Right On! Peak Time House Mix - DJ BK

Updated House Classics circa 1988-1989 inspired by Toronto's Club Focus

I know it’s not only me but the Lockdown has me nostalgic for better times when we were more connected through the experiences we shared and hope to again one day.  For me, I often flashback to Club Focus, the all ages dance club behind Toronto’s city hall. 

It was late September 1988 and I was 15 years old, insecure but cocky and dumber beyond my years. My parents had no idea where I was and I didn’t really know where I was going but something was calling us.

So we gathered up some courage and decided to venture into the unknown one autumn night. When we first walked up to the nondescript warehouse on Hagerman street you could see the steamed up windows on the second floor and it felt like the glass would shatter at any moment from the thundering bass trying to escape.

The line of people waiting to get in snaked down the street and it was intimidating at first.  On Friday nights the skinheads ruled Focus but on Saturday nights we ruled. We were futurists, fashionistas, skaters, preppies, street kids, suburban kids, rich city kids, cool kids, freaks, geeks and just the curious. 

Once we got frisked by the door man, walked up the dark steep staircase and paid our $10 we entered house heaven.  It was basically one long dark room filled to the rafters with people grooving to this new sound called House, celebrating life and living in the moment - I was hooked. 

It was our generation’s punk-rock moment. It was global and powered by the youth, music and street culture of New York, London and now Toronto. There’s been nothing like it since. The youth of today don’t know what they missed.  

I put together this mix that tries to capture the magic of Focus. Lots of new remixes, reedits and updates to shake it up going into 2021.  I hope it connects you to a special time and place that very few got to experience but shaped those that did. Take good care and maybe one night we’ll meet under the strobe lights again!

https://www.facebook.com/briank.editor/posts/10222696441272883

http://thenandnowtoronto.com/2014/09/then-now-club-focus/

Focus 4ever 2021

Former Breaker, Club Kid, Promoter & Raver to Family man, Professional TV Editor & Basement DJ Hero ;)

DJ BK

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