CLUBS

Progressive floor-fillers Empathy are marking their tenth birthday with not one, but three big celebrations. Dick Thornberg puts on his party hat.

Over the last 10 years, team Empathy have become a byword for progressive dance music in Bristol. From their roots as a fledging club night playing the proggier end of house, they built up a small but loyal following that soon became a large and loyal following. Not compromising on their belief that dance music is about getting sweaty in the dark, Empathy built their reputation through their ethos and guests, wherever the party took its followers. Now, they've adopted a three-pronged attack to celebrate all these years in the game. First there's another team up with Slinky, as Empathy's residents host the Academy's room two on Saturday 26 March, then – on 16 April at Dojo – globe-trotting Bristol legend Nick Warren plays his home town for the first time in three years. The final piece of the puzzle takes place at Start The Bus on Saturday 23 April, with Germany's Ulrich Schnauss playing live and throwing in a DJ set to boot. Promoter Stu Wilkinson answers the questions:

Happy birthday! Did you believe you'd make it all the way to 10? No way! From Bar Latino I thought two years would be it – four years on and we were still there. It's been a rollercoaster of a journey – the same people still come from all those years ago, and it’s created many friendships, marriages and even pregnancies.

Could you pick out some highlights over the years? There have been many great nights (most I can't remember), but one night we turned Timbuk2 into a field, with turf, hay bales, pictures, masks – everyone loved it! The biggest night for me was probably the first Empathy vs Hope Christmas party with Timo Maas and Locodice in 2002. It was the first time we had such a household name play and it was at our original home in front of 250 people.

Reflecting on his time as Empathy's beating heart, Stu adds: “I've always thought the success of empathy isn't down to the event itself but the people that turn out and support it. Bristol is a city with a great musical history and links, and I'd like to think we have played a small part along the way.” Indeed you have, and we can all celebrate Empathy's 10-year history, starting this weekend.

EMPATHY TEAMED UP WITH SLINKY AT CARLING ACADEMY, SAT 26 MAR.
 

Copyright Dick Thornberg 2011

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