aaamusic | On 15, Mar 2011

April 2011, what a month. The Royal Wedding and a late Easter have meant that there’s two four day weekends with only three days of work separating them. And in the UK’s club scene this can only constitute one thing and one thing alone; party time central. Circus have duly obliged by delivering a titanic show which brings back one of their biggest stars for a full throttle showcase. Yes indeed; Carl Cox is coming back to the Masque.

Carl returns to Circus for the first time in two years. And on this occasion it’s even more special because he will be returning to the Theatre, for only his second performance in there after his 2004 debut entered the club’s already rather rich folklore (it’s still many a Circus regular’s favourite event). Since then the Funktion One has been installed, the Masque has been gloriously restored and is now the one of the premier environs to hear dance music across the country. And, quite simply, few deliver it as better as Carl Cox.

A true icon of the scene, his acid house birth was followed by a stint as the leading DJ playing hardcore before it fragmented into drum n bass and jungle, the first point where the UK really began to forge its own identity on dance music. Since then he’s been at the forefront of house and techno, famously playing two millennium midnight DJ sets in Sydney and Hawaii, running the stunningly successful record label Intec and establishing his ‘The Revolution Continues’ and ‘And Friends’ parties as two of the premier Ibizan clubnights. A true hero and maverick, the Circus masses are in for a relentless treat.

And it wouldn’t be Circus if Cox’s friend Yousef wasn’t at the helm beside him. Nearing fifteen years in the game, Yousef will continually attest to how crucial Carl has been in his career. The support, tutelage and consistent backing for his talent since his early days at Cream makes their relationship one of the most enduring and poignant that dance music has. And what a combination the pair is, Yousef blisteringly devouring the residency at Carl’s aforementioned Space odyssey last summer and now inviting him into his own lair to return the favour. It’ll be pure electricity in there.

Carl isn’t the only returning friend of the club; Derrick Carter’s also back in full effect. The king of house continues to jack like no other, his sound just as relevant as when it domineered over Circus’ early aesthetic. Chicago’s strongest second wave artist has recently re-launched his stellar Classic imprint, revisiting the record label which defined leftfield deep house long before the twenty first century kingpins such as Claude von Stroke, and remains a truly reverential figure within modern rave. His recently released Fabric mix CD has shown that he remains as the top of his game and is a modern classic of a true DJ with seamless transitions across genres whilst always following a groove few can better.

Butch is a German DJ and producer of considerable renown who makes his Circus debut. He has almost more accolades than he knows what to do with: Butch is the No.1 Most Charted All Time Artist with Resident Advisor and his Cecille Records No Worries track won the Pacha Ibiza 2010 Track of The Year Award, as well as it charting no.1 in Beatport, no.3 in DJ Mag and no.1 with Groove Magazine. His second album Eyes Wide Open has also made huge waves. Widely feted for a string of releases on labels including 8Bit, Great Stuff and Craft Music, he is another revered European spinner who weaves techno and house together into epic soundscapes.

The final guest comes in the shape of Motor City Drum Ensemble, the young German troubadour in possession of a truly unique vibe. Whilst many manage to plot the gaps between house, disco and techno, few do so with such characteristic difference and individuality quite like the Hamburg native. His indelible sound remains unmistakeable whether on bass heavy techno or percussive disco, and the productions continue to showcase defter skill. His Djing prowess, which ransacks the same palette of influences, is equally as beatific, making his Circus debut a must see. Support comes from Circus’ own Lewis Boardman and Scott Lewis.

Circus – Easter Sunday Party
Sunday 24th April
@ The Masque, 90 Seel Street, Liverpool, L1 4BH
Carl Cox
Yousef
Derrick Carter
Butch
Motor City Drum Ensemble
Lewis Boardman
Scott Lewis
10pm – 4am
Price £15 / £17
Info – 0151 706 8045

www.circusclub.co.uk

Tickets:
www.chibuku.com/shop
www.skiddle.com
www.datatransmission.co.uk/circus
TicketWeb: 08444 771 000
Ticketline: 0161 832 1111

3B records: 0151 353 7027