Honey Dijon is a champion of the scene; few people embody the spirit of house music as much as the esteemed DJ. Born and raised in Chicago, Dijon was immersed in music from an early age. As a child she would play records during her parents parties and by the age of 12 she had already acquired a fake ID which she would use to attend warehouse parties. Dijon later moved to New York City, where she became heavily involved with the culture and scene. Nowadays, she splits her time between NYC and Berlin, though her career has seen her play all over the world. Dijon’s signature sound combines the bump of Chicago house with a classic New York style and a hint of European influence, which can be attributed to her personal musical journey. There is no element of pretentiousness when Dijon is behind the decks, “I don’t give a shit if it’s classic or something made last week in some kid’s bedroom, as long as it’s dope as fuck.”
Luke Solomon, a close friend of Honey Dijon’s, has been at the forefront of UK dance music for over two decades. His career has seen him run Space, a London club, embark on a band project ‘Freaks’, and form Classic Records alongside Derrick Carter (a hugely influential friend and mentor to Dijon in her early years). Solomon has worked with Defected Records for much of the last decade in a role that has seen him work behind the scenes on more mainstream, chart-topping records. In the last two years Classic have released an impressive discography including Dijon’s debut album, music from Horse Meat Disco and Crazy P. Throughout his impressive career, Solomon has played sets across the globe and produced an immense catalogue of records, his recent remix of Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Heat’ serves as testament to his versatile talent.
This celebration of music is brought to you by promoters Leftfoot and Hooker Club. Leftfoot have legendary status in the Second city, pioneering the underground music scene since 2000. In the last several months Leftfoot have hosted an array of talent from all walks of music, including Gilles Peterson, Artwork, Crazy P and Midland. Hooker Club on the other hand are new to the Birmingham scene. With their launch party in January, Hooker Club are already making a name for themselves through collaborations with Tektu and now Leftfoot. The Leftfoot and Hooker Club residents, talented selectors in their own rights, will also be bringing more firepower to an already explosive lineup.
The Classic Records Showcase will take place at Lab 11, a venue which needs little introduction. Situated off Digbeth High St, at the heart of Birmingham’s old industrial sector, it is full of character. Following the closure of the Rainbow Venues at the end of 2017, Lab 11 was pushed to the forefront as one of the biggest venues for underground music in the city. Its versatility is it what makes it stand out; various rooms and outdoor spaces can be transformed, enabling the venue to adopt a range of different atmospheres depending on the night.
Honey Dijon and Luke Solomon, 15th of March, no phones on the dancefloor.
Written by Luke Davies
