New Nightclub ESSAIM Launches in Paris with Former Concrete Team
On October 31, the vibrant city of Paris will welcome its newest nightlife destination, ESSAIM.
Initial images of the venue, situated between Gare du Nord and Gare de l’Est, reveal a minimalist design featuring white tile decor reminiscent of Berlin’s HÖR, thanks to architect Dorothée Hachiken. With a capacity of approximately 400, ESSAIM plans to deliver a music experience focused on “electronic sounds for eager and inquisitive listeners,” complemented by an L-Acoustics sound system that promises “a matte, uniform audio output devoid of dead spots.” The DJ booth will be positioned on the ground level, with no VIP areas in sight.
This exciting venture comes courtesy of ESSAIM co-founders Brice Coudert and Antoine Hernandez, who both previously contributed to the success of the iconic Parisian club Concrete. Hernandez also plays a key role in curating the French festival Positive Education. They are joined by Jonathan Malaisé, who served as the technical and production director at Concrete.
Many in the scene view ESSAIM as the spiritual successor to Concrete. Over its seven-year lifespan, the club hosted memorable nights like Odd People, Antiverse, and Mutant, earning the title of “the club that reinvented Parisian nightlife,” as noted by Le Monde. Renowned French techno legend Laurent Garnier once remarked to Mixmag, “When we reflect on the history of French electronic music in twenty years, Concrete will undoubtedly be part of that story.”
Concrete faced eviction from its barge on the Seine in 2019, as the building’s owners decided not to renew its license. Coudert expressed optimism post-closure, stating he was “already looking to the future, aiming to return stronger, with the same principles, and implementing our skills into a more ambitious project.”
ESSAIM is set to operate every weekend, although details on the lineup for the inaugural events have yet to be revealed.
