CLUBS

Adam Burrows meets Champion soundboy Danny Sanderson.

In the beginning was the bassline. When Jamaican soundsystem culture tore through the UK underground in the early 90s, so did its lexicon of ‘drops’, ‘rewinds’, ‘burials’, and worship of bass as a violent, yet comforting physical force. This was the junglist explosion, and we’ve been feelings the aftershocks ever since.

Champion Sound’s parties recall the moment that dancehall met hardcore, with a range of bass-heavy styles from dub to drum & bass and UK hip-hop. “The general rule is to keep it reggae based,” says promoter Danny Sanderson. “We have classic jungle in the main room, but from there anything can happen. We’ve had jungle legends working with reggae legends – people who may not have worked together before, so the sets are a bit special. It gets some great results.”

Their main venue is Lakota, and it means a lot to Danny: “It had to be Lakota. The history there, with the old Ruffneck Ting, Full Cycle and Metalheadz nights, means it’s a place that will always be in our hearts. Marti – the original manager from the club’s 90s heyday – has returned to the helm, and it looks like she’ll be bringing back more of that magic in the coming months.”

‘Champion Sound’ was a 1993 anthem by Q-Project, and Danny picked up on jungle from the off. “Growing up in Bristol, jungle was unmissable, and its biggest export for quite some time,” he says. “There’s still a lot of love for d&b here, and with the equipment producers use nowadays, there are loads of possibilities being explored that capture that original feeling. Our aim is to offer people that missed out first time around some of that original sparkle.”

This means keeping up with a scene that’s grown a long way from its geographical roots. “Since the internet developed it’s been embraced as a global sound – something that is played and made the world over.” He identifies the UK’s Aries and the USA’s Dirty Dubsters and Liondub as “great people coming through”, adding that “the MIR crew from Sweden really smashed it when they came”. He cites Don Letts, Doctor P and Nicky Blackmarket as Champion Sound highlights, as well as legendary vocalist Peter Bouncer who reprised his soulful turns on Shut Up & Dance’s ‘Raving I’m Raving’ and – after a little persuasion – Congo Natty’s ‘Junglist’. “Whether it's an old classic production team that we tracked down, or the scene's best vocalists working back to back, there are always a few hours of recorded gold to take home and listen to until the next one.”

September’s chapter should be a classic – with live reggae from Manchester eight-piece Nucleus Roots (pictured) and top-class turntablists The Nextmen. Then there’s UK rap pioneer Blak Twang, Ed Solo with dubwise toaster Darrison, and a supporting cast of top drum & bassers including Bryan G, Remarc, Moving Fusion and Aries. Danny’s looking forward to it: “The nights have a great atmosphere with people who love the music travelling from around the UK to sample the famous Bristol vibe. We've had people from Germany, Japan and Malaysia coming over, so if you're in town anyway you'd be silly not to give it a go.”

CHAMPION SOUND RETURNED TO LAKOTA ON FRI 30 SEPT. FFI: WWW.CHAMPIONSOUND.TV

Copyright Adam Burrows 2011