Moda @ Lincoln Engine Shed

Homegrown, cutting-edge electro and dubstep club night Moda returned to Lincoln on Friday with an enthused live performance from Delphic, a well-received appearance from Rusko, and a highly-anticipated return from Radio 1’s own Annie Mac, writes Ryan Butcher.


Playing to a highly-enthused crowd, the Leeds-born Rusko brought a highly driven energy to the evening, showing why he’s considered by many to be the future of dub. His appearance on the stage garnered an almost cult-like reaction, making him the surprise hit of the night.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s still a long way to go for Rusko before he can be considered as some kind of saviour of dubstep. First time listeners to the genre could easily be dissuaded by the somewhat monotonous base that makes up the meat of many of his mixes, and although he was well received, there’s a air of discomfort about him that suggests he’s not quite sure how he got where he is. Nonetheless, his star is rising, and continued crowd reactions like he received on this night could very well be his making.

As the night draws on, sometime between midnight and two in the morning, Delphic take to the stage to a thoroughly warmed up crowd. Distilling the spirit of Manchester’s Hacienda through to a new decade, they play with a hint of determination, almost desperate to cast of the stereotypical label of “indie-dance”.

Delphic’s biggest appeal is their ambition, as they strive to complete a masochistic quest to determine that it is possible to combine dance music, and soul. Unfortunately for them, Moda isn’t necessarily the night to showcase ambition.

Then, onto Annie Mac, who emerges from the darkness like the apparition of a stunning, electro-pixie. Annie has long been a firm favourite of the Moda branded club nights, and subsequentially, this isn’t the first time she’s taken to the Engine Shed stage.

With an eclectic music taste at her disposal, she spices up classic dub basslines with radio-friendly, high-profile names like Florence and the Machine and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, making the evolved dance genre more universally acceptable to such a diverse audience. Annie’s mixes are intelligible, well-placed, and fantastically put together.

When she leaves the stage, wide-eyed clubbers stumble home, or onto the after-party, eager for the next appearance, and safe in the knowledge that on this night, Annie had delivered the goods.