Clubbing
BPitch Control's Garry Todd delivers an exclusive mix of thumping house and techno to celebrate the club, and set the scene for its season ahead.
Open for barely half a year, The Cause’s impact on London’s clubbing landscape has gone far beyond its small 400-capacity basement size. Since April, the club has played a major role in bringing truly DIY parties to the fore, raising funds and awareness for their mental health charities (Mind in Haringey, CALM and Help Musicians) with every gig they hold.
That the venue is set for demolition in 2019 (the building will be part of a major redevelopment scheme in Tottenham) adds a sense of urgency to their mission: “[Our] ethos is about fighting the good fight for grassroots independent music venues,” said co-founder Stuart Glen in an interview with Red Bull earlier this summer. “With our warehouse, we’re filling the gap and helping to start conversations around independent venues that give back to the local community. We want to use dance music as positive and creative force.” And they’re having a hell of a lot of fun doing it too. So far, they’ve had the likes of Octo Octa, Intergalactic Gary, San Proper, Samuel Kerridge – even the Dance Mania icon DJ Deeon – get behind the decks in the ex-car depot space.
With their Autumn and Winter season getting well underway, international trailblazers are coming in thick and fast. Detroit techno originator Kenny Larkin, Chicago house legend Boo Williams, Derrick May, Delano Smith and K-Hand are all packed in the month of October. But what makes the club a cause worth celebrating is their role in nurturing the capital's underground and up-and-coming DJs and promotors – from the seven local collectives showcased at the Next Step Forward festival last month, to upcoming nights hosted by Earthly Measures and cherished decade-old party series Bread & Butter.
Garry Todd is another regular behind The Cause's decks, and the BPitch Control affiliate is launching his label, and new night Liminal – which he started with Tweak_’s Simon Bays – there later this month. Check out our Q&A with him below, and dive deep into the exclusive mix he’s shared with Red Bull in celebration of the venue – a special two-hour excursion into the depths of house, techno and beyond.
Thanks for the mix! Can you talk a little bit about the ideas behind it?
I wanted to get the balance between the new, old and unreleased tracks that I play in my sets. It spans across the different styles that The Cause pushes, mainly focusing on various styles of house, techno and left-field breakbeat stuff.
Aside from the Liminal launch, what else have you been up to recently?
I’ve been working on a venue in my home town of Sunderland which will be the city’s first purpose-built club, called Upside-Down, which opens October 5th. Johnny Aux (of Paranoid London), Nyra, Frank Butters, Jasper James and D’julz are all confirmed, and myself and the owner Chris Bungoni will be playing alongside them as residents. Other than that, I’ve done a few tracks for one of Kerri Chandler’s imprints, and have started another label focusing on an old rave sound, with breakbeat and jungle references. Then, as well as The Cause shows, I’ve also got gigs coming up in Leeds, Edinburgh, Sunderland, Miami, New York – plus a tour to Australia, Bali and Thailand after the New Year…
What draws you to getting behind the decks and playing at The Cause?
It’s such a great venue, and being able to play with total music freedom is always great. With the DJ booth in the middle of the dance floor, you can really connect with the crowd much easier than at bigger shows. Having friendly security, owners, promoters and staff always helps, as they are the first point of contact and can set your mood for the night. But it’s the good music and quality sound that are the core elements that make the club work, and appeal to such a diverse, up-for-it crowd.
Catch Garry Todd play at The Cause across multiple dates this winter – check the club listings here for tickets and more information.
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