For the past seven weeks East London based live music venue XOYO has been on lockdown, entered only by bookers and builders who have been refurbishing the space ahead of tonight’s grand re-opening.
Now officially owned by the proprietors of Dalston basement club The Nest, after offers were made on the venue over a year ago, XOYO has been adopted by a more liberal parentage. Appointing the former official promoter at Turnmills, Andy Peyton, as the head booker for the venue, The Columbo Group now own the rights to the renovated printing works. Extending the main room’s dance-floors and encouraging audiences to interact more, both with the music and each other, the major changes to the space will be the addition of The Shoreditch Butchery (formerly XO Bar) and the elimination of the multiple bars in the basement. Creating more free flowing space to and from the main parts of the club on weekends, Room two will operate as a standalone bar throughout the week and now boasts better lights, a new sound-system and extra soundproofing. The XOYO experience just got a whole load more intense. Road test the venue for yourself tonight, 32-37 Cowper Street from 9pm, for Spin Off Club Presents: Deep Shit, Optimo, The Revenge and Krankbrothers.
i-D online scored an exclusive mix from headline act Deep Shit and tailed Andy round the revamped area hours before the lights were switched on and action commenced once again at one of London’s most prestigious and exciting live music venues.
How will the redesign of XOYO alter the way audiences interact with bands and artists within the venue? We hope that it will be a funner place to be. You have to see it really to see the extent of the changes, but there are so many more places to go, to dance. The bar area is far bigger too, so getting a drink should be much easier.
Who are some of the most exciting artists you have booked for this year? We’ve got so much in the diary. Tensnake, Simian Mobile Disco, Frankie Knuckles, Crazy P Live, Rustie, Jacques Green, Omar S…
What kind of artists, genres, parties and line-ups should audiences expect to be entertained by? Between the club and midweek shows there’s a wide spectrum – from Nas to Micachu to James Zabiela to Charlie XCX to Mosca. We’re taking Fridays in house, and as of next year Saturdays too. It’s the only way to have serious quality control in the long run.
Who are the team you will be working with at XOYO? I have a team of four on promotion team, all of them in their 20s and real music enthusiasts. We’ve only been a team for two months but they’re the best people I’ve ever worked with.
How will you differentiate XOYO from other venues in the area? The music.
XOYO is a prestigious live music venue, why do you think the business has been able to secure such impressive bookings in the past? I think that live music used to mean indie and rock but now it’s a bit less ‘Kerrang’. Newer acts like Jessie Ware, Nikki & The Dove etc might be more suited to venues like us.
What have you got planned for the opening party tonight? I’m planning on not stressing too much… it’s one night and we’re going to be here for years. That said, half of my little town from up north is coming, so it should be interesting.
What speciality drinks and eats would you recommend we sample at The Shoreditch Butchery? This is blasphemy for a place that serves hot dogs and sliders (called The Shoreditch Butchery), but the vegetarian slider is ridiculously good.
What regular events will take place at XOYO? The only people we have kept on as regular promoters are Bugged Out. They’re special.
What was the last track you listened to on your iPod? The collaboration between Alex Metric and Jacques Lu Cont that I’m not supposed to have.
What has been the soundtrack to your summer? Au Seve by Julio Bashmore. When it’s not being played in the office someone’s singing it.
Which artist are you currently the most excited about and why? Mylo. Because he’s coming back.
Which other London venues do you fully rate? Obviously The Nest. Seriously though, Corsica Studios are so on the money with their line-ups, and Love and Liquor in Kilburn is the nicest looking bar I’ve seen in a long time.
Will you be teaming up and collaborating with any major venues, festivals or international events in the future? We’re going to do a record label, let’s see where that leads us.
Heal will be released as a limited edition vinyl on 17th September via the new DEEP SHIT imprint, an irregular 12” spin off from Ed and Friendly Fires’ Jack Savidge’s slightly less irregular DEEP SHIT parties and NTS radio show.
i-D MIX returns to XOYO on October 11th. Check out the i-D MIX back catalogue here.
Text Milly McMahon
