Faction

Sandwiched between fashionable Shoreditch and so- organic Stoke Newington, the once rough and desolate Dalston has, in the past few years, become an interesting little area with new clubs, bars and cafés springing up and welcoming those bored of the usual Old Street haunts.

This is not gentrification as we know it; thankfully Dalston has not lost its rude boy charm and has yet to become a surrogate of nearby Islington.
And it’s on the infamous Kingsland Road that I find myself on a warm Saturday night. I’ve come to Faction, a club night that’s lured me with promises of great live music (Zombie Zombie and Factory Floor are playing this evening) and DJs.

Faction is the brainchild of scenesters Jason Moses and Simon Bolzoni with the help of DJ Elin Juhlander. Born last November, it immediately gathered a crowd of fashion types, musicians and random hipsters emigrating from Shoreditch. With live performances and DJ sets by bands like Part Chimp, The White Rose Movement, A.R.E. Weapons, Selfish Cunt, The Horrors, No Bra and HTRK among others, this night has fast become Dalston’s best kept secret.

Tonight my expectations are both high and low. They are high as I expect great music performances and storming DJ sets, and low because I expect everybody to have a bad attitude.
I’m proved wrong as soon as I step into Vision Videos, the host venue. I’m first met by what must be the world’s nicest bouncer. He checks my handbag, smiles and wishes me a good night. What? Niceness from a bouncer in a London club? An East London club at that? Yes, apparently so.
The girls on the door are as lovely. Clad in fab vintage gear, they’ve got the clobber but not the attitude. Good sign number two.

As I enter the small venue I’m sonically greeted by London Factory Floor, a post punk outfit depressing enough to keep the “dance around your handbag” crowd at bay and exciting enough to make the choppy haircuts army dance as if it was the Hacienda circa 1980. The band goes down a treat and the venue’s low ceilings add to the claustrophobic seductiveness of Factory Floor.

The dark, berlinesque atmosphere is perfectly matched by Greatest Hit/Jon Meade’s DJ set: a music maelstrom comprising Sonic Youth, Public Image Ltd, Bauhaus, Chrome and Neon Neon.
Parisian Zombie Zombie, a mixture of 60s psychedelia, electronica, Krautrock and general madness, take the stage much to the audience’s delight. Despite being a twosome, their energy is so infectious it feels like we are watching a 10 piece band. Percussionist CosmicNeman’s obvious enjoyment and constant grin make you wonder whether he’s found God tonight, onstage at Faction.
With the relaxed and easy going ambience, great bands and DJs, low door charge and three quid for a drink, it’s easy to see why Faction is an instant winner. Now please Shoreditch types don’t all move to E8 at once.

Stef Bottinelli

Vision Videos, Dalston Junction, London, E8
Next Faction night , 14th September,  venue tba please check www.myspace.com/factionclub for info.
The Faction DJs will be playing at Diamonds Furcoats Champagne at the Buffalo Bar, 259 Upper Street, London N1 on Sunday 24th of August., Entry £5/£6
www.factoryfloor.co.uk