I know the feeling mate, it's gutting. He's not Techno as such, but I saw Troy Pierce (one of Hawtin's right hand men, and a BIG name in the minimal scene) play in Liverpool, to a crowd of about 10 people, of whom two were serving beer. I also heard that Matthew Dear played to an audience of literally 6 or 8. It takes the p*ss! How can big names who regularly fill clubs around Europe, and the world in fact, have to play to such insultingly small audiences as that?

Tho, on the flip side, I went to Rehab last weekend ( a local Liverpool techno night, which is always just residents) and one of the lads; John Heckle, tore it up with two decks and a 909. I paid £3 in, there were maybe 40 people there, but it was a wicked, wicked night!

Maybe the current climate in the UK will lead to the local homegrown talent becoming more well known, on the simple basis that promoters just can't afford the risk of the big international names and the cost of their fees? This could be a good thing, a bit of a silver lining?