Cheeky Business
23rd December 2005
Gregson Community Centre, Lancaster

Review by Matt Cooper

Top times were had by all!

I know it's a late arrival but I've been very hectic with Christmas and New Year (and it didn't help that the site editor lost the review - Shamefaced JF).

For those of you who didn't attend shame on you (two new faces, one relative new comer and two old hands). Admitedly it was the Friday before Christmas Eve but that didn't stop those involved from pulling out the stops to give a night of musical and visual pleasure.

The decor at the event was a slightly eclectic mish mash of styles, which worked very well together. Time and effort had gone into making the venue get the right feel. Banners had been comissioned from Bob Brown and Janet Edmondson (Cheeky Business and Mooning Monkey), Dave Tierney supplied some original oil paitings, coupled with UV, Lasers and the usual assortment of lighting and PA supplied by Bod the stage was set. Plus, five DJ's played an array of tunes throughtout the night virtually gauranteed to get your foot a tapping.

The night kicked off at 7.00pm with some disco sounds leading the way for Si Lo. Souns (the first new face of the night) to hit the wheels with his progressive house & electro set. The only fly in the ointment here was the fact that too many bouncing feet gave the needle a little jump, but thanks to some quick wizadry and the needle was weighted enabling the tunes to commence once more.

Following on from the Electro beats came the second of the two new faces: Mr. Bit playing a breaks set, showing skills to be proud of. The centre was getting busier by this time and with the Christmas cheer being in the air it looked set to be a tip top night.

Next up was the pairing of Dave Stringfellow vs Ms. Bloomer. Some of you might know Dave as he's been around for a while but Ms. Bloomer was playing out for her third time (she played at Mentalist also at the Gregson earlier on in the year). This really got the crowd pumped up and dancing the socks off.

I should mention at this point that they had reorganised the venue somewhat. The stage had been dismantled and the sound system was based down near the bar area. This layout worked really well as it made the hall seem much bigger than it usually does. Hence more room to get jiggy!

An hour and a half later and everything was sweet, stroll on Ginja Ninja with his bouncy house and party breaks to take us to the end of the evening. What more do you expect for a Christmas party? So the drinks were flowing, the music was playing and top times were had by all involved -- from punters to organisers.

The only downside of the event was the licensing at the Gregson only being available till 12 o’clock. With the advent of 24 hour drinking and extended opening hours for pubs/clubs in town it could mean the decline of these types of nights being held.

Review © 2005 Matt Cooper