Several pints of blood, sweat and tears later, we can present the second issue of Toxin – also cunningly known as Toxin 2. It’s been a funny old summer and in Toxin we’ve tried to cover some of the bits that matter (to us, at least).

Notably, a key event in the festival calendar – the Big Green Gathering – was cancelled at the last minute, raising immediate accusations of political manoeuvring and sabotage by the local council and police force. Toxin contributor Kate J(B)ones has thoroughly investigated the situation, taking statements from BGG organisers, local councillors and local police officers too. The findings do not bode well for the future of the festival culture and seem to epitomise the current political climate where activism is being subdued. We’ve also got an opinion piece on the faults of the UK’s democratic process itself and a critique of UK foreign policy, as well as coverage from the Climate Camp on Blackheath.

And we don’t stop there – China’s politics are under scrutiny too, as Ruth Cherrington provides us with an informed and detailed analysis of the situation in Xinjiang, which this summer has repeatedly erupted into violence.

But on a lighter note, we’ve also got coverage from some of the festivals that actually did happen this year, including a gonzo-style report from the Secret Garden Party by poet Tyler McGee and also coverage of The Glade, Nozstock and even reports from a Drum Camp in Suffolk and the Notting Hill Carnival. On the subject of music, we’ve interviewed two of the most influential DJs in breakbeat – Richie Balboa and Will Streetwise of NuSkoolBreaks Radio – and if you are so inspired by this as to create your own music, then the first part of Joe ‘Cellardore’ Sheldrick’s production guide is aimed squarely at aspiring dance music creators. Two of Cellardore’s tracks are featured in our ‘reviews’ section, along with offerings from Vaetxh, The Commercial Hippies, Neurodriver, Burial and more.

In town a selection of clubs have been investigated including ALAN, Flush, HOMmega and Waveform in the City, not to mention a review of our own Acidic Records launch night, and live gigs are covered with performances by Banco de Gaia and NOXSHI. But don’t for a second think it’s all about London as we’ve also got a travel report from Morocco, and Dani – resident Toxin psychonaut – tells her tales of experimenting with peyote cactus in the Mexican desert. Artsy types will enjoy Martin Woods’ exhaustive interview with Jeff Cloak and Pauline Amos with regards to their abstract use of paint, the body and sound as artistic mediums, bodypainter Maya Lewis shows off her skills in the Arts section and wordsmiths Tyler McGee and David Prentice have also submitted new and impressive poetry. As always, all of our features have a comment box at the end where you can agree, disagree, argue a point, contact a writer or just offer us some feedback.

Toxin 2 offers, we hope, a much more diverse and wide-ranging choice of material, backed up with glorious photos (check at the end of each feature for the automatic slideshow) and, in some cases, specially-made videos provided by Infected Media. This has been made possible by a small (but perfectly formed) core team of volunteer contributors who have swelled the Toxin talent pool, and for Toxin 3 we want you on board too. For more details on how to get involved and write, photograph, investigate, rant, film or otherwise become a part of Toxin 3, drop me an email. Also, if you’d like your club, festival, music, poetry, art or anything else to be featured in Toxin, let us know and we’ll send a journalist round to do a story.

Until then, enjoy Toxin 2. I’m off to the pub.

Will Jobbins

Toxin Editor