On an atrocious night in south London where the pounding rain makes it feel like the world is coming to an end, a handful of those in the know take refuge at Brixton’s Plan B for what’s dubbed as one of the freshest new nights in town: On the Real.

Put together by The Doctors Orders who did a fine job celebrating J Dilla’s life a couple of months ago at Cargo, expectations are high. And we’re not disappointed, with a star studded line up of underground pioneers taking to the wheels of steel. The place is rammed to the rafters with good vibes.

Milling around from room to room, it’s hard not to get sucked in by the atmosphere. As every record passes, we’re transported further and further back in time.
Rich Medina is the night’s show piece, commanding the crowd with thick doses of black music that transcend genre, and it’s not hard to see why he comes from the States so hotly tipped. There’s a real sense of community in here and it feels fitting that an area so often associated with all the wrong things should host a night boasting a plethora of DJs spinning tunes from a genre often associated with all the wrongs things.

As the event comes to an end and we’re forced to face the British weather once again, a glimmer of warmth still burns inside – top draw.

Charlie Hearn