The Fishbowl PubSituated on East Street, The Fishbowl Pub stands alone amongst an array of high end style bars, boutiques and restaurants just off the seafront in Brighton.
The venue itself has all the ingredients associated with what any down to earth music focused bar would attest to, wooden flooring, comfy leather sofas, wooden tables and chairs plus an array of local club and live music nights on show through the countless flyers that adorn the painted walls over both floors.
Sometimes it's not what you add but what you take away that counts.
The place is also extreemly chilled out which becomes all the more evident when you experience the downstairs unisex toilet policy, basically nobody really cares just as long as the music and vibes are flowing and the party is in full swing, something that the clued up door staff ensure through the door entry policy each weekend.
The clientele ranges from foreign exchange and local students, professionals on weekend downtime, local artists, various musical types as well as bands dropping in for a pint or two before a gig somewhere later in the city, any of this hark back to a better time and place?
The real deal and main attraction however is undoubtedly the musical selection on offer every weekend through the venues strong resident dj base which includes Brighton legend Daddy Marcus, Will "Sumsuch" Marshall from Late Night Lounging Records and one of this countries most prolific crate diggers Steve "Keeping It Wheel" Ellis.
Alongside others that reside over musical proceedings, these three musical stalwarts serve up a wide ranging musical platter taking in all things good in the world of dance music that draws people into this unique city center space every weekend.
Old school Hip Hop sits proudly alongside New York Loft Party Classics, Soulful vibrations of every persuasion, Latin, Bossa, Dance Floor Jazz, Deep House plus the odd Boogie monster here and there all go to make a night out down in the city center something to look forward to once again.
Recently LFO by LFO was dropped next to a much loved Black Cock 12" midway through one particular session, thumbs ups all round and that was just from the bar staff.
Joining the DJ's one can expect to see live percussion (remember that) courtesy of Tim "Bongos" Mercer from time to time as well as guests which have included representatives from London's Push FM who have been drawn away from "The Big Smoke" over the last few months.
Always a belter of a night and one that sets the standard in our sometimes great seaside town.
Grit your teeth and take a chance, it's all good down in the city once again.
Steve "Keeping It Wheel" Ellis Friday 30th January tracklisting
Quincy Jones :: WHAT'S GOIN ON :: A&M LP: Smackwater JackThe Staple Singers :: (SITTIN ON) THE DOCK OF THE BAY :: Stax LP: Soul folk in actionThe 5th Dimension :: TICKET TO RIDE :: Liberty LP: The magic gardenMargo Thunder :: EXPRESSWAY TO YOUR HEART :: Capitol 7"Carla Thomas :: I LIKE WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO ME :: Stax 7"Labelle :: WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU? :: Epic LP: NightbirdsLove Unlimited Orchestra :: THEME FROM KING KONG PT1 :: 20th Century 7"New Jersey Kings :: SPINNING WHEEL :: Urban 12" samplerCommodores :: BRICK HOUSE :: Motown 7"Tony Camillo's Bazuka :: DYNOMITE PT 1 :: A&M 7"Undisputed Truth :: ATOMIC FUNK :: Whitfield LP: Smokin'Rare Earth :: (I KNOW) I'M LOSING YOU :: Rare Earth 7"The Meters :: LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH :: Sundazed LP: KickbackTerry Callier :: YOU'RE GONNA MISS YOUR CANDYMAN :: Cadet LP: What color is lovePhil Upchurch :: CROSSTOWN TRAFFIC :: Cadet LP: UpchurchHerbie Mann :: BITCH :: Atlantic LP: London UndergroundWind :: GROOVIN WITH MR BLOE :: Life 7"Buddy Rich :: UPTIGHT :: Audition 7"Snowboy :: FUNKY DJEMBE :: Acid Jazz 12"War :: THE WORLD IS A GHETTO :: MCA 12"The Rebirth :: EVIL VIBRATIONS :: Ubiquity 12" samplerBlood Sweat & Tears :: LUCRETIA McEVIL :: CBS LP: Blood Sweat & Tears Greatest HitsFreda Payne :: UNHOOKED GENERATION :: Invictus 7"Gladys Knight & The Pips :: I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE (Randy Watson sympathy for the grapes mix) :: Motown 12"Betty Wright :: WHERE IS THE LOVE? :: RCA 7"Muscle Shoals Horns :: HUSTLE TO THE MUSIC :: London 7"Stone City Band :: F.I.M.A. (FUNK IN MAMA AFRIKA) :: Motown 7"Woody Herman :: HUSH :: Cadet LP: Light my fireShirley Scott & The Soul Saxes :: GET BACK :: Atlantic LP: Shirley Scott & The Soul SaxesPat Lundy :: WORK SONG :: Central 12"Vicki Anderson :: SUPER GOOD :: Famous Flame LP: Message from a soul sisterJulie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity :: THIS WHEELS ON FIRE :: Marmalade 7"Shirley Ellis :: THE CLAPPING SONG :: London 7"Dusty Springfield :: GO AHEAD ON :: Philips 7"Lulu :: TAKE YOUR MAMA FOR A RIDE :: Chelsea 7"The Supremes :: I HEAR A SYMPHONY :: Tamla LP: I hear a symphonyAretha Franklin :: MR DEE JAY :: Atlantic 7"Dexter Wansell :: LIFE ON MARS :: Philadelphia International LP: Life on MarsAtmosfear :: DANCING IN OUTER SPACE :: Jamtoday 12"Jimmy Castor Bunch feat E Man :: HALLUCINATIONS :: Atlantic LP: Butt of courseRotary Connection :: I AM THE BLACK GOLD OF THE SUN :: Cadet LP: Hey loveTina Turner :: WHOLE LOTTA LOVE :: Fame LP: Acid QueenMark E :: NIGHT SHADOW :: Creative Use 12"Joubert Singers :: STAND ON THE WORD :: Tirk 12"Clark Sisters :: YOU BROUGH THE SUNSHINE (Danny Krivit re edit) :: Strut 12"Gladys Knight and The Pips :: IT'S A BETTER THAN GOOD TIME :: Buddah 12"The Emotions :: I DON'T WANNA LOSE YOUR LOVE :: CBS 7"Candi Staton :: I KNOW :: Warner Bros 7"Rose Royce :: IS IT LOVE YOU'RE AFTER :: Whitfield 7"Jimmy Ruffin :: TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT :: Polydor 7"Stevie Wonder :: IF YOU REALLY LOVE ME :: Tamla 7"Marlena Shaw :: CALIFORNIA SOUL :: Cadet LP: The spice of lifeSpanky Wilson :: SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE :: Mothers LP: Doin' itDionne Warwick :: WE CAN WORK IT OUT :: Scepter LP: SoulfulAretha Franklin :: YOU'RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY :: Atlantic 7"The Voices of East Harlem :: FOR WHAT ITS WORTH :: Elektra LP: Right on be freeChicago :: I'M A MAN :: CBS 7"Joe Cocker :: THE LETTER :: Liberation LP: Live in New YorkThe Who :: MAGIC BUS :: Track LP: Live at LeedsFleetwood Mac :: OH WELL :: Reprise 7"Mott the Hoople :: BASTARD (Mountain of One rework) :: 3rd Mynd 12"Talking Heads :: SLIPPERY PEOPLE :: Sire LP: Speaking in tonguesKraftwerk :: TRANS EUROPE EXPRESS :: Capitol 12"Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five :: THE MESSAGE (acapella) :: Antitode 12"Mark Rae :: LOBSTER :: Grand Central 12"Yellow Magic Orchestra :: COMPUTER GAME :: A&M 12"Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force :: PLANET ROCK :: 21 records 12"Daft Punk :: HARDER BETTER FASTER STRONGER (Neptunes remix) :: Virgin 12"I:Cube :: DISCO CUBIZM (Daft Punk mix) :: Versatile 12"Public Image Ltd :: THIS IS NOT A LOVE SONG :: Virgin 12"Beck :: SEXX LAWS (Wiseguyz remix) :: Geffen 12"Prince :: CONTROVERSY :: Warner Bros LP: ControversySagat :: FUK DAT :: FFRR 12"LFO :: LFO :: Warp 12"Jan Hammer :: MIAMI VICE THEME :: MCA 7"Incredible Bongo Band :: APACHE :: MGM LP: Bongo rockIan Dury and the Blockheads :: SPASTICUS AUTISTICUS :: Polydor LP: Lord UpminsterHot Chocolate :: INCREDIBLE SKIN SONG :: Rak LP: Hot ChocolateEddie Kendricks :: GOIN' UP IN SMOKE :: Motown 7"Crown Heights Affair :: SAY A PRAYER FOR TWO :: De Lite 7"Black Cock Records :: NO WAY BACK :: Black Cock 12"Tamiko Jones :: LET IT FLOW :: Contempo LP: CloudyPatti LaBelle :: MUSIC IS MY LIFE :: Epic LP : Best of Patti LaBellePaul Horn :: LIVIN IN THE CITY :: Epic LP: VisionsSteve Miller :: FLY LIKE AN EAGLE :: Capitol 7"Grace Jones :: WILLIAMS BLOOD (Aeroplane remix) :: WALL OF SOUND 12"Taja Sevelle :: LOVE IS CONTAGIOUS :: Reprise 12"Talk Talk :: LIFE'S WHAT YOU MAKE IT :: EMI 12"William Pitt :: CITY LIGHTS :: Sierra 7"Lou Rawls :: PURE IMAGINATION :: Philadelphia International LP: All things in timeThe Temptations :: I WISH IT WOULD RAIN :: Gordy 7"Neville Brothers :: A CHANGE IS GONNA COME :: A&M 12"Maxwell :: THIS WOMAN'S WORK :: Sony LP: Now