the club in the battle to get a licence from Bristol City Council. Happily those problems have passed and the club has reopened. All that remains is for the club's owners to rekindle the kind of atmosphere that once made the Blue Mountain the most reliably full club in Bristol. Blowpop successfully returned to the club where it all began for them a few weeks back, and the queues were around the block. So the next step is naturally to bring back some of the Drum and Bass and Old School that made the club rock weekend after weekend in its heyday. Rusty Needle promises a return to form as it throws down a massive lineup featuring some of dance music's founding pioneers.
 | | Randall's mixing skills are 'special' |
The lineup reunites two legends of the mixtape generation: DJ Sy and DJ Randall. It's rare nowadays to find these two on a lineup together as their paths have taken different routes in recent years, with Sy continuing to represent in the hardcore scene and Randall in Drum and Bass. However, it only takes a glimpse at some of the flyers for the country's biggest events to see that they are without doubt still at the top of their respective games. Sy, voted the best DJ at the recent Hardcore awards more than 15 years after he started out, has always been known as the Scratchmaster, and was the first DJ in hardcore to start manipulating vinyl in such a way. His mix of dark rhythms and euphoric breakdowns creates a unique vibe and his set is always the one to catch, no matter what the event. By contrast DJ Randall made his name in the London Jungle scene of the early 90s. His skills were brought to the fore at seminal night A.W.O.L, A Way Of Life, at the Ministry of Sound and his set on Friday is said to be a 90-minute special paying homage to those heady days. It's no coincidence that it was Randall who was recently asked to mix the '50 biggest Drum and Bass rollers' album by Drum and Bass arena. His mixing skills mean anything and everything can be expected - this will be special. Supporting Are The Vinyl Junkie, a DJ who has been a long time favourite on the Bristol scene due to his legendary show on pirate radio station Power FM, and who is nowadays producing new music with that old school sound on the Warehouse Wax record label, The Housewives. He plays at many events around Bristol and who most days can be found stalking the ether on the Hijack Bristol Music Forum. Robbie Dekoy, Fraktured resident, will also be present, offering a 'History of Breaks' set.
 | | Bluemountain returns to its dnb roots |
MCs Feedback, Dope and Slix will be ensuring the vibe keeps ticking over by taking care of microphone duties. Room Two will be hosted by Fraktured, offering anything from D+B to Dub, Hiphop to Breakbeat, mashed together in the eclectic style for which they're known. Arrive early... this one should be roadblock! Friday 14 October
Rusty Needle: Old Skool/ Drum n Bass
Blue Mountain, Stokes Croft
10pm til 4am
£7 before 11, £8 after
Info: rustyneedle@hotmail.co.uk or 07810365980 Room 1 DJs: Randall, Sy, Vinyl Junkie, Robbie Dekoy, The Housewives + MCs Dope, Feedback, Slix. Room 2: Breaks, Hiphop, D+B & Dub: DJs Rio, Diceman, Archive, Torque, C-Cyde | 
