Music / Get To Know
Get To Know: Greenworks
The term “secret warehouse rave” has been tossed about quite a lot in Bristol as of late. Whether its the now closed (and of questionable legality) underground Portland Square venue named simply “The Warehouse” or the latest addition to central Bristol’s club scene with Clock Factory, there’s certainly been no shortage of promoters giving it the “keep us a secret, but tell all your mates about us” energy over the past year.
So when I started hearing rumours of a new “secret warehouse space”, I won’t lie I didn’t think much of it at first. However, one 20 minute Uber later, I was left pleasantly surprised. What stood in front of me didn’t seem to be another attempt by a club promoter to get students excited, but an homage to the golden days of rave – a large, square room with high ceilings and a soundsystem about the size of my living room in the corner. Greenworks might just be onto something here.
Hello, how the devil are you?
is needed now More than ever
Yeah great thanks. Ticking over.
Tell us the story behind Greenworks – when did the idea first come about?
The opportunity came from our sticker printer manufacturer for our dubplate lathe cuts, who relocated to a warehouse in Brislington. After picking up stickers and asking us to see the back of the warehouse around 10 times, we gave in and looked – then said “oh wow, this is potentially a night club”.
For the uninitiated, describe the space.
It’s basically just a warehouse with speakers in… Just like the old school raving days.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CksX4JwAaOI/
Is this your guys’ first venture into the night club space? If so, how are you finding it? If not, what have you done before?
This is our first time in the night club business and so far it’s a great learning experience. We’re really thankful for the opportunity to add to the Bristol night life culture.
Mario or Luigi?
Mario – but Luigi does rock the green garms.
I know you guys also own the mighty Green King Sound System, and along with it Green King Cuts. It seems you’re slowly building your own entirely self-sufficient musical network – is there a grand plan happening here?
Just to add we have Green King Studio at Green Works, where we cut poly vinyl dubplate records on a lathe cutting machine and cut for some of the top artists in the underground music scene. But yeah, we are self sufficient. Its always just been the two of us from day one (Chris and Jake).
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmwMHorsjUg/
What would be the dream Greenworks lineup?
OBF vs Goldie vs Dmz vs DJEZ vs Jah Shaka vs Rhythm & Sound vs Skepta b2b Jme with Slimzee
Favourite kind of pasta?
Spag bol. Easy that.
The venue is based in an industrial estate in Brislington. How does this affect how the club/nights are run?
It means we’ve got no noise restrictions, so its a Soundsystem’s best mate.
Why did you choose the Brislington space?
Again, due to no neighbours and having no noise restrictions! if you go to a lot of venues around the country, it is the norm to be in a industrial estate. Think we are a bit ahead of the curve in Bristol.
What’s the best invertebrate?
Octopus. Having that many legs or arms has gotta be useful.
Do you have any plans to make any changes to the venue going forward? As it is still in its early days.
We are hoping to gain a full time premises license by May, which means 2 or more events a week which is really exciting.
Tell us about one of the most memorable nights/moments at the venue so far.
Our event with our sound, Sinai and Firmly Rooted was insane, opening Halloween weekend with Good Life was best way to start the journey, Ec2a Presents was the maddest from Dr Dubplate and of course Rumble in the Jungle NYE was mental.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CkIieYvM-ns/
What does the future hold for Bristol’s newest warehouse venue?
More events and more opportunities for promoters to run events in a mid sized venue with a big soundsystem in it.
What are you listening to right now?
Mostly what’s being played at the club at the moment, but we love pretty much anything amplified out of a soundsystem – that could be Dub, Jungle, Hip Hop or anything from the underground.
Main Photo: Greenworks
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