Rudimental, Brixton Academy

Drum and bass has a terrible hangover. High at raves for most of the 90s, it has crashed back down to earth, erased from all but a few club flyers littering the pavement.

So where does that leave the scene apart from buried underground? If the UK charts are anything to go by, in the hands of Hackney’s own Rudimental, who play 3 nights at Brixton Academy in Feb 2014.  They stormed into the limelight last year with their number one single Feel the Love, a ubiquitous tune which was swiftly followed by chart toppers Not Giving In and Waiting All Night. 

With this relentless success in mind, it is clear that the quartet of songwriters and producers are onto something special. However, before you rush to buy your ticket, know that this will not be a sweaty drum and bass show with men hiding behind a pair of decks. Prepare for an army of musicians as the stage is graced by guest vocalists, several backing singers, a keyboardist, a DJ, a drummer, a brass section and, most importantly, an implausibly muscular topless hype-man, who will not allow a single audience member to rest. Armed with an eclectic arsenal of soulful album tracks, each one of these members is given their chance to take centre-stage. 

Rudimental have blurred the lines between gig and rave, with the upper seats of Brixton Academy sure to be as popular as the mosh pit below. Very democratic, really.