About Me
Lilo Productions South Africa
Having been at the forefront of the dance music event scene for nearly a decade, Lilo Productions is firmly established as the hottest party syndicate in South Africa, and the promoter's leading edge aesthetic continues to get even sharper.
Conceived by dedicated house music fanatic Brendan Scanlen in 1998, Lilo was started up to kick the life back into nightlife - to provide spaces and places where discerning clubbers could dive deep into the more sophisticated end of the house music spectrum (as well as enjoy related genres).
Dissatisfied with a party scene that was dominated by overrated entities more interested in getting paying bodies through the door than paying attention to quality, Lilo took it upon themselves to rectify the situation and began pushing more credible perspectives. The no-nonsense approach soon paid off: Lilo set the trend for the way dancefloors would work in the future.
Consistent and reputable, Lilo's roster of events has grown steadily from quality one-offs on farms and in restaurants to monthly events at various hot locations, to sizzling weekly residencies. At each venue Lilo has moved in on, attendance records have been smashed and nights have run for up to a year and beyond - real and measurable successes that transcend fashion and fickleness.
Amongst the still unbeatable residencies Lilo has hosted are seminal events at the much-missed Sublime, as well as inspired nights in vaunted venues like Foundation Café, Mo Café, Transit Café, Time, Mama's, C3, Red Room, Fuel Café and Songwriter's Club. The organization has also promoted major events (in conjunction with large entities like MTV and What's Phat Records) at Kilimanjaro, Monsoon Lagoon and Carfax in Johannesburg, and assorted spots in Cape Town - many featuring the finest international DJs.
As a plastic-coated and impersonal party scene imploded under the weight of its own hype at the turn of the century and clubbers made the return to more intimate spaces, Lilo - with its already entrenched intelligent approach to beat culture - became one of the strongest party players around. They have since established a reputation for reliability, gathered a massive contact base, cemented chic brands in the minds of revelers, and worked with some of the biggest names in the business, both locally and internationally.
Among the major DJs the unit has promoted (and helped find firmer ground for on these shores) are locals like Mbuso, Troye Lilley and Static P, and international names like Charles Webster, Murray Richardson, Stuart Patterson, Richard Hardcastle, Nav Bhinder, Phat Phil Cooper and the now internationalized (and much respected) Dave Togher.
Lilo have pulled together (and pulled off - with aplomb) no less than 25 smashing international evenings, all characterized by dancefloor frenzies, friendliness on the fringes and funk sophistication emitting from the speakers. Visiting DJs have been extremely impressed with the set-up and vibes at these Lilo events, citing the get-togethers as more cosmopolitan even than ones in their home countries.
Deep house is now firmly entrenched in the popular consciousness (thanks in part to Lilo contribution), but even with a glut of happenings going down every weekend, Lilo is still making serious waves. It has recently turned Newtown's Fuel Café into THE best-rated regular showdown on weekends, with Fridays playing host to the seriously deep house synonymous with their name and Saturdays some venomous and gritty strains of electro house.
Over the past year, buzz around the Fuel Café nights has spread on the back of the consistent attention to the tiny details, innovative promotions and some brilliant rhythm manipulation from the promoter's well-chosen collective of class spinners.
Lilo is a highly creative cooperative (that incorporates in-house designers, writers and strategists) and is now seeking sponsorship to bring more global groove experiences to the local market, further blowing the bodies and expanding the minds of the refined party set with their innovative touches, tangible turnouts and memorable musical results.
With access to the largest roster of key players in the local industry (from DJs to live acts to media contacts to word and image technicians), direct lines to international heavyweights, an unmatched amount of experience and an irrefutable track record, Lilo sets the night on fire every time. The promoter is expanding party niches and teaching a credible dance music gospel - and long may it continue to do so.
