DJ Bod explains the roots of The Rapture, a bi-monthly EBM industrial club in Northampton

"I got into djing about 9 years ago when I ran a room for an acquaintance playing metal, industrial and goth every Monday for about a year. I also supported a couple of other industrial/goth nights before deciding to start my own night, The Rapture."

Why "The Rapture"?

"I chose The Rapture as a name because of the ascending nature the core EBM music I founded it on created. The Rapture has been going in Northampton now for over five years. I started it as a one-off event to test people’s response and it was very well received so I took it on to be a regular monthly or bi-monthly event ever since, depending on the venue we are using. The night has a regular fan base and attendees with regular numbers of between 40 and 60 to each event with room for more. Rapture is, at present, Northampton’s only regular Goth and Industrial music night.

"The music, like the scene, has evolved since we started and we have kept up with the trends of the electronic industrial music. Whilst we still play the old EBM sound, we have also incorporated the more modern, dance-orientated industrial music. Music policy for the night is dark electronic, industrial, noise and EBM with some goth and post punk. The DJs are open to requests as long as it fits, all we ask is you don’t clear the dance floor with it and you dance to your song.

Who goes to The Rapture and what should I wear?

The Rapture has held a regular Valentine’s Masquerade Ball every February for the past four years where we see people dressed in anything from full Venetian to rubber gas masks!!! Other theme nights are rare but we have held the occasional Halloween event or a military themed night where people have made that extra effort. I usually run two birthday events each year, one for myself and the other for my partner and these are, as you can expect, very well attended.

The night is open to everybody, it doesn’t matter what you are wearing, it isn’t a fetish club but you will often find some people pushing the boundaries on dress (myself included - where I will often be wearing a short skirt). As long as you keep the important bits covered, turn up in your bra and pants - we don’t mind!!! You are welcome whatever your sexual orientation whether you are gay, straight, bi or transgender, we have plenty of all types regularly attending. We only ask you treat one another with respect, keep the night trouble free and tanz!!!

Where and when exactly is this Northampton EBM industrial club night and how can I find out more information?

Our current venue is The Roadmender, Northampton’s premier music venue where we hold our night bi-monthly in the rear bar. As we are sometimes the only event on, access to the venue is through the rear where there is also a smoking area accessed straight form our room. The room we use in the venue will hold 100 people cosily with enough room for people to dance. We bring our own lasers, strobes, black lighting and smoke machines but take advantage of the venues top of the range digital pa system.

The night currently runs bi-monthly from 10:30pm till 3am on the first or second Saturday. Entry is free before 11 and then it is £4 until close. The venue does run a reasonably priced bar with some drinks on offer all the time at below pub prices. We run the events from our Facebook page which we keep updated with when we are on as well as other nights and gigs of interest.

So why should you come? Well, first being into the music would help (but not crucial). The Rapture is a cosy, friendly night, held in a venue big enough for you to stomp away like a muppet to your heart’s content or cosy enough for you to chill out with friends. We are in it for the scene and it is a great night out for us. The DJs do not take a salary, it costs us more to run the night with the advertising and the equipment. But it is because we love doing it, getting together with friends and listening to the music we all like and having a stomp. If you come we hope you will love the night too. Check out our Facebook group to see what attendees say about the event.