Raindance secret warehouse rave

Call yourself a real London raver? In that case you should know all about Raindance, one of the city's longest-running parties, which until recently was held at SeOne club in London Bridge.

Raindance is a mish-mash of all things old skool: hardcore, drum n bass, jungle, acid house and then some. It is one of the last true bastions of an era that gave birth to underground club culture as we know it today - as well as the notorious Criminal Justice and Public Order Act (anyone under the age of 20 won't have a clue what I'm talking about. Look it up.)

Dance music gods Prodigy are quoted as saying that in their early days, only two things concerned them: 'getting a record out and playing Raindance'.

But I digress. The reason I'm harping on about this is because Raindance, or more specifically its Jenkins Lane arena, has taken a new tack. It's breaking loose to host a secret warehouse party on Saturday 3 July - and it looks like fun.

Among the lineup will be the lovely Ellis Dee and Niki Dimensions (two of the nicest chaps on the planet). There will also be a live PA of classic stomper 'We Are IE' plus graphic design legend Pez will be putting up his original artwork for all you flyer whores to gush over. I will be one of them.

I insist you all come to this party. For details, head to www.secretraindance.com.

SeOne club shuts down

Last Saturday Raindance, a club night that's almost as old as me, celebrated its Slightly Late Valentine's Ball at SeOne club in London Bridge.

I'm gutted I didn't make it, because yesterday it was announced that the venue, sited right next to London Bridge station, has shut down.

SeOne was the capital's biggest club, playing host to nights as varied as DJ Mag's Top 100 awards ceremony, fetish shindig Torture Garden, accessory heaven Hat Club and ravers' favourite Raindance. 

SeOne boss Marcus left this message on the club's site:
'It is with great sadness that I must inform you that SeOne London ceased trading on Monday afternoon, 22 February 2010.

After eight long, hard and exciting years, SeOne London has fallen victim to the recession and hard times felt in nightclubs all over the UK.

I would like to thank all the promoters, DJs, clubbers, staff, suppliers and anyone who has worked and partied in these now legendary railway arches.'

I've partied countless times at SeOne and I'm sad to see it go. It had a grimey, ravey edge that rival large-scale venues such as Matter and Ministry failed to - or rather, refused to - imitate. And SeOne has had its fair share of tough times in the past, most notably the murder of a 24-year-old man at a rave in the venue in 2008. 

Throughout the last 12 months there were rumours that SeOne would fall prey to a compulsory purchase order related to the rail expansion that threatened Borough Market and neighbouring arts den Shunt. However it would seem from the club's statement that in the end, plain old economics ushered in the grim reaper.