London Capital Of Clubland?

Despite the emergence of new clubbing hotspots around the world, London is still the best place on Earth to hear new dance music.

In 2006, the capital will play host to tens of new club nights, showcasing both established and upcoming DJs.

US house DJ Sandy Rivera, who's been based in London for three years, has announced the launch of a new mid-week club night in Clerkenwell, where he'll play all night exploring the deeper, techier side of his record collection.

"London The Capital Of Clubland" - Sandy Rivera

"London is the capital of clubland for sure," reckons Sandy.

"It's got the most variety of music, loads of great clubs, and people are always up for a good party."

House music producer Tim Deluxe agrees with Sandy Rivera, stating that the city's rich and long history with dance music makes it still the most important electronic music centre on Earth.

He says: "Some would disagree with me, but when you think of the amount of talent that has come out of London over the years, it's crazy.

Tim Deluxe believes London's long history of dance music make it No.1

"Record labels, DJs, artists, pirate radio – London definitely has been, and will continue to be at the forefront of electronic music for many years.

"Of course we've had some dips and lulls, but overall we have had it good for years," adds Tim.

Deluxe has just announced his new venture for 2006 – every last Thursday of the month the DJ will host the Medicine Bar in Shoreditch, where he will use the night, called AT, to give props to upcoming talent.

However the Medicine Bar is of course, just a bar, not a club.

"I feel it's not really happening so much in big clubs in the UK," says Tim.

"There are only four or five clubs in the country that push the music I play, and the rest have lost their vibe or gone too commercial and corporate.

Small Clubs & Parties

"Right now London is all about the smaller clubs and parties.

"I think it is going to continue like that for a while," reckons Tim.

"Doing a Thursday night takes the pressure off me having to compete with the big Saturday night brands, and can let me focus on bringing in new talent who would not normally be able to headline big clubs.

"My night is more about the music than getting the numbers in," the DJ admits.

Sandy Rivera loves the London underground dance scene

Sandy Rivera agrees that small, intimate parties is what London is great for.

He says: "The Cosmo Bar where my night is at, is a small underground venue so it will be an intimate party, just the way I like it.

"It gives me the chance to play music that I don't normally get to play – deep and dirty tunes."

Swedish DJ and producer Steve Angello however won't agree that small clubs are best - he has just launched a new bi-monthly night at superclub Ministry Of Sound.

Named after his record label Size, Angello will DJ with his mate Sebastian Ingrosso, taking over the mainroom with his tough house sound.

Established bigger clubs such as Fabric, The End, Turnmills, Pacha, and The Cross are of course, still packing in punters week in, week out.

Tip Of Iceberg

But they are just the tip of the iceberg.

The key to London's rolling dance music success is not the big conglomerates, but the network of underground parties that are in a continuing state of evolution, with new ones popping up every week.

As every Londoner (and pesky Tube driver) knows, without the underground, the city falls to its knees.