Crunch, a bi-monthly all nighter in Birmingham, is approaching it’s first birthday and continuing to widen it’s catchment area across the west Midlands, thanks to favourable verbal reports. Held in The Attic, a club whose name believes it’s size, (2 dance floors, a chill out room and a café) Crunch has as yet not failed to sell out.

The last event attracted in the region of a thousand people, with a further 2 hundred having to be turned away at the door.

The success of this club has been unprecedented. The cynics may accuse it of simply cashing in on Birmingham’s huge student population (it began at the university) but considering that the events in the Union’s still fill up, it is obvious that Crunch is attracting a far more diverse, and discerning crowd. It’s popularity is made all the more unusual by the fact that it does not ride on the backs of supposed “big name” DJs, relying instead on home grown talent, the likes of whom are well known and respected in the areas.

Organiser and resident DJ Jon Hollis is joined on a regular basis by Heaven (who never fails to delight the crowd with her set of deep house mixes), Scott Bond of Cream fame and Jules from Marco Polo’s. The last event saw, for the first time guests from further afield. Tim and Laurie, down from venue for the night did themselves, and the crowd justice as did Belfast’s Paul Savage and Dino.

The fact that Crunch has managed to establish itself in Birmingham, where there is certainly no shortage of decent clubs, is in itself a tribute to the appeal of this night.

The un-pretentious attitude and easy going door policy give Crunch a very relaxed atmosphere and it has managed to maintain its freshness in the face of popularity, without becoming obscure or aggressive. The lack of a comfortable chill out room, however, is a bone of contention although it is up to the venue rather than the promoters to sort this out. At present, those who feel the need to replenish themselves will have to do so whilst sitting on a cold stone floor leaning against a soggy wall.

This is fabulous if you want to reminisce about Spiral Tribe’s early events in North London squats, but can be uncomfortable and irritating for the sophisticated cushion fan. The two room set up, however is always approved of, providing choice and preventing boredom.

Entrance to Crunch is surely one of the cheapest good quality all nighters in the Midlands, and an ideal warm up for a Birmingham weekend