Starting in the depths of Dalston back in April 2009, Public House feels like a house party but it’s not in anyone’s house; it feels like all your best friends, yet you’ve never met them before. Often based in disused shops (complete with till-bars and fitting room-toilets) or abandoned courtyards, it houses fresh driving tech, minimal, Latin and tribal house, as well as early Detroit techno and cult Chicago classics, but, you’re not in a club…
This environment is unique to Public House and exactly what they set out to create: ‘…the hedonistic party atmosphere which is often forgotten in favour of pretentious elitism. Public House is for everyone who wants to leave their ego at the door and listen to excellent dance music. The music will be pumping, the mood upbeat and the atmosphere stimulating… Expect the unexpected, as long as it makes your feet dance, your ass shake and your mouth smile it will be out of the box and on the decks… The Public House residents have one policy: if it sounds good and feels good, it is good. Done.’
Public House are Simon Shreeve, Matt Hannigan, Tom Traves, Finnian Casey and Sean Robinson. The boys are now on their 6th party, where they will showcase Parisian house and tech DJ Yakine and Scotsman Craig Torrance.
Matt Hannigan tells us a little bit about how it all began, the best bits and what we can expect in 2010.
How did you all meet?
We all know each other via mutual friends through university/school etc, but we became friends from going out to the same nights. Fabric, The End and warehouses were the places where we realised that we had an affinity for the same music and the love of a great party.
Where did the Public House dream begin?
I think Public House spawned from the passion we all have for quality house and techno and the desire to provide an arena for people to get into a real party vibe. We have been to so many parties where the music has been top notch but the crowd has been really tame.
Public House started as an opportunity for us to DJ for our friends and build up a reputation for intimate, raucous and hedonistic parties that seem to have faded away recently. Basically we want people to have fun, and dance their asses off to the best music in with the best atmosphere!
Can you tell us a little bit about your parties to date?
Well our first party really took us by surprise… it was a launch party at the eccentric Shacklewell Arms in Dalston and we were fully resigned to have our friends turn up and no-one else, but it was absolutely rammed and we all knew we were onto a good thing!
After careful planning and a few more successful events, we decided to invite our first guest DJ. Our policy is to book up-and-coming DJ’s who haven’t really played in the UK before. We gave the UK debut to Italy’s Fabio Giannelli. His productions had the support of all the big names and we risked a lot as we had only heard a few of his sets. But it paid off and he took the house down.
Our next party is with Parisian Yakine, and we are all very excited about Saturday. We have some amazing bookings for 2010 and our birthday event in April looks like its going to be really special!
What has been your Public House highlight since it all began?
There have been so many special moments, but I would have to say that the last 30 minutes of our first party will stay with me forever. Everybody was so pumped and didn’t want to leave and when the last song played the crowd were screaming for more. The atmosphere was everything that we had hoped for, and it felt we had delivered on the promises we had made about starting Public House.
You’re starting to attract not only great UK DJs but also talented internationals. Who would be your ultimate Public House headliner?
Ricardo Villalobos playing to 300 people – that’s what dreams are made of.
Moving around and trying out new and unusual venues has become a Public House staple. If you could run a night anywhere, where would it be?
Oddly we’ve always wanted to have a night in a deserted bowling alley for some reason, we are keeping an eye out…
Public House breathes quality dance music new and old, has there been a defining track or ‘moment’ that has simply torn up the dance floor for you?
The final tune of our first party, when Ralphi Rosario – You Used To Hold Me was dropped, links in with my earlier point, the track, the reaction, the hysteria that followed…. so epic.
Any hot tips or tracks for 2010?
Keep an eye out Ana and Julietta, these Harry Klein girls are nothing short of incredible, and we think it’s gonna be a big year for Varoslav, in ’09 we just got a taster of what he is capable of.
What’s next for Public House?
The freshest talent, the same cutting edge music, the most interesting venues and the same ‘anything goes’ party vibe…. fueled by plenty of Jager and opera shoes x
The next Public House event is this Saturday 6th February at The Cosmo Bar, EC1.
Information about upcoming events, mixes and podcasts can be found at www.tinyurl.com/publichouse and www.myspace.com/publichouselondon.
