Circle Line Party

Circle Line Party 2

First off, a massive "thank you" to those who attended and made this the incredible success it was!

We'd love to link to or even host your photos & movies! Please contact us if you've got any you'd like to share.

Press

We're in the Guardian. Check out the G2 section of 18 March 2003, or read a scan of the article here (173K). W e also have the text of the article on the main Space Hijackers site. This is full of great sound bites, and even positive comments from police and London Transport! May 21 2003, we're in the Guardian "Dance music should go underground" reporting how we won the "going underground" prize in June's Mixmag.

Urban 75 write-up, photos, and insanely positive coments.

What happened...

After receiving over 3,000 hits to the website on the day of the party alone we had no idea what would happen, except that it would be fun. At 19:45 Friday 14 March 2003 a gigantic troupe of folks made their way to Liverpool St and boarded the first available Circle Line train (via Tower Hill). The moment we knew we'd "arrived" was when an announcement was made,

Will the passengers on Platform 1 please make full use of the available area and move up the platform.

We're not entirely sure, but suspect this might've been something to do with 600 people down waiting for the rear carriages...

It wasn't long before the band had warmed up, coloured gels were applied to the lights, the bar was open (entirely passenger provided, of course) and the Circular tunes spinning... The party was in full swing for nearly two full circuits, finally stopping at Moorgate, one stop before our starting point.

Thanks to the Space Hijackers, Robin & Helen, Ricky the DJ, Russ Vandeburg (Pete), Paul, Alex, Saul & Lottie, Stephen, Arthur, Rhythms of Resistance, The Knitters, and all the wonderful people who provided "refreshment", balloons, snacks, encouragement, and especially to those who kindly helped us keep the litter under control.

What an incredible night! There is a Space Hi jackers write-up with photos that's essential viewing.

Photos! Movies!

Thanks to Oskar for his pictures & movies. In particular this shot at Spitz bar gives some idea of the hundreds of people who showed up. Wow..

Marianna has kindly posted these fantastic photos at webshots.com (link dead, but try these, photos 41-58/88). (The camera flashes hide the fact the carriages were bathed in red, orange, pink and purple light from the filters we applied - darker & more atmospheric!).

Even more photos from and narrated by Immo Klink, here. These are fantastic - Thanks!

From Trevor/"3 Second Memory", some fab commented photos including police on the Tube.

Thanks to David Eserin for this excellent video (12MB, AVI format).

Keep 'em coming!

What people said

These comments were collected at random on the night and are flowing in every day over email; if you have any stories (good, bad, or ugly), please drop us a line! In particular, if you have any photos, video, or other media we're happy to either link to it or host it.

just about the best thing i have ever experienced in my entire life. my cheeks were as red as my fez by the end of it.
-- Rufus O'Rourke

Apart from being the best value Travelcard I've ever purchased, I felt the whole atmosphere of the tube was changed for the better. In our carriage we had a limbo competition and *almost* managed a complete mexican wave to bemused people waiting on the opposite platform (if there's video footage of any of this I'd love to see it). My only regret is that I got off after the first lap! A huge thank-you to all involved - let's make the next one even better.
-- Mike Cupcake

The Circle Line Party was without doubt the most enjoyable and uplifting public event I have ever - ever - attended (this includes the million-strong march in London and the Olympic bid announcement in Sydney). SpaceHijackers are masters of the urban art field, and have created something truly remarkable - not only in concept, but in execution.
My hat goes off to you.
-- Manic

Just wanted to say last night was f--king awesome. Will never look at a tube carriage the same way again. The ride home on the district line last night, after all that high, incessant energy, was, in a word, vacuous. Who needs drugs?

Well the f*ck done. It so completely and utterly WORKED!
-- Sean

Awesome! Best tube journey ever! Thanks Robin & co!
-- Guy T.

That was really fantastic! Cheers!
-- Giovanni

Robin, Helen, and SH Crew,
You are our heroes! That was the dogs'!
Love

The best way I ever earned a hangover, Thanks to every one. The driver of the train afterwards thanked us for collecting the rubbish :-)
-- TheReverendRat

The atmosphere was fantastic, the idea revolutionary. I will never forget the journey, the experience and the faces of the wonderful people I met that night. It was truly an amazing ride...
-- David

On Friday night, I boarded a London Underground train. I saw a grown man's genitals and a pair of the biggest tits I've seen in my life. What a fantastic night!
Thankyou so much.
-- Pierced Brosnan

Public Transport isn't the problem - It's the public's responsibility to create the good time. Good times people! Good times...
-- anon

There needed to be more naked men (Er, one was probably enough -- Ed.)
-- Denise

The Circle Line Party was an urban myth come true.
-- Sebastian

It was great, no-one, police, LT, ever f*cked with us.
-- anon

thank you for an amazing night!
-- Oskar

Each train had a different atmosphere.
-- anon

At the end of the party, one party-goer mentioned,

We spoke to police officers at Moorgate, and they were amazed. The organisers had laid on a full clean-up crew.
-- Alex

Amazing. Commuters just joined in, and loved it.
-- anon

Wicked!
-- anon

Should happen every week!
-- Jeanette

See you next time, folks :-)

Posted by CLP at 03:57 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Circle Line Party Advice Sheet

• If anyone in uniform asks, we are all on the same train by sheer chance!
• The adverts on the train are ugly, bring something to make the train a nicer place. This does not mean graffiti, it means stuff that can be taken home.
• Be extra extra nice to the general passengers, give them food, give them drinks, give them sweets, make them very very very welcome.
• It's a party, come in your fanciest frock! Dress to the nines Dahling!
• Bring entertainment, bring music, instruments, card tricks, jokes and chat up lines. You are the entertainment, bring what you hope will have been organised and you will not be disappointed.
• If you are going to drink, we suggest spirits rather than beer. THERE ARE NO TOILETS ON THE TRAINS, so go before you board.
• It can get very stuffy down on the tube, BRING A BOTTLE OF WATER! If you get too hot, get off the train and wait for the next party to arrive, you can always dash up the northern, or along the central line to catch up with your original train again.
• If you see someone looking glum or lost, cheer them up, give them a drink and make a new friend.

STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE ADVICE

• DO NOT SMOKE, it sets off the alarms and stops the party.
• London Underground do not allow flash photography, and there will be a video made, we do not need 300 cameras documenting everything, if in doubt, leave yours at home. Come to party, not to make your journalistic career.
• Clean up after yourself, if you bring something, take it home. We are trying to show how wonderful the world can be, not how messy and careless we are.
• We fill the train from the back carriages, THE FRONT CARRIAGE IS LEFT EMPTY so that the driver doesn.t hear the noise and passengers have a peaceful place if they wish. If the train is packed out DON.T GET ON THE FRONT CARRIAGE, there will be another party on the next train, wait on the platform quietly and fill the next one from the back.
• The party happens in the tunnels, IF WE ARE IN A STATION, OR ON A PLATFORM WE ARE SILENT AND LOOKING INNOCENT, if we are in a tunnel we are discotastic.
• Use your head, we are not going to be held responsible for you, and we are not going to be your parents, nor are we going to be the police. If you see someone doing something stupid or dangerous tell them to stop, they are ruining your party. If you are doing something stupid or dangerous, then stop. Don't block the fire exits, use your brains. Look out for each other, help each other out and have the nicest night of your life.

Check out even more Circle Line Party Info on the main Space Hijackers site, and this superb Circle Line Party Guide by Muti.