Ian Betts has become an integral part of what HeatUK is all about, regularly stealing the headlines with either his nostalgia-filled classics sets or his cutting-edge trance selections. Ahead of the birthday celebrations but in a twist on the usual HF interview style, we got Ian to dig through his mind vaults and pick through some of his most memorable, breathtaking and downright comedic moments from his time spent DJing for you and partying with the HeatUK crew
The announcement of his residency back in 2004 marked somewhat of a turning point in his career - within the next 2 years he was playing for Cream at Amnesia (voted the World's Best Club on several occasions) and running one of the most respected new labels in the trance scene (his excellent Six:Thirty Records imprint). This Saturday he returns to his home, the main stage at KOKO, to help celebrate HeatUK’s 6th Birthday in style.
We must warn you, the names of some characters have been changed to protect the innocent and some stories deemed "unprintable" have been edited. But you still get a very good picture of why these parties are so very special and unique.
The first time I met Damo & Anton was.....
….at one of the first Heat events at Turnmills back in 2003. I was introduced to Damo by Penny from XLR8 and what immediately struck me is how unlike a typical promoter he was, which I loved! The only other thing I vividly remember about the night is the fact that it never seemed to end - I think (Steve) Blakey was playing last and he just kept going and going and going, every time we thought he had played his last tune he’d go and stick another one on, I lost count of the number of ‘one mores’ he played but I think we eventually stumbled out of there at about 8AM!
The first time I played at Heat....
….was in T2 at Turnmills towards the end of 2003. It was the first time Heat had a dedicated trance room and if I remember rightly Anthony Dean and Oliver Leighs also played. I still remember the amazing energy in the room that night, it’s a great space to DJ in as everyone is really in your face which I love. By the time I finished people were crammed in at all angles and creating such a buzz. I spoke to Damo about it after the event and he told me that he couldn’t believe what he saw when he first tried to get into the room, which I was really chuffed about. Less than a year later I was a resident!
The biggest reaction I’ve got to a tune at Heat was for....
…either the Darren Styles remix of Taiko Silence which I dropped at the point the main riff kicks in as my last tune at The Cross, or the proper mix of Agnelli & Nelson Everyday which I played at the Evolution event at KOKO in 2005. Both times got a huge vocal response from the crowd and made the hairs all over my body stand up on end.
My funniest, most unprintable Heat story is….
….when my wife came and dragged me out of Mass late on a Sunday night after I had ‘briefly popped out’ on a Friday evening to meet up with Damo and Frenchy. Needless to say they were both still going strong but I was marched out and told to go home!
My favourite Heat venue is…
One of the best things about Heat for me is the fact that Damo and Anton never stand still when it comes to the events they promote, and that includes venues. Can you think of any other promotion that has successfully held regular events at Turnmills, Koko, Pacha, Brixton Academy, The Cross, Heaven, The Fridge, Shepherds Bush Empire and Clapham Grand? And that’s before we even start mentioning Ibiza and South West Four……
My favourite Heat abroad trip was….
Well the 48 Hours In Amsterdam trip was brilliant fun (30 people in a dorm at 6 in the morning) but you’ll be hard pushed to beat any of the Ibizan trips. The one that really springs to mind is when Nick Sentience played his legendary 4 hour set at Kanya the morning after Cream – that for me was what Ibiza is all about, a completely spontaneous morning that had everyone going nuts and causing mayhem.
My most memorable Heat party will always be…
….either the Saturday afternoon event at The Cross or the Evolution event at Koko at the end of 2005. The energy from the crowd at both events was simply epic, the Koko event probably just shades it – it was just like the old days of Camden Palace with people all over the stage and I played a set of trance classics from 1998, I had a ball.
The best guest DJ Heat ever had was...
Oooof, that’s a tough one. Tom Goldenscan played an outstanding set in T2 at Turnmills one year, and Alphazone were great too. I also really rated Guffy when he played at Pacha, not the typical Heat sound but he built a wicked set. Heat has been lucky to be able to call upon a number of regular guests who know the crowd intimately and will always deliver and I think this consistency is one of the main reasons Heat’s popularity has endured for so long.
Heat has grown to one of the biggest trance parties in the UK because...
….it is run by people who are passionate about the event, who work hard at making it successful but who also know what partying is all about and who have an unbelievably loyal and dedicated following. Damo and Anton will always be found in the thick of things and that’s why the Heat crowd love coming back – they feel like the event is run by one of their own, and that shows in every aspect of what makes Heat so special.
The track I can’t wait to drop at Heat’s 6th Birthday is…
….Marcos Beat Junkie.
The person I miss the most from the old days of Heat is…
….my partner in crime Marc French, Lyndon, Papa Lou, Simon the Hat & Dorro, Royce & Scotty, the list could go an and on…..
I am currently…
….at my desk at work answering these questions whilst trying to make it look as though I am busy working on the projects I am assigned to!
This week I have mostly been listening to….
….Danny Baker and Danny Kelly’s football podcast, new promos, the new Cult album and John Askew’s Essential Mix.
Photos courtesy of Ian Betts. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Who would have thought that a small party six years ago (now famous for taking place in the promoters’ backyard in East London!) would spawn hundreds of events in clubs across the Capital plus countless trips to other lands (Germany, Holland, Wales and Ibiza to name a few) and the creation of the largest dance festival in London that is South West Four? Tonight we bring you legends of the harder generation alongside the nu-blood stars of today in a celebration of all things HeatUK!
LIVE ACTS: For the first time ever Nick Sentience and James Lawson (Edison Factor) perform LIVE together. After months of painstaking work they have produced a kick-ass live set featuring edits from their favorite releases ready to explode out the new KOKO sound system. HeatUK favorite K90 also returns with his powerhouse live act ready to whip the main room crowd into a frenzy.
DJ TALENT: Our special guest tonight is Frantic resident Andy Whitby who is worshipped by hoards of adoring fans across the globe. Paul Glazby celebrates 6 years of Vicious Circle classics and BK reminds us why he caused a revolution back in 2001. The scene's youngest and most prolific hard trance producer Technikal joins us centre-stage along with a special birthday set from HeatUK resident and trance master Ian Betts.
THE VENUE: KOKO (AKA Camden Palace) is a legendary venue with a new state-of-the-art sound system plus we’ll be bringing in pyro-explosions with visuals and lasers guaranteed to transport YOU the clubber into another world!
DAMIAN & ANTON: would like to thank the clubbers, DJs, production, staff and the many people who have supported us - we are in your debt! We hope our many events across the years have been a worthy payback!
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: this is the last HeatUK event for 2007, there is no HeatNYE at Brixton Academy this year. We are taking a break but we will be back so watch this space...
DON'T MISS: Paul van Dyk @ KOKO on October 20 - HeatUK resident plays the last set (5AM – 6AM) after the number one DJ in the world! Not to be missed.
PRE-PARTY: Armada On The Thames!
Over the past summer there has been a series of brilliant boat parties through-out our somewhat dubious summer – if you have missed out on this then look no further than three of the finest that will be taking place right before HeatUK’s 6th Birthday!
Friends Autumn Boat Party – Sat 10th Nov – 3PM – 9PM
Boat: Golden Flame // Pier: Temple Pier
DJs: Charlie Bradley, Wynand Delport, Trevor McLachlan & guests
DFS vs Club10 Boat Party – Sat 10th Nov – 3PM – 9PM
Boat: The Dutch Master // Pier: Tower Pier
DJs: Don 69, Deephouse Experiment, Nick 55, Phill Noda & guests
Tickets: Don 07988 689 819 // Nick 07908 729 473
Pulse vs Knowwhere Boat Party – Sat 10th Nov – 5PM – 11PM
Boat: The Sundance // Pier: Temple Pier
DJs: Phil Reynolds, Ed Real, Skol, Tony Duzzit, Ian Betts, Pablo, Adam White & more
Tickets: 07774 198 604 // www.ticketweb.co.uk
Flyer:
-
Region:
London
Music:
Trance. Euro Trance. Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Nu NRG. House. Bouncy House. Funky House. Hard House. Tribal House. US House. Electro House. Tech House. Techno. Electro.
Room 1: Dirty Funky Sexy Vs Club 10
Don 69 Vs Marcel Kane
Timmy Amigo Vs Larhar
Deephouse Experiment
Phill Noda Vs Nick 55
Red Vs SMF
Styrofoam Kid Vs Sammi Adam
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