To everyone who came to our first birthday bash! We are all quite amazed at the response, and just how much fun it was all weekend long. Here’s a quick rundown of the night for anyone who missed it.

After a relatively easy setup (thanks to the in house engineers, and help from Christy), we welcomed the first guests at 9.01 pm, who received their free cd and choice of kazoo from our delectable door hosts, Pyn and Shelly. In room 2, Robin from Jam Jah kicked it off with some choice roots and reggae, against a backdrop Keir’s inspired visuals mash ups on a 6ft Plasma Screen, whilst Manic Organic prepared tasters from their menu to serve up to any hungry guests.

In room 1, Mr Elephant mixtapes provided the soundtrack to a late leon setting up, and much creativity, with the mask decorating table which were all feverishly surrounded by 9.30.

By 11.15 both rooms were bustling with birthday merriment, and it was time for our headline band to don the main stage. Mama Matrix once again showing why they are one of the most exciting bands in the city, delivering a blistering set of balkan gypsy jazz. Their performance even grabbing the attention of one of Birmingham’s most respected music promotor’s, and igniting many questions as to where they were from!

While Dj Christy was keeping room two on fire with more reggae and some old jungle, Room 1 saw people don their masks, and raise their kazoos, ready for the midnight mask parade. Marc announced it using his voice changer, (which unfortunatly made the announcement somewhat hard to distinguish!), but nevertheless the tribal sound of 8 of the city’s local percussionists (who had never played together before the night) commanded the focus of the party goers, and led by Issabella and Katie, who were in character as victorian ladies, the midnight mask parade journeyed around the top floor of the venue, before settling in the main room for a percussion jam that got the whole room moving.

Some people joined in on the kazoo, and our professional mask maker followed in hot pursuit, selecting 3 winners and notifying them with specially made golden tickets. Marc announced the winners, (thankfully in his normal voice!), who each won a cuddly version of me, (with the top prize being an addition of a bottle of smirnoff). Marc dropped his first record (Arthur Conley’s sweet soul music), and it was back to more dancing and merriment for the rest of the evening.

A mix of music from the mr elephant radio shows got the crowd nicely loose and ready for some big breaks, and the arrival of Khalgani Belly Dancers on stage raised the heat even more.

Birthday Boy Lopan took over, and kept the crowd rockin, before a back to back finale of huge breaks, that rock tune from Steve, and a couple of drum and bass favourites. The last two tracks were Harry Belafonte’s Daylight Come, and Don’t Worry Be Happy, leaving everyone with warm feelings and positive vibes as they journeyed to the after party at the last ever weekend sessions of the Church Inn. A truly memorable night, (and a most suitably celebratory weekend! Dave Piper took some fantastic pictures of the evening, and here’s a little video we hashed together.

We hope you can join us for something a lot more relaxing at our Free Bank Holiday Family Alldayer at the Prince on Saturday May 24th 2008.

One Love Mr Elephant