Beat Circus // Pressure Point

Beat Circus- Wig Party!

An orgy of flammable rainbow nylon, big dirty electro beats and a room full of bouncing beautiful revellers. The beat circus is something rather unique and special with the makings of a cult following. Live musicians jam along side local DJ’s to offer a pick and mix night of entertainment, something for everyone and a visual treat. The atmosphere though, I have to say, was one of the most magical I have experienced in some time- every person had a beaming smile peeping under their disarray of colour. One could hold the daft poise, as you do at a fancy dress party and take the opportunity to properly loose it. The dreary darkness that is the Pressure Point only accentuated the magical rainbow party going off inside, taking nothing away from the mash up on stage.

Whisperings of the Beat Circus, clearly the wig party’s predecessors had gone well, were bantered around throughout the week leading up to it. I arrived flocked with a good sized gang of mad looking people into the bar below that was rather intimidating and left one wondering “Is this the right place?”. PP bar has an eclectic crowd in the bar on a Saturday night. But to the echoes of roll up roll up the beautiful Faith, one of the promoters, bounded down the stairs brandishing the magical marker pen of joy to get me in.

The beats were already thundering out of the system and it took little time to get the vibe and the crowd moving, slammed in by resident DJ’s Leeky Beatz, Le Rustique and Jay J Lovelle. When the epic breaks track “Bass phenomenon” was dropped in it sent the crowd mental as the live musicians began to drip in their sounds bit by bit; Adam A Double tickled the ivories complimenting the broken beats and adding a cool electro sound. Leroy Horns played some sexy sax riffs of a Balearic vibe with Tina T and Eye K smoothing over soulful vocals. A moment with the levels of the mikes left a lull with the crowd, but in all honesty, was a moment of respite and opportunity to take in the wig efforts made. Big respect to the mop head people, they looked fantastic and if had busted out a few B-Boy moves could of helped with the clean up at the end of the night. Leon carter donated “effects”, guitar and a rather dashing smile. The privilege of N!zz, lyrical rude boy beat boxer was an excellent piece of live entertainment, seemed to be choreographed with the DJ’s and the understanding between all at a very polished stage considering this night is still very much in its infancy.

As the evening rolled on the vibe, music and records got better and better, I gave it a dam good stomp all night. The intimate crowd was fun and you felt like you had a room full of friends by the end… the medley of talents performing gave them all the chance to get down on the dance floor and enjoy the magic they were involved in, till the lights came up revealing wide eyed sweaty people and a few bedraggled road kill wigs on the floor. Day after the night before resulted in a moment of camaraderie with the mates I attended with, lolling around Brighton Rocks, still spangled and grooving to the tunes. Kassandra’s critique to the evening; “Its fucking great, you must come” to anyone that would listen. Pimp that Circus!

A dedicated base of followers, I feel, will emerge from this. Already making a pilgrimage to the Volks for White Rhino, Beat Circus is another night out of the diary will be written off in the devotion to electro breaks, intoxicating smiles and fancy dress.

Words: Catherine