Ravers climb over club wall to get into free Fatboy Slim party

Police shut down a free party from Fatboy Slim and Eats Everything before it could take place outside close to the Brunel Way pump track.

The party was moved to Lakota, where hundreds of people turned up.

The two superstar DJs played from the back of a converted van in the club’s car park but the night was forced to stop as the number of partygoers outside the venue in St Paul’s got too much, with dozens of people managing to climb over the wall from Backfields to get inside.

As the event continued in the car park on Wednesday evening, Lakota’s gates on Backfields were locked shut just before 8.10pm, with the music stopping shortly afterwards.

Lakota co-owner Marti Burgess (also a director of Bristol24/7 CIC) said that “our security have been absolutely on it and we decided to shut as too many people were trying to get in and it became unsafe”.

The day had started with rumours of a huge free party featuring Eats Everything and an unannounced very special guest.

At 4.18pm, record label and party organisers Homebass sent a message on their Telegram channel that the location for their “biggest rave yet” would be the area of land underneath Brunel Way, the other side of the New Cut from Ashton Avenue bridge.

Graffiti artists including Inkie were painting a mural on a wall underneath Brunel Way marking the release of Bristol-born Eats Everything and Brighton-based Fatboy Slim’s latest track, Bristol to Brighton.

But no sooner had the location been announced that police arrived to tell the organisers in no uncertain terms that they would not be able to hold the party in this location.

Bristol24/7 understands that one of the reasons was due to Bristol City playing a home game just a few hundred metres away at Ashton Gate.

“The Old Bill have shut us down,” Homebass wrote on Telegram at 5.21pm. “New location is Lakota carpark with the van. Get there for 6.50pm latest. No tickets required.

“We are gutted the location has changed but would still love to see you guys X”

The Homebass sound system van made it to the skatepark under Brunel Way but police did not allow them to hold the party there

So it was across town to Lakota and a throng of ravers wanted to enjoy the free party from the two superstar DJs.

The security team at Lakota tried admirably to get people to queue in an orderly fashion so that they would be allowed in.

Those fortunate enough to make it inside the venue witnessed Norman Cook and Daniel Pearce – aka Fatboy Slim and Eats Everything – playing from inside the Homebass van.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjpX1YqphgU/

But anticipation turned into disappointment for many outside when the gates were shut and this was when a minority tried to climb inside causing the music to be stopped.

From a vantage point on Backfields, it appeared that there was a complete breakdown in security at around 8.15pm as dozens of men and women climbed over the wall into the club’s car park in quick succession.

Soon before 8.30pm, a police van drove along Backfields with its lights blaring but by then the situation had calmed down.

Crowds on Backfields outside Lakota while Fatboy Slim and Eats Everything played from the Homebass van in Lakota’s car park

Eats Everything wrote on Instagram: “Thank you Bristol that was MAD!!! Sorry to stop but all good things must come to an end… thank you to all that came down and big ups to the main man @officialfatboyslim. Love you x”

Also writing on Instagram after the event, Homebass said: “Unfortunately we had to change location tonight due to police shutting us down during our setup.

“We would like to say a massive thank you to Lakota for providing us their venue at such short notice so the rave could continue.

“Also a massive big ups to everyone who came out to party. So many of you guys showed up the venue became overcrowded and we had to shut things down as it was getting unsafe and we aim to prioritise your safety so you can come and have a good experience.”

All photos & video: Martin Booth

Read next:

• BIMM Institute opens new building in the heart of Stokes Croft
• Local hero: Eats Everything
• Disused former club to come back to life for Stokes Croft Block Party
• Legendary DJ to play in Bristol to celebrate pop-up venue becoming permanent
• Fate of Lakota to be sealed over Zoom

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