OPINION : Fabric Club x St Pauls

Okay so it's about time i started writing some stuff down - since i don't feel there is any other platform to air this written stuff.....

I just saw an advert for a collab between Fabric Nightclub and St Pauls Cathedral

(this article is for the UK dance music audience)

Whilst on the surface this may seem like a cool collaboration & an opportunity for artists to get their music performed in a nice venue : i don't think it is....

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Dance music is counter-culture, and always has been.

I feel that clubs, club music, electronic music & dance music represent the polar-opposite to what happens in mainstream organised religion. The two are on opposite ends of the cultural spectrum. One is thousands of years old. One is 45 years old. Ever since the first ever raves ; dance music has been the enemy of the State.

You don't have to rewind that far to find the UK government attempting to bring in legislation to criminalise dance music events.... the 1994 Criminal & Public order act wording reads : "wholly or predominantly characterised by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats

In fact, looking at the incredible decline of club music in the UK, the closure of hundreds of club venues, the dispersal orders that the police powers have, and the total crackdown on public gatherings (e.g raves) then it doesn't make sense for Fabric to be collaborating with St Pauls.

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Admittedly, i don't know much about the history of St Pauls Cathedral.

But - without doing any research - i know that the venue holds massive cultural and religious significance in the UK : specifically for the upper & ruling classes.

e.g Members of the disgraced royal family have had their weddings in there!

This venue is not a venue for the public : whilst it is open to the public, it is a privately run business (probably tax avoiding too, like all other religious buildings, so not even funding our local schools or hospitals etc) I may just be chatting shit, or i may be the only one holding up the flag for counter-culture.

To Fabric - i know it may seem 'cool' to be rubbing shoulders with the Elites - but remember they tried to shut you down not that long ago.

Be careful who you collaborate with ; as your brand previously held upmost respect in the dance music space, but you risk alienating your fanbase by cuddling the enemy.

I understand some people may think my views are outdated, extreme, or not modern, but i truly try to represent the people, the realness, the public, and this doesn't seem right.

Opinions welcomed.

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Addendum : to vibe-check my thoughts i threw it into google gemini, and these are the results :

It mistook my 'St Pauls' to mean St Pauls School, so i clarified that it was the cathedral, and re-asked :

So it got me thinking about classical music in general, which i've always felt has been *generally* reserved for the upper-class & establishmentism......

I spent a number of years filming classical music concerts, and to be honest, i didn't really vibe with the people & venues that i worked in. For anyone who hasn't tried ; try setting up a tripod in 'Middle Temple Hall' and see how they treat you.....

Make of it what you will. I am open to changing my mind if a good argument is put forth. But until then, i think Fabric teaming up with St Pauls Cathedral is a dirrrrrty sellout

& undermines the all-inclusive values of dance music.

Our own church has been infiltrated by another church.

--- "This is my church, this is where I heal my hurts"

- Maxi Jazz, Faithless

- Fred