Before Skrillex, Justin Bieber, and Taylor Swift, before HARD Fest in L.A., Electric Zoo in New York, and Electric Daisy in Las Vegas, there were artists like Skream, Mala, Plastician, and Hatcha midwifing the genre that would be called dubstep in small clubs in South London’s Croydon neighborhood. Tonight, those four artists unite for No Sleep Till Croydon, an event meant to showcase the genre’s roots, offering old heads and new poseurs a breath of fresh air—and the wobble of heavy bass—in this trying time of mainstream acceptance. That said, tonight’s event, presented by the Red Bull Music Academy, is a dance party, not a museum exhibition, so expect fresh tunes from all involved.
