Club Kinetic based at the Longton Leisure Bowl, Commerce Street, Longton, Stoke On Trent has everything going for it. From the time I arrived to the time I left, I never saw one miserable face in the crowd. Parts of London may have forgotten how to party, but Stoke definitely hasn’t. People were so eager to get into this club, some started queuing at 4pm to pay their £8 entrance fee (value for money) or £7 if they are a member. 8pm rolls up, the doors fly open and in steams the ravers dying to get on the dance floor for a night of sweating. As we all make our way in, the first thing that strikes you is how friendly the security are.

No “I’m security – out of the way” attitude here, but real security people, they haven’t forgotten they are here for your safety and not their ego. Up the stairs and into the lobby thing. Now there’s music coming from every direction, Hardcore, Garage, Hardcore and Garage. Four rooms bustling with party people. On this particular night, Kinetic had open the whole leisure centre which only happens on special nights like their birthday night or when they are doing one of their special theme nights.

So off we set for a wander around the club. “F**k me I’m getting lost”, it’s like a maze in there in parts. Straight through the chill out room (no stopping there), down into a trance section and across to the main room – total bangers and mash Hardcore comin at yer 200 miles per hour. Feel the bass in yer face as the purpose built sound system for this venue pumps it out at few too many to mention watts. You can’t help but move your body with all the other eye twisted ravers on the dance floor. The atmosphere is electric.

The lights are flashing past your head like flashes of lightening in your front room. Your tranced out as the strobes whisk you away like a time machine on an unknown journey. Not for many years have I seen a crowd so dedicated to raving as this one was. People are here, people are there, there everywhere with not attitude to be seen for miles.

The DJ’s drop the tunes, the ravers drop their jaws and your carried away to a new world that is really real. Before you know it time is getting on and you have thirst to satisfy, but how do you drag yourself away from this dance floor, it’s not easy but you know it must be done. So it’s off to the bar, “bottle of water please”, the bar girl replies “sorry we don’t sell bottles, only pints”.

Straight away you’ve got a pint of water in your hand and all for only 50p. Once armed with water, you turn around and to your amazement there’s 25 full size snooker tables staring at you in the face. No, I think I’ll give the game of snooker a miss, but there is plenty having a go should you wish to relax those weary legs.

Before long the night is coming to an end when you start wishing it had only just begun. The DJ’s had played some blinding sets with some excellent tunes. They even have their own national anthem at Club Kinetic, the Grand National by Rhythm For Reason (i.e. bad boy come again). Drop this tune at Kinetic and the whole club posse sing along.

A resident DJ to watch out for up there among the big boys of Carl Cox, Groove Rider, Slipmatt etc, is the young and talented Brisk – a star of the future I’m sure. Kinetic in my opinion is the place to be on a Friday night. Totally mad and attitude free. It’s like going back in time and experiencing a real rave again for real ravers.

Like all good things they come to an end and like tonight has, but luckily enough it will be back every Friday just as strong.

The Kinetic Koncept

Dance Concept takes its incredible energy south, and Andy Crane travels to Club Kinetic, the venue where ya slurp up the hardcore honeys and buzz with the beats.


Well, here I am on a cold and wet Saturday morning, still buzzin’ and trying to figure out just how to describe one of the best nights I’ve had for a long time. I am, of course, referring to Dance Concept’s North Meets South event at Club Kinetic, Stoke-On-Trent, October 6th. Put simply it was an excellent night, but I guess you’ll want to know more, so here goes.

Under orders to arrive early, I got there half an hour before the doors opened and discovered there was already a decent queue outside. I go in search of food and return at 8pm just as the doors open. The queue by now is four deep, and stretches around two sides of the building. Entry into the club is swift, and after a short delay due to "technical problems”, the night kicked off with Dougal setting the pace with a set of stompin’ bouncy breakbeat.

Hot on Dougal’s heels came DJ Frantic, playing a set that befits his name. With the main room getting fuller by the minute and Frantic doing his stuff, I decided to have a wander around and see what else was going down. First stop was one of the three well stocked bars selling all the usual stuff, both alcoholic and non alcoholic. On from the bar we came across a snooker hall, a little unusual for a rave club don’t you think? Anyway, this room proved to be the source of endless amusement, have you ever watched someone tripping trying to play snooker?

Having amused myself in the snooker room I made my way back to the main room. I arrived to find the room full to overflowing and hotter than my local sauna. The reason why? Scott Brown. In typical Scott Brown fashion he had the place stompin’ like crazy at a pace with Clarke taking over from Scott Brown. Time for another break, I decided.

Now I’m not the world’s greatest house fan, but this place has a house room, so what the hell, I took a look. I walked into the smoke filled room and to my surprise found myself in the middle of an excellent old skool set. Surprise number two came when, as the smoke cleared, I caught a glimpse of the DJ. It couldn’t be, could it? I took a second look. It was.

There, high above the dance floor on the platform, was none other than the master of bangin’ techno Mikey B. With Mikey playing some of my favourite old skool tracks I stayed until the end of the set. Feeling relaxed as Mikey’s set finished, I ventured back into the main room once again.

By now it was close to midnight and everyone had finally got into the club. In order to accommodate everyone, two extra rooms had been opened. These two rooms are well kitted out with plenty of comfy seating, so are the perfect place to chill out and relax in. Meanwhile, for those who chose to keep on stompin’ Brisk and Stu Allan kept the place rocking until the star of the night made his entrance.

Enter once again the master of bangin’ techno, Mikey B. With not an old skool track in sight, Mikey slipped into techno mode, moved the pace up a notch and preceded to give the crowd what they wanted, some of the best, bangin’ tunes around. In between spinning the vinyl and dancing like a man possessed, Mikey managed to find time to take over from guest MC G and introduce surprise guest DJ Demand. The night was rounded off with Mikey and Demand playing the last half hour or so back to back. All in all, an excellent night full of surprises.

Finally, on a slightly more serious note, while I was talking to some of the Kinetic crew I discovered that Neil, one of the original Kinetic Crew, is having a rough time in hospital at the moment. So, I would like to join with Paul and Terri in wishing Neil a speedy recovery and to let him know that everyone is looking forward to having him back soon. Respect.