I don't think the proposed 4am finish is a good move. I found that when we opened the 100 Club at 10 instead of 1.30 people still didn't bother to turn up until midnight. I think there are only a few hundred people around the country who want to hear the newer discoveries and they are used to attending all-nighters, I think they would prefer to know its there until 6am even if some left at 4.
I think the problem is there aren't the "troops on the ground" as Keb might have described them who almost dance to new plays as a point of honour in encouraging the progression of the scene. Both Butch and myself reckon it takes at least two years now to get a record properly recognised by a crowd even if you're playing it every 100 Club. Butch does have a brilliant technique of putting the new ones in at the right place when the dancers are enjoying it so much they don't walk off the floor. I'm still working on it!
The other thing is that most newies fans are getting on and don't do the non-stop dancing like they used to, indeed many are record bar frequentees and gold-medal verballers.
I can see the quandary of funk and have found it hard to manage its progression at the 100 Club but it has kept the scene going and in our case enriched it greatly , it's just getting the balance right and hoping DJs are flexible enough to have a varied box they can tailor for the crowd that turns up on any given night.
I only managed Lifeline a couple of times (at the Stables) but felt it would benefit from a slightly smaller venue. The organisers, DJs and crowd are absolutely top notch so I hope they can reconvene in 2016 in a bonza venue that satisfies the poorly-served rarities fans up-north.