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On March 5th Fuzz Club launched a new monthly mini-fest at London Fields Brewhouse in Hackney, bringing together 12 quality independent labels and a lineup of bands to showcase all the best music and vinyl under the expansive psych umbrella. Photographers Lilly Creightmore and Andrea Shamlou were onsite capturing the day. 

The label market hosted big and small from the UK, US and Europe including Rocket Recording, Sonic Cathedral, Captured Tracks, Mexican Summer, Slovenly Recordings, Hands In The Dark, Fire Records, Super Fan 99, Fluffer Records, Software Recording Company, Anthology Recordings, and of course Fuzz Club.

The lineup kicked off with Fire Records’ Dutch indie psych group Rats on Rafts, followed by the abstract electronica of Gum Takes Tooth, the shamanic rhythms and fuzz laden rock of Portuguese trio 10,000 Russos, dreamy psych pop from Younghusband and the post-punk infused shoegaze of The Underground Youth.

Thanks to everyone that came down and helped to make sure the event was a big success!

Next month’s Under The Arches takes place April 2nd featuring Clinic, The Cult of Dom Keller, Pretty Lightning, Guy Blakeslee (from The Entrance Band), M!R!M and Night Shades, and the label market. Join the event page here and buy tickets here.

Most black and white photos are by Lilly Creightmore and most colour stage shots are by Andrea Shamlou.

10,000 RUSSOS

RATS ON RAFTS

YOUNGHUSBAND

GUM TAKES TOOTH

SETTING UP AN IMPROMPTU LIVE SET FROM TREN GO! SOUND SYSTEM AKA PEDRO FROM 10,000 RUSSOS. Check out a video from the set here 

THE UNDERGROUND YOUTH

THE CROWD

Original London scenesters Nigel Birch, John Lynch, Matt Payne and Sam Toms

Tess Parks and Black Market Karma

Antonio Curcetti

Olya Dyer and Craig Dyer of The Underground Youth

Black Market Karma

Black Market Karma and Charlotte Lafferty

Casper Dee and Nigel Birch

Alexandra Dunn and Charlotte Lafferty

Lilly Creightmore

Black Market Karma

Jon Emmins and his mum

John Lynch, Sam Toms, Matt Payne, Nigel Birch

THE LABEL MARKET

Tren Go! Sound System aka Pedro Pestana of 10,000 Russos performed an impromptu solo set at Under The Arches where he covered DJ's Shadow's "Fixed Income", transforming it from downbeat Bay Area hiphop into fuzzed out reverberation on his Firebird.

Follow Under The Arches to hear about our next event. Photo by Rita Sousa Vieira, video by Lee Winter.

The addition of visuals to live musical performances has transformed traditional concerts into immersive fantasy worlds. One particular method of visual stimulation, liquid light shows, are seeing a resurgence.

The origins of this mystifying kaleidoscopic presentation stem from the 60's San Francisco counterculture. The basis of the technology needed for the projections include an old-school overhead projector, and two glass clock faces. Between the glass faces, mineral inks, oil and water exist in a constant state of flux, morphing and changing form to the tune of the audio, and displaying an array of vivid colours.

Some modern artists have decided to ramp up the experience by adding various effects boxes and video projections, while some stick to the classic analogue style. Fuzz Club will be presenting a two-part blog series highlighting notable performers in this craft. First up will be innerstrings, who is based in the UK out of Lewes.

Above image: Aquaserge  by Andrea Shamlou

Photo Credit: innerstrings by Ollie Thomas Photography

Chris aka innerstrings was inspired by electric visuals at an early age. "My fascination for liquid light projection dates back to the 1970's, when as a child I saw my first psychedelic light show at a party in the Village Hall. It was an all encompassing affair and I remember my eyes being firmly planted on the ceiling for the duration of the evening", he shared.

"I’m amazed that several years after the initial spark of interest in psychedelic music again, that it is still going from strength to strength....Psych has never really left my consciousness though, there was a revival of sorts in the late 80's early 90's with bands such as Spacemen 3, Loop, The Shamen and Levitation ploughing that furrow." While he is most ardently inspired by the music itself, he notes filmmaker and fellow lights wizard Julian Hand as one of his favourite contemporaries. 

Photo Credit: Aquaserge, by Andrea Shamlou

Recently, the innerstrings light show has provided a delightful backdrop of contortions for several festivals and acts, including the Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia, past editions of the Lewes Psychedelic Festival, and the first reunion show for pioneering shoegazers Ride. "Highlights would have to be 10000 Russos and Lola Colt, who were incredible at the last Fuzz Club show at The Brewhouse. The one performance that really springs to mind though is Tess Parks and Anton Newcombe at Liverpool. That room was rammed, and the performance was flawless, everything fell into place visually too. It took a while to wind down after that!" 

In creating his shimmering atmospheres, Chris celebrates the spontaneity that encompasses the spirit of liquid lights. "Once the technical side of things has been sorted, which can be very stressful, once I’m in the zone, I’m very relaxed. You have to place a lot of faith in yourself that despite the random and unpredictable nature of the visuals, everything will be OK. Because the majority of my visuals are analogue at source, and weren’t pre-prepared, you really have to be on the ball, especially with live feedback visuals. Quite often, I just don’t have enough hands to operate the cameras, the laptop and effects at the same time."

Equally at home in the dance music scene, he enjoys working in spaces with crowded dance floors, low ceilings, and crisp white walls that will enhance the dizzying rainbow swirls he produces. "A decent selection of Real Ales is quite important too!" he adds. 

Photo Credit: Soccer96  by Andrea Shamlou

Fans of innerstrings' oceanic projections can catch him performing alongside acts at the upcoming Under The Arches (presented by Fuzz Club, monthly starting March 5th), Cosmosis Festival (March 12th), and the revival of Lewes Psych Fest (March 19th, which will include music from The Cult of Dom Keller). 

Follow Under The Arches on Facebook. Tickets to the March event are available here.

- Lindsay Krause

Still got those post-Fuzz Club Festival blues? Relive the fest with these gritty behind-the-scenes photos shot by Lilly Creightmore. 

Head over to The Line of Best Fit to see all the photos.

The lights are on, the reverb’s faded and the smoke has cleared but we’re still buzzing.

What an incredible weekend of music, art and community. A special thanks to everyone that travelled to be there and our love to those that couldn’t due to illness and terror. While many people are being hurt by racism, hatred and fear, we are so lucky to be surrounded by people from all around the world who spread love, peace and solidarity.

Thanks to everyone that contributed to the night, to the Fuzz Club team, and to those that shared your images and videos with us for this post: Ian Robertson of Chromaticism, Ollie from Acid Box Promotions, Justin Matthews and Inner Strings, who provided the incredible visuals all weekend. 

New Candys

New Candys

New Candys

Cult of Dom Keller

The KVB

The KVB

Gabriele from Fuzz Club

Philipp from Fuzz Club

Lola Colt

Lola Colt

Lola Colt

Lola Colt

Lola Colt

Three Portuguese with the power of 10,000 Russians

The Myrrors

The Myrrors

The Myrrors

The Myrrors

The Myrrors

The Myrrors

RMFTM

RMFTM

RMFTM

Throw Down Bones

Bad Vibrations & Fuzz Club presents Fuzz Club London 2015, November 13th & 14th at London Fields Brewhouse.

It all takes place under two railway arches at London Fields Brewhouse.

FRIDAY NOV. 13th
--------------------------
THE KVB
CAMERA
THE TELESCOPES
10,000 RUSSOS
NEW CANDYS
THROW DOWN BONES

SATURDAY NOV. 14th
-------------------------------
THE MYRRORS
LOLA COLT
SONIC JESUS
MUGSTAR
THE CULT OF DOM KELLER
RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON
THE JANITORS
THE ORANGE REVIVAL
DEAD RABBITS

Tickets:
Early Bird from £12.50
Weekend from £25

Doors:
Friday at 7pm
Saturday at 4pm

Further details to follow.

There will be a Fuzz Club pop up shop at the event where we will sell very limited and exclusive releases and merch. 

BUY TICKETS HERE