3.53°C Get ready for a nostalgic evening of classic tunes as Blow Up, the club night that shaped the 90s Britpop scene, returns to Colchester. This Friday, 24th January, it takes over Three Wise Monkeys, bringing its iconic mix of music and style to the city.
Founded in 1993, Blow Up has been at the forefront of the Britpop movement, influencing both the sound and the fashion of a generation. With a history of hosting big nights, this event promises to take hrough the best of the 90s, featuring a mix of Britpop, indie, and mod classics plus swinging soundtracks.
The evening will be headlined by Blow Up founder DJ Paul Tunkin, a key figure in Blow Up’s success, along with special guests. Whether you were there when it all began or are discovering the magic of Blow Up for the first time, you can expect a decent night.
Keep Colchester Cool’s Ben Howard caught up with Paul Tunkin of Blow Up to find out more.
Blow Up has such a rich history, especially being at the heart of the Britpop movement. Can you take us back to the beginning? What inspired you to start the club night in 1993?
“I started Blow Up to create a reaction to the music scene at the time, primarily to bring an emerging London sound together in a club space. I wanted to mix the new with the past, creating a clear, confident statement of music and style. Keeping things upbeat and positive, I incorporated swinging film and TV soundtracks, French pop, and 60s club soul and pop, along with various other 60s dancefloor flavours. I also included a few experimental sixties’ records (that could still be danced to) alongside the nascent London sound, indie, and new wave tracks that fitted the brief.
“I’d been a DJ, club promoter, and sometime band member since I was a teenager in Essex, where I built various events with strong music identities around alternative and indie-based music. I had been running an event in Southend called The Periphery, where I was developing the new ideas that I eventually transferred to London to create Blow Up. So, for me, Blow Up brought together many different strands of musical culture and experience into a London setting, primed and ready to make a music statement.”
Blow Up has successfully continued into the modern era. What do you think it is about the night that has allowed it to remain relevant, especially as the musical landscape has evolved?
“I think it’s really down to keeping things high-quality and having an interesting selection of music that is cool, classic, and sometimes trashy – but always stretches boundaries where possible. At the same time, keeping things entertaining and aligned with the ethos of the night is key. Being an affordable night out is also important, as door and bar prices shouldn’t be a barrier to attending.”
With so many memorable nights over the years, do any moments stand out to you as particularly special or meaningful?
“Weekly nights at the Laurel Tree in Camden during 1994 were incredible, as were nights at the Wag Club from 1996–2001, and the Metro era from 2001–2009. Each venue had something special about it.
“We’ve also had many great events at various locations in the UK and internationally, such as events in California – particularly Sacramento – as well as Paris, Tokyo, and various spots in Germany.
“In the 90s, when Blow Up was at the Laurel Tree Camden, you could feel everything changing week to week until the whole scene exploded. Almost everyone who was anyone on the scene attended at some point. Blow Up quickly became the centre and catalyst of a scene that was later dubbed ‘Britpop’. The look and the sound of Blow Up in that era grew from a Camden pub room to resonate around the world.
“The first Blow Up birthday in November 1994 at the Leisure Lounge was a particularly memorable night. Much of the London scene attended, with people travelling long distances to be there. We had live performances from Earl Brutus, My Life Story, The Weekenders (which was my band) – and we were joined on stage by Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle from the Buzzcocks – alongside The Stairs and Beat Girl. That was certainly one of many high points.”
Blow Up has cultivated a strong community of people passionate about music and style. What does it mean to you to be part of such a long-standing community, and what role do the people who attend play in the club’s ongoing success?
“It’s wonderful and certainly gratifying when I hear from people that the club – or the label, Blow Up Records – has had an impact on their life. Some people discovered a certain music or style at Blow Up that has influenced them over the years. It’s amazing to realise that the club has played its part in changing people’s lives in different ways.
“Whether they were in a band that emerged or formed at the club, met lifelong friends or partners, or simply had a great time, all these things give Blow Up a special connection for people. In some ways, the club is just as much about the people who attend as it is about the music.”
Lastly, what can we expect from the night, and if we were to take a peek into your record box for the night, what are some of the tracks that have become staples?
“I hate to say it, but I don’t ever plan too much regarding what will be played exactly on the night. I just go with how I feel in the moment and see how the audience responds to different tracks, building from there. That said, you can expect a set that reflects the music from the club over the years. I’ll be fully armed with a lot of music, so let’s wait and see…”
For more details, visit www.blowupclub.com
For tickets, visit https://wegottickets.com/event/629090
