AFTRS at The Source Bar, 30th September 2017
It's rare that an event is found which fully focuses on local talent. Brands and promotors will often seek headliners and book performers outside of the usual suspects to bring crowds into their party. Enter, AFTRS. An event which has seen a positive reception from its conception and has developed into a display of Kent's finest DJs both old and new, spanning across the house, techno and sub genres to provide sounds which will entertain any raver, whilst staying true to it's home colours.
AFTRS have often found a prime spot being The Social Festival after party, as let's face it, nobody wants to go home at midnight. Aside from The Social, AFTRS has also seen events landed on Boxing Day and The Source have just announced the event returning for New Year's Eve. A huge statement, demonstrating their faith in the event and it's local DJs to deliver on arguably one of the biggest nights of the year.
Production/Sound
The evolution of The Street is something to admire, with The Source Bar being around for nearly two decades, it's seen a lot of changes in that time and ploughed money and most importantly, thought into it's club to ensure the venue stays at the forefront of Kent's underground music scene. Below is a photo from Source's early days in the industry.
AFTRS would also mark one of the first events with new additions to the venue's iconic Street Party. The essence of this area is essentially the street access adjacent to the club itself, which offers a length heavy floor space and virtually a blank canvas for the event to work with. However, by the time they're finished kitting it out, it's far from blank.
A roof is installed over the area, housing the breadth and large portion of the area's length. A stage at the far end of the tunnel esque setting with one large backdrop LED screen, for vibrant custom visuals to be displayed. Along with this large LED is one of our favourite pieces of production right now; partitioned screens displaying visuals in sync with the main LED screen, which in this set up are placed parallel along the walls of The Street. This is the first time we've seen partitioned screens set up in this arrangement. The venue using The Street's close walls to it's advantage and at key moments dazzled the crowds, adding a strong addition to the production.
Along with visuals came two rows of rotating beam lights, running along supports either side of the space, smoke machines and even the fan favourite; a Co2 Cannon for those all important drops.
Sound was delivered by two speakers either side of the stage by the decks along with two additional speakers at the opposite end of the enclosed area, providing 360 degree thumping audio which bounced off the walls.
DJ Sets
Deano Corona
After opening The Caravan Arena at The Social Festival earlier on in the day, which in itself is an impressive achievement, Deano Corona had his chance to do some damage to The Source Bar main room at AFTRS and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Delivering a tech house set to suit the occasion, full of charisma to keep crowds glued to the dance floor. Dropping Louie Cut's bouncy tech track "Tasty" certainly indicated he meant business, blasting through the Martin Audio sound system and pumping life into the after party. Italo Boyz 2011 release with Blind Minded, "Bekeke" kept the crowd partying along to his set as we reached further into the night.
K & K
The local duo who are often in the limelight for their production featuring at parties across the globe, had the courtyard as their playground for the night. Rob taking up the duties for the duo but demonstrating the wealth of talent between them. From the outset blending vocals from Waze & Odyssey's "Down With Tha" into Finder's timeless classic "Ninetoes". Lifting the crowd's spirits and giving that boost of energy we needed to solider on into the night. Other big moments came from K&K's very own production including their unreleased track "Alter" and our former track of the week "That Way" produced with Roger That.
Paul & Si Neary
The Bunkerbound head honchos featured in their favoured set time; closing duties. With their close friend and Bunkerbound resident Lewis Clark already setting the bar high earlier in The Street and some ravers beginning to reach their 14th hour of the day, the brothers needed to bring the big guns. Using Richie Hawtin's Play Differently Model 1 mixer and other live production machines, they constructed a deep and dark soundscape, oozing with echoes of masterful broken-beat creation, they took us on a unique journey across the foundations of techno. Hard-hitting stompers and stripped back minimalist sound; A perfect way to end a marathon of a day and round off the local showcase.
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