Lethal Bizzle brought Grime to Lincoln at the launch of NXT

Student nights at clubs are usually the highlights of any student’s week, although ask them the following morning and their responses may not be quite so excitable. However, after we attended the launching of NXT at the Engine Shed, Monday’s had never felt so good, nor Tuesday’s hangovers so worthwhile.

Loving life

The event event had its own Snapchat filter:

Whilst there were some home comforts in partying in the on-campus venue, it’s safe to say the Engine Shed was transformed for NXT with three bars, its own dance-floor and a merchandise stand, with purchases funded by ‘NXT Bills’, the events very own currency. It became pretty clear that the bold décor was not a reflection of the cheap ticket prices.

Whilst there was no dress code of sorts, there was a universal dark edginess to everyone’s attire which really “urbanised” the place, with “Dench” gear sported by many. It’s hard to believe it had been filled with screaming Scouting For Girls fans a matter of days before. The vibe had totally shifted.

Caps galore

Whilst advertised as a blend of all the genres you’d assume your grandparents would be terrified of, like Grime, Hip-Hop and RnB, the playlist had people dancing before the crowd had fully converged, demonstrative of how ready the venue felt before it could even have time to hit capacity. The fact we found our sober-selves dancing along says a great deal about how contagious the night became. The dancing and the atmosphere it was breeding were infectious.

This for a fiver? Yes please

The blending of genres made the night feel truly inclusive. The tailoring of the playlist was genius, incorporating sounds that seduced virgins to the grime scene, even before Lethal Bizzle hit the stage.

Whilst I’m sure everyone there would agree the brilliant “hype” man warming up the crowd deserved a full set of his own too, the highlight of the night goes to Lethal Bizzle’s detonative set of his classics as well as his powerful  covers of more current tracks. Even though we were at the foot of the stage with the barriers separating us from the crowd, the energy he breathed into his fans pulsed throughout the building, with a sea of ‘Dench’ covered clothing matching the rapper’s crew attire.

NXT will be returning to the Engine Shed on the 14^th of November and will continue monthly. Although the guests are yet to be confirmed, it became pretty clear from the fans we spoke to on the night that they’ll definitely be returning.

Official photography courtesy of NXT Lincoln.

Written by Rebecca Garbutt and Lewis Allen