Win Sugarbeat Club London bash tickets
As regular Remix readers will surely know, friends of the show Sugarbeat Club and Utah Saints run regular events in London, Bristol, Leicester, Leeds and Edinburgh booking the cream of the electronic scene.

This Friday sees their first show of 2010 in the capital (well, the UK capital, they did Edinburgh last month), and headlining is none other than Remix favourite Hervé. Also on the bill with him and the Utah Saints themselves will be Toolroom's Toni Jarvis and Skinny & Clarkie of Graffiti Breaks fame.

Meanwhile, in room two, you'll find Bombstrikes Records label boss Mooqee, plus Supatronix's Jurassik, Pigball's Hayz, Supafunk's Country Cockney, Skanks' Colins 303 and Boon. There's more info on the Sugarbeat MySpace. It all takes place at Jamm in Brixton from 9pm to 5am this Friday (12 Feb). It'll cost you £8 before midnight and £10 after.

We have a pair of tickets to give away to one of you lucky people. You want em? Just email competitions@remixupdate.co.uk by midday on Thursday, then we'll pick a winner.

And once we are all spreading the word, then we're ready for the next stage of all this. I want to help change the law, so that clubs and noisy bars not only HAVE to protect those who work there (and be fined if they don't), but also have to make their customers aware of the risks. And not just the obvious music-filled venues either. Even the bigger cinemas have sound systems that could cause damage, and they should be educating their customers too.

Just to clarify: what I don't want is for the sound systems to be turned down. That would suck. But it's all about enabling every gig goer and clubber to make a properly informed choice.

If I smoke cigarettes, I know - because the government have spent gajillions in awareness campaigns - that I will probably get lung cancer. I may not, but I might. Either way, if I then choose to smoke, I am making an informed choice. We all know the score: smoke now, enjoy it while you're relatively young and fit, but probably pay later. If you're cool with that, then I'm cool with that. As long as you knew the facts and made a decision.

It's the same thing for this. Sure, go to clubs and stick your head in the bins, get the buzz of sound jiggling your insides around, god knows I've done it. I just never realised, and was never told, that it may permanently damage my hearing. Thanks to the British Tinnitus Association, and this awareness week, and the Remix Update, now you know that it can. And if, knowing that, you still want to listen to music at the max, well, if you're cool with it, then I'm cool with it, just know the risks.

So as I say spread the word so everyone can make informed decisions. Tell that DJ, or muso, or clubber, you know who never protects his or her hearing, tell them to check out the facts. And if you want my honest advice, invest in some decent plugs, it is really worth it.

If you already have that constant sound in your ears, then protect yourself when in loud sound environments and it CAN improve. It won't go away (well, it's unlikely to), but take it from someone who suffers but has invested in some proper plugs, it really makes a difference. And don't forget that the British Tinnitus Association is there for you, at www.tinnitus.org.uk.

I talked to Adam F earlier. We're both very passionate about this, and he was the first celeb DJ to raise his hand and say "I wanna help you with this Eddy". After our lastest chat I increasingly think this may be the start of something really big. Together we could persuade some really big acts to come together, somewhere like the Dome, and do a proper bigtime fundraiser for the BTA, who have bugger all resources.

We could raise some proper money for research and get the government onside for some kind of awareness campaign. God knows they spend enough on STDs, driving, drugs, and this is something that's going to affect one in ten of everyone - probably more like 50% of everyone reading this, because if you're reading this, then you’re seriously into your music.

So any ideas of how we could fund raise or lobby those in power, please Facebook me; if you know your MP, please mention this to him or her. Sorry to bang on about it, but it's such a lost cause, and I do love a lost cause!

Thanks for listening and helping spread the word.

Much love,
eddy X

Organised by the people behind The Big Reunion, The Big Snow Festival takes place in Arinsal, Andorra between 14-21 Mar, with a line-up including Calvin Harris (DJ set), Kissy Sell Out, Stereo:Type, DJ Hype, Matrix & Futurebound, Toddla T, and Qemists. Plus, Eddy will be hosting a Remix stage, with a whole load of acts still to be confirmed.

We'd love you to come and join us. If you fancy it, head over to www.thebigsnowfestival.com to book your tickets. When making your purchase either online or on the phone, make sure you quote "REMIX" to get your free Big Snow hoodie (worth £40). All inclusive packages (including your flights, hotel, ski pass, and music start at £399).

Concept and content © UnLimited Publishing.

Published by UnLimited Publishing, a division of UnLimited Media,
Floor 3 Unicorn House, 221-222 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6PJ.

UnLimited Publishing also publish ThreeWeeks, ThisWeek in London and CreativeStudent.net.

UnLimited Creative provide marketing, PR + content services, and media + PR training.

UnLimited Consulting provides music, media, culture + youth expertise.