#Bloghouse

I'm a disabled first year mature student at Aberystwyth University. I'd been looking forward to the Blackhouse event in the Students' Union for a few weeks. My taste in music drifts towards mainstream, so the artists names might as well have been in a foreign language, because I had no prior knowledge of them or their work.

I was initially drawn to the event for the Retro Games Lounge provided by Dubtendo, which didn't disappoint. I got to play loads of games I had not played since I was a child. I set the high score in the eighties classic Duck Hunt for the NES, it felt like I was in a Zen like duck killing trance, I got to level seven as my mates cheered me on. We eventually moved on to some of the other games, on some of the other retro platforms provided by Dubtendo. I schooled some young guns in the classic art of Street Fighter on the SNES and battled it out in Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart Double Dash on the Gamecube, whilst a girl dressed as Princess Peach wandered round ensuring no drinks were spilt on the games consoles. https://www.facebook.com/dubtendouk/?fref=ts

Having this time to chill out helped me build up confidence to go and socialize. I checked out the Ska-Rum-Bar and strutted across the dance floor like Christopher Walken in that Fatboy-Slim music video. Then headed out to the fenced off smoking section via the Grand Bazaar which had a sweet stall provided Issacs and a really funky clothing stall provided by Ruby-Jane Textiles, plus hot food provided by Pasta Pronto. I got some Monterey jack and spring onion goujons which was a tasty way to soak up some of the booze I'd drank. https://www.facebook.com/skarumbahifisound/?fref=ts 

https://www.facebook.com/RubyJaneTextiles/?fref=ts https://www.facebook.com/Isaacs-Traditional-Sweet-Shop-Aberystwyth-137943229556229/?fref=ts

There was some beautifully disturbing live art work being done by MixedMedia 14 in some of the corridors. I think I saw one of the finished paintings which featured a female body with an eyeball vagina. I don't really know much about art, but if a photograph of a potato can sell for £750k than talented artists like MixedMedia 14 in my opinion deserve more critical apperication.  https://www.facebook.com/mixed1media4/

http://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/i-have-a-credit-card-now-i-can-spend-750000-on-a-photo-of-a-potato-a6842956.html

Chatting outside with the rest of the smokers is always great. I bumped into friends I hadn't seen in years and even managed to mend some fences and heal some old wounds. There was such an overwhelmingly positive atmosphere throughout the venue. I hit the main room and checked out the MC's. The fat bass lines had the place bouncing, as the crowd swayed and screamed. It was almost like being in the 8-Mile or Straight Out Of Compton Movie, these performers riled up the crowd with their dynamic energy and rhythmic flow. The stage set up looked amazing, seeing the performers and the crowd dancing felt like watching a big budget feature film.

By chance I ended up chatting with some of the DJ's. I downed vodka shots and got some life advice from Aphrodite. We had a bit in common having ties to both Aberystwyth and London. He took his stage name from a club he ran back in 1988, the year I was born. I didn't know who he was till people started coming up to him and asking to pose for photos. I kinda felt like an ignorant infidel in a place of worship. Here was this accomplished, ground breaking legend chatting with a nobody like me and telling me to call him Gavin, it was amazing getting the opportunity to talk to the man on a personal level.  http://www.aphro.co.uk/aphro/index.html https://www.facebook.com/djaphrodite/

I had many random deep conversations, I chatted with Eddy Scissorhands about philosophy, politics, and technological evolution. I spent so much time chatting to people that I missed a lot of the music. I did manage to squeeze up to the front of the mosh pit for the Kontrol takeover at 3am. The room was still packed, but had thinned slightly giving more room to jump around like a hyperactive lunatic. Some random dude borrowed my hat then jumped the barrier and climbed on stage to dance. The security swooped in and nabbed him straight-away. He didn't get booted out of the venue, just got a warning, and I managed to get my hat back. Some of the back stage crew went up on stage and had a dance off. This guy with dreads and a vintage Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirt who I spoke to earlier versus the female artist from Mixed Media 14. Because the guy was wearing a turtles t-shirt, I was reminded of the old-school Turtles movie with the vanilla ice track. Everyone was dancing and getting really hyped up, I throw up my hands and bop my head and shout “Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go”.  http://kontroltv.com/  https://www.facebook.com/eddyscissorhandsaber/?fref=ts

It was one of the most interesting and intellectually stimulating nights I have experienced in recent memory. It was just a shame it had to end so soon. I didn't get much of a chance to check out the House Party room, but the eighties inspired layout looked awesome, with the electronically lit dance square, and disco ball. The space was totally transformed from how I am familiar with it, as I usually use it as a venue for playing table top role playing games with some of my university friends.

It was like a whole festival experience condensed and distilled into one incredible night, it could have gone on for twice as long and I still don't think I could have savoured everything on offer to the senses at this event. There was a strong police presence outside the venue and enough St. Johns medics to treat an army inside. I spoke to one of the police officers before heading home who said it had been a real quite night. No trouble, he said he would have preferred to have been out an had a few pints himself. Having St. Johns present in the venue was very comforting, I had actually done a basic first responder course with them last year as part of Save A Life September. I don't think their was any serious medical emergencies, just a case of them making sure people stayed hydrated whilst they danced around the hot venue. There was also a drugs awareness advocate their to talk to people, the whole event was a positive way of interacting with the community. For someone with autism who struggles with social anxiety, it was a refreshing change of pace to just feel normal, if only for a few short hours anyway.

https://www.facebook.com/events/525644064251457/  https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackhouseuk/