There’s a specific kind of energy in the room when an independent promoter hits a milestone, and Checkmates' 3rd Anniversary party was no exception. Taking over Bluebox in York on a freezing Friday night at the end of January, they brought a lineup that promised to shake souls and test the venue’s sound system to its absolute limits. Running from 10 PM straight through to 4 AM, the night was a masterclass in UK underground bass culture, and I was there to capture every chaotic, bass-heavy moment across both photography and video.

The night opened at 10 PM with Gormley Selecta (Phoebe), who set a deeply atmospheric tone with a heavy minimal dubstep set. For these opening sets, the photography focus is all about capturing the anticipation, moody lighting, silhouettes, and the crowd slowly filling the floor.

By 11 PM, Crane took the reigns, shifting the tempo up with heavy UK Bassline. As the crowd started to really move, the camera movements needed to follow suit. At midnight, the Luna Groovas duo stepped up, delivering a relentless hour of Garage, Speed Garage, Bassline, and 2-step. Following them from 1 AM to 2 AM, the Frakture Garage Collective kept the momentum soaring, shelling out pure wobblers all night. Documenting syncopated & swung garage groovers means quick snaps, ecapturing the pure, sweat-drenched euphoria of a packed dancefloor.

Entering the 140 & Jungle Realms The energy shifted again at 2 AM. C-DJ hopped on the decks for a gritty 140 set, joined by Dialect MC. Shooting an MC requires a completely different visual approach; you want to capture the lyrical aggression, the mic control, and the direct interaction with the ravers. The tight, intimate space of Bluebox was perfect for this, allowing for up-close, wide-angle shots that pull the viewer right into the cypher - even catching Fendry dropping some cold bars with Dialect too !

To close out the night from 3 AM to 4 AM, Herbal Mafia’s P45 Scott took us out on an absolute high with a ferocious mix of Jungle and classic DNB. Trying to keep the camera steady during a 170+ BPM jungle set while the whole room is bouncing is a physical challenge in itself, but it yields the most electric, high-octane footage of the night.

The Deliverables: Visual Currency For this booking, I delivered edited event photography and a high-energy, vertical video edit optimized for TikTok and Instagram Reels. In 2026, short-form vertical video is the ultimate promotional tool for event brands. It’s not just a memory of the night; it’s FOMO-inducing marketing material that sells tickets for the next one.

Check out the vertical edit below (YouTube Shorts embed) to see the progression of the night, alongside a gallery of my favorite photo selects from the floor.

If you’re throwing a party in York or Yorkshire & International considered and need hybrid coverage that actually understands the music and the culture, drop me a message. Let's make your brand look as good as it sounds.