Stanton Warriors accepting “Best DJ” award, photo courtesy of Sharon Alboni

Breakspoll 2008. It’s over. I went, got trampled on by the feet of a thousand breakbeat fanatics, but I’ve lived to tell the tale.

Fabric, Thursday 28th February, London. Imagine a sea of acid house ravers, gay house boys, chavs, and a myriad of sub-genre representatives dancing in a very small dark and sweaty box. Watered-down drinks at £5 a pop. The only glimmer of light breaking through the blackness and shining onto upraised hands produced by lasers. Then, hearing some of the world’s best speaker-bashing breakbeat. Nine hours of back-to-back breakbeat sets. Sick.

Highlights include seeing Atomic Hooligan (recently featured on TM) perform just after scooping up an award for best live act, dancing to Deekline & Wizard’s bass-heavy set, bumping into General Midi, and last but not least my mate Niall finding us a room-sized hole in the wall to dance in.

Atomic Hooligan delivering a belter, photo courtesy of Sharon Alboni

It was all a bit much for me. Fabric was rammed to the gills, and there wasn’t a second that I wasn’t nudged, pushed, or elbowed out of the way. Half the people were munted, shuffling aimlessly the entire night in and out of rooms. Bless the hard-core breaks lovers, who kept the dance floor nice and warm.

Next year I’m either reserving front-row seats or going whole hog and joining the march of the dead!

I know it’s slack of me to go all that way & not announce the winners – it’s been a long week.

Breakspoll Winners 2008

Best Album: ILS – Paranoid Prophets

Best Single: Plump DJs – System Addict (Fingerlickin)

Best Remix: The Autobots & Screwface – Flesh Eater (General Midi Remix)

Best Label: Fingerlickin Records

Best Live Act: Atomic Hooligan

Best Producer: Plump DJs

Best DJ: Stanton Warriors

Best Breakthrough Producer: Alex Metric

Best Breakthrough Label: Tricksta

Best Breakthrough DJ: Plaza de Funk

Best Large Club/Event: Eargasm

Best Small Club/Event: Fuse

Best Radio Station: NSB Radio

Best Radio Show: Annie Nightingale

Best Retailer: Know How Records

Best Website: NuSkoolBreaks.co.uk

Outstanding Contribution To Breaks: Paul Arnold

http://www.breakspoll.com