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The First Rave Back: Carl Cox on Brighton Beach for Concorde 2
On the 16th March 2020, the UK government made the decision to go into total lockdown, and it wasn’t until the 19th July 2021 that the UK was deemed safe enough to allow for ‘Freedom Day’. The following Friday, as part of the iconic Brighton venue Concorde 2’s 21st birthday celebrations, UK electronic legend Carl Cox played what would go on to be a historic set on Brighton Beach.
For those that don’t know, the walk along the beach on Madeira Drive as you approach Concorde 2 isn’t a quick journey, but on a lovely summer's evening in Brighton, it’s never quite so bad. Once approaching the venue, you had to prove a negative lateral flow test or proof of double vaccination, and let’s be honest, this is the only way that gigs/raves will be allowed to happen for the foreseeable. So make sure you do it.
When entering the arena, every single Covid-19 worry simply went away. This just felt so right. It felt so, so good to be back. Local DJ Kieran Brindley provided a seriously heated warm-up set to get everyone in the mood, upon which Carl Cox approached the stage donning a straw hat, his iconic shades, and an Amnesia top from his beloved Ibiza stomping ground. Merely minutes into the set and the vibe was electric, to which Carl Cox belted out his classic catchphrase “Oh yes, oh yes” and that was it. The sun was going…
