About
The Laundry – A Short History
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The Laundry is a London based collective of friends, DJ’s and party people who first came together at the Absolution Boat Parties circa 97-98. The free parties were held on decommissioned Grimsby Trawler the Ross Leopard which was moored near Battersea Power Station. The events soon reached legendary status with over 1500 people turning up to hear some of the biggest names in dance play for free, it was going off on the boat, up the masts, on the embankment and even in the car park.
On March 3rd 1999 The Laundry was born. Originally intended as an intimate party for close friends and almost never happened when the intended venue [a railway arch in the back streets of Brixton] was busted just three weeks before the event. This was a blessing in disguise as they found another Arch, only 4 times bigger and with 4 rooms. The crew weren’t sure that they’d fill it but went ahead anyway, the party was at capacity [1000 people] by midnight with over 500 people outside clambering to get in. The atmosphere inside was something very special and far beyond anyone’s expectations, the crowd kept rocking till the middle of the next day and The Laundry was the hottest party in town.
The collective have never looked back with word of mouth parties every few months and some quality club appearances in between. Highlights are many but one that comes to mind is the legendary Millennium Eve Boat Party which rocked hard a stones throw from Big Ben, the House of Parliament and the biggest firework display London’s ever seen.
The Laundry has appeared alongside the biggest names in the business with regular appearances at the likes of Fabric, Renaissance and The End. The crew have taken the party away on holiday a number of times such as the free two day parties in a beautiful remote valley in Portugal. The resident dj’s have spread even further a field with appearances in every continent spreading the sound of Brixton’s dirty underground right across the globe.
The Laundry has never been about coining it in, that’s not to say there are no well known guests but performers are invited for their artistic worth rather than PR value. Musical variation is a key element in program. You can expect to hear a range from techno, house, breaks, funk, disco, hip-hop, latin and whatever else sneaks in along with the friendliest crowd in town.
The Laundry’s remit is simple “to put on parties we want to go to”. A simple concept, but one that few promoters deliver on. The future for The Laundry is bright we can’t say when or where you’ll find them next, just keep an eye out for the distinctive “Iron” logo and brown pipe trimmed Y-fronts.
