From throwing legendary free parties on the South Downs to playing a central role in the construction and running of Brightons hugely acclaimed Audio venue, from showcasing house musics most exciting DJs and acts every Friday night to releasing a string of underground hits on their own label, Stompa Phunk have proved that dance musics famed DIY ethic, in the right hands, is very much alive and well.
Formed by resident David Parr and promoter Anthony Prior in 1997, the club started life in the basic environs of The Richmond (now the Pressure Point), and quickly provided a focal point for legions of Brighton free party goers who, at the time, were finding themselves increasingly shut down by the authorities. They rapidly gained a reputation for great parties featuring numerous local, national and international DJs, although with the closure of The Richmond in 1998, they were forced to find a new venue. Later that year they were approached by The Funky Buddha Lounge to do a weekly Friday night, and from the word go, the club was rammed each week with Stompa Phunk s by-now well-established crowd. Responsible for countless Brighton debuts, they began long standing relationships with hosts of the worlds finest DJs, including Josh Wink, Ralph Lawson, FC Kahuna, Ivan Smagghe, Layo & Bushwacka!, Derrick Carter, Paul Daley, MANDY, Evil9. Meanwhile, they enlisted the services of Serge Santiago and Tula as new residents, and by doing so established themselves as the central focus point of Brightons underground house, techno and electro scene. And unlike so many cliquey, closed shop clubs of a similar nature, SP has always made a point of involving as much of the local DJ community as they possibly can with the freedom of a weekly night, numerous Brighton DJs and live acts cut their teeth at Stompa Phunk , and the vast majority of them still return regularly to the club, both to perform and to just hang out and dance.
But it doesnt stop with the Brighton club scene. Stompa Phunk Music put out their first release in 1998, and followed with a steady flow of their own patented brand of Jackinacidiscotech, mostly produced by club residents David Parr and Serge Santiago and regulars including founding member Ben Burns, Missing Link, Bullit Catcher, Radioslave and in the last couple of years, the excellent Mula. Like the club itself, the label embraces a variety of styles and influences but from David Parrs electronic grooves to Mulas punk-funk strut, they all share a distinct knack for absolutely rocking the dancefloor. The label has gone on to garner praise from a wide variety of DJs, with everyone from Pete Tong to Terry Francis getting behind the SP sound, and forthcoming releases from Bushy, Kenny Hawkes and David Parr are already stirring up excitable anticipation across the globe.
Following a continual growth in profile, including hosting the Essential Mix Live Radio 1s One Live in Brighton week, performing showcases at festivals including Homelands, Glade, Rocket and Sonar, and invariably packing The Funky Buddha to the rafters every Friday, in 2004 Stompa Phunk embarked on their next major phase. Following lengthy deliberation, they began working with the owners of the famous Escape club to direct, oversee and act as creative consultants to a huge renovation, re-design and overhaul of the entire venue. Unlike any other club in Brighton, the newly ret-titled Audio promised to put on the highest quality acts and DJs in a genuinely friendly, sophisticated but totally unpretentious environment a venue that was cool enough to push the cutting edge of club culture but that knew how to roll its sleeves up and get down to some heavy partying at the same time. And thats exactly what they delivered. SP moved their weekly Friday residency, handpicked Brightons finest promoters to take the reins on other nights, and Audio quickly established itself as Brightons most successful club no mean feat in an industry that usually relies on lowest-common denominator cheese to keep the dancefloors full. One of clublands increasingly rare success stories, they continue to steer the venues creative direction while simultaneously running their own independent activities as DJs, producers, remixers ,label bosses, and all round good blokes (and girl). Combining relentlessly great music and a hard-earned reputation for the most consistently rocking parties in town, Stompa Phunk show no signs of slowing down in their continual ascent
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