Everything you need to know about Rotate, Durham’s biggest and best student-owned night out

If you’ve not been living under a rock, you’ll know that Rotate is one of Durham’s premier student nights out of the week. Taking place every Wednesday at Loft, Rotate serves to bring a new dimension to nightlife in Durham and go beyond the countless 00’s club classics in every single other club. What is not as well known about Rotate is the students behind it – unlike other nightlife companies, Rotate is both ran and owned exclusively by two Durham students, Benedict Prideaux and Angelo Sanchez Dela Cruz. Benedict, who runs the music side of the business, is a third-year Collingwood student, while Angelo, who leads the creative side of the business, is a third-year St. Cuthbert’s student.

Benedict Prideaux, CEO of Rotate Events

Angelo Sanchez Dela Cruz, Creative Director

The Tab spoke to Benedict and Angelo to learn more about their story of owning a large nightlife company while studying full-time for a degree.

Setting up the business – early struggles and determination

Rotate was set up in 2018, falling into Benedict and Angelo’s hands in late 2023 due to a change in personnel. Benedict, who started working as a DJ at Rotate in October 2022, invested his savings into the company and risked a lot at the start to give his vision a chance to come to life. Angelo had previously worked on the creative side of the business and has prior marketing experience, making himself and Benedict a perfect partnership, described by Angelo as “two sides of the same coin.”

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“It was a bit intimidating for us – back in January me and Prids (Benedict) chose to go forward with the business despite an early loss. We legalised Rotate into a legitimate business and used our strong bond to stick at it.

“He knows how to appeal to the tried and true Rotate fan, I’m trying to appeal to those who don’t want a classic Durham night out. I am abstract and go out the box a bit, but there is a real harmony where we meet in the middle and succeed.

Sam Ashton, Resident DJ

Tatty Anton-Smith, Head of Photography

Giving back and committing to students

“Rotate will be working with DUCFS on Project Amplified, which will bring in DJ’s from around the uni to train local secondary students and we will have a big artist at an event in summer term.”

Angelo also discussed his commitment to students, mentioning that Rotate now have three regular resident student DJ’s: Laily Pourghadiri, Louis Hopton and Sam Ashton.

“Laily is someone I chose because she is what I see Rotate becoming, just so fresh and always trying something new. She is so precise with how she wants to do things and wants the whole crowd to want to feel like they belong there.

“Louis has an innate sensitivity for music and rhythm honed from years of playing in jazz bands and DJing across the country. He has an incredible ability to fuse genres, like mixing colours to form something beautiful. He has a natural ability to make people happy and brings joy wherever he goes.”

“Sam was chosen because he brings something really exciting and bold and we cannot wait for Durham to hear what exciting dubs and tracks he has in store.”

Benedict still DJ’s from time to time and is headlining the first set of the year, but due to the time constraints of being CEO of Rotate Events may not be a regular feature.

Another aspect of Rotate’s commitment to giving back is their desire to give Durham students a chance to showcase their creativity. Angelo said: “Despite being a top Russell Group uni, Durham is also home to some of the most amazing young creatives. I think a lot of people don’t realise this and we want to put their talents in the spotlight.” By building their own community, Rotate demonstrate to students the power of believing in themselves and their skills.

The future of Rotate

The boys acknowledged that despite being very proud of how hard they worked last year, now is the time to start to enjoy it and look at it as a bit of fun.

“This year we want to show people a good time. We worked so hard last year and it really burned us out even though it was so enjoyable.

“At the end of the day, we are just students who want to have a good time and give other students what they want to see in a night out.

“We want to work towards the people, and not just towards the music.”

Rotate started in 2018 as a stream of house parties in the Viaduct student area, before branching out to Fabio’s and now Loft to meet the demand for tickets. They have always been by students, for students, and are really committed to continuing that relationship this year.

Simran Khalid, Head of Public Relations and Marketing

Laily Pourghadiri, Resident DJ

Why is Rotate different and special? What does it mean to you?

Rotate stick true to their tagline of “follow nobody but the beat”, choosing to take a different and brave direction in the otherwise monotonous state of Durham nightlife.

“What people like about Rotate is that we’re showing you something different, we’re showing you something you haven’t seen before in Durham.

“So many people say on Durfess that they really want to come to Rotate but that their friends don’t want to, but we want everyone to know that they can. This is for everyone.

“We’re trying to become more personal this year and I hope that people realise how much work goes on behind the scenes. The good thing about being a student brand is that I can go up to someone in a lecture and talk to people about Rotate, we can have that connection.”

Rotate Events is excited to open its doors on Freshers’ Week and greet both returners and newcomers.

Louis Hopton, Resident DJ

Images via Rotate Events