It was just past midnight when I entered the Starship Rumpus, and I was immediately greeted by a host of alien life forms, robotic humanoids, interstellar bandits and everything you’d find in a fantasy fiction movie set. A large tentacle-headed man bumped into me, and turned to introduce himself with a smile. He announced that he hailed from a galaxy far far away, and we chatted intently about the perils of light-speed travel as we moseyed to the bar. The energy inside was ecstatic, and everyone was wide-eyed with curiosity and ready for the night of shenanigans to begin.
Every time you enter an event at Rumpus, you can’t help but think, “What the hell have I gotten myself into?” These carnival-like one night festival events are always packed with the most bizarrely dressed people and themes that will make even the coolest kid smile with enthusiastic interest. Rumpus doesn’t cater to just one subculture or community, it’s for everyone who believes in exploring new things with an open mind and a curious spirit, mixed with the desire for a night of over-the-top fun.
Held on April 5th, the latest Rumpus was themed Robots vs. Aliens, and although my own costume took some effort to put together, I was still blown away by the amount of creativity and fun that people had with their own ensembles. London’s Electrowerks hosted the event and its eight rooms were perfect for the array of different musical genres and activities. Most people embraced the adventurous spirit of the night and ran from room to room exploring what creatures, performances and music the Starship Rumpus had to offer.
The best thing about Rumpus is the energy. It’s addictive, and you can’t help but join into the vast array of music genres, colourful rooms, and playful activities that surround you. The line up for the night included Dr Malaka playing dirty Balkan beats, Fluffy Logic, Los Chinches playing psychedelic Cumbia, Adam Beattie & The Consultants and many more. It was hard to choose which room to stay in but eventually I settled in the main room playing Drum and Bass and Balkan beats most of the night. I have to admit that my reasons had something to do with waiting patiently to get into the infamous Rumpus ball pit. I could only imagine what interstellar objects would be recovered there the morning after.
Rumpus TV was there throughout the night filming dancers swinging from the ceiling, robots making inquisitions into alien activity and many more unexplainable events. There was an art exhibit and chilled out area for those taking a break from dancing the night away, as well as plenty of well-stocked bars to provide social lubrication. The night was another success for Rumpus, and proved yet again that providing a venue and support for creatives here in London doesn’t require selling out or playing one type of music at an immovable crowd. As its founder Santiago Genochio states, “It’s all about having fun.”
Rumpus likes to take community to another level. The Rumpus group got together with Bugzi, a company that designs and builds motorized wheelchairs for children under five, and a portion of the proceeds from the tickets went to their company.
You can also take a bit of Rumpus back home with you as they just released their debut compilation album, ‘Super Quantum Compilation of Doom,’ on March 31st. The mix gives you a taste of everything that Rumpus is about- just don’t listen to it in a packed Tube as you will catch the Rumpus fever and start shaking your hips uncontrollably!
The next Rumpus Vol. 16 will be on June 7th at the Coronet Theatre and tickets go on sale April 17th. The theme this time around is: The Greatest Stories Never Told.
Words: Victoria Elizabeth
Photos: ©michael s marks
Filed under: Reviews Tagged: alternative, clubnight, community, robots vs aliens, rumpus, starship, subculture
