MTA Records Chase & Status Bournemouth Review

A strong looking lineup that featured young talent alongside tried and trusted drum and bass pioneers took to the Bournemouth O2 Academy on Saturday (27th September) in celebration of MTA Records’ fifth birthday.

First up on the decks was the upcoming and newly signed to the MTA Records label, North Base. The Manchester three-piece got the crowd warmed up by dropping a mixture of bangers which included Sub Focus’ Out The Blue and intense drum and bass.

Next on stage was BBC Radio 1/1xtra presenter and DJ, MistaJam who got the fairly intimate but growing crowd moving with a perfect blend of nineties bangers and music from the current era that saw the crowd singing Rhythm of The Night by Corona and You Sure Do by Strike to brand new Knife Party tracks Resistance and Boss Mode. The atmosphere was helped massively by his constant chat to the crowd.

Then at roughly 2am, the moment the vast majority of the Bournemouth crowd were waiting for. Headliners and MTA Records label owners, Chase and Status took to the decks and from the very first minute did not look like disappointing the ever growing Bournemouth crowd. Frontman and MC, Rage got into his stride straight away and Saul (Chase) on the decks began to work his magic and throughout the set, dug deep into the impressive Chase and Status back catalogue spanning all three albums, More Than Alot, No More Idols and last year’s Brand New Machine by dropping ‘Pieces’, ‘Saxon’, ‘Eastern Jam’, ‘No Problem’, ‘Hypest Hype’, ‘Blind Faith’, ‘Flashing Lights’, ‘Time’, ‘Heavy’, ‘International’, ‘Machine Gun’, ‘Alive’ and many more.

After Chase and Status’s remarkably energetic set, came Kove. The London producer and DJ managed to maintain the high levels of energy that Chase and Status brought, dropping a healthy mixture of drum and bass, which included his 2014 single ‘Way We Are’.

Overall, the concert really did have an enjoyable old school Chase and Status feel to it when they toured the smaller venues and clubs when the atmosphere was incredible, in complete contrast to last year’s Brand New Machine arena tour, which was also enjoyable in its own right.

Lineup: North Base, Kove, MistaJam, Chase and Status