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Mixing it up for the masses

Who: The Freestylers What: Vinyl Lab Opening Party Where: Garfinkel’s When: Tuesday, May 20 Do you ever look at your CD or vinyl collection and can’t think for the life of you what you want to hear? Try being producers Aston Harvey and Matt

Who: The Freestylers

What: Vinyl Lab Opening Party

Where: Garfinkel’s

When: Tuesday, May 20

Do you ever look at your CD or vinyl collection and can’t think for the life of you what you want to hear? Try being producers Aston Harvey and Matt Cantor, also known as The Freestylers, one of the U.K.’s most successful and longest serving break beat and house dub duos. They have thousands of records to sift through and a 15-year reputation of mixing anything and everything to get the dance floors moving.

Local DJs Jungle Souldier and Grooverobber said having the boys back after a sell-out show six months ago is testament to the Stylers’ attitude and pulling power.

"They loved playing at the last JnB night. They were having a laugh with the crowd, talking to everyone. I’m not surprised they wanted to come back, because it’s pretty much a guarantee they’re going to pull a good crowd," said Jungle Souldier.

Grooverobber agreed: "They’re always so much fun to not only watch and play alongside, but also to hang and tour with. They’re true international legends."

Having been dubbed the innovators of the break beat sound and culture, a Freestylers show is exactly as their name suggests: a heady blend of brash, hip-hop-inspired grooves resulting in a hypersonic amalgamation that knows no barriers. Harvey and Cantor don't believe in being confined to musical styles. Though break beats lay the foundation for their music, anything can enter the mix: drum ’n’ bass, dancehall vocals, house rhythms, electro and hip-hop.

With two albums under their belt, and having released on Freskanova Records such tunes as: Tenor Fly, B-Boy Stance, Pusher Man, Warning, Spaced Invader and Ruffneck, the Freestylers show promises a perfect combination of old school hip-hop, new school break beat and good times.

Jungle Souldier and Grooverobber will set the tone for the evening, with Grooverobber supplying some of the funkiest breaks in B.C., and Jungle Souldier being called one of the most energetic and dynamic drum ’n’ bass DJs on the west coast. This is the official Grand Opening party for Vinyl Lab Records – Whistler’s only record shop. Pre sale tickets available at Vinyl Lab, 101-1080 Millar Creek Road in Function Junction, or Garfinkel’s for $12; more at the event. Doors open at 9 p.m.