Raindance — Rave at the Apollo! (New Year's Eve 2011–12)
31 December 2011 · HMV Hammersmith Apollo · Space Invaders peace-symbol design · gospel rave choir and two arenas
Saturday 31 December 2011 · 9pm–6am (Sunday 1 January 2012) · ★ Gold Star object
Original A3 single-sided Raindance New Year's Eve 2011–12 'Rave at the Apollo!' poster, Saturday 31 December 2011, 9pm–6am, at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo, 45 Queen Caroline Street, London.
Read the catalogue note →- Event
- Raindance — New Year's Eve 2011–12: Rave at the Apollo!
- Promoter
- Raindance (prominently printed), with 'hmvapollo' name prominently displayed above RAINDANCE. The poster claims 'THE FIRST EVER RAVE @ THE WORLD FAMOUS HMV HAMMERSMITH APOLLO'; contemporaneous event listings repeat first-rave framing, but exhaustive venue-history uniqueness is not independently established.
- Venue
- HMV Hammersmith Apollo (2011 name; later Eventim Apollo)
- Location
- 45 Queen Caroline St, Hammersmith, London W6 9QH, England
- Advertised hours
- Saturday 31 December 2011 9pm to Sunday 1 January 2012 6am (as printed).
- Original admission / price
- No ticket price printed on owner's A3 poster. Contemporary Resident Advisor listing separately advertised £30 + booking fee (Time Out listing also says £30 advance); this is historical event admission, not market value for the poster.
- Designer
- Not credited on either photographed face. The graphic appropriates or pays homage to Space Invaders 8-bit sprites; neither the original Taito game designer nor a contemporary poster graphic artist can be inferred as the maker of this flyer.
- Format
- One original full-colour A3 poster (size stated by owner; not independently measured), printed on front only, blank reverse. Landscape width? No: upright portrait as photographed. Originally folded along one vertical and one horizontal fold into quarters, now opened. One sheet, not multiple attached panels.
- Dimensions
- A3 as identified by owner; exact millimetre dimensions not independently measured.
- Orientation
- Portrait upright when A3 sheet is opened; central cross-fold into four quarters.
- Original / reproduction
- High-confidence original-period 2011 Raindance event advertisement based on dated period design, originally branded HMV venue, historic ticket URLs and independent contemporary event listings; exact printing impression or facsimile status not forensically verified.
- Edition / variant
- A3 one-sided Space Invaders / pacifist-peace-symbol pixel-formation New Year's Eve 2011–12 poster, with blank reverse and main theatre + drum & bass/jungle arena billing. Distinct from Raindance's NYE 2010 multi-panel Debut/SeOne records TMR-000912 and TMR-000928. Resident Advisor displays event imagery with both flyer faces; those should not be presumed the same print/format as owner's one-sided A3 poster.
- Condition
- Good, provisional from front and blank-reverse photographs. Bold legible colour and complete image, with visible original quarter folds, pressure creasing, surface impressions and localized reverse paper-skin abrasion.
- Completeness
- Apparently complete original one-sheet A3 poster, full printed front and blank reverse photographed. No separate printed reverse, integral loose insert, matching ticket or extra component established. One sheet survives with all major graphic and bill preserved.
- Event relationship
- Raindance — Rave at the Apollo! (Main Theatre; D&B/Jungle Arena) · 2011-12-31
- Venue relationship
- Browse HMV Hammersmith Apollo (2011 name; later Eventim Apollo) objects
Catalogue note
Original A3 single-sided Raindance New Year's Eve 2011–12 'Rave at the Apollo!' poster, Saturday 31 December 2011, 9pm–6am, at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo, 45 Queen Caroline Street, London. Dominant graphic assembles bright yellow and pink Space Invaders-like aliens into a large peace sign with 8-bit player spaceship, recalling the iconic 1978 arcade game. Full event headline and two-room bill advertise a midnight Gospel Rave Choir and artists including Liquid-8, Shades of Rhythm, Krome & Time, Nookie, Ratpack, Slipmatt, Billy Daniel Bunter, Kenny Ken, Randall and Devious D. Promoter calls this the first rave at the historic theatre, a claim repeated in contemporary advance notices but not independently established as an exhaustive venue first. Venue, programme and date externally confirmed. Physical owner A3 poster is quarterfolded, printed front only with blank reverse bearing handling wear and one localized surface defect. Fits TMR Raindance series between 2010 SeOne farewell and later 2013/14 heritage events.
Advertised programme: MAIN THEATRE — midnight stage show billed as a full GOSPEL RAVE CHOIR; LIQUID-8 (live P.A.); SHADES OF RHYTHM (live P.A.); KROME & TIME (DJ/P.A.); NOOKIE (DJ/P.A.); RATPACK; SLIPMATT; SKIE & SQUIRREL; MR X; LUKOZADE, PERRY K & ICE; BILLY 'DANIEL' BUNTER; UNCLE DUGS; CRISS ANGEL & JOEY G; DANNY C & G MAGIKAL. Hosts: CUTTER, 5IVE ALIVE & STRICT. 'First ever rave' and choir are printed announcements, not verified actual performance. DRUM & BASS / JUNGLE ARENA — DAVID BOOMAH (live P.A.); JJ FROST; DEVIOUS D; KENNY KEN; RUFFSTUFF; BROCKIE; FUTURE THINKIN'; COLD FUSION; RANDALL; GPS; JOEY G & SPICE; SKITTY. Hosts: FUNSTA, RAGGA TWINS, MOOSE STAPLETON, REMEDY & SHOCKIN'. Printed billing is not proof of completed appearances.
Graphic-design significance: Highly distinctive large-format portrait dance flyer: pixelated 1978 Space Invaders-inspired yellow invader icons with contrasting magenta aliens are assembled to create an immense central peace-symbol graphic, with a small white 8-bit player cannon/spacecraft at lower right. Bold RAINDANCE sans typography and vibrant yellow, pink and white details contrast a deep indigo/space-dark ground, bringing late-1970s arcade imagery into a 2011 British rave-history revival. Peace-sign interpretation is visual: no author intention, official rights association or ideological programme is verified. The poster's retro-gaming message works particularly well as both historic music nostalgia and visual-culture crossreference. The RA promoter event listing additionally advertises a retro arcade provided by Hand Baked, supporting the game's relevance to the event's wider marketing, though not printed on this exact poster.
Historical context: The Hammersmith Apollo opened on 28 March 1932 as Gaumont Palace cinema, designed by Robert Cromie; it was Hammersmith Odeon before the 1992-era Apollo name, and during this 2011 night carried HMV sponsorship. Official Eventim Apollo history and Historic England Grade II* listing verify this unusual Art Deco location. The original announces the 'first ever rave' at the HMV Apollo, corroborated as contemporary positioning in 31 October 2011 specialist advance coverage and an event listing, though no exhaustive negative proof of all historic prior events is asserted. Artist bill includes 1980s/90s veteran live groups, DJ sets, drum & bass and a proposed midnight gospel rave choir. Resident Advisor listing quotes £30+booking fee for tickets; owner poster provides online seller URLs but no price. Taito primary historical exhibition and MoMA catalogue establish Space Invaders 1978 by Tomohiro Nishikado/Taito; that game's creator is not credited as poster designer.
Production note: Multicolour poster printing with flat graphic sprites and a navy/purple gradient-like field, pink accents and white unprinted reverse; paper weight, offset/digital process, finish and run not established.
Condition note: Front retains strong navy/yellow/pink contrast and legible full programme. An original vertical fold runs through title, alien peace sign and small type, intersected by a horizontal fold across mid-sheet; visible localized fold whitening and crumpling at intersection/right field. Numerous shallow pressure dents/handling impressions on front especially right upper and lower half; modest perimeter and corner stress. Unprinted white reverse has matching cross folds and pronounced dispersed small raised impressions, plus an irregular small greyish area of abrasion/paper surface disturbance left of centre near the horizontal fold. Cause of that loss (past adhesive or another contact) unknown. No major through-tear or loss of advertised performers identified. No hands-on assessment of paper brittleness, hidden tears or exact measurement.
Confidence / uncertainty: Front date/year/venue and 9pm–6am physically verified. Poster format A3 per owner, not measured. Blank white reverse with localized surface/adhesion disturbance and many pressure marks physically photographed. Only one printed side: do not replace blank reverse with event imagery from a different collector's RA listing. Quoted 'first-ever' and promised choir are advertising, not verified event outcomes. Line-up is billed, not proof each named person performed. Taito Space Invaders visual connection is recognizable design attribution, not proof official partnership or artwork ownership. 'JJ FROST' is the historically known Jumping Jack Frost and linked to existing authority, original bill transcription retained. 'SQUIRREL' resolves to linked canonical Squirrel with exact original spelling, not separate Squirrell. CRISS ANGEL in print is not automatically the US illusionist. Tickets websites are printed original URLs not necessarily live today. No listed tickets £30 amount physically printed.
Through the flyers
Explore the club-culture timeline to follow advertised dates, places and billed performers across the held flyers.
Event details are drawn from the held object and the qualified catalogue research above. A printed bill establishes an advertised booking, not confirmation that a performer appeared.
Why this object matters
Historical context
The Hammersmith Apollo opened on 28 March 1932 as Gaumont Palace cinema, designed by Robert Cromie; it was Hammersmith Odeon before the 1992-era Apollo name, and during this 2011 night carried HMV sponsorship. Official Eventim Apollo history and Historic England Grade II* listing verify this unusual Art Deco location. The original announces the 'first ever rave' at the HMV Apollo, corroborated as contemporary positioning in 31 October 2011 specialist advance coverage and an event listing, though no exhaustive negative proof of all historic prior events is asserted. Artist bill includes 1980s/90s veteran live groups, DJ sets, drum & bass and a proposed midnight gospel rave choir. Resident Advisor listing quotes £30+booking fee for tickets; owner poster provides online seller URLs but no price. Taito primary historical exhibition and MoMA catalogue establish Space Invaders 1978 by Tomohiro Nishikado/Taito; that game's creator is not credited as poster designer.
Score and assessment method
Archive Importance: 9.5 / 10 · Gold Star.
This is a curatorial judgement, not a measurement accurate to one tenth or a market valuation. Read the explanation and its evidence limits together.
How Archive Importance is assessed →Use this record
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Recorded contributions · 9
- SlipmattPerformerCatalogue credit
Performer credit: MAIN THEATRE — midnight stage show billed as a full GOSPEL RAVE CHOIR; LIQUID-8 (live P.A.); SHADES OF RHYTHM (live P.A.); KROME & TIME (DJ/P.A.); NOOKIE (DJ/P.A.); RATPACK; SLIPMATT; SKIE & SQUIRREL; MR X; LUKOZADE, PERRY K & ICE; BILLY 'DANIEL' BUNTER; UNCLE DUGS; CRISS ANGEL & JOEY G; DANNY C & G MAGIKAL. Hosts: CUTTER, 5IVE ALIVE & STRICT. 'First ever rave' and choir are printed announcements, not verified actual performance. DRUM & BASS / JUNGLE ARENA — DAVID BOOMAH (live P.A.); JJ FROST; DEVIOUS D; KENNY KEN; RUFFSTUFF; BROCKIE; FUTURE THINKIN'; COLD FUSION; RANDALL; GPS; JOEY G & SPICE; SKITTY. Hosts: FUNSTA, RAGGA TWINS, MOOSE STAPLETON, REMEDY & SHOCKIN'. Printed billing is not proof of completed appearances. Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - SquirrelPerformerCatalogue credit
Performer credit: MAIN THEATRE — midnight stage show billed as a full GOSPEL RAVE CHOIR; LIQUID-8 (live P.A.); SHADES OF RHYTHM (live P.A.); KROME & TIME (DJ/P.A.); NOOKIE (DJ/P.A.); RATPACK; SLIPMATT; SKIE & SQUIRREL; MR X; LUKOZADE, PERRY K & ICE; BILLY 'DANIEL' BUNTER; UNCLE DUGS; CRISS ANGEL & JOEY G; DANNY C & G MAGIKAL. Hosts: CUTTER, 5IVE ALIVE & STRICT. 'First ever rave' and choir are printed announcements, not verified actual performance. DRUM & BASS / JUNGLE ARENA — DAVID BOOMAH (live P.A.); JJ FROST; DEVIOUS D; KENNY KEN; RUFFSTUFF; BROCKIE; FUTURE THINKIN'; COLD FUSION; RANDALL; GPS; JOEY G & SPICE; SKITTY. Hosts: FUNSTA, RAGGA TWINS, MOOSE STAPLETON, REMEDY & SHOCKIN'. Printed billing is not proof of completed appearances. Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - Uncle DugsPerformerCatalogue credit
Performer credit: MAIN THEATRE — midnight stage show billed as a full GOSPEL RAVE CHOIR; LIQUID-8 (live P.A.); SHADES OF RHYTHM (live P.A.); KROME & TIME (DJ/P.A.); NOOKIE (DJ/P.A.); RATPACK; SLIPMATT; SKIE & SQUIRREL; MR X; LUKOZADE, PERRY K & ICE; BILLY 'DANIEL' BUNTER; UNCLE DUGS; CRISS ANGEL & JOEY G; DANNY C & G MAGIKAL. Hosts: CUTTER, 5IVE ALIVE & STRICT. 'First ever rave' and choir are printed announcements, not verified actual performance. DRUM & BASS / JUNGLE ARENA — DAVID BOOMAH (live P.A.); JJ FROST; DEVIOUS D; KENNY KEN; RUFFSTUFF; BROCKIE; FUTURE THINKIN'; COLD FUSION; RANDALL; GPS; JOEY G & SPICE; SKITTY. Hosts: FUNSTA, RAGGA TWINS, MOOSE STAPLETON, REMEDY & SHOCKIN'. Printed billing is not proof of completed appearances. Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - Kenny KenPerformerCatalogue credit
Performer credit: MAIN THEATRE — midnight stage show billed as a full GOSPEL RAVE CHOIR; LIQUID-8 (live P.A.); SHADES OF RHYTHM (live P.A.); KROME & TIME (DJ/P.A.); NOOKIE (DJ/P.A.); RATPACK; SLIPMATT; SKIE & SQUIRREL; MR X; LUKOZADE, PERRY K & ICE; BILLY 'DANIEL' BUNTER; UNCLE DUGS; CRISS ANGEL & JOEY G; DANNY C & G MAGIKAL. Hosts: CUTTER, 5IVE ALIVE & STRICT. 'First ever rave' and choir are printed announcements, not verified actual performance. DRUM & BASS / JUNGLE ARENA — DAVID BOOMAH (live P.A.); JJ FROST; DEVIOUS D; KENNY KEN; RUFFSTUFF; BROCKIE; FUTURE THINKIN'; COLD FUSION; RANDALL; GPS; JOEY G & SPICE; SKITTY. Hosts: FUNSTA, RAGGA TWINS, MOOSE STAPLETON, REMEDY & SHOCKIN'. Printed billing is not proof of completed appearances. Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - RandallPerformerCatalogue credit
Performer credit: MAIN THEATRE — midnight stage show billed as a full GOSPEL RAVE CHOIR; LIQUID-8 (live P.A.); SHADES OF RHYTHM (live P.A.); KROME & TIME (DJ/P.A.); NOOKIE (DJ/P.A.); RATPACK; SLIPMATT; SKIE & SQUIRREL; MR X; LUKOZADE, PERRY K & ICE; BILLY 'DANIEL' BUNTER; UNCLE DUGS; CRISS ANGEL & JOEY G; DANNY C & G MAGIKAL. Hosts: CUTTER, 5IVE ALIVE & STRICT. 'First ever rave' and choir are printed announcements, not verified actual performance. DRUM & BASS / JUNGLE ARENA — DAVID BOOMAH (live P.A.); JJ FROST; DEVIOUS D; KENNY KEN; RUFFSTUFF; BROCKIE; FUTURE THINKIN'; COLD FUSION; RANDALL; GPS; JOEY G & SPICE; SKITTY. Hosts: FUNSTA, RAGGA TWINS, MOOSE STAPLETON, REMEDY & SHOCKIN'. Printed billing is not proof of completed appearances. Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - Devious DPerformerCatalogue credit
Performer credit: MAIN THEATRE — midnight stage show billed as a full GOSPEL RAVE CHOIR; LIQUID-8 (live P.A.); SHADES OF RHYTHM (live P.A.); KROME & TIME (DJ/P.A.); NOOKIE (DJ/P.A.); RATPACK; SLIPMATT; SKIE & SQUIRREL; MR X; LUKOZADE, PERRY K & ICE; BILLY 'DANIEL' BUNTER; UNCLE DUGS; CRISS ANGEL & JOEY G; DANNY C & G MAGIKAL. Hosts: CUTTER, 5IVE ALIVE & STRICT. 'First ever rave' and choir are printed announcements, not verified actual performance. DRUM & BASS / JUNGLE ARENA — DAVID BOOMAH (live P.A.); JJ FROST; DEVIOUS D; KENNY KEN; RUFFSTUFF; BROCKIE; FUTURE THINKIN'; COLD FUSION; RANDALL; GPS; JOEY G & SPICE; SKITTY. Hosts: FUNSTA, RAGGA TWINS, MOOSE STAPLETON, REMEDY & SHOCKIN'. Printed billing is not proof of completed appearances. Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - BrockiePerformerCatalogue credit
Performer credit: MAIN THEATRE — midnight stage show billed as a full GOSPEL RAVE CHOIR; LIQUID-8 (live P.A.); SHADES OF RHYTHM (live P.A.); KROME & TIME (DJ/P.A.); NOOKIE (DJ/P.A.); RATPACK; SLIPMATT; SKIE & SQUIRREL; MR X; LUKOZADE, PERRY K & ICE; BILLY 'DANIEL' BUNTER; UNCLE DUGS; CRISS ANGEL & JOEY G; DANNY C & G MAGIKAL. Hosts: CUTTER, 5IVE ALIVE & STRICT. 'First ever rave' and choir are printed announcements, not verified actual performance. DRUM & BASS / JUNGLE ARENA — DAVID BOOMAH (live P.A.); JJ FROST; DEVIOUS D; KENNY KEN; RUFFSTUFF; BROCKIE; FUTURE THINKIN'; COLD FUSION; RANDALL; GPS; JOEY G & SPICE; SKITTY. Hosts: FUNSTA, RAGGA TWINS, MOOSE STAPLETON, REMEDY & SHOCKIN'. Printed billing is not proof of completed appearances. Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - Joey GPerformerCatalogue credit
Performer credit: MAIN THEATRE — midnight stage show billed as a full GOSPEL RAVE CHOIR; LIQUID-8 (live P.A.); SHADES OF RHYTHM (live P.A.); KROME & TIME (DJ/P.A.); NOOKIE (DJ/P.A.); RATPACK; SLIPMATT; SKIE & SQUIRREL; MR X; LUKOZADE, PERRY K & ICE; BILLY 'DANIEL' BUNTER; UNCLE DUGS; CRISS ANGEL & JOEY G; DANNY C & G MAGIKAL. Hosts: CUTTER, 5IVE ALIVE & STRICT. 'First ever rave' and choir are printed announcements, not verified actual performance. DRUM & BASS / JUNGLE ARENA — DAVID BOOMAH (live P.A.); JJ FROST; DEVIOUS D; KENNY KEN; RUFFSTUFF; BROCKIE; FUTURE THINKIN'; COLD FUSION; RANDALL; GPS; JOEY G & SPICE; SKITTY. Hosts: FUNSTA, RAGGA TWINS, MOOSE STAPLETON, REMEDY & SHOCKIN'. Printed billing is not proof of completed appearances. Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution → - Danny CPerformerCatalogue credit
Performer credit: MAIN THEATRE — midnight stage show billed as a full GOSPEL RAVE CHOIR; LIQUID-8 (live P.A.); SHADES OF RHYTHM (live P.A.); KROME & TIME (DJ/P.A.); NOOKIE (DJ/P.A.); RATPACK; SLIPMATT; SKIE & SQUIRREL; MR X; LUKOZADE, PERRY K & ICE; BILLY 'DANIEL' BUNTER; UNCLE DUGS; CRISS ANGEL & JOEY G; DANNY C & G MAGIKAL. Hosts: CUTTER, 5IVE ALIVE & STRICT. 'First ever rave' and choir are printed announcements, not verified actual performance. DRUM & BASS / JUNGLE ARENA — DAVID BOOMAH (live P.A.); JJ FROST; DEVIOUS D; KENNY KEN; RUFFSTUFF; BROCKIE; FUTURE THINKIN'; COLD FUSION; RANDALL; GPS; JOEY G & SPICE; SKITTY. Hosts: FUNSTA, RAGGA TWINS, MOOSE STAPLETON, REMEDY & SHOCKIN'. Printed billing is not proof of completed appearances. Original catalogue credit
Find other objects with this contribution →