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A1 People Take Over Brixton's Dogstar

Author: Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com)
Saturday, June 7, 2003
Simeon from London electro band A1 People has taken control of promotion at Brixton's legendary DJ/bar the Dogstar, following a change in ownership of the renowned Coldharbour Lane venue.

"All the nights are going to be changing, it's going to be a new, re-invented Dogstar, we're bringing new line-ups every night of the week plus the weekend," Simeon told Skrufff.

"I think the venue lost touch with its artistic edge, it used to have cutting edge music and also a certain vibe that set it apart from other venues. The new owners are keen to experiment again and rediscover some of that old vibe."

The late night venue was one of London's first DJ bars when it opened in the mid 90s and helped transform Brixton's previously grim reputation though certainly suffered when crime on Coldharbour Lane led London's Standard newspaper to dub it 'Britain's most dangerous street'.

"I wouldn't say it's that bad, there's other streets in this area, around Loughborough Junction, for example, that are much worse," said Simeon.

"People tend to exaggerate about the area saying, 'Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, I wouldn't go there, it's so dangerous' but I suppose that kind of attitude also gives the area it's slightly edgy appeal. It's like the way people talk about The Bronx in New York.

"From my own experience, that's as a person living in Brixton, there's a lot more police on the streets and the area's become a lot safer," he added.
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