Cream: The Club That Changed The World

Living in Liverpool, we are all well aware of the impact that the Beatles had on the world of popular music. That fateful day in 1957 when Paul and John first shook hands in Woolton village were a poignant moment in musical history.

If we journey 35 years into the future and 6 miles into the city centre you would land somewhere close to Nation Nightclub, Wolstenholme Square. Home of Cream. When Darren Hughes, Andy Carrol and James Barton (who was a resident DJ at Quadrant Park. He often had back2back sets with John Kelly, the duo were known as "JK & James”) decided to start Cream, it was also a poignant moment in musical history. This became THE best known nightclub in the UK.

If we journey 35 years into the future and 6 miles into the city centre you would land somewhere close to Nation Nightclub, Wolstenholme Square. Home of Cream. When Darren Hughes, Andy Carrol and James Barton (who was a resident DJ at Quadrant Park. He often had back2back sets with John Kelly, the duo were known as "JK & James”) decided to start Cream, it was also a poignant moment in musical history. This became THE best known nightclub in the UK.

By 1993 Creams success had snowballed and they began a night called “Full On”. May 1993 brought the dawn of the "all nighter" and revellers could now enjoy all that Cream had to throw at them until 6AM. Full on continued to be a regular fixture on the last Friday of every month.

As the reputation of the super club increased, more party goers flocked to its doors and Cream reached a point where they were attracting 3,000 clubbers per week. Music lovers travelled from all over the country to take a small bite of this huge delicious cake. An undisputed mecca for dance music lovers and the epicentre of a cultural shift, Cream gave those privileged enough to say they had experienced what it could offer membership to an exclusive group. A group who could say they had experienced a true dance music nirvana.

In 1995 70% of John Moores University student applications stated Cream (and Liverpool's nightlife in general) was the reason for applying. What other club do you know that would make people re-locate just to be part of its aura?

With Cream quickly becoming the biggest dance brand in the world, 1998 saw the first ever Creamfields take place. It was staged in Winchester in Southern England attracting 25,000 people and featuring live performances from Run DMC, Primal Scream and DJ sets from over 100 DJ’s including the likes of Daft Punk, Paul van Dyk and Sasha. 17 years later and Creamfields has established itself as THE biggest dance music festival in the world. Not bad for a night started by 3 fellas in a club that resembles a tiny airplane hanger, ay?

From the outside, Nation is a very modest venue but do not be fooled, it is Liverpool's very own Pandora's Box, the demure exterior hiding a labyrinth of wonders which has hosted a whole list of the world’s biggest DJs. Oakenfold, Carl Cox, Alistair Whitehead, Sasha, John Digweed, Jeremy Healy, Van Dyk, Eddie Halliwell, Tall Paul, Pete Tong, Judge Jules, Tony De Vit and Roger Sanchez to name a few.