history of slide
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The Early Years
Slide was founded in 1994 by Henry Pitchers, Tom Coghlin, Mike Conaghan, Joe Hart, Giles Martin and Justin Keenan. It started as an underground night at Club Latino, Oxford, with its founders as resident DJs. The early days saw a young Andy Cato (now one half of Groove Armada) as a regular guest, along with Fantazia's Mike C and Ministry of Sound's Glen Gunner.
Within a couple of months, Slide was regarded as the House night in Oxford and its residents were soon joined by the likes of Graeme Park, John Kelly, Carl Cox, Smokin Jo, Jeremy Healy, Allister Whitehead, Jon da Silva and the late Tony de Vit.
After a couple of very successful years at Club Latino, Slide moved to a bigger venue and regularly attracted over 600 people on a Thursday night. An over-capacity (815) crowd witnessed a legendary set from Carl Cox, whilst 350 more were left outside and disappointed.
Slide even had its own tribute night and its residents found themselves described as "the godfathers of the Oxford house music scene".
A legal dispute paralysed Slide's promotions and its promoters and residents took their talents away from Oxford for a few years with one offs in Brighton, Nottingham and Leicester.
The Zodiac Years
In the summer of 2000, Mike Conaghan met Matt Braddock, and they decided to re-launch Slide alongside several other projects. So in October 2000, Matt and Mike re-launched Slide in it's new home of the Zodiac, Oxford's finest music venue. Residents were Gwill Morris (otherwise known as Digweed-fave Main Element) and rising star James Holden. Things could not have gone better. Over the next year Slide went from strength to strength, with guests included, Parks&Wilson, Nigel Dawson, Chris Fortier and Jason Bye. Slide was building a good reputation. As Holden and Morris moved to pastures new, Slide broke away from a purely progressive house night and opened itself up to all forms of quality underground electronic music.
Over the 6 years at the Zodiac, Slide has hosted Layo & Bushwacka!, Simian Mobile Disco (Live), Groove Armada, Andrew Weatherall, James Zabiela, James Lavelle, Jon Carter, Hybrid, Yousef, Tim Deluxe, Cagedbaby, Freeform 5, David Guetta, Dave Angel, Marshall Jefferson, Lottie, Tom Middleton, X-Press 2, Paul Woolford, and many more.
Slide residents have also played all across the UK and Europe at some of the finest nighteries around, including Chibuku Shake Shake in Liverpool; Mad Hatters in Leeds; Metripolis in Bath; The Egg, 333, The Key in London; and with Sancho Panza and Layo & Bushwacka at The End in London, as well as trips to Poland, Spain, Italy and Germany.
The Academy Years
Since the Zodiac takeover by the Academy Music Group, Slide has gone from strength to strength, putting on parties with the likes of Soulwax and 2manydjs, Hot Chip Live, Simian Mobile Disco Live, Audio Bullys Live, James Zabiela, Nic Fanciulli, Slam, Jamie Jones, Rex The Dog Live, Freeland Live, Stanton Warriors, Annie Mac Presents, Crookers, Herve, Fake Blood, Toddla T and many more.