Features
16 of the best images from Quarters' gamechanging opening weekend
With a site steeped in decades of dance music history, Quarters enlisted the help of Rossi. and Shy FX to kick off a new era of clubbing in Brighton
Brighton's newest dance music haven welcomed in its inaugural crowd last month with a massive two-day opening party featuring headline sets from Rossi. and Shy Fx, giving the South Coast masses their first taste of what Quarters will have to offer in the coming months.
While Quarters might feel like the new kid on the block, the Brighton venue is steeped in clubbing history, having experienced a number of reinventions across the last three decades, including starting life as storied venue, The Zap, in 1982. With a lot of "time, money and love", A Man About A Dog (AMAAD) - the team behind Junction 2, LWE, Bristol's The Prospect Building and Boundary Brighton - are hoping to bring this clubbing landmark to the next generation.
Read this next: New venue Quarters to launch within former home of Brighton's The Zap nightclub
"In all our thinking it has been really important to us to acknowledge this but with a firm eye on the future, building a new space for Brighton that is both modern but retaining that underground club feel with the very best possible in sound!" says AMAAD's Paul Jack. "Quarters has the beating heart of underground electronic music at its core and this is exactly what audiences can expect."
The first crowds to enter the venue on September 26 were able to see just that, a stripped out venue complete with new plumbing, toilets, air movement, industrial fans and - most importantly - state-of-the-art sound and lighting. "We see Quarters sitting alongside other key venues in the city like Concorde, Patterns, and Vaults, adding choice, variety, and opportunities for new artists, and a killer space for headline talent in the city," Jack adds.
"But also, 'these walls have stories' is very true here," he continues. "We have tried to retain that, keeping a few original features amongst all the new. The venue has a unique feel and atmosphere and we hope to pay respect to all that have come before and continue that story going forward."
By combining the well-worn architecture of a purpose-built music venue with all the bells-and-whistles of a modern club, Quarters allows for crowds to experience the action across a plethora of vantage points all over the venue. Whether its the rowdy tech-house stylings of Rossi., which attendees were treated to on the opening night, or the billowing bass from drum 'n' bass legend, Shy Fx — who took over the venue the next day. But make no mistake, this isn't just going to be a hub for club nights.
Read this next: Brighton's Quarters shares initial programme ahead of next month's launch
“We see the venue as a hub for cultural activity in the city and as one of the reasons to visit this great city,” says Jack. “We are working with our live music partners Ghostwriter to host midweek live events, launching with a double header of Everything Everything doing both evening and matinee performances.”
“In addition to the overall musical programming, we are partnering with the charity AudioActive to create a program for youth and grassroots talent in the form of bespoke events, trainee apprenticeships and general opportunities,” he continues. In the coming months, Quarters is expected to host a wide-range of electronic talents, Including DJ EZ, Jyoty, Laurent Garnier, salute, Dr Banana, Andy C, Neffa-T, Saoirse and more — while beloved queer party Polyglamorous will be making its debut at the venue this month.
Does Quarters have any suprises up its sleeve for the New Year? “Plenty,” says Jack. “But if I told you then it wouldn’t be a surprise. Keep an eye out for the summer as the venue evolves its offering.” To mark the launch of Brighton's new cultural HQ, Quarters, we have compiled 16 of the best images from its launch weekend, check them out below.
