Interviews

The team behind the recent Warehouse Project have re-opened “The Club”, which was originally FAC 251, the offices of Factory records. 

Paradise Factory (c) Sebastian Matthes

They’re there for six months, with a line up that takes in everyone from Basement Jaxx; to Francois K and Adam Freeland. It’s a venue that holds many fond memories for Justin. In the early nineties, his Thursday night 'Sleuth' kicked off the weekend.  As Justin remembers, it was an exciting time:

"The atmosphere in there was always incredible. Being a fan of Factory records it was a fantastic place to be in.

"I just liked the atmosphere that place generated, it was a kind of off the hook hedonism. It's weird - when you're so close to something you forget the significance of the things you did. We had Ritchie Hawtin, Laurent Garnier, Carl Cox and Andy Weatherall, great DJs playing there. One of the Chemical Brothers' first ever shows was there. We mixed live and dance music with acts that have gone on to be stadium sized dance acts."

“People who’ll be going to the club now were probably in primary school when “Sleuth” was there, it was that long ago! It's gonna be quite weird.

'Obviously Paradise Factory was a club before, but I think it's fascinating taking over a space and making it into something new.  I was amazed by the last place the Warehouse Project was in, the fact that it was a functioning car park. It's almost like you wouldn't believe there hadn't been a club night there before”.

'Wonky'

Justin was a real pioneer when it came to mixing up genres in his DJ-ing, production and music work – something the dance scene could be accused of being quite snobby about in the past.  His set on Saturday is part of a diverse range of music at the club, which is something that Justin applauds.

Paradise Clubbers (c) Sebastian Matthes

“I think the crossover between bands and electronic music has become very blurred now. I play Hot Chip, Interpol and then some more traditional house. I think younger people particularly have a much more broad view of music. There isn't that kind of gang mentality about music, which can only be a good thing.

“At the Warehouse Project on New Year’s Eve there was such a mixture of music going on in one room and people were lapping it up. There wasn't that furrowed brow, "should we be liking this” sort of thing.  I think that's a killer for any scene.  I'm not saying listen to anything and everything - I dislike more music than I like. You've just got to keep your mind and ears open.”

No doubt there’ll be some surprises aside from the 'energetic wonky acid house' that’s been promised for Saturday night then!

Justin Robertson plays at The Club on Saturday 2 February.