Sunday 22 March 2026 was never going to be just another night. As part of Corsica Studios’ poignant “Nothing Lasts Forever” closing series, Bicep — described by the venue itself as “part of the furniture” — returned for one final set inside the sweat-soaked railway arches that helped shape them into the artists they are today.
The sold-out show, running from 6pm to midnight, drew a crowd well aware of the weight of the occasion. The 500-capacity venue in Elephant and Castle has been a spiritual home for electronic music since it first opened its doors in 2002, and on this night, every one of those 500 people seemed to feel it.
Joining the Belfast duo on the bill was veteran Scottish selector Optimo (Espacio), whose characteristically eclectic warm-up set the tone perfectly — spanning decades and genres with the kind of effortless fluency that only comes from a lifetime behind the decks.
When Bicep finally took over, the room went with them completely. Drawing from across their catalogue — from the blog-era edits that first made their name to the euphoric sweep of their Ninja Tune records — Matt McBriar and Andy Ferguson played like men who knew exactly what this room meant to them, and to everyone in it.
Corsica Studios has long been a cornerstone of London’s underground club scene, hosting defining nights from the likes of Fred Again.., Four Tet, Jamie xx, and Shygirl over the years. Its closure marks the end of an era, driven in part by noise complaints from new residential developments backing onto the venue, a casualty of the wider gentrification of the Elephant and Castle area.
Doors officially closed at the end of March 2026, capping a final season of closing parties that ran from New Year’s Eve 2025. For those lucky enough to be inside on the 22nd, Bicep’s set will linger long after the lights came on — a fitting, joyous, and deeply bittersweet goodbye to one of London’s most beloved spaces.
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