The Evolution Experience - Who, What, Where and Why?

Welcome to the official website for The Evolution Experience, one of Wales’ few international dance music promotion companies. We organise dance music events across the United Kingdom and in China, Hong Kong and Japan.

Founded in 2000, we have promoted over fifty large scale, licensed dance music events. Our next large scale event is scheduled to take place in Haverfordwest on Summer Solstice day, Friday 20th June 2008, at the renowned Matisse Music Venue. We will also stage regional events at Club Paradise in Pontardawe on Friday 6th June 2008, and Club Apollo, Porth, on Saturday 7th June 2008.

The company was created by life-long friends Thomas Sinclair and John Lee. Assisted by a talented team of DJ’s, MC’s, dancers, promoters, graphic designers, and club décor specialists, Thomas and John have created a unique clubbing brand which has been hugely popular with the public, and has achieved critical acclaim from the UK dance music press.

Over the years The Evolution Experience events have featured some of the world’s top DJ’s. Artists who have spun their tunes on Evolution’s decks include Alex P, Lisa Pin-up, Lisa Lashes, PPK, Slipmatt, Billy Daniel Bunter, Cosmic Gate, Dave Pearce, Luke Neville, The Knuckleheadz, Rachel Auburn, BK, Nick Sentience, Mark Vedo, Cally & Juice and many, many more.  (See ‘Past Events’ for More Details)

 

Necessity, it’s Claimed, is the Mother of Invention

Eight years ago the inhabitants of West Wales were crying out for some quality nights out. Of course there were some small niche nights run by enthusiasts and stalwarts of the rave scene, and plenty of cheesy discos, but serious clubbers had to travel east to Swansea or Cardiff to see the hottest DJs and hear the latest tunes. And anyone who has made the trip east on a Friday or Saturday nights knows that an hour or two bouncing along those lanes can be quite an ordeal.

The need to travel east changed abruptly when two likely lads got together and decided they’d had enough of high-speed trips along bumpy back roads just to find themselves some decent entertainment of a weekend. And so The Evolution Experience was born.

Thomas Sinclair, ex-store manager and organiser of the ‘Gigawatt’ live band events in the late 90s, and his best mate John Lee took it upon themselves to do something about their bleak social calendars. Thomas explained, “We just set out to fill that void that existed in west Wales clubbing. After going to another depressing ‘Ben Sherman’ disco we just thought that there had to be something better than this. And so we started our own event.”

The first Evolution Experience club night held at The Kings Function Centre, Milford Haven, on 5th August, 2000, built upon the knowledge the boys had gathered over the previous three years. Resident DJ, Escher, recalls the event, before he became a part of the organizational team: "I had been to many dance nights in Pembrokeshire, all of them poorly organized and promoted, and I remember driving down expecting about fifty people to be there. When I arrived and saw nearly six hundred, I was absolutely gob-smacked. I knew then that I had to be a part of it."

The monthly events continued to gather pace, and were soon drawing capacity crowds every time. People started to take notice, and within eighteen month, The Evolution Experience had had rave reviews in both Mixmag and Ministry Magazine, and was featured on BBC Radio One. Sadly, The Kings, their previous home, was sold for redevelopment, and demolished in 2002. After two huge farewell parties at a local aerodrome, and a one-off, sell-out show in London, the boys went their separate ways and pursued other avenues.

Thomas spent some time promoting Evolution Experience events in Asia, and John followed his journalistic ambitions, but now, after six years away, the old team is back together and is again producing events in Wales.

The Evolution Experience is currently promoting nights in Matisse Music Venue, Haverfordwest; Apollo Nightclub, Porth; Paradise Nightclub, Pontardawe; Crobar, Swansea; Club Conti's, Cardiff; De Valance Centre, Tenby, Pembrokeshire

Eight years ago they proved that the clubs of west Wales could secure the big names and players in the business, and that if you booked the acts, and promoted it well, the public would come. But 2008 sees them reach the next stage in their evolution take place, as they re-launch into a thriving scene, with new ideas and bigger ambitions than ever before…