Over recent years, Birmingham has perfected the art of pleasing underground music enthusiasts. Beyond the endless events, the annual honouring of the venues that contribute to our thriving house scene gives revellers certified approval for a big blowout.
One venue that can pride itself on consistently offering solid parties in the city is Lab 11. Promoters who've turned it up at one of the city's most characteristic clubs include Output, Backspace, Bauhaus, EBL, Afta Dark, Itchy Feet, TRMNL, One Dub, Peaches and Cream and, more recently, Sunday Roast – an occasional al-fresco party (when the weather is right).
During the May Bank Holiday weekend, Lab 11 will be celebrating three years of successful events with a host a series of quality club nights at the newly invigorated Digbeth space.
In honour of this anniversary, we asked the team for five of the most memorable moments from their short but distinguished history…
Lab 11 opening night
"After eight weeks graft pulling together to get the venue finished on time, which even involved roping in friends to sweep and paint, the moment we opened the doors was a landmark in itself and kick-started our Lab 11 history".
Martin Buttrich at TRMNL
"The first time TRMNL booked Martin Buttrich at Lab 11 is memorable to us, because it was the first time we witnessed the warehouse truly going off, all-night-long".
The Martinez Brothers at TRMNL
"This TRMNL in our eyes took the venue to the next level. There were unforgettable scenes in the warehouse right through to the early morning. We had planned to close at 5am but it was going off that much that no one wanted to leave, so we soldiered on until there was no escaping the sun at 8.30am".
Secretsundaze
"Secretsundaze was our first Sunday day-time party on the terrace. This legendary Sunday set the bar for day-time parties at Lab 11 and sticks out in our mind as a turning point for the venue. We realised the terrace’s potential as a strong contender in the city for day-time raves and we’ve got something special taking place here on bank holiday weekend".
Soulclap at TRMNL
"This was a defining moment in our history – the legendary terrace sit down. Great vibes all day and our first sit-down, which has now become a regular sight in the warehouse and soon-to-be Archway Terrace".
If you want to help celebrate three years of Lab 11, choose from Magic Door on Friday May 1, with special guest DJs to be announced, GLAS on Sunday May 3 for a daytime rave with Amine Edge and Dance, Darius Syrossian, Santé and Sidney Charles, or TRMNL in the evening for a night with The Martinez Brothers, Samu.L and Lauren Lo Sung.
More clubbing on Time Out Birmingham.