This Summer Solstice Reclaim the Beach event was something quite exceptional. We knew it was going to be different from the mutterings all were hearing about it from the most unexpected places for weeks before and from the moment that the beach peeped out of the river that night, there were feet covering it. People poured down the steps and kept on coming for hours to hear what was going on this unique piece of beach in the middle of London. And what a feast they had! The in-house RTB/Nasca DJ's were truely great and played records that made the crowd trip down a musical memory lane and whoop with adolescent joy. Osmosis electro-funked the crowd then, and wowed all with their digital prowess and might, and the great Ross Allen tripped up at about 3am and played to the dawn with a rich and ever suprising mix bringing more yelps from the beach bums.

There was enough beach for everyone as it is a huge beach when the tides out, but it was, we all felt, just too busy. Estimates suggest that around 2500 people turned up, and thats much bigger than ever before. People were wonderfully helpful as ever with the clean up, and there was constant help with rubbish collection, as people bring down masses with them. This cleaning frenzy peaked at the end when around 30 kind people spent 1 1/2 hours sorting rubbish for recycling- not a nice job even with marigolds on.

So an incredible night, with a great crowd, little trouble from people, fine music but just too many people. Time to slow down we think! Below are some pictures thanks to Urban 75 (http://www.urban75.org)