E-town Rave History Parties: 1996

Tuesday, December 31, 1996

Resolution

Utopia 1997

New Years Eve

Source: Bronx flyer archive. Transcr: MW

This party was featured in King Ron's Party Reviews (originally published to the E-town Rave Page):

"A good job was done in putting this party together. I was really impressed with the effort put in decorating the venue. The coat check was probably the main problem. Quite backlogged! Moderate turnout with about 600-700 people."

Resolution Room

Starchild

Live P.A.

Corey Payne is one of the old schoolers of the Edmonton electronic music scene. He has spun at almost every major party over the past five years, many of which he produced himself as Unite Underground. In the past 2 years Corey has been building up a home studio and producing his own works. A first 12” is planned for release in March ’97

Celcius

Vancouver, British Columbia

(HQ Communications)

One time pillar of Edmonton’s very young Jungle scene, Celcius has recently made the big move to Vancouver where he is rapidly establishing himself as one of that city’s top Junglists with regular appearances at the Chameleon Urban Lounge and the Red Lounge. This party will see the reuniting of Celcius and his long time partner in crime M.C. Loic.

Spilt Milk

Edmonton, Alberta

An energetic mix of electro-breakbeat, British amyl-house, and old school hip hop downtempo beats are the trademark sound of Edmonton’s Spilt Milk. He has been Dropping the beats in E-town for two years now playing many of the major parties as well as a one time residency at Ratt.

Tripswitch

Vancouver/Edmonton

Resident – Zen

Geoffrey J

Edmonton, Alberta

The Count Down Room

Chuck Hampton (Detroit, Michigan, USA):

Chuck brings his Detroit techno and house sounds to Edmonton for their first time since his debut at Summer School. He has been playing parties in the Detroit area for 4 years now and has played with some of the worlds best DJ’s including Laurent Garnier, Richie Hawtin and Derek May as well as maintaining a Friday residency at Detroit’s Nectarine Ballroom where Jeff Mills honed his turntable skills.

De-Koze (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan):

Saskatoon’s own De-Koze spins a relentless hard acid/ anthemic techno sound. He has recently played a party with Dubtribe in Phoenix, as well as at Graceland in Vancouver. Part of the PPM Crew that brought you Ascendance and the Temple. De-Koze has become a vital part of the mid-west scene both as a dj and promoter.

Andy Pockett (Edmonton, Alberta)

The distinctive vibe of Andy’s funky/ disco house has grooved the kids in E-town for 3 years now. Formerly the Friday resident at Dance Factory. He has also played at Sunday School, Cool World, Millennium and Ultra-Lounge.

Davey James (Edmonton, Alberta; Resident – the Rev)

SYNC (Summer School, Sunday School)

Ambient Room

TxRx

Edmonton, Alberta

Transmit-Receive, better known as Marty has produced and hosted the radio show Transmission on C.J.S.R. radio for the past three years and has been creating chill spaces and ambient rooms at parties for two.

CBC

Ariel+Roel

The Liquid Lounge

Frosty favorites and cool concoctions. Admission to this licensed area restricted to 18+ Picture I.D. Required

Divine Decadence ; C-Pech(?) ; Kik Wear Industries

Plush Sports ; Gravity Pope ; Greed Girl ; New Ground ; Far Side

Glam Slam ; Blunt Clothing Co. ; Kangol ; Label Whore ; Dance Cult ; The Rev

Colour Blind ; The Groove Asylum ; CJSR FM88 ; Breadstick Cafe ; Play It By Ear

December 31st 1996

An Escape from the cold and grey of winter…

An entry into a shimmering vision…

A beat to unleash your primal urge to groove…

A soundscape to touch your deepest emotions…

A sharing of peace and love amongst one time strangers…

A celebration of a new dawn…

…Welcome to Utopia.

FM Systems of Edmonton have custom designed for this event a 40,000 watt four way Apogee Sound System for maximm impact and crystal clarity.
Fourteen dj’s from Western Canada and Detroit will provide a seemless groove of twelve hours of House, Techno, and Jungle Beats in two rooms.
Urban Visuals of Vancouver will trip you out with four screens of mind melting psychedelic projections.
Playground attractions and festival performers.

“People of all ages who respect others are welcome in our House.”

*Security in Full effect

*R.O.A.R. – Right Of Admission Reserved

This event brought to you by The Rev, Dance Cult, Play It By Ear and Inooman.

Event Infoline

(403) 988-3489

Location

Old Strathcona Bus Barns

10330 84 Ave., Edmonton, Alberta

Ticket Information

Tickets: Priority admission will be given to advance ticket holders.

$20 to December 24

$25 Dec. 26 to Dec. 31

Reduced admission after 3 a.m.

Doors: 9 p.m. until 9 a.m.

Ticket Locations

Edmonton

Gravity Pope (10442 Whyte Ave.)

The Groove Asylum (10627 101 St)

Glam Slam (HUB Mall – University of Alberta Campus)

The Farcyde (West Edmonton Mall)

St.Albert

New Ground (17C St. Anne St. 460-8666)

Calgary

The Attic Corrosion

Saskatoon

Rockin Rod’s Records (Suite 200, 241 Second Ave. S.)

Regina

World of Trout (2128 Dewdney Ave.)

Bus and Accommodation packages available from Saskatoon. Call event infoline or see ticket outlets for information.

Thursday, December 26, 1996

Mr Bubbles More Suds

Source: ____________. Transcr: MW

Boxing Day

Dec 26/96

Mr. Bubbles

More Suds

Nicky's Farewell

Hard Trance Core Formula

Saturday, December 21, 1996

Base Station Grand Opening

The future begins

Saturday, December 21

Grand Opening

Base Station Nightclub

10329 Jasper Ave, backdoor entrance

2 levels of the best underground dance music

Cziolek; Program; Nicky Miago aka Sun E Smiles; Spilt Milk; Geoffrey J; Echo;

and other guest DJs'

$8 with invitation, $10 without; must present invitation upon entry

Doors 9PM/6AM; 24 hr Info

Invitations available at:

Devine Decadence, Gravity Pope, Glam Slam, Groove Asylum, Sound Connection

Friday, December 20, 1996

Immerse

Source: Remo. Transcr: MW

Unit-E

dec 20

Immerse

a Cross Culture Integrated Production

Unit-E 96

a charity event for Canadian Crossroads Int'l

Come to the art show...

Be a Lounge Lizard

Immerse yourself in the realm of unity...

Full motion video stimulation; Lighting seduction; Subconscious sound warp

Artists featured:

Warren Heiss

Jess Dean

Ryan Antonichuk

Deko-ze (Saskatoon); Andy Pockett (Edmonton); Tryptomene (Calgary), Brainhaus (Edmonton), Cziolek (Edmonton)

Doors at 10pm

18 and over; ID Required

Tix available at "Smoking La Gare"

17$ tix for cocktails, art show and preparty starting 10pm til dawn

11$ for pure dance at 2am til dawn

Sponsors: Xerox, Axe Music, Catalyst Theatre, La Gare, Alison

Friday, November 29, 1996

Viva

Friday, Nov 29, 1996
From 10 PM to 6 AM

[ Source: Spilt Milk. This flyer is from a DJ's private collection;

notice the address written on the flyer (advance notice for insiders). ]

Tripswitch (Vancouver, Edmonton); Slim (Vancouver)

Spilt Milk (Edmonton); Todd Omatani (Calgary)

Tix $10 at door

Concession by ENERGY

Info #988-4605

Saturday, November 16, 1996

Life '96

Source: Remo. Transcr: JPX

The Sub-Link Publication presents:

LIFE '96

Saturday, November 16, 1996

What was the Sub-Link Publication?

from djdoubled.com:

THE SUBLINK PRODUCTIONS actually started out as THE SUBLINK MAGAZINE, -- a small, grass-roots publication, established in July 1993.

In order to raise enough money [to publish], we tried to fund-raise by putting on various events (The Sub-Link Productions).

Our first (medium size) event was "Spinal Core 95", an event featuring virtually all Hard-Core Techno. This risky adventure turned out to be a huge success! Our second (much larger and very popular) event was "Life 95", a radically different production and the first of its kind in Alberta. In the mid/late 90s, we organized 2 main events per year ("Life" and "Spinal Core") with smaller or medium size productions throughout the year.

Who was DJ Double D? Lucy (Calgary)

Sunday, November 10, 1996

Cave Rave

A Modern Stone Age Rave

Cave Rave

10,000 B.C.

Sunday November 10, 1996

Remembrance Day Long Weekend

Source: Dragan's Flyer Archive

It's a Shinrock-a-go-go at the

Rebar Hollyrock Bungalow

First 20 customers receive the Hot New Ambient Transmissions Vol. 1 or Wipeout XL

Courtesy of: EMI Music Canada

at REBAR: 10051-Whyte Ave

A rave like no other with the underground sounds you've come to love

Neolithic sounds performed on the torto-platters by:

Floor 1:

Grooves by DJ Extacy

The Adventures of DJ Dragon

The Everfresh DJ Triptomine

Floor 2:

The Vibes of DJ Davey James

Pharsyde of DJ Edge

Rezident DJ Code Red

Doors: 8PM
Cave Rave: 10PM
Entry Fee: $8.00; $1.00 off with handbill
Access Card holders $6 with handbill
Systems supplied by Slate Rock & Gravel

A Water Buffalo's Grand Poobah Promotion

Saturday, November 9, 1996

Glam Rave

Source: Renee's Flyer Archive. Transcr: MW

5 DJ’s

80’s meets 90’s

Glam Rave

Nov 9th 10 pm

10 pm-6 am

Warning

We will expose you to approximately 69000 pulsing beats and truly explosive rythms that should send any individual into states of pure ecstasy. We encourage everyone to participate.
Cover $4.00 at the door.
Come hang out at the Barbi Shooter Bar and cruz ken.

Door’s 10 pm.
18 and over w/ID.

For info call
(403) 426-3150

10345 – 104 Street

On Top of
The Roost

Nexus '96

Source: ??. Transcr: MW

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A Review of Nexus '96 is available

thanks to King Ron's Party Reviews and the Wayback Machine:

"This party was a much anticipated event as last year's Nexus was quite the big party. This time it was a 3-day event with the pre-party on Nov. 8 at Oasis Nightclub, the after-party on Nov. 10 at Peoples Nightclub, and the main event on the 9th at the Old Strathcona Bus Barns. A huge line-up of over 30 DJs over the three nights were set to play [...] and Calgary's very own Double D playing for the first time in Edmonton, as well as many Edmonton DJs.

"I arrived at midnight to be greeted with a massively long line-up which I was not too impressed with. But with 1400+(!) people in attendance, it should have been expected. When I finally got in, I scouted out the place. The main room was full of people happily dancing to acid and trance. The sound was noticeably loud (very nice!) and lighting was ok. What I thought was pretty original was that there were these two inflated jumping castles you could climb into and bounce around in situated at the edges of the huge dance floor. Pretty cool! As well, there was an area off to the side with a mat where the breakdancers could show their stuff.

"I really liked the way that the ambient room was set up. There were mats and rugs on the floor so people could sit or lie down. There were also couches, cribs, a wading pool filled with something, and even a bed. The atmosphere was very peaceful with candles all around, a trippy oil suspension pattern projected on the wall, and the DJs spinning beautiful ambient, trance, and jungle. Great set-up overall!

"The DJ line-up was greatly shuffled that night because of technical problems in the 2nd room which was closed when I arrived. The main room was supposed to be the 'core' room and the 2nd room the 'progressive room,' but that got switched around. DJs such as Nav, Voytek, and Pascal who were slated to play in the 2nd room were moved to the main room. Nonetheless, I was sure that Double D would still play her set.

"Mostly I stayed in the ambient room relaxing and occasionally wandered over to the main room. I wanted to save my energy for Double D. At ~2:30, Pascal came on in the main room, so I headed over to the 2nd room which had just opened back up. Lo and behold, there was Double D starting things up cranking out some glorious hardcore. I was starting to get really high off her set when suddenly at 3:05 the music went dead. I hung around hoping, praying that the technical problem would be fixed, but alas, at 4am the room was shut down for the rest of the night. Well, it was good while it lasted.

"I didn't stay much longer afterwards. It looked like Tryptomene spinning in the main room, but I didn't feel like dancing anymore. It just wasn't the same after experiencing Double D. I was an addict getting a powerful drug but was cut off before receiving a full dose and lesser drugs couldn't satisfy my hunger."

~ ~ Flyer Transcript ~ ~

Design By Sherridon @ VU.com / printing

Aristocraft Printing

Nov 9

Edmonton Alberta

35+ first class DJ’s take you on a journey to

Nexus

10330-84 ave

Old Strathcona Bus Barns

Sunday, October 13, 1996

Sunday School

The Rev presents

Sunday School

One Spirit, One Beat, One Love

A review of this party is available courtesy of the Wayback Machine and the E-Town Rave Page. From King Ron's Party Reviews:

This all ages rave is a continuing series of raves put on by the Rev that started with "Summer School" back on June 30. And holy f*** was it ever packed! There were about 700 people in attendance that night! The featured DJ's in the main room were Czech from Vancouver, Deko-Ze from Saskatoon, Tryptomene who is now in Lloydminster, and Edmonton DJ's Corey Payne, Davey James, and Andy Pockett aka Raggedy Andy. The 2nd room had Spiltmilk, Sync, and Goober, while TxRx from CJSR spun in the ambient room.

[Remainder of King Ron's review continues below.]

Sunday October 13, 1996
All Ages; 10pm - 6pm

Salvation delivered by DJs:
Czech (Vancouver), Deko-ze (Saskatoon), Davey James, Andy Pockett, Spilt Milk, Sync, Goober

Ambient Zone by TxRx (CJSR)

Liquid Lounge: 18+ ID required

Tickets $10 advance at:
Glam Slam, Gravity Pope, Sonix, Groove Asylum

Liquid "E" Ecstasy

King Ron's review (continued):

"I got in just before midnight at which time Tryptomene was stirring up the main room. I decided to check things out first before hitting the dance floor and was pleasantly surprised to see the change in the 2nd room since the last time I was there. The 2nd room used to be this tiny little space that was poorly ventilated and very hot and uncomfortable. Now they've switched this room with the pool table room which is adjacent to the tiny room. This new room has a larger area and is much less enclosed than the other room which is a major improvement. The ambient room remained pretty much the same as last time which was just fine.

"I made my way back up the stairs and onto the crowded dance floor in the main room for the rest of Tryptomene's set who was playing a lot of older material. The sound system and the lighting were very good just like last time. At about 1:30, Czech came on spinning some funky west coast breaks and trip-hop. And was he ever doing some cool mixing and intense scratching!

"Unfortunately at around 2 a.m., for the first time I've ever experienced at a rave, there was a rather ugly and disturbing incident. The first thing I noticed as I was dancing was that the dance floor started to clear out with everyone heading for the exits. Then it hit me. My lungs and my throat suddenly got irritated and I started coughing. It turned out to be pepper spray. I later found out that a fight broke out and that someone pulled out a can of pepper spray and used it. Can you believe that? What kind of a stupid shithead would carry a canister of that stuff around and then use it in a crowded club? It only takes a few jerk-offs to mess up a good party.

"Anyways, after 30 minutes I reentered the Rev and went into the 18+ lounge which was virtually empty. I dozed off for a while before Deko-Ze stepped behind the decks at 3:30. Once again Deko-Ze spun a wonderful set. He started off with some hard acid, but this time he played more trance before finishing off hard again. I swear he was trying to kill me because I was dead tired, but he kept playing and mixing such wicked tracks that I just couldn't leave the dance floor. Andy Pockett came on at 5, and I grooved a bit to his house set before total fatigue finally forced me home.

"On the whole, I felt that this was a good night despite the pepper spray incident. The non-PLUR element vacated the place afterwards so everything became more positive. And Deko-Ze's set pretty much made up for that crap. This party was worth $7.69 out of the $10 cost. A word of advice though: buy advanced tickets and come early for the next one!"

Saturday, October 12, 1996

Exodus

All Ages

Oct 12th

doors at 8pm - infinity

six dollar cover one dollar off with this bill

dj info line 420.6435

ZEN

10815 - Jasper Ave, basement Mayfair Hotel

Zen Productions and DragonTek, in conjunction with Impact Productions, present

the last rave to take place at this location as we relocated to a higher state of being.

Zen is expanding and evolving with the scene,

enlightening our souls during the trance-zen-dance to our new plane of

eXistance

Watch for our moving party near the end of OCT

Saturday October 12 (1996)

Friday, October 11, 1996

E-scape

Source: Renee's Flyer Archive

RIP Joy

A review of this party is available, thanks to King Ron's Party Reviews and the Wayback machine:

"This review is actually only a partial review since I was only in the techno room and I never went to the other venues. I arrived at about midnight and caught the last 5 minutes of someone's set who was playing some neat fast breakbeat.

"The [techno] room was just like an unfinished basement of a house. It was a small, bare, grey coloured room with a concrete floor. The lighting was minimal with lights at the back and front along with a strobe, and there were between 50 and 70 people in the room. This may sound really ordinary and plain, but you know what? I thought it was pretty cool! The simpleness of the room created a unique atmosphere of its own. Most of the people were dancing and really getting into the music, and the vibe was most positive.

"An ambient room was also supposed to be somewhere down there, but I couldn't find it. Oh well.

"DJ Vibes from Calgary started playing at 12, and he was spinning some cool trance and progressive. Technical difficulties arose sometime after 1 a.m. that stopped the music dead for about 15 minutes. But the problem got worked out and shortly thereafter was Deko-Ze's set. He started with some fierce hard acid, which I totally ate up, then he brought it down with some funky acid breaks and progressive beats. Then he brought things back up again with some marvellous acid and trance. What a wicked set!

"Sun E Smiles aka DJ Nicky came on afterwards at ~ 3 a.m. with some nice acid trance which I moved to for a little bit. But I had to go home and save some energy for the next night.

"Overall, it was a really fun night, and I really enjoyed myself. The party was worth $7.21 out of the $8 for the room. And to the girl that gave me a candy, thanx!"

source: Rave Reviews, by Ron Tupas, www.ualberta.ca/~rtupas

Archived in the Wayback Machine, February, 1999

Streetview of venue for the techno room, 10110b - 124 Street. Formerly the Pit nightclub.

~ ~ transcript of flyer for "E-Scape" Trancribed by MW ~ ~

[Side A]

graphics by Sherridon

E scape

$10

all events pass for Saturday

Gravity Pope
Divine Decadence
Glam Slam
Sonix
Boystown Café
Sound Connection
Groove Asylum

Infoline (403) 493 0068
(403) 259 Star (306) 244 6644

Net: http://www.ualberta.ca/-stewartd/sunny/sunny.html

E scape

Universal/Sunny Spoons
present a positive dance experience

October 11/12

[Side B]

The Beat (Friday)
$4
Warm Up Party at Oasis Nightclub
11725b jasper ave

Brainhaus
DJ Cziolek
Sherridon

The Build (Saturday)
all ages $8
progressive rythms @ Boystown Cafe
10116 124st

Andy Pocket
Cziolek
Rawz
Sunny Smiles
Spilt Milk

The Breakdown
18+ til 2 $8
hardcore vibrations & ambient/dub relaxations @ the former Pit
10110b 124st

Dekozee
Triptomene
DJ Sinc
Roel
Marty
Sherridon
DJ Me
DJ Vibes
UV23

The Ecstacy
disco til you drop with DJ petra
assorted kinky girlinky and drag shows
Free 18+ til 2
Buddy’s Pub
10110 124st 2nd level

Guest DJs Joy Deepsky Echo Slacks Inda Clear

Saturday, October 5, 1996

Space

Source: Remo. Transcr: ____

Saturday, September 28, 1996

Evolution All Ages Rave

Source: Remo. Transcr: _____

Friday, September 27, 1996

Turntable Trauma

Source: Remo. Transcr: JPX

Turntable Trauma

Support Tribe 303 Zine Release Party

@Vibes 15347-Stoney Plain Rd

8-10pm

$1.50 Highballs

At the wheels of steel:

Dragon, Echo, Cziolek, Geoffrey J, Glow

$5 at the door

Friday, September 27

Friday, September 20, 1996

Mr Bubbles

Source: Remo. Transcription: MW

Friday – September 20/96

Mr. Bubbles

Mild Clean Environment

Hard Trance Core Formula

Rave Time Fun

Prizes, Jumping Castle, Fountain of Youth

5000 watts

Universal / Sunny Spoons

Let’s Put The Fun Back Into Parties!

First 50 receive Free bubble wand

edmonton’s

Triptomene
Spiltmilk
Sun E Smiles
Chiolek

calgary’s
DJ Vibes

saskatoon’s
Dekozee

The Live Act
Edmonton’s Own
Quantum Force
Fosphor Records (Germany)

Oasis
11725B Jasper Avenue
Info: (403) 493-0068

Doors 10 PM till 6 AM

Alcohol till 2am

(Admit One)
(Admit One)
$7 Advance
$9 Doors

ID • 18

- Available At –
Divine • Gravity Pope • Sound Connection • Groove Asylum • Glam Slam • Sonix

Sunday, September 1, 1996

Summer School: Final Semester

Sunday September 1, 1996
All Ages Rave 10PM - 6AM

Sweatbox: Cory Payne, Sync, Goober

Main Room: Chuck Hampton (Detroit); Triptomene, Spilt Milk, Raggedy Andy, Davy James

Ambient Zone: TxRx (CJSR)

Liquid Lounge: Alcohol Service, 18+ ID required

Tickets $8.00 advance; $10 door; available at Gravity Pope, Sonix, and Groove Asylum

The Rev: 10030 - 102 St.
Liquid Ecstasy

Aqua

Source: Oliver Friedmann's flyer archive. Transcr: MW

Aqua

Sept. 1/96
Labour Day Long Weekend

Rebar

(?)

Upstairs in the Love Lounge

10-11(1/2) XTC (Altern8!)
11(1/2)-1 Code Red (Rebar)
1-2(1/2) Triptomine (CJSR Radio)

2 Levels Ÿ 2 Dance Floors
Ÿ 2 Sound Systems Ÿ
A Thunderous Total of 300k of Earth Shaking, Quadrophonic Turbo Sound with 3D Bass. A Galaxy of Ultra Inteligent Lighting F/X by Optic Kiss.

Sept. 1/96
Labour Day Long Weekend

Rebar
10551 – Whyte Ave.
433-3600

Downstairs in the Dungeon

10-11 Davey (Resident the REV)
11-12 Dekoze (Ascendance Saskatoon)
12-1 James Brown (the Tunnel, NYC)
1-2 Vitamin E (Los Angeles)

Cover
Access cars $5
Guests $6