Tickets: http://www.warprecords.com and John Power would us to tell you this: Few things say Christmas like blistering electronica which is why Warp Records annual Christmas jamboree is one of the most long awaited events in the clubbing calendar. One of Britain's best loved and fiercely original independent labels Warp have blazed a trail for forward thinking music, regardless of genre, for nearly two decades now and the past 12 months have shown that there's no sign of the label slowing down or playing it safe in it's old age. And when most promoters use this time of year to stick a bit of tinsel around some dolly bird on a flyer and hike up the prices, Warp and Dedbeat have gone out of their way to deliver an amazing party in a very special venue, even keeping the bar prices down to pub level. Anyway to celebrate Christmas in style the label are taking over the plush confines of the Great Eastern Hotel and showcasing talent from across the musical spectrum from the likes of Lord Sabre himself, Andrew Weatherall, to the psychedelic drone rock of The Oscillations, the skewed electronic pop of new Warp signing Leila and dubstep pioneer Shackleton. As ever Sheffield is healthily represented with the legendary Martin Rushent stepping out of the shadows to take to the decks, a founder member of the Human League, Martin is one of the most important British producers of the past 30 years, responsible for hundreds of classic productions including the monumental Love And Dancing album, still a reference point for any clued up electro, nu-disco, techno producer decades after it's release. But this isn't just about the past and if Martin and Warp itself represent the past glories of the steel city, fast rising producer Toddla-T is a signpost to the future. Listen to his bass heavy, dancehall and bassline tracks and you can hear the DNA of the city's musical history embedded deep within. And if you hang around long enough you may find be lucky enough to find Santa or one of his helpers who will be guiding revellers onto his grotto for a secret afterparty.
