Happy New Year

(written on NYE)

I've had a lovely Christmas with the family and a nice week off studying to see old friends. One final party tonight to round things off, another 491 Gallery bash.

Let me describe the 491 Gallery for you, for those of you who may be unaware of it... Basically it's a squat, but it's so much more than just that. Look at it this way: the value of the property is likely to have risen rather than fallen for the people who have stayed there. They made this derelict old factory building into a home for themselves and a community space for the rest of us, and put the suburban area of Leytonstone on the map for many an underground party-goer. These are not your typical squat parties either - they've often been warmer and friendlier than almost any wanky club you might find yourself at anywhere else in London, and the drinks and entry price are a lot cheaper!

This could be the last NYE at 491 cos they may be getting evicted in six months. It's been such a lovely place to go for me for the last 2 years. I remember the second time I went there, it really all fell into place... it was a party called Unity, put on by everyone's favourite Womble, Uncle Bulgaria (aka Graham), and was also the best DJ gig I ever played. The loveliest vibe I'd ever experienced at a party. They were selling soup and cheese sandwiches in the Vertigo cinema next door. I was absolutely in my element and I felt so relaxed behind the decks. I have never since felt the same way at a gig.

But while Graham, Joe, Sasha and I were all having a great time at that party, none of us knew that a good friend of ours, Saide Pachachi Dennis, had passed away that day.

A few months later we held a party in tribute to Saide, aka Infinity, at the 491 Gallery. Many of his friends and family gathered together in January 2005 to celebrate his life and raise money for the people of South East Asia in the wake of the tsunami disaster. It was a beautiful success. As well as giving him a good send-off we also raised £800 for charity and pioneered some interesting party elements like the smoke-free dancefloor, which is now a regular feature of the Synergy Project! Come to think of it, it will be a regular feature of every public place in the UK in a few months time...

Graham then started a new party called Edensounds, the first of which and many since were held at the 491. Its been a great party from the start, attracting a funny old bunch of characters (much like the promoter himself!), and it's finally got the recognition it deserves by being accepted into the Synergy Project team.

Well, it's early days yet... the 491 Gallery may live to see another NYE beyond this one, but it's not certain. Let's hope it does.