One Saturday in early November 2003, I put on my first club night in Bristol. It took place at a recently opened subterranean space called Timbuk2, a former restaurant turned bar that had never been used as a club space before. I called the event best before:, promised “past, present and future music” and “Bristol basement beats”, and invited Sheffield’s Chris Low Life and Five-Stylez (who would later form Thumbs Aloft and Bedmo Disco with me) to come down and play. Fittingly, I did the warm-up. Somewhere in the region of 50 or 60 people – if that – turned up. It was, to quote Unique 3 and the Mad Musician, “only the beginning”.

I didn’t know it, but over the years and decades that followed, best before: would change my life. It was a regular party inspired by dancefloor eclecticism and the “extended family” feel of events like The Electric Chair and Sheffield’s Jive Turkey, Lights Down Low and Kabal. It took a few years to reach its full potential, and for it to develop into the focal point of a genuine musical family, social hub and community, but it eventually did – and then took on a life of its own.

Two decades on from that first party, and five or six since our most recent club event, the bonds forged on the dancefloor – and at the inevitable after-parties and listening sessions round someone’s house – remain strong, even if the best before: family doesn’t get together all that often. That family included an extended crew of resident DJs, some of whom are now far more successful and more widely known now than they were when I first met them in the mid 2000s. Alongside myself, mostly as Sell By Dave or the Chief Cellar Dweller, there was Legendary Tone, Puffin Jack (a certain Chris Farrell of Idle Hands fame), Richard Carnage, Andy Payback and The Kelly Twins (founders of the now defunct Happy Skull label, with one half of the pair now also being the DJ and producer behind the Ghost Phone label and parties).

best before: was about three things primarily: creating magical communal moments on the dancefloor, a fearlessly open-minded musical approach, and indulging our collective love of guest DJs who are open to embracing these two things. Parties took place in all sorts of places, but most often in odd little boozers and dimly lit basements. Events were initially advertised via fliers and posters featuring modified images of product packaging; later, they became a simple instruction: ‘dance like you mean it’. Below this statement were the words: “No musical rules. It’s a party. That’s it.”

The 20th anniversary of that first party has coincided with a period where I’ve been thinking a lot about the roles of moments, community and belonging within grassroots music culture, and specifically dance music culture. Because of this, I decided to make the latest episode of Join The Future on Noods a sort of thought-piece (with lots of great music, of course) on these things, using my experiences with best before: as the narrative framework. It’s a way of celebrating two decades of our mad little party, and a tiny fraction of the many amazing records that became anthems on our dancefloors, while discussing the fundamental role of community and belonging in dance music – or at least within dance music’s DIY grassroots.

You can listen to the show via the embedded Mixcloud link below. A full track list can be found below that.

It was an emotional show to put together, as you’d expect. I tried to mention as many crew members, guest DJs and regular dancers as I could, but there’s no way I could squeeze in everyone. For those I missed out, I can only apologise. The show is dedicated to all those who danced, DJ’d, drank, partied and somehow played a part over the last 20 years.

I hope we can dance together again soon. Maybe 2024 will be the year that best before: returns in some form – watch this space. Until then, have a listen to this and, if you were one of those who passed through our parties, had some amazing moments, and danced like you meant it, I hope this brings back some happy memories.

Matt Anniss AKA Sell By Dave
The Chief Cellar Dweller
Bristol, November 2023

Join The Future on Noods: S3E8 – Stream Like You Mean It

Incognito – Out Of The Storm (C’s Planet E Special Remix)
Marvin Gaye Project – Music Feel The Soul
Fila Brazillia – The Sheriff
B Bomber – The Final
Magnus International – Kosmetisk
Patrick Dawes – Crispy Duck (Akwaaba Dub Disco Remix)
Padded Cell – Signal Failure
Herbert – Moving Like A Train (Smith N Hack Remix)
Ladycop – To Be Real
Thumbs Aloft – Stick Around
Orange Juice – Rip It Up (Matt Anniss best before: Edit)
The Turtles – Happy Together (Wade Nicholls Edit)