[HKClubbing]

‘Real’ house DJ turned East London club impresario Stuart Patterson first made his name promoting Soulsonic parties at the turn of the millennium, going on to run a label and tour the world as a DJ.

Cutting his club running teeth more recently in one of West London’s most notorious badlands with venue the Lodge, he’s now relocated to Hoxton for his latest venture East Village, a move he admits was inspired by experience.

“The Lodge was certainly a smaller, madder idea- it was in Harlesden- but a good learning curve for the bigger picture,” says Stuart.

“The club kind of transpired from us thinking Harlesden needed a bar when in fact, it didn’t. We ended up putting on loads of good sh** but in the wrong area, prompting us to eventually understand that it would be a good idea to move to an area where people still go out to clubs and bars,” he admits.

“West London is the retirement home of London media and music business people; it’s all babies and gastro pubs; at least we can be cutting edge in an area with young people who appreciate it.”

Despite poking fun at West London’s ageing, if prosperous, one time clubbers, he’s more than happy to embrace criticism of himself as an ‘old *******’, over his unapologetic East Village music policy of ‘real house music’.

“If you know house you know house,” he declares, “And house ain’t trance, electro or nu rave.”

In fact, East Village’s musical line-up is considerably more eclectic (and interesting) than the real house he loves so much, with DJs ranging from DFAs Tim Goldsworthy to Dan Ghenacia, Dave Vega and Skulljuice all spinning in May,


Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): What made you decide to give up a life of globe-trotting headline DJ gigs, to spend your time launching a Hoxton bar? (or at least the bulk of it?)

Stuart Patterson: “To be honest, the globe trotting had died down a bit with the work put into the Lodge so I'm still determined to create a decent smaller music led venue in London that caters for not only a good night and residency for myself but many other decent promoters.. that said I’m off to Barcelona, Ibiza and Croatia in the next few weeks so there's no way I’m hanging up my wings yet.”

Skrufff: Nuke Them All have been having problems with yuppie neighbours who got them kicked out of a lap dancing bar on Hackney Road: how much of a threat do yuppies- and over-zealous councillors- pose to East Village;  and Hoxton nightlife in general?

Stuart Patterson: “It’s a fine balance, people need sleep, but I think they're should be measures to protect clubs and bars from new residential builds next door to their premises, people should know what they are moving in next to.. also councillors should appreciate how much nightlife and music has helped to regenerate their area. Don’t bite the hands that feeds them.”

Skrufff: How much do you now find yourself having to handle binge drinking- and having to be mega strict on making sure customers don’t do * etc?

Stuart Patterson: “Well I still binge drink and handle it.”

Skrufff: The bar’s called East Village: why did you look to New York for inspiration?

Stuart Patterson: “There's two great smaller clubs in New York, APT + Cielo who have great programmes and big djs playing in intimate surroundings. Also the heritage of New York in music and clubs is obviously huge.”

Skrufff: What do you make of today’s New York scene?

Stuart Patterson: “People seems to be down on it recently but I played a couple of great smaller nights last year , never write it off because that's when something like Body & Soul comes along and blows everyone away.”

Skrufff: Do you have any fears that London could price young people- and nightlife- out in the same way Manhattan has done?

Stuart Patterson: “London is nicely diverse with the clubs where its dolly birds and vodka bottles on tables for the moneyed flash type whereas the venues doing it from a musical perspective keep it- just about- affordable.”

Skrufff: What do you make of today’s London celeb culture: the Geldof daughters etc: how welcome are they in East Village?

Stuart Patterson: “There always been a celeb culture in London, generally away from the more musical clubs, but I ain’t got a problem as long as they're not lording it about. We actually had one of the Geldof girls down the club the other Sunday at Nadia Kasabia's Go Bang night.”

http://www.myspace.com/eastvillageclub

Stuart will be DJing in Hong Kong at Beijing Club on the 24th July 2008 with Ministry of Sound.

Article by Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com)
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