Northside Drum & Bass

Cinema converted into a live music venue, Gloria Hall was an essential location for Millennium era dnb events in Helsinki. Most notably for the STEALTH events, announcing the influental stealthunit.net online forum. @theezrollers @larrycalyx @djssform and more performed at events by Stealth and BigSound crews. For more on 🇫🇮 dnb visit the profile links Photos: p.3 John Kavaleff P.4 Helsinki City Museum #drumnbassfamily #dnb #dnbfamily #helsinkinightlife

Granted, a massive block of Art Nouveau / Nordic Classicism turned into a conference centre is not your typical venue for drum & bass. But Paasitorni plays an important part in the 🇫🇮 drum & bass history as the location for the first UK dnb DJ set in Finland* May 1996 saw @ltj_bukem as the opening act in [some say, with just one functioning turntable] in room 3 at a rave headlined by David Morales, Jeff Mills, and Westbam. Around the time, Planet of Love and Atlantis raves, promoted by DJ Eliot Ness, featured pioneers such as Aphex Twin, Joey Beltram, Kevin Saunderson, and Laurent Garnier. On the dnb tip, his later bookings included DJ SS, Fabio, Grooverider, Mickey Finn, Dillinja, Optical & more. A controversial figure perhaps, but as the ”boy who brought techno to Finland”, Eliot’s impact on the local 90s/00s rave culture is unparalleled, from the dozens of the biggest raves the country has seen, to his influential DJ sets at clubs and on the radio. For a glimpse of his DJ skills, search for Eliot Ness DMC World on YouTube and prepare to be amazed. Mr. E, wherever you are, give us a sign! For more flyers, photos and an oral history of the early years go to subb1996.com/northside * No, Slipmatt in ’92 doesn’t count here. #helsinki #ravehistory #drumandbass

About time to document the Helsinki venues shaping our jungle drum & bass history. First up: Tavastia - hands down the most legendary live music venue in Finland that has witnessed anyone from Stone Roses to Foo Fighters, from Mobb Deep to Jamiroquai, let alone every single 🇫🇮 act that matters (Hanoi Rocks, anyone?) The Millennium era saw multiple tier 1 jungle dnb DJs performing there, at events promoted by the high-energy Big Sound team headed by Dj Alimo & Ivo Corda (they will return in future posts!) Their Helsinki Connection night in August 1997 was groundbreaking, in proving that you can build a night with a 1000 punters through the doors completely without UK headliners. Later of course they arrived: Goldie, Grooverider, Adam F, J Majik and DJ SS featured here, with many more appearing over the years. Tavastia photos by @anttonmiettinen : p 6. Adam F & J Majik, Aug 2000. P 9. DJ Krazy P 10. DJ Control P 11. DJ SS For more flyers, photos and an oral history of the early years go to subb1996.com/northside #helsinkimusic #drumandbass #jungle @subb1996 @northsidednb

How do you celebrate 25 years of a label that spent 20 in hibernation? Since the late 90s, Straight Up Breakbeat has stood for pure underground energy — jungle drum & bass driven by a love for the breaks. After a long hiatus, we roared back to life half a decade ago, and now, 25 years since the label’s birth, and five since the rebirth, we celebrate with ’States Of Art’ — a deep dive into the global network of artists pushing the sound forward. Originally released across three vinyl EPs, the new compilation album unites artists shaping the next wave of jungle and drum & bass worldwide. The expanded “25” Bandcamp edition adds key tracks from the label’s rebirth era, making it an essential best-of with, you guessed it, 25 tracks in total. 20 limited vinyl bundles are out Dec 5th on Bandcamp, with test pressings carrying numbers hand-painted by EGS, whose aesthetic defines the series visual identity. Complete Bundle (10 pcs) * All three ’States Of Art’ vinyl EPs * Unique test pressing in sleeve hand-painted by EGS * Bandcamp exclusive 25 track digital compilation Numbers Bundle (10 pcs) * Unique test pressing in sleeve hand-painted by EGS * Back catalogue vinyl [choose from SUBB012 to SUBB021] * Bandcamp exclusive 25 track digital compilation For each of these bundles sold, we give 25 GBP to charity via Save The Children. In addition, two more bundles are available: Vinyl Series (limited to 15 pcs) * All three ’States Of Art’ vinyl EPs * ’States Of Art’ digital mixtape ”25” Bagged * Black tote bag with white map print * Bandcamp exclusive 25 track digital compilation * For each bundle sold, 10 GBP is forwarded to charity On Friday 5 December, code STATES25 gets you a 15% discount on Bandcamp. States Of Art 25 featuring: Aeon Four Askel Basic Rhythm Blood Trust Dak Dead Man’s Chest DJ Sofa Esc Fanu FFF Gremlinz Hmr Infader Jesta Koala Loxy Mantra Marvel Cinema Mineral Mister Shifter Out Of Fuel Park Shadow POD Resound Skeptical Tamen Tim Reaper Visuals by EGS @oldhelsinki Art Direction by Tom Backström @tomofsvenskfinland

@parkshadowmusic becomes, unless we’re completely mistaken, the 5th 🇫🇮 artist on the mighty @metalheadzmusic following @resoundsound @physicsdnb @fanufatgyver and most recently Mineral (@ilkkakurkela ). Surely a per capita record for countries outside of the UK! The ‘Altitudez EP’ is out now, with four tracks of “foggy melancholy, rave-charged energy, and uplifting breakbeat heaviness”. 🔥

The past couple of weeks have seen massive releases by two of Finland’s longest serving dnb producers, Esc & Mineral 🫡 Now with solo releases on @metalheadzmusic & @dsci4 the two go way back as a production duo, with an early example ’Kongo Tune’ appearing on the @northsidednb compilation. @escjuha @ilkkakurkela @subb1996

A great day for two legends of the Finnish drum & bass scene! 20 years on from his debut Metalheadz appearance, Physics returns to the label for a banging release. Meanwhile, Fanu turns 45 today, announcing his new album ’Ether’ on the local imprint Straight Up Breakbeat. @physicsdnb @fanufatgyver @subb1996 @dnb_finland

Initially out in 1999 and reprinted in 2004 @allcrewsbook is considered the definitive snapshot of jungle’s earliest years, and was carefully studied also here up North. The online update allcrew.uk now features snapshots of international crews, including some of the OG’s of the Finnish scene. @fanufatgyver @escjuha @ilkkakurkela @odjdizzy @subb1996 @dnb_finland @jawaeverydayjunglist

Guess it’s ok to reminisce every few years? Our first major events happened 27 years ago! Who’s up for a t-shirt based on vintage flyer designs ?!? 😎On the history tip, the few remaining copies of the otherwise sold out @northsidednb compilation just added to Bandcamp 👉🏼 Half price Bandcamp sale runs for 10 more days. @odjdizzy @fanufatgyver @resoundsound @djmuffler @escjuha @ilkkakurkela @odjpirkka @christian.a.champagne @dnb_finland

Northern Exposure, that’s what we’re about. @fanufatgyver new EP for @metalheadzmusic is a masterpiece, and @dispatchrecordings_anttc1 also has a great new one out by the breaks master. @resoundsound Rhytual reworks was just awarded ’Compilation of the Month’ by @djmagofficial and hardly a week goes by without a @dj_sofa_junglist banger released on wax, ’Jungle Valley’ being one of the most awaited releases of the year. Catch her (and us on the floor) at @rupturelondon Stockholm edition hosted by @bojlucki with @ahrenbergseba on the lineup as well! BTW did you know he was the 1st international dnb dj visiting Finland, city of Turku to be exact, beating LTJ Bukem by a month. Pic 4 flyer is from a bit later appeaeance at one of the legendary BigSound nights. More history at subb1996.com/Northside

@dave.columbo.jenkins the man & the myth has a new excellent crowdfunded media platform just launched and it’s Finland’s very own @dj_sofa_junglist getting the pole position with an interview and an exclusive mix!! Head on to Dave’s bio for a link and also check his thorough investigation of all things dnb in Finland for Bandcamp Daily (link in our bio). Torille again!

The 🇫🇮 jungle dnb on fire with @askelelere dropping new single w/ Unglued & Pav4n, and reppin’ at the festivals @escjuha & Mineral Satellite EP getting rinsed by the heavyweights & @dj_sofa_junglist set to return to London with approximately 27 TP’s in her bag!!