As Hat Club prepares to celebrate its 5^th birthday at Pacha on 21^st November, we grabbed Hat Club residents DJ Roo, Damien Stone, and Vince Frimpong to put their memories to the test. Here they talk about Hat Club’s first birthday, their favourite Hat Club DJ of all time, and how even they break the rules of Hat Club!

Hello boys! How are you?

R: I’m splendid thank you!

D: Stunning, wonderful thanks!

V: So looking forward to the weekend!

Are you excited about Hat Club’s forthcoming birthday party at Pacha on 21^st Nov?

D: Excited would be an understatement… Gaggin for it!

R: Most definitely, gonna be a blast!

V: Of course. Every Birthday I’ve played or been to has been amazing. The 3rd birthday at The Cross was my best. Every room was rammed and they put up marquee outside for a 4th room and that was rammed as well.

For those who don’t know, tell us how your residencies with Hat Club came about?

V: I was in Brighton where I live and I was djing at a day party called dpm. My friend Ben Prok (of Prok and Fitch) came to the party and introduced me to Hat Club promoter Dave Mitchell, who liked my sound. Next thing I knew, I was doing the warm up set at The Zap in Brighton. That was 4 years ago. Jesus time flies when you’re having fun.

R: I went along to one of the early parties and got to know the guys, then they asked me to play for them via Henry (one of the other HC DJ’s) and I haven’t looked back since!

D: After going to a Hat Club party back in 2003 I made it my mission to bring Hat Club to Storm, Southend where I was a resident DJ.

Do you recall the first ever Hat Club held at 100 capacity venue in Kings Cross back in 2004? Tell us about that.

R: I could blag this one and say what an amazing night it was but I wasn’t there, oh the shame of it!!

V: I’ll be honest, I started going to Hat Club when it was in its second year, but at the time of the 1st party I had friends in London who went and said it was amazing.

Poor show guys, we thought at least one of you would remember! How does the Hat Club we know and love today differ from how it was back then?

V: The first party I went to was in Brighton at a small intimate venue called Heist. And then to a London Hat Club at the Light Bar in Shoreditch – again, a very intimate venue. Now the places we’re at are massive! Pacha, Se1 and Digital are all huge venues and when it’s a Hat Club party, 9 times out of 10 they’re wall to wall.

D: Yeah, it hasn’t really differed; the Hat Club family has just got bigger.

R: I think it’s picked up a lot of fresh faces, which is what’s needed, you still get a lot of the old regulars swing by, but a new generation is discovering Hat Club now as well.

Do you remember Hat Club’s first birthday? Where was it held and who played?

R: I should know this as I’m pretty sure it was my first Hat Club gig! Umm, was it at Canvas??  Sorry, my memory is pretty shocking. I can just about remember last week let alone 4 years ago, haha.

V: Norman Jay was the headliner and it was at Canvas. I wasn’t there but have heard people talk about it many times.

Do you think it’s important that a club night evolves to its surroundings and current trends, or that should a brand stay stuck to its roots?

D:  A club night needs to evolve with trends but keep its brand identity.

V: It’s always hard because when a brand tries to evolve, they are always classed as forgetting their roots. Any brand will always try and move forward and when it does it will have to adjust to what is current. I feel that for a brand to get stronger it will have to evolve so it won’t get left behind.

R: Evolve, evolve, evolve!  You’ve got to move on if you want to survive in this industry as things progress so quickly.

What do you think is the key to the longevity of a brand?

D: A brands identity and the people involved are key.

R: Know what your crowd want and give it to them. Move with the times or get stuck in the past.

V: The concept has to be unique and has to offer the public something different.

If you could take Hat Club to any venue in the world, and book any artist on the planet, what would you dream Hat Club be like?

V: Easy, the Space Terrace. Early Afernoon Party. I think that would look amazing loads of people soaking up sun, all with funky hats on. Then Carl Cox playing one of Space terrace sets. Heaven.

R: A private villa in Ibiza with Frankie Knuckles playing a classics set back to back with Tony Humphries.

D: Without doubt Pacha Ibiza.  Calvin Harris would do a live PA and of course, Vince, Roo and I would smash it along side Seamus Haji and Jonathan Ulysses.

In your opinion, what’s the best guest booking Hat Club have ever made?

R: Norman Jay, which is going back a bit now.

D:  Seamus Haji & Jonathan Ulysses both tore the roof off Storm.

V: My favorite would have to be Jon Ulysses. The 1st time I saw him was at the 2nd birthday at Canvas and the man blew the place apart.

What artist do you think Hat Club should invite back?

R: Norman Jay!

V: Guy Williams. Amazing in all areas.

D: Drag John Fitz out of retirement – Herd & Fitz!

Why do you think the hats create such a sense of unity?

V: To be fair, I’m not too sure, but everyone always makes such an effort and the concept is so simple.

R: Well, people just make a bit more effort and some of the hats are pretty unique which creates a bit of a talking point.

D: They are a fantastic ice breaker, you walk round a club speaking to people that you don’t know because they have a cool or quirky hat.

Where’s the best Hat Club party in the UK?

R: London!  With Brighton a close runner up.

D: Digital, Brighton!

V: Brighton – I’m not being biased!

What’s your happiest Hat Club memory?

V: Playing at the 3rd birthday at The Cross. I had the last room and I played with Damien Stone and DK. It was the first time Damien and I met and we had that 3rd room rocking. Place was rammed. Such a good atmosphere.

R: Playing back2back with Henry Burrows at Key, amazing night!

D: Watching John Fitz jump up on top of the decks, grab the mic and rap… hilarious!

Have you ever broken the rules of Hat Club?

D: I’m breaking rule No.1 right now!

V: Yep – I’m always talking about hat club.

R: Do you want to know a little secret?  I look like a bit of a muppet in a hat so I tend not to keep it on all night, oops!

Any treats in store for the birthday party that you want to tell us about?

V: Ah ha, you’ll have to wait and see

R: Just a CD wallet full of fresh House music!

D: I can’t wait to drop some of the killer beatz I’ve got right now.  Some serious ‘hands in the air’ moments Pacha … get ready!

Thanks boys!

Get your ticket now from www.hat-club.com

Hat Club 5th Birthday @ Pacha

21^st November

10pm-5am

Don’t forget your hat!

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