INTERNATIONAL BREAKBEAT AWARDS @ ELECTROWERKS, LONDON 27 Feb 2003

It was one of those spur of the moment things, not clouded by any preconception or predisposition, so off I trotted to the International Breakbeat Awards show at Electrowerks.
Miraculously, we were ushered in just as we got to the small metal door with a “its all kicking off in five minutes you’d better get in”, so in we blundered.

Electrowerks is part paintball venue, part club and the first five minutes felt like we were in the belly of a cold-riveted space cruiser as we struggled past a mirage of faces. The celebrities -I Danny McMillan and Radio 1’s Anna Nightingale -were in full force by the time we got into the main dance bay. Everyone from Tayo, Ali B, Leftfield were there in the largely upfront and together crowd.

The atmosphere was very friendly and each nominee from the fifteen categories was cheered by their own fiercely loyal entourage. Every winner was duly accorded a huge cheer with only few “dammits” from the seriously competitive. This sense of togetherness is not usually seen amongst the very “in crowd” that the awards attracted. Sure, everyone wore combats with obscure t-shirts but the whole thing was done without the po-faced “moody DJ” syndrome that make regular punters like me deeply cynical of other (mutual masturbation) awards ceremonies. Everyone was just up for a really good time.

The usual suspects all appeared when the gongs were handed out. The highlights were:

Best DJ
Adam Freeland (last years Best Breaks Album winner)

Face of Breaks 03
Krafty Kuts

Most valuable person
Rennie Pilgrem (last year’s King of Breaks)

Best Label:
Fingerlickin' Records

Best website:
Nubreaks.com

[Sadly this year they missed out the Breakbeard Award!]

After the awards were over the celebrities quickly moved over for the real talent, where Rennie, FreQ ,Krafty Kuts & Phantom Beats blew the whole room apart. Some wrenchingly fat tunes came down from above as we were pounded by tasty beats all night long.

My liver filed a formal complaint on Friday morning, but then again, you can’t get all the breaks.

words: Rufus Sanders