Ram raider
Richie Meldrum looks at the career of drum & bass ambassador Andy C as he gears up for a set at Street Knowledge
ou’d be hard pushed to find a DJ bigger than YAndy C; in this business he’s the boss, the CEO, of [)&B. ‘In my eyes there is no other DJ in the drum & bass industry with the profile that
Andy C has,’ explains Street Knowledge DJ/promoter 1)] Kid. “His outrageous mixing skills and overall crowd control from behind the turntables is more than enough reason for me to have him as my very first guest at my Street Knowledge: Drum & Bass Legends series.’
Like the birth of Christianity, it all started in a barn. Admittedly there was no donkey, and the wise men were perhaps a little thin on the ground. but at this party they didn’t need nativity; they had lights. lasers and a floor full of happy punters. When Andrew was taken to his first rave at the age of l3. there was no going back. From that point on the path was set and Andy C would go on to become a D] of biblical proportions.
The journey from underage raver to underground
legend was tough yet rewarding. As a lo year-old school leaver, Andy’s business model was
refreshingly unconventional. There was no-
marketing strategy — just a felt tip pen and a grand borrowed from his uncle. Andy used the cash to press some of his own early productions onto dub- plate acetates destined for the boxes of the scenes biggest spinners, his big sister used the felt tip pen to draw the logo for his label, Ram Records. This revolutionary combination became the epicentre of Andy’s own entrepreneurial whirlwind. With tireless ambition and an insatiable appetite forjungle music.
34 THE LIST 18 Sap—2 Oct 2008
‘THERE IS A VIBE ABOUT THIS SHOW I'VE NOT FELT FOR A VERY LONG TIME'
he went on to join a select number of [Ms including Sasha and (‘arl (‘ox as headliners of massive raves taking place up and down the country.
‘l‘vc watched Andy‘s stature grow by the year and
he never fails to impress me.‘ adds Kid. '1 actually
come away from gigs knackered from the sheer energy he creates. A true pioneer. the scene would be significantly different without him.‘
His energy-packed brand of drum & bass badness
has been whipping fans into a frenzy for the last l() years. He‘s played the biggest and best venues around the globe. including helping to shape Fabric into the legend that it has become at l‘abriclJve. Production-wise. he‘s up there with the best of them, with tracks including ‘Roll 011‘ the massive
‘Bodyrock‘ and some outstanding collaborations 7
with labelmates Ant Miles and Shimon under their Ram Trilogy guise. His music is full on. fast and furious. big build tips and bigger bass lines and it‘s the reason he‘s stayed at the top of his game for so long. Big names pull big crowds as Andy enlists the
lyrical mastery of M(‘ Wrec and a host of local
support at this freshers‘ week fiesta offering tip the mother of all inductions for the matriculating masses.
"l‘here is a vibe about this show I‘ve not felt for a very long time.‘ says Kid. ‘with Andy performing on
three decks I think it‘s going to one of those night’s '
that will be talked about for years to come.’
Andy C guests at Street Knowledge, Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sat 20 Sep.
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www.list.co.uklclubs
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THE BEST DANCEFLOOR ACTION
=i< Mixed Bizness and R-P- Z GSA’s enduringly first class double bill, with Mixed Bizness now replacing Freakmoves. Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, week/y Thu.
>2: Tight A qualiw collision of techno, electro and Baltimore styles at this new weekly Thursday-nighter from the Art of Parties team. Sub Club, Glasgow, weekly Thu.
>i< Rollercoaster While it has a long way to go to replace National Pop League in our affections, this new night seeks to fill the gap. Woodside Social Club, Glasgow, Fri 79 Sep.
>i< Xpllcit Classic Scratch Perverts line—up of Tony Vegas, Prime Cuts and Plus 1 tear it up. Potterrow, Edinburgh, Fri 79 Sep.
$ Street Knowledge Huge drum & bass assault with a full on three deck mix from the masterful Andy C. Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sat 20 Sep. Tennent’s Mutual Warm Up Previewing the new gig strand from the guys behind Triptych, this preview date is top-lined by a guest DJ set from James Murphy (pictured) of LCD Soundsystem. CCA, Glasgow, Sat 20 Sep; Caves, Edinburgh, Sun 21 Sep.
>l< Little League And one for old times’ sake. Following the demise of the seminal National Pop League in July, expect post-punk, indie and 086 at its sister club's final date. Queen '8 Park Bowling Club, Glasgow, Fri 26 Sep.
$ Substance Dirty breaks meet electro—pop nuggets from the hands of special guest Cursor Miner. Henry’s Cellar Bar, Edinburgh, Fn‘ 26 Sep.
>l< Shoot the Pump Nonivay’s king of disco house and reworked old school classics, Todd Terie, mashing dub, pop, house, electro and disco into new and varied shapes. GFiV, Edinburgh, Sat 27 Sep.