Music
The best Boiler Room sets – all in one place
Five years of live-streaming intimate club sets around the world have thrown up these gems.
Nina Kraviz causes a stir at Boiler Room
© Boiler Room
Boiler Room began way back in 2010 with a couple of speakers, some decks and a webcam duct-taped to the wall of the basement of a magazine office in Dalston. Five years later, it’s a global megabrand with over 3000 recordings by some of the world’s greatest DJs to its name. Picking the best is a near-impossible task – but by sticking to the DJ sets and live hardware performances, we’re confident that we’ve assembled a pretty unbeatable list.
We'll start off with some killer 2015 sets, and work our way back through the years, featuring some of the biggest DJs in the game. And keep checking back, as we’ll be adding to it in the future.
2016
Anderson .Paak
When: January 15 2016
The rising LA soulman who blossomed fully-formed on Dr Dre's Compton charms Boiler Room with an all-singing, much-dancing London show. True star in the making.
LEVELZ
When: March 1 2016
Fresh from victory at Red Bull Culture Clash, Chimpo, Skittles, Black Josh, Fox and the gang tear it up Manchester-style. May involve a game of Countdown/The Price Is Right.
Slimzee
When: March 26 2016
Old-skool DJ don Slimzee takes care of the ones and twos as a bunch of guest MCs pass the mic. Raw, unadulterated grime at its finest.
2015
Mala
When: October 27 2015
Mala finally steps up to the Boiler Room plates, and boy was it worth the wait. Fans were treated to an all-wax dub masterclass showcasing a wealth of new dubstep talent still seeking that low-end bliss, as well as a few timeless classics. The reload frequency says it all.
Magic moment: 32:10. Coki's Goblin is just as devastating now as it was back in the day.
Armand Van Helden b2b Jackmaster
When: August 7 2015
It’s a joy from start to finish watching these two go toe-to-toe – a friendly battle, based on mutual respect, with classic track after classic track being pulled throughout. Great crowd too.
Magic moment: 46:25, as Armand pulls You Don't Even Know Me – wait for the big drop and massive singalong.
QT
When: September 9 2015
Divisive and controversial? Yes, but isn’t that was PC Music is all about? The first ever pre-recorded set on Boiler Room finds the nu-pop stable’s hyperreal diva performing her debut single Hey QT and getting the comments sections buzzing.
Magic moment: As you read the confused people in the comments section.
Laurent Garnier
When: August 28 2015
A three hour masterclass from the French legend somehow manages to cater to everyone; there’s rugged techno, blissful house, Balearic treats, and a few cheesy hits. This guy knows what he’s doing – and makes it look so damn effortless.
Magic moment: When everyone gets wavy at 2:25.00.
Honourable 2015 mentions: Mr Saturday Night, Murlo, Kink
Logan Sama, The Square, Skepta, Stormzy
When: January 7 2015
Get some of the best MCs from the grime world in one room, add beats courtesy of Logan Sama, and let rip. Everyone is spitting fire throughout, and the energy doesn’t let up once. This was where a lot of people first heard Stormzy’s Know Me From, so that’s a huge moment right there.
Magic moment: It's got to be Stormzy at 47:38. You know it.
2014
EZ
When: February 5 2014
Not just a masterclass in mixing garage – a masterclass in mixing, full stop. He absolutely smashes this set into oblivion. There’s only one EZ.
Magic moment: Live beat-making and the drop into Sticky's Booo! at 42:33.
Ellen Allien
When: July 26 2014
Ellen has been doing her thing for years now, so it’s a pleasure to see someone of her stature still enjoying the hell out of throwing a party. It’s not often you see DJs on Boiler Room getting down with the crowd, but no wonder when the vibes are this good.
Magic moment: That epic piano track at 1:50.00... ID anyone?
Honourable 2014 mentions: Phuture, Jazzy Jeff, Optimo b2b Harri & Dominic - Sub Club
2013
Nina Kraviz
When: February 22 2013
One of the most talked about sets in the Boiler Room vaults. Mostly it’s people banging on about the ‘creepy’ guys dancing a little too near Nina, or her camera teasing, but whatever… the set is fire, with all-time classics and to-the-minute new jams impeccably balanced.
Magic moment: The set and everyone else really hotting up and fanning themselve to the beat at 50:55.
Skream b2b Disclosure
When: November 16 2013
Big time feel-good set from some of UK dance music’s modern day heavyweights. It’s damn fun and that’s all it needs to be.
Magic moment: Jackmaster causing a scene by dropping his drink at 23:38.
Honourable 2013 mentions: Robert Hood, Loefah, Teklife
Sven Väth
When: December 13 2012
Just pure class from Väth, German techno kingpin, Cocoon founder and longtime resident at Ibiza superclub Amnesia. One of those sets you desperately wish you could’ve witnessed first hand.
Magic moment: Boiler Room's host negotiating more time at 1:38:00.
Richie Hawtin
When: June 1 2012
It’s Detroit techno legend Richie Hawtin with one of the all-time great Boiler Room sessions. It speaks for itself.
Magic moment: We should focus on the music, but we spotted the woman mine-sweeping Richie's drink at 53:00. Get the bouncers!
DJ Hell
When: September 4 2012
The International Deejay Gigolos boss DJ Hell, aka Helmut Josef Geier, is just bloody cool, isn’t he? Beautiful, punishing club music that goes in hard and doesn’t come up for air.
Magic moment: Fist-pumping in unison to Alex Bau's Noise A (Alan Fitzpatrick Remix) at 51:00.
Four Tet
When: October 11 2012
By now, Kieran Hebden might have done more Boiler Room sets than anyone, and to be honest most of them could have been in this list – but this live set takes the cake, showcasing where his talents as a producer lie. Is that Jon Hopkins taking notes?
Magic moment: It's got to be Plastic People coming in from 25:00.
Honorable 2012 mentions: Orbital, James Murphy, Carl Craig
