Members of the Rock City Crew circa 1983 - Photo: NG83
Between 1983 and 1987 Nottingham’s Rock City hosted the biggest weekly hip hop event in the UK. B Boys and Fly Girls from across the country would congregate there to hear the latest hip hop sounds cut up by DJs Jonathan Woodliffe and Masterscratch, with individual dancers and crews battling it out on the floor. The club also played host to the crème de la crème of visiting US hip hop artists including Afrika Bambaataa, Run DMC, Whodini, Public Enemy, LL Cool J and Eric B & Rakim; plus B Boy challenges featuring the likes of London’s Live 2 Break, Manchester’s Street Machine and of course Nottingham’s very own Assassinators and Rock City Crew.
A new documentary NG83: When We Were B Boys is set to shine a light on this vibrant era.
To to celebrate the film's release the filmakers have arranged a massive reunion event at Rock City. For one afternoon only on Saturday 31 October 2015 they’re going way back to the electrifying atmosphere of those days, with Nottingham’s own DJ Fever, DJ D2 and DJ Nasty Nice playing the old school hip hop, electro and breakbeats that you would have heard on a typical Saturday Afternoon Jam in the '80s.
They are expecting around 500 people from across the UK to attend, including many of the original B Boys and Fly Girls that used to go in the '80s. All of the DJs and MCs that are appearing would regularly attend back in the day. This is an all ages event which brings together young and old – many of those who went to Rock City as youngsters will be bringing their own children down to the reunion.
The format will be DJs throughout the day with MCs encouraging the crowd to participate. There will be breakdancing and bodypopping throughout the day, culminating in an over-40s breakdance competition with cash prize.
The UK premiere of NG83: When We Were B Boys will happen the following evening at Broadway Cinema.
The NG83 Jam is at Rock City on Saturday 31 October 2015. Facebook event.
The NG83: When We Were B Boys premier screening is at Broadway Cinema on Sunday 1 November 2015. Click here for further information and tickets.
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