By Simone Letts
The Fez Club is part of this new growing underground music scene, putting Sheffield night life back on the map. Since it first opened three years ago, the dark warehouse with a low LED lit ceiling has become a main attraction for students and locals.
The Fez Club is part of this new growing underground music scene, putting Sheffield night life back on the map. Since it first opened three years ago, the dark warehouse with a low LED lit ceiling has become a main attraction for students and locals.
The Beginning
The decision to launch the club was made after an events promoter saw the gap in the market for a House Music scene, something that had been under represented in Sheffield before.
Andrew Hunt, manager at Fez Club, said that the first year was the most difficult. "It was hard to get established especially because we pretty much had no database to work with. But we had help from other promoters from other underground venues."
Now
Now the club has welcomed some of the most famous DJ's around the world including; Skream, Ben Pearce, The Artful Dodger, Patrick Topping, Route 94, Darius Syrossian and many more.
The decision to launch the club was made after an events promoter saw the gap in the market for a House Music scene, something that had been under represented in Sheffield before.
Andrew Hunt, manager at Fez Club, said that the first year was the most difficult. "It was hard to get established especially because we pretty much had no database to work with. But we had help from other promoters from other underground venues."
Now
Now the club has welcomed some of the most famous DJ's around the world including; Skream, Ben Pearce, The Artful Dodger, Patrick Topping, Route 94, Darius Syrossian and many more.
"We're like one big family"
Andrew said that it was the friendly atmosphere that makes them stand out against other underground music night clubs in Sheffield. "Everyone gets on, we're like one big family and our customers because part of that family too. You don't get that in most clubs."
This spring Fez presents teamed up with Snowbombing, a week-long festival situated in Mayrhofen, Austria, for an official festival pre-party featuring Norwegian DJ Finnebassen. They were also invited to have their own stage at the festival. "We had a stage in the mountains it went really well, it was really busy, and at night we had a party in the village."
This spring Fez presents teamed up with Snowbombing, a week-long festival situated in Mayrhofen, Austria, for an official festival pre-party featuring Norwegian DJ Finnebassen. They were also invited to have their own stage at the festival. "We had a stage in the mountains it went really well, it was really busy, and at night we had a party in the village."
Student Beth Wilson, 22 said that house and underground music is becoming increasingly popular because of the euphoric feeling it provides when listening to it. "I love fez because it feels like a community of people who all share a love for the music."
Andrew prides himself on living in a city where night life is promising. "After Gatecrasher went the music scene went quiet. Now more people coming from out of town - it's actually worth coming down to Sheffield for a night out."
Andrew prides himself on living in a city where night life is promising. "After Gatecrasher went the music scene went quiet. Now more people coming from out of town - it's actually worth coming down to Sheffield for a night out."
"We're bringing people back to the city"
He puts the rising popularity of house music down to the festival fad. "A lot of people have jumped on the scene more or less. It's becoming commercial on the radio as well."
Student and regular attender at Fez Club, Natalie Phillips, 21 said she prefers underground music nights to other music groups because, "people rarely go to these events looking for fights, most people are at them for the music."
What Next?
Andrew predicts that underground music in Sheffield will change. "The deep house scene will become commercial and fade out but I think there will always be a market for tech-house."
And as for Fez Club, he sees an optimistic future. "We'll also be going to Austria again next year. As well as this we're going to be doing more festivals and bigger events in bigger arenas. It's going to be eventful and exciting."