Cargo‘s Free Fridays began almost a year ago with the express intention of putting on free parties you’d happily pay for. It was our way of giving something back to music lovers in times of economic hardship. And it’s proved a highly successful formula, one that has seen queues winding down Rivington Street week in and week out.

In terms of programming Free Fridays have been a breath of fresh air in the London clubbing scene. Not many clubs would have had the guts to put the likes of The Whitest boy Alive and Miike Snow under the same promotion umbrella as The Ragga Twins or Appleblim. Reflecting the varied tastes and musical savvy of the Cargo music team, the line-ups have been as eclectic as they’ve been exciting. From the rawkus 8bit punk of The Death Set to the lush techno soundscapes of The Field, from Chrome Hoof‘s eccentric krautrock to Amanda Blank‘s filthy hip hop, from Yacht‘s imaginative disco to The Ratpack‘s old skool jungle, Free Fridays has had something for all. Heck, we’ve even had a much in fashion Zomby no-show!

Such has been the success of Free Fridays that many bands have chosen it as the platform for their album launches. Joakim & The Disco, Nite Jewel or Miike Snow to name just a few premiered their material at Cargo to the delight of their cash-strapped fans. Two major festivals also deemed Free Fridays the perfect vehicle to host their launch parties: The Big Chill invited Orbital‘s Phil Hartnoll for a rare appearance, whilst Lovebox rocked the arches with a line-up that included members of Horse Meat Disco, Secretsundaze and Disco Bloodbath. Music collectives and record Labels also looked to the Rivington Street cub to showcase their wares: Weheartcommix, Valerie, Tigersushi, or Mad Decent all flaunted their goods to the knowledgeable crowd’s that make Cargo the special place it is.

As the last Free Friday approaches, (which will see a live set from Chew Lips) Cargo‘s commitment to quality underground music remains unchanged. The monthly residencies curated by the Last.fm team and Adventures in the Beetroot Field, as well as Cargo‘s own promotions, promise to deliver something fresh and exciting for the more discerning London musos as well as the casual party goers. After all, if you have ears, you might as well use them!