Link.Up 98 @ the Rocket Complex, 18 October

Net pirate station interFACE has made quite a name for itself broadcasting people's events, with a roster that includes the likes of Bar Rumba, Ninja Tunes, The Big Chill and Glastonbury. It also has its own events at The Complex, 333 and a regular Saturday do at the ram-jammed 'Happiness Stan's' at Smithfields under its increasingly widening belt.

The opening Link.Up bash at the recently refurbished Rocket Complex on London's Holloway Road is perhaps iFACE's biggest and most successful self-promoted event to date. As with all interFACE parties, Link.Up reached a global audience, going out in audio and video from http://www.pirate-radio.co.uk. Anyone anywhere with Net connection, Real Audio player and sound card could tune into the floor-shaking drum 'n' bass going down in the upstairs arena and the funky four-deck madness on the downstairs level.

It has to be said, the refurbishment has made a great deal of difference to the once uninspiring Rocket. Wacky inflatables sway over the upstairs dancefloor and a crisp coat of paint gives the place a new lease of life. On this occasion, it attracted a diverse and colourful crowd... everyone from students to Net heads, to junglists shaking their booty through to glamourous party types.

The DJ line-up was diverse too, encompassing D'n'B maestros Nicky Blackmarket, Kemistry & Storm and interFACE's own Junior Buzz (upstairs) and Snoggle (downstairs). Incidentally, the MCs can control their mics pretty decently too. Future DJ appearances will include North London funksters, the Wildlife Display Team and... harder! faster!... Andy C and Micky Finn (tbc).

Incidentally, bar prices at The Rocket are reasonably cheap (an obvious advantage) and if you have the coherency and the inclination, you can have a free session in interFACE's chat room. One chat regular, KC Mack from NYC, had made it all the way to the Holloway Road. "I'm friends with the interFACE people and wanted to check it out."

The next Link.Up is on Saturday November 14.

Other reviews:
Ninja Tunes - Kungfusion @ The Beach
Tickle @ The Cross
Absolution Boat Party

(c) CAN-U-HACK-IT