Air Recordings

Join our mailing list. Enter email below

A Brief History

	September 1997 - Ali B is one of a handful of DJs with an eye on the emerging breaks scene in the UK and establishes the club night 'Air' in the basement of 333, London featuring the likes of Mat Cantor of The Freestylers.
	January 1998 - Due to overwhelming success, Air moves to the bigger and brighter surroundings of Hoxton Square's Blue Note where it continues until the venues sad closure in July 1998 playing host to artist such as Dan & Jon Kahuna, 4-Hero, Luke Vibert, Rennie Pilgrem and Tayo
	November 1998 - Air joins forces with Asian Beats night Swaraj and starts a year long residency at Brixton's Mass club. The night features a diverse selection of artists including Freq. Nasty, Soul Of Man, State Of Bengal, Fundamental and resident Bobby Friction (who is now widely known for his residency on BBC Radio 1). Ali B enlists artist Pete Fowler to take over art direction of all promotional material and club decor
	November 1999 - Levis approach Air to host a club night at their new Regent Street flagship store in London to mark the opening, which is great success for everyone involved
	February 2000 - Following the start of Ali B's residency at London's newest super-club, Fabric (which commenced in October 1999) and his new residency presenting the dance shows on London's Capital Radio (which commenced in February 2000) the Air parties become more sporadic with quarterly events in London at 333 in partnership with Fabric promoter Steve Blonde who is still one half of the brain(s) behind Air (and Fabric) today.
	January 2001 - The Air parties continue in London with a change of venue to Cargo in Shoreditch and are tied in with broadcasts on Ali B's Capital Radio show featuring a wide selection of artists from The Plump DJs to The Cuban Brothers.
	January 2002 - Another change of venue, this time Electrowerkz in Islington where Air runs another selection of road blocked events throughout the year featuring the cream of the UK breaks scene.
	February 2003 - Air raises the bar once again in answer to the ever growing popularity of the UK breaks scene by moving to the even bigger surroundings of The Rhythm Factory, a venue which Air is charged with single handily putting on the clubbing map in London. The nights attract huge numbers who revel in seeing some of the scenes biggest players all on the same bill for the very first time.
	July 2003 - Mobile Phone service provider O2 approach Air and ask to sponsor a series of parties recognising Air's ever growing influence over London's elite club crowd. The parties are a huge success.
	June 2004 - Glastonbury invite Air to host a tent at the festival - it proves one of the most popular after hours locations on site.
	July 2004 - As Air's monthly residency at The Rhythm factory goes from strength to strength, the UK's biggest festival, Global Gathering, recognise the importance of this emerging scene and approach Air to host a 5000 capacity breaks arena at their summer event, a partnership that has continued annually ever since.
	December 2004 - Air bring DJ Icey over from the US for his first ever UK dates with a one off party in Brighton. DJ Icey is considered by many to be the 'grand-daddy' of the worldwide breaks scene.
	October 2005 - Having run every month at The Rhythm Factory for three years, Air host their last party of the year with a sellout boat party on the River Thames and an after party at The Rhythm Factory. Air gets time off for good behavior and to plan the global Air activity for 2006...
	February 2006 - Following the success of Air’s pioneering breaks arenas at UK Festivals including Hi-Fi, Global Gathering and Glastonbury where Air has single handedly been responsible for taking the sound to a wider audience, Australia came calling. Future Music invited Air to host the breaks arena at their 25,000 + capacity festival as they toured across Australia’s biggest cities.
	April 2006 - Air Takes up its new residency at Cargo, London. Always keen to switch things up, the focus of the night moves towards live acts with the first one playing host to the likes of Hyper (Live), Atomic Hooligan (Live) and Future Funk Squad (Live) all on the same night!
	September 2006 - After regularly playing host to some of the most exciting live acts around, Air welcomes its new monthly residents; Janette Slack, Mr No Hands and in house resident live band, Diverted as the night continues to go from strength to strength.
	December 2007 - The final Air night of 2007 sees Air put on one of it’s most ambitious shows yet with the 30 piece London Breakbeat Orchestra comprising of Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Bass, Flutes, Oboes, Clarinets, Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, Tuba, Bass, Drums & Turntables, proving that orchestras shouldn't be just limited to the concert hall.