BPM is the world’s largest event dedicated to DJing, electronic music production and club culture.
Attended by DJs, producers, performers, promoters, venue owners/managers, equipment retailers/installers, record label representatives, students and many others who simply have an interest in DJing or electronic music. In 2011 BPM will take place from Saturday 1st until Monday 3rd October and is set to be the biggest event so far.
The first BPM took place in 2007 and attracted over 2200 visitors for two days of equipment demonstrations, networking, seminars, workshops, live performances and DJ sets. A second event in 2008 firmly cemented BPM’s place in the industry calendar. The NEC, which has been BPM’s home since 2009, allows the event unlimited growth, while remaining in a central location based in the thriving city of Birmingham. The NEC also offers fantastic transport links by road, together with an on-site train station and airport, making BPM accessible to visitors from across Europe and even farther afield. In 2010 BPM welcomed a record-breaking 6048 visitors and even more are expected for the much anticipated 2011 event.
The leading equipment manufacturers and distributors will present their latest technology for visitors to look at, but more importantly get their hands on. The BPM exhibition area features everything from DJ mixers to PA systems and lighting effects to production hardware and software. BPM is an opportunity to try out the latest equipment and speak to the people behind it, then if you find what you are looking for – buy it!
The performance and demonstration areas at BPM play host to DJ sets, PAs and live performances, together with product and technique demonstrations throughout the weekend. At the centre of the exhibition hall is the BPM Arena, a state-of-the-art nightclub venue constructed especially for BPM hosting a non-stop performance and education programme. At the entrance to the exhibition hall is the Reloop Play@BPM Stage featuring DJ sets from over 40 up-and-coming DJs. The event also features a unique programme of educational and inspirational seminars that take place on every day of the event and are available to all visitors at no extra cost. BPM is the place to be inspired to move to the next level.
BPM is also the ideal place to meet and network with other DJs, producers, performers and entertainment industry professionals; share ideas and be inspired to move forward. Plenty of venue owners, promoters and agents also attend the show, which makes it the ideal place to hook up with people who can help make the next step in an aspiring DJ or producer’s career.
The highlights of BPM 2011 include:
A performance from the legendary Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash is not only one of a handful of artistes responsible for inventing the musical genre known as ‘Hip-Hop‘ and a worldwide musical culture, but his pioneering use of the turntables make him the first DJ to play the turntables as a musical instrument thus helping to elevate the status of the DJ to a masterful, artistic position. He is universally recognized as a visionary artist and is also responsible for assembling one of the earliest and greatest rap groups of all time ‘Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five’. These are some of the hallmarks of a career which has extended from the Bronx in the early 1970s to all corners of the globe into the 21st century. Flash will be performing on the BPM Arena Main Stage on Saturday 1st October, don’t miss the opportunity to see a DJ legend in the flesh.
A Q & A with the right honourable Judge Jules
Judge Jules took to the decks in 1987, launching a career that has easily notched up millions of miles of travel, a legacy of spins of the decks and countless gigs in far-flung destinations, as well as the odd dirty warehouse thrown in for good measure. Jules has earned his place amongst the DJ aristocracy, voted in 2010 at number 18 in the worldwide Top 100 DJs poll. With a legendary residency in Ibiza, ‘Judgement Sundays’, Jules remains one of the most popular, in-demand and influential figures in dance music. At BPM Judge Jules will be taking part in a Q&A session on Saturday 1st October at 1:30pm. In this exclusive live interview the Judge will share some of the story of his long and varied career as well as offering advice for aspiring DJs and producers.
A Q & A with House music Guru Danny Rampling
As a DJ for Kiss FM Danny Rampling extended his influence over dance music and the changing attitudes of young London. His reputation grew rapidly as he toured worldwide and became a household name through his six year tenure at Radio 1 hosting ‘The Love Groove Dance Party’ and generating sales in excess of one million compilation CDs. Recently Danny has literally written the book on DJing, as well as launching a new club brand and playing regularly in Ibiza while also holding down an international schedule of dates. Danny will be sharing some of his years of experience, as well as offering advice for the next generation of DJs, in a live Q&A session at BPM on Sunday 2nd October at 2:45pm.
Denon DJ & Chauvet Dance Classics Party
BPM Sunday will once again finish this year with three hours of retro classics in the BPM Arena. Hosted by Denon DJ and Chauvet, this free event will begin when the exhibition floor closes at 5pm and continue until 8pm. There’ll be free food and drink as well as anthemic dance music and live PAs from two iconic dance acts:
‘Living Joy’
The house music group from Italy who had immense success in the 1990s with “Dreamer” and “Don’t Stop Moving” are back for a live PA performance with fierce front woman Luzahnn. She has all the qualities to provide a world class vocal performance which is worthy of Living Joy’s seminal house records and has been smashing up clubs across the country with her devastating performance. The show features the hits “Dreamer”, “Don’t Stop Moving”, “Where Can I Find Love’ and ‘Follow the Rules’.
‘Baby D’
Following a number of years in the early 90s producing underground dance music, Baby D found mainstream success in 1994 with their number one UK single “Let Me Be Your Fantasy”. With its unmistakable intro, infectious hook and iconic breakbeat drum loop “Fantasy” is one of the best known and loved dance tracks of all time. Following this breakthrough, Baby D continued to enjoy success with a Top 5 Album and other singles including “(Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime) I Need Your Loving” and “So Pure”.
Advanced ticket prices for BPM have been held at £10.00 and guarantee entry to every day of the event and also represent a substantial saving from the £15.00 on-the-door price. Ticket sales will once again be handled by the NEC’s dedicated ticket outlet, The Ticket Factory, online or over the phone, and there is a 50p transaction fee per order.
Tickets for BPM can be ordered from the Ticket Factory by calling 0844 338 0338 (Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or online from www.visitbpm.co.uk/tickets/.
