As well as running Riot and being the man in charge of the music at the label weather with his own releases or with his A&R hat on BK is the man that has ensured Riot is the most critically acclaimed Hard dance label around. Ben Keen, aka BK, is also recognized the world over as the most successful and prolific hard dance producer of all time. With worldwide dance chart hits like "Music Is Moving" and "Revolution", BK has reinvented the genre of hard house and breathed new life into the style. And in addition to having conquered the world of hard house with his production skills, BK is positioned to take over the global DJ scene, ranking since 2001 as one of DJmag's top 50 international DJs. He calls his sound "ever-changing and full of energy, with innovative infusions of trance and techno that redefine the hard house style. He believes that the sound of hard house has definitely changed-it's got to, and whether producing or playing, the sounds that BK creates represent the future of the genre.
BK began his production career at age 16 as a trainee engineer at a London studio and gradually progressed into writing music for film and television. In his spare time, he used the studio's equipment to experiment with his own sounds, and it was later, at Media Records, that he began producing original tracks. BK later joined Nukleuz Records, the world's top hard house label, and immediately became known for his profusion of definitive hard house tracks. Since 1995, BK has produced more than one hundred 12s and remixes, including remixes of Mario Piu ("The Vision"), Mauro Piccotto ("Iguana"), Storm ("Storm Animal"), DT8 ("Destination"), and Tony De Vit ("I Don't Care"), and recorded tracks for labels ranging from Positiva, Data, and Ministry of Sound to NuLife, Ffrr, and Tidy. Many of his tracks have become UK Top 10 hits, but BK is best known for "Revolution", which with the support of Judge Jules and Dave Pearce, entered BBC Radio One's daytime rotation in 2002 - a singular accomplishment for a hard house track. BK's albums and compilations have also garnered huge success, with his series of Nukleuz Presents compilations (including HardHouse Anthems) earning multiple Mixmag "Album of the Year" awards and the 2003 release Extreme Euphoria Mixed By Lisa Lashes, BK, and The Tidy Boys on track to become the highest-selling hard house album ever. On top of this his recent solo Euphoria album once again re defined the sound of Hard dance.
BK's tracks are irresistible to both clubbers and critics, but the true measure of his talent can be seen in the number of fellow producers and DJs who clamour for a slice of BK's skills. The admiration of his peers is typified by such comments as, If one man has single-handedly shaped what our world is dancing to, then it's he. (Mixmag, June 2002) This feeling is evident in the tracks found on BK's 2003 solo album, Klub Kollaborations, which represent cooperative projects with eleven of the world's top producers, including , Andy Farley, Lab4, Christopher Lawrence, Paul Glazby, and Rob Tissera. In 1999, BK enlarged his creative scope to include the DJ circuit, proving that his talents are not restricted to the studio alone. By 2000, BK was already playing clubs around the world, headlining and appearing at all of the biggest dance events, including Dance Valley (100,000 people), Global Gathering UK, Gatecrasher Summer Sound System UK, Impulse NL, Frantic HardHouse Academy UK, Creamfields UK, Godskitchen NEC UK, Judgement Sunday Ibiza, Lashed in Ibiza, Gallery UK, Slinky UK, and Code Japan. He currently calls three of the most forward-thinking UK hard dance events home, holding residencies at Frantic's Convergence, Nukleuz's Riot!, and Kinky's Trade. Much of his success is due to the same experimental approach that he utilizes in the studio.
'As a DJ, I've been looking at other genres, and I've found that this kind of music is something I like and that I like to play, and no one's complained!'
In an extremely short period of time, BK has become recognized as not only a genre-defining producer, but also an influential DJ in the hard dance scene. His prodigious talents have created a new direction for the future of hard house, but BK is not ready to stop yet.
'I've made every sort of music in the past, even stuff for television commercials. I've mic'd up a 60-piece orchestra at Abbey Road and now I want to start bringing that into the kind of tracks I do now. Do that, but make it danceable and club-friendly and find a new sound for myself.'
JUNE 28th 2008 = The last Invasion For The Summer! Traffics Birthday! Toolbox! Vicious Circle! Glazby! Farley! Denton! P.A.S Live! Mistress De Funk!!
Yes that’s right it’s the last Invasion for the Summer and what better way to finish than by having another monster of a party!!
Over the last few months Invasion residents P.A.S have seen there music really take off and after getting taken on by Toolbox records as official artists. It only seemed fitting to get Nik Denton and Toolbox down for a party! At the same time we invited Red Management, Mr Paul Glazby and Mr Andy Farley along to spice things up with one of there legendry b2b specials!!
At the same time as arranging this it turns out Traffics 3rd Birthday falls on the same weekend, so we've teamed up with Traffic for this massive event!! They will be adding the Traffic edge to the night by taking over the cellars with Radio 1's Mistress De Funk headlining there birthday proceedings!!
As well as all that we've got rooms 3 & 4 being hosted by Fuzzy Logic and System Shock, 1 room of electro and 1 of Drum and Base!
TICKETS AVAIALABLE ON DSI
Also available from Recycle records, Shrewsbury, 01743 364444 & Bottom Dollar records upstairs in the Shrewbury Market Hall.
Right next to main Train and Bus Stations, Coach Party Discounts (p.m hubby).
IF ANY ONES TRAVELING DOWN AND NEEDS ACCOMIDATION:
Shrewsbury Hotel Main Reception & Bookings Tel: 01743 236203 Shrewsbury SY1 1PU
Call them Quoting: 3777 - INVASION you'll get a double room for £50 incl Breakfast
The Buttermarket Howard Street Shrewsbury SY12LF 01743 241455
KONCRETE Fri 13th June 08 Jacks Club, 7-9 Crucifix Lane, London Bridge, SE1 3JW.
For our third party to keep with the underground feeling we take you to Jacks in London Bridge for another night of hard, stomping techno mayhem! Located in Central London, well known for it’s relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff home to clubbers and squatters of suburban parties. If you like more bouncy, hard dance music then don’t miss the second room, hosted by Londons’ hardtek and hardcore DJs from the squat scene, with massive support from Under Konstruction crew. Expect a fun night of hard techno with groove and solid bass lines for everyone who likes to seriously party!
ROOM 1: TECHNO / HARD TECHNO / SCHRANZ
TOMASH GEE LIVE (Methadon Rec, Kne Deep Rec) POLAND CHRIS LIBERATOR (Stay up Forever, Maximum Minimum) JEFF AMADEUS (Squat Records, Cluster) ONIKS (Funk You) ITALY MAXX (Polymeric, Generator UK, Koncrete) KYMO (Koncrete, Hard party Productions) MISS MOUSE (Koncrete, Hard Party Productions)
ROOM 2: HARDTEK / HARDCORE
SPY K (Stonka) SPACERUNNER (Under Konstruction) NNEA (Under Konstruction) NKS (Under Konstruction) DJ WHIZZA (Ketwork 32) THE OCTOPUS LIVE (Mixtomatoz) FURIUS ‘Support your Czech Tek’ NOD (Koncrete)
10pm – 6am
ENTRY £8 10 - 1, £10 After, Adv tickets £7 plus bf available from Access all Areas and Cyberdog, Camden.
EARGAZM ENTERTAINMENT brings you "GAME OVER" Saturday JULY 19th, 2008 !!!! DON'T MISS IT ! RON D CORE, APX-1, NINJAZ 4 HIRE, MIKE HEMP, THEE-O, JASON SPLAT, A M C, & more D.J.'s T B A !!!!
Next Invasion night is to be held on Saturday 29th March @ The Buttermarket in Shrewsbury!!
MAIN ROOM - Invasion & Sundisential Organ Donors (Live) Lisa Pinup Steve NRG P.A.S. djx2 Mark Smallwood
MAIN CELLARS - Fuzzy Logic Sonny Wharton John Harvey Pete Cowley Tinski
CELLARS ROOM 2 - System Shock Crew Supa Bad DJ Lupa DJ Cubed D-Range DJ Wolf Davey-J
Pre-Party @ The Vaults, Castle St. Kicks off at 8pm
Entry on the door £10 (before 11pm) more after!!
TICKETS AVAILABLE ON www.dontstayin.com Also available from Recycle records, Shrewsbury, 01743 364444 & Bottom Dollar records upstairs in the Shrewbury Market Hall.
Coach Party Discounts (contact: hubby on 07971233535). IF ANY ONES TRAVELING DOWN AND NEEDS ACCOMMODATION:
Shrewsbury Hotel Main Reception & Bookings Tel: 01743 236203 Shrewsbury SY1 1PU
Call them Quoting: 3777 - INVASION you'll get a double room for £50 incl Breakfast
The Buttermarket Howard Street Shrewsbury SY12LF 01743 241455