"DECENT EXPOSURE" - Venue Issue 447 - 9th July 1999
He organised Bristol's first illegal acid house party. Ten years on, he's
still at the forefront of the city's clubs scene. And guess what? He still
hasn't made a penny from it.
SUZY LUFF MEETS JOHN 'MR. NICE GUY' NATION AND PARTNER DJ BUNJY.
A few issues back, one of our club reviewers referred to a night as reaching
the "grand old age of one"! He was well justified. You only need to look at
the turnover of Bristol clubs in the past couple of years to realise what a
quick-paced, unstable and shape-shifting industry the club scene is. Best get
the zimmer out for John Nation and DJ Bunjy, then! This formidable combo, more
commonly known as Bristol Exposure, have been shaking the city up with their
first rate club nights since early '94 - and that's getting on for over half a
decade.
"We've been promoting Bristol Exposure - me and Bunjy, my partner - for five
and a half to six years now," says John. "When we started out we were the first
people catering for happy hardcore, then jungle and then techno." In fact John
was responsible for organising Bristol's first ever illegal acid house party
in '89. He was arrested for his troubles, but remained unperturbed. "In the
late '80s the big parties were like a breath of fresh air - a kick up the arse
to the system and the status quo that was there. Since then, we've done a lot
of parties - and we've been involved in major events like Tribal Gathering and
Dreamscape. I'm also hosting the Drum and Bass room at Slinky in Bournemouth
on a bi-monthly basis."
The ethos behind the legendary Bristol Exposure nights has always been to give
Bristol's musical talent a forum in which to showcase their excellence - to
give up-and-coming local artists the promotion and recognition they deserve.
This ethos is about musical superiority as opposed to musical preference.
But Bristol Exposure's transcendence through time and space is by no means
accidental. It is the legacy of 66 months of shrewd promotion, dedication,
sheer talent and flexibility - all in the name of exposing Bristol to the
wider world (and throwing one hell of a party). "We've always done different
nights," says John. "No-one can really bracket us and say we just do one thing
- we're diverse and we're open-minded musically. There are a lot of clubs that
come and go because they put their eggs in one basket, whereas me and Bunjy
have always been flexible."
John and Bunjy restrict their nights to a limited number each year because,
according to John: "Familiarity breeds contempt!" But when they do throw a
party, you can guarantee it'll kick arse right across the board. Their
forthcoming venture is no exception to this rule. Entitled Bristol's Cream,
the Exposure crew are due to take over New Trinity - their traditional Bristol
haunt - on Friday 30 July. Once again they are taking a new tack musically,
this time introducing hip hop and big beats to the BE equation. "The night is
representative of Bristol - but also of the music coming out of Bristol. I
think we're really spoilt in this city - a lot of people don't appreciate how
rich a diversity of producers and DJs we have here. You go to places like
Birmingham and it's like 'Bristol this and Bristol that' and then people in
Bristol diss their own town! I'm proud to be Bristolian born and bred, and
it's the same with Bunjy. We take pride in our city and also pride in the
beats that come out of our city and that, for me, is one of the over-riding
things that has kept us going."
John and Bunjy's decision to headline Mushroom and Milo at Bristol's Cream has
been met with some naive criticism, particularly if you consider the fact
that Miles and Bunjy are brothers! "Some people have said we've jumped on the
bandwagon with the Mush and Milo thing. We haven't jumped on no bandwagon!"
John laughs. "I mean, I grew up with Miles and all those boys, and at the end
of the day we just felt the time was right to do an event of that nature.
There's a market there for it. And the response we've had so far from handing
out flyers has been great."
Mush and Milo are due to play four hours, back to back. Joining them are
Off-Side live, Hombre Records' Task and Stevie Bear, One Cut Crew and this
year's south west heat DMC champion Madcut. The inevitable second room offers
some of the usual BE suspects, with Cridge and Bunjy - but also a selection of
people from various nights about the town - playing classic house, funk, soul
and even reggae.
The night is predestined to be one of the highlights of the summer - along
with Ashton Court Festival, of course. But then who do you think is running
the club stage for this year's festival? Yes, it's Mr. Nation again! Fingers
and pies would be the expression that springs to mind - if it wasn't for the
fact that John Nation is clubland's very own Mr. Nice Guy. After ten years of
running seamless parties, he admits he's no better off now financially than he
was when he started. "But my life has been enriched by the people I've met,
and at the end of the day that for me is still more important than earning a
fat wedge!"
Words of wisdom from a living legend - what more can you ask for?
Other events in John and Bunjy's summer diary include the National Adventure
Sports Weekender at Bath and West Showground, on 23 - 25 July, where BE will
host the Friday night entertainment. Expect sets from Bungy, Task and Bear
and John Stapleton among others. FFI: 0906 553 1221.
www.bristol-rave.org/bris-exp/events.htm