The History of Drum & Bass

Electric Brixton is one of those perfect venues, big enough to lose yourself in but small enough to get from the dancefloor to the bar without any trouble. Fresh from solo shows and festivals (Glastonbury, Shambala & Boomtown), the critically acclaimed super-orchestra, Symphonica has sold out once again. With the drum & Bass crowd spanning original fans from the 90’s (let’s not mention our age) to the new fans in their twenties, it’s no surprise to see an appetite for this bold smorgasbord of orchestra, DJ and live singers/MC.

Jess then DJ Rap in sequined cap had us all smiling in the first two hours of the night. The gentle blend of liquid drum and bass had the crowd bouncing together in anticipation of the main event. When Symphonica came on at 11pm the mood shifted as composer and conductor Miles Hancock took to the stage with his 26 musicians comprised of a mellifluous string section up front and the mighty brass behind, lifting the beats to the rafters.

It took a moment to shift from the more introspective DJ set to the show-time atmosphere of the full orchestra and live vocals. But helped by 4 x world champion Mr Switch as DJ supplying backing beats, basslines and scratching, we were soon laughing as well as dancing, flipping the evening into a truly playful shared experience. The superb vocalists brought an even bigger energy with their soaring melodies and serious groove.

There were six of us dancing together, instantly thrown back to our student days in the late 90’s. With just one Drum & Bass virgin who declared herself a convert, it was a brilliant night with a chilled vibe and a lot of smiling faces right through to DJ Hype who brought the night to a close at 2pm. This fusion of beats, bass, string and brass is undoubtedly unique and combined with hours of straight drum and bass either side, you’d be hard pushed to find a gig like it.