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regions : kentucky
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lexington kentucky
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this information compiled by rique curtis
SCENE PROFILE: Lexington, KY
1) Infolines:
Bluegrass/Those Meddling Kids raveline, (606) 281-4199
2) Predominant styles of music:
house, trance, and variations of these; notable lack of hardcore and breakbeat (as seems to be common in the southern U.S and southern half of the midwestern U.S.) No single promoter can be associated w/ any particular genre of electronic music.
3) Clubs worth going to:
Places that play techno include House of Heresy (140 W. Main St.), Mark's On Main, Blue Moon Saloon, Krazy Jacks, Millennium, and Club 141. All of these attract a mainstream crowd, and some require you to be 21 to enter. Your best bet for underground flavor is Heresy, and their most worthwhile parties have been 21 to enter. Your best bet for underground flavor is Heresy, and their most worthwhile parties have been the ones in the monthly "Anomaly" series. For Anomaly parties, guest rave dj's are flown in to spin. All of these clubs are typical in that they are open Friday and Saturday nights (with occasional Thursdays and Sundays). The Anomaly events, which began in May 1995, have been held on Thursday nights.
4) Dance music radio shows:
WRFL (88.1, aaaaaaalllllll the way to the Left) features a healthy helping of beats with its Friday night techno and house show, "Through the Vibe" (9 p.m.-12 a.m.). RFL is a student-run radio station at the University of Kentucky.
5) Lexington-area underground djs:
Kell (house, Detroit techno), Cosmic (house, trip hop, slow breaks, and acid) Josh Foley (slow breaks, trance, house). As of late August, dj Kell's newest mixtape is available from Untranslatable, Inc., JJ Haws' mixtape company.
6) Good record stores:
Commercial record stores in the area are worth checking out, especially the local outlet of the franchise Best Buy (3220 Nicholasville Road, (606) 272- 0024). This store has a healthy selection of many different types of music, including techno. Outlets associated with Lexington's underground are Cut Corner Records (377 S. Limestone St., 273-2673), and Bear's Wax Record Exchange (371 S. Limestone, 253-3035), both of which offer many well-known electronic music artists and compilations. Some vinyl is available at these latter two.
7) Additional info about Lexington's scene:
[insert scene history] 1995 is a year that has placed both challenges and triumphs before the Lexington rave scene. Our worlds were rocked by the car accident in February in which 4 ravers were killed while driving home from a party. The members of the Lex. scene came together in a big way after the mishap; everyone provided a great deal of emotional support for one another and for the families members of the Lex. scene came together in a big way after the mishap; everyone provided a great deal of emotional support for one another and for the families and friends of the victims. Moreover, those in the community wanted to ensure that the memory of the deceased would live on in the hearts and minds of all those connected with the scene. One way the Lexington ravers accomplished this was by throwing a memorial party exactly one month after the accident. The event, to which the families of the deceased were invited, was a celebration of life and of thanksgiving for the good fortune we have enjoyed as individuals and as a closely-knit collective.
Also of note this year (95), Lexington ravers planned and produced a flurry of phat yet low-cost house parties throughout the summer. These included not only the professionally-styled "Anomaly" series but also some more impromptu, homegrown events.
One might ask why (s)he should consider visiting or partying in Lexington. We love Lexington because we call it home, but that means nothing 2 n outsider. Anyone who is looking to experience the vibe of a different scene, however, should consider this: what makes the Lexington scene special among the many Midwestern cities hosting parties is its small-town flavor. Unlike in cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, the different groups of ravers in Lexington communicate with one another well and form a tightly-knit unit. Lexington is not plagued by the intense competition and political turmoil that have been obstacles for larger scenes. Bc of this,our scene is one of the last bastions of the true "Midwest Vibe"--that is, that pervasive warmth and friendliness that have made ravers from across the nation especially fond of the region. The small house party is king here, and this is a direct consequence of the scene's cohesiveness. Some of these small events have been thrown in clubs, such as the "Anomaly" series mentioned earlier, while other, more impromptu gatherings have takn place N ppl's apartments. At these ravers gather not only for the groove but also to meet one another, exchange information, and strengthen old friendships. These parties were living proof that it is the bodies as well as the beats that build the vibe.
In addition to what the scene's atmosphere offers to those on the outside, individual members of the community have their own notable contributions. Lexington's ravers are a talented, ambitious group of people who enjoy displaying their diverse talents and interests. Both insiders and outsiders to the Lexington scene have gazed in awe the artwork Dan "Most" Gibbs has done for _Massive_ magazine or bought kewl gear from JJ Haws' business or bobbed their heads to the electronic rhythms of artists like Mike Mattone and VGER.
When not driving insane distances, dancing all night, or riding the rapid pulse of daily life, Lexington ravers spend their down time like anyone else does. They can be found in crowded coffee houses, inside cozy apartment living rooms, or just hanging out down on Limestone Street. Located on the edge of the University of Kentucky campus, Limestone boasts a strip of businesses that cater to Lexington's underground.
ADDENDUM - by blendr
1. WRFL also has a trance/ambient show on Satuday nights from midnight to 3 AM hosted by Mark Voight. Also on Friday nights from 3-6 AM, I (blender) spin a lot of techno/acid/trance/etc. I also attempt to mix on the air, so if you're in the mood to hear some great tunes mixed very badly, give it a listen.
2. Although this isn't remotely rave-related...
-Laser Quest on High Street rocks!!!
-Also, there's a really cheap and yummy Indian restaurant on Euclid St. for any body who wants to grub hard after being up all night and morning! I think it's called the Star of India...?
3. Trevor Lamont lives in Lexington now, too, so that's another DJ for the list.
+ last updated 16 jan 95
regions : kentucky
