Another awesome night in Sheffield's dingy backstreets. This time in the old 'occupied' factory complex of the now dubbed 'Matilda Social Centre'. The fact this squatted venue is on the edge of the corporation tinged CIQ (Cultural Industries Quarter) adds to the energy of events like this being held here. Before their set, I asked Leah Quimby of the Markers if she felt the added excitement based on the place being raided three times last year, but nothing more than the general pleasure of life passed across her face. I'd got to know the band a little and felt honored to escort them from the station, loading up my pushbike with bags and showing them down two flights of stairs right to the stage with their luggage..how was I to know there was a huge dressing room right by the front door complete with sofas, hot dinner and wine?!

So it was in a dark, 60ft sq basement room adjoined by a complex of similar concrete floor gig spaces (once machine rooms) that I found myself really getting off on the atmosphere... hehe. Incidentally when I first started Freenoise I was very conservative about my own event legalities and formalities (being a family man you know..) but as time goes on and more and more corruption of the soul..er, I mean confidence in the trade occurs, the possibilities of utilising 'other' venues open up.

Stage, lights, PA, desk and even bar in place; six great acts ahead and loads of happy faces, old and new. You can't take nights like this for granted. Hey, The Magik Markers are in town! And some of the support acts seemed to be on top form, Chora particularly excelled themselves in my opinion, giving it loud and full wellie for 30 mins.

It suddenly stops and after huge cheering Elisa banters with the crowd a little, joking about the low mike volume being the fault of her spitting into it, cue loud spitting noise, it gets pumped up and her 'Hey!' is echoed by everyone in the room. We are back as the final number commences, a filthy, uber-slow blues beat with a sensation recalling that dream when you're trying to run through invisible syrup.. a short visitation and she humorously announces it's our final chance to get up and dance... Leah quips about the plastic shark she's playing the guitar with now implies she means business...and we're off again, this time Elisa sings a beautiful melodic refrain over well-fucked up Leah feedback. She must be winning as Leah overtakes belting out some of her loudest wailing over the top, Nolan is beating the shit out of the drumkit faster than ever (whose drumkit is it anyway?) to rally the girls into a final all out frenzy of everything.

I was very pleased to be invited back for drinks in Ben's house and I wouldn't have missed it for the world: shopping with the band for grub and ale in Ecclesall Rd at 2am I'll never forget and returning for a chat was the icing on an amazing evening. All in the name of business of course... ; ) ...Genuinely cool folks, makes the world a happier place. Rock it.