Hung, drawn and quartered is exactly what happened to around 3000 punters on Thursday 2nd October. The first of four HDQ encounters took place around East London’s Shoreditch area, with following events to hit the streets of North, South and West London on a six month basis.

Based on a dance music festival set-up the revelers were issued with a wristband that gave them access to 14 different venues which were showcasing music, film and art. This is a new concept of clubbing in Ye old London town so it was interesting to see how the festivities panned out.

After collecting the wristbands from a local church you were given a street map with the various locations highlighted, and it was down to you to wander round the streets and find the venue that most suited your taste. It could have been easy to find a bar or club and stay there for the duration of the night, but for reviewing sakes I laced up my urban walking boots and ventured out into the night.

Knowing how this uncultured soul desires good music and alcohol I decided to check out some of the art and film before the beer got the better of me.

Situated in Shoreditch church was an exhibition of international and local films. Responsible for most of the visual work were our friends at Warp records, and the short films on display ranged from gangsta comedies, Bollywood spoofs and King Cross prostitute pieces. Although sitting on a church pew proved a little harsh on the old aris, the dim lighting and holy setting seemed quite fitting.

I did manage to check out one of the art galleries, but for someone who thinks that Damien Hirst is a little nutty it proved a little too much. My mum would be so ashamed!

Highlight of the night for me had to be Cocomo’s ‘Sunday Best’. The Rob da Bank inspired Sunday Best paid tribute to those signifiers of unpretentious cool ‘The Cuban Brothers’. With everyone sporting moustaches the crowd were able to bust-a-groove while shifting the furniture and witnessing some of the finest old skool Electro, hip hop and funk. For an uplifting, party atmosphere Cocomo’s was the pick of the night.

A mention must also be said for the Balearic sounds laid on by the Aquarium’s ‘Eat your own Ears’. Leading the Electro fest was none other than the dude himself, Radioactive Man. His cutting edge Electro beats squelched and twisted round the heads of the admirers while at the same time encouraging feet to shift round the dancefloor. I can’t for the life of me remember who was on after him but the mix of Electro with a twist of old skool D’n’B was a pleasure to experience.

What was also a pleasing touch was the Catch 22 ‘Twisted Nerve’. Split into 2 floors this bar was filling up the inside with funky house and trip hop. Nice venue, nice music, nice people….. nice!

The rest of the music through out the night was an eclectic mix of Electro, old skool and rock, but of course if you required a touch of deep and funky house you were always catered for.

What did seem surprising was the lack of wandering lost souls that you associate with the festival occasion. But the mystery of the half empty streets was made clear when you realised that all venues involved were full to the brim with HDQ customers. So much so that if you weren’t in your favorite haunt by midnight if was going to be a struggle getting in. Saying that there was a definite good times vibe buzzing round the streets. This included everyone from the dwarf in a trilby to the numerous ladies in their ra ra skirts and Pokka dot tights.

With no signs of any trouble plus the packed bars and clubs it appeared the first serving of Hung Drawn and Quartered was a success. So well done to the northern crew and roll on the next 6 month installment.

Oh, and next time there should be a time limit for customers in the strip bars, they were heaving with the same people from the word go.