12 March 2016 (gig)
20 March 2016
Halfway down an unsuspecting street in Hackney is a small door cut out of corrugated iron, patrons who manage to get through without their hat being knocked off have arrived at the curiously interior Hoxton Docks. Situated just off the canal this hidden location is home to the 312 Day, an annual event created by the Goose Island team which as well as taking place in the brewery's windy Chicago base had its inaugural celebrations on the cold streets of East London last weekend.
312 day is named as such due to the dialing code of Chicago and is annually held on the 12th of March with DJ's and a live band to boot. At this years UK debut, indie tunesters Mystery Jets headlined the venue with the electric soul of Alex Vargas in support, plus Radio X DJ Dan O' Connell. The Jets played a mixed set of old and new tunes with many of their songs taken from latest album Curve of the Earth.
Highlights of the Eel Pie Island bands set included newbie '1985' and the crowd-pleasing classic 'Half In Love With Elizabeth' from their 2008 album 'Twenty-one'. Frontman Blaine Harrison dedicated the track to 'those who who've been with us since the start' and it did have the feel of a home-coming gig for the London group who are one of the few indie survivors around at the moment. It would have been to nice to hear a few more from their back catalogue but this wasn't a night for nostalgia and their new tunes held up well enough for a bunch of beer swilling Londoners.
This event was a chance for punters to sample Goose Islands many alcoholic wares including the new environmentally friendly draught Green Line Pale Ale, which apart from sounding like a bus company tasted delicious. As well as a variety of beers such as Honker's Ale, Goose IPA and Porter there was also cider called Sophia and scruptious gastronomic accompaniments from Anna Mae's Mac and Cheese Van. Given the name Hoxton Docks, a view of the canal would have been a pleasant backdrop to the venue (where they could have also actually erected a sort of real Goose Island..) but the forest decor looked the part and a wonderfully boozy night was had by all. Same time next March?
