"Doing The Disco Matt" - DM Reports

“DOING THE DISCO MATT”
DM REPORTS – DISCO MATT VIRAL
MONDAY 6TH DECEMBER


Following on from our full report on our new look website, we thought we would share our promo video, complied in advance of today’s launch.

This short video viral depicts us in a-typical dancing delirium, as the video indicates "doing the Disco Matt". So, why not join us on the dancefloor sometime, or if not, see where we were doing the Disco matt by logging onto & checking out our reviews, previews, recommends, reports, music & other posts at our new website http://discomatt.com/.

To view the video, go now to http://youtube.com/watch?v=RCOqKp9SpgU . “Go There!” (DISCO MATT)

“A NEW LOOK, A NEW DIRECTION”
DISCOMATT.COM “GO FOR LAUNCH”
REPORT – MONDAY 6TH DECEMBER


Well, it has been a long time coming, but the day has arrived when we can, excitingly, announce the launch of our new one-stop website, a momentous day in Disco Matt land and one which we are coining “go for launch”, perhaps not quite as spectacular as the first rocket in space, the first man on the moon or even that first space shuttle mission, but a significant launch & step in our relatively short yet eventful history.

And yes, it has been just under three years since we started putting pen to paper, Disco Matt having been born & developed following publication of his review of Matinee in February 2008, on tip top clubbing website SeenQueen, we having gone on to rack up exactly 200 reviews since then, although as we have broadened our services ,other posts & reports have pushed up that incredible figure to well over 400, adding previews, weekend recommendations, hot dates & music pages to our family of blogs.

But in an ever changing & fast moving world and with our reputation & name established, the time came for us to step out of our “blogging” label, by creating a full-on website to encompass the full range of our work, offering a “one-stop shop” for our regular readers & wider audiences. So, given this momentous change, we have decided to slowly phase out our posts via BlogSpot, with the plan to fully integrate into DiscoMatt.com from the beginning of 2011. However, till then, you will be able to find out posts both here & at the new site.

So, why not take a look at our new look now & our post “A New Look & New Direction” which gives you a complete rundown on the new features, pages & site navigation tools, by simply clicking on http://discomatt.com/. We hope you like our new look and welcome your feedback, good, bad or indifferent. (DISCO MATT)

"Fight The Good Fight" - DM Reports - World AIDS Day Special

“FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT”
DM REPORTS – WORLD AIDS DAY SPECIAL
WEDNESDAY 1ST DECEMBER


The first day in December means a few things to people, for some it’s the start of advent, for more devote religious believers, it’s a day of feasting, in Portugal, Romania & Thailand it’s a national holiday, while for the historians in you, back on this day in 1990, French & British workers on the channel tunnel met 40 metres beneath the seabed, then as far back as 1919, the first female member of parliament took her seat in the house of commons. Then there were & are people that celebrate their birthdays, for instance Marie Taussaud was born on this day back in 1761 and more famous people celebrating their birthdays on 1/12 include Woody Allen & the fabulous Bette Midler, the word celebrating being the byword here, However, as momentous these occasions are for some, there is a much more overriding & important meaning to the 335th day of the year for many.

December 1st marks World AIDS Day (WAD), a very poignant day for us amongst many, all who have been touched either by AIDS, HIV or related issues and particularly in the scene within which we find ourselves, many can recall a friend, a colleague or a figurehead that has been lost to this dreadful disease. Yet, whilst there remains a great deal of ignorance towards HIV & AIDS, there is no doubt that today is a day that has married minds, spirits & souls across society and right across the world, many showing their support & respect simply by wearing a red ribbon, other going to extra effort to raise money to help to, as we have put it, “Fight The Good Fight”. Indeed, in the twenty nine years that the world has been gripped by HIV & AIDS, millions of pounds have been raised by thousands of organisations worldwide & by even more individuals, although this pales in comparison with the billions that have been poured into medical science in search of a cure for AIDS and for treatment of HIV.

Yet, as advanced the treatment has become & as the understanding of both HIV & AIDS awareness has grown, there still remains much ignorance surrounding both conditions, many jumping to the wrong conclusion as to which is what, and many have no idea what either HIV or AIDS stand for, or indeed just how colossal are the numbers involved on all fronts. So, not only is this special post designed to attempt to educate a little, but to also paint a picture of the scale of this epidemic, and an epidemic it is, with over 33.4 million people registered as living with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2008, a staggering 25 million plus people having died from AIDS (or related illnesses) since 1981, with over 2.7 million new cases of people infected with HIV in 2008 alone, remembering that these statistics are based on those people that have come forward for treatment or have had the courage to be tested. But the horrific stats go on, as it is recorded that in developing & transitional countries, 9.5 million people are in immediate need of life-saving HIV/AIDS drugs, yet of these only 4 million are being treated and in 2009 alone, 1.8 million people died of illnesses related directly to AIDS.

Now, that kind of puts into perspective the gravity of the situation, the UK not painting much of a pretty picture either, as around 83,000 people were living with HIV by the end of 2008, of whom organisations estimate that 27% were unaware of their infection. Yet, when you consider that 111.932 cases were reported by the end of June this year, as shocking this figure is, there is a glimmer of hope that people are beginning to wake up to the need to be tested and are not afraid of coming forward. Indeed, globally, the statistical trends indicate that the overall growth of the epidemic has stabilised in recent years, moreover the annual number of new HIV infections has steadily declined. However, due to ignorance, lack of understanding and in some cases, scaremongering, there are far more people that are either afraid or unwilling to be tested for HIV, history telling us that such action is not just reckless but life threatening. Indeed, we hear of so many cases where people have suffered hospitalisation before they realise the situation, many falling desperately ill, some too far for recovery, others saved by the incredible strength & effectiveness of the wealth of anti viral treatments that are at our fingertips here in the UK. And, it must be remembered that we are so much more fortunate in this country than many others, particularly in Africa, who simply do not have or cannot afford access to this expensive yet vital treatment.

So, let’s just take a little time to look at what is HIV and what AIDS is, plus run down a tiny segment of the extensive historical data on the subject, to further put in perspective why today, 1st December, is such an important day in the calendar of life. First & foremost, there remains a dreadful misconception between HIV & AIDS, the two terms often being mixed up & AIDS particularly, used out of context in relation to certain issues. So let’s make the distinction here & now, as HIV is the virus which many of us live with, in the main, perfectly healthily, thanks to the marvellous medication, HIV standing for “human immunodeficiency virus”, so called by Dr Gallo who was one of many eminent scientists both in the USA & France that were locked in the race to identify the cause of the virus, identified in 1982, while HIV as a standalone term did not exist until 1986. Here, we have to stress that HIV relates to the virus & the virus alone. But with this mysterious, at the time called disease, spreading across the globe, health organisations were under incredible pressure to recognise the epidemic, the term “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome” being adopted, also in 1982, both by these organisations & in the wider press & media, AIDS being a description for the condition that can develop if HIV is not treated.

Looking further into the history, in terms of the origins of HIV & AIDS, whilst we do not know for certain where they originated, it is generally accepted that the source can be traced back to Africa, some say its existence being further back in time to the first recognised case in 1981 . What’s more, whilst we now know that HIV is carried through the blood stream, contraction of the virus in gender groups was pretty much stigmatised in the early 1980’s, many, in the USA particularly, labelling it sadistically as “the gay disease”, others referring to it as “gay phenomena” or “gay cancer”, (just look at the amazing yet moving film “And The Band Played On” to see just how society reacted at the time) although it was soon established that HIV was not gender specific, indeed statistics show that of all the people living with HIV & AIDS today, an estimated 52% of cases reported by the end of 2009 have been in women. However, much more scientific research was required to truly identify the nature of HIV & AIDS, the fruits of some many people’s labour eventually leading to pioneering drugs to combat the effects that HIV had on people and to prevent the progression of AIDS , this being the most fundamental & important distinction between the two. Plus, it is important to remember, that AIDS is a description of the symptoms caused by HIV and may not necessarily be the cause of death.

With all those sobering yet morbid facts spelt out, the overridingly important message is of awareness and the importance of being aware. Such is the extent of medical science with HIV & AIDS circles, that advancements are being made year on year and the incredible news is that there are perfectly palatable forms of medication, termed as antiretroviral drugs (combination therapies) that mean, even if infected with HIV, the treatment process means that, when on stable treatment, the life expectancy is just as lengthy as those not infected by the virus. So, there should be no need for fear & no need for ignorance and we cannot stress strongly enough, if you feel you are at risk of infection or contraction, then get tested. For those that have, yes, the experience can be traumatic, but for people that were diagnosed back in the 80’s/90’s, when we knew a fraction of what we do today, it was far more fearful then than it should ever be now. Remember, as devastating the news may be that you are HIV positive, the very positive news is that it can be treated and treated effectively.

But, regardless of all of this, we continue to recognise that people make choices in their lives, some taking risks, others not realising the extent of those risks, moreover through the practice of unprotected sex, this being a particularly prominent issue among gay men, some saying to engage in so called “unsafe sex” (what does “unsafe” actually mean?) is like playing Russian roulette, while others do not see it so. It is also important to realise that consent is crucial in this sensitive yet controversial issue surrounding sex, and each situation has its own individuality. And this choice & individuality is no better displayed than in the superb article “Interview With A Barebacker”, issued by our friends SeenQueen, (at direct link http://seenqueen.com/web/2010/11/interview-with-a-barebacker/), the article, while pretty graphic, does demonstrate some of the lack in education & awareness surrounding the contraction of HIV among men having unprotected sex. Now, whist we take on face value recent exciting news of a breakthrough in the prevention of contracting HIV, (see SQ’s article at http://seenqueen.com/web/2010/11/a-pill-a-day-keeps-the-hiv-away/), it must be acknowledged that medical science is still a long way off from finding a cure for HIV & AIDS, and as a consequence, we need to continue to support all those organisations that are either involved in this quest or who provide vital support to those living with both the virus that is HIV and the consequence that can be AIDS.

Therefore, our so called “Fight The Good Fight” goes on and each & every first day in December, the focus swings firmly onto all the issues we have raised in this article, which, incidentally has been one of our most moving pieces of work yet. So, today has, like all the previous first days in December since AIDS first become prominent back in 1981, incredible meaning and, with this year’s theme being “Universal Access & Human Rights”, we are comforted in the fact that awareness of this disease, as the theme suggests, is universal. Indeed countless numbers of organisations around the world are engaged in active support of, not just WAD, but day to day support of the millions affected by HIV & AIDS, so need your support to continue their amazing work. To single out any particular organisation would be unfair, as there are so many, not just here in the UK, but worldwide and like the choices we make in our lives, we also choose who, when & how to support the causes that mean so much to us. However, elements of this article would not have been possible without the existence of international HIV & AIDS charity, Avert’s amazing website (http://avert.org/), a charity that was launched back in 1986 and has since gone on to provide support to millions of people both affected with HIV & AIDS and not, their site providing an invaluable tool covering, most comprehensively a range of subjects connected with these conditions, so is well worth a visit.

We now donate to Avert and cannot recommend them enough, although there are many ways you can show you support to either organisations or simply to WAD. The easiest is by wearing a red ribbon & making a contribution to its provider, but, like us, you can also consider making either a one-off or regular donations to a charity of your choice. But moreover, for those that will be out on the capital’s scene, both tonight & this weekend, you can show your support by helping those clubs & bars who are making their own donations to their nominated charities, simply by letting your feet do the supporting & turning up to their WAD inspired events. So, go check out http://seenqueen.com/ for a selection of events coming up this weekend, pick up a copy of the popular press, or check out the events pages of your favourite social networking site and make that difference. And, failing all those, watch out for our special “Best Bites” post looking at events this weekend plus why not do something tonight, our top two suggestions covered in our post “World AIDS Day Charity Fundraiser Special” at direct link http://discomattweekend.blogspot.com/2010/11/world-aids-day-special-charity.html.

So, as we conclude our very personal & individual look at the issues of HIV & AIDS, we hope to have, at least, educated a little & increased the profile of these issues a little, with the aim of focussing the mind, if only for this one special day in our calendar. And if the best we have achieved is to increase awareness, then our job is done, but if this article has inspired you to make a difference in the fight against HIV & AIDS, then we take incredible heart from that. So, the time is now & today is the day to make that difference, yes to reflect on lives lost, but also to look forward, to celebrate rather than commemorate, in the knowledge that if we stand together we can “Fight The Good Fight”. (DISCO MATT)

Postscript

Hot (Red Hot) off the press, Brent Nicholls has recorded a 10 track compilation as part of his “Download” series, this one dedicated to World AIDS day and entitled “Red-Missing Mix”. Brent summarises his composition as “...gathering together 10 RED hot tunes to celebrate the lives of those that we lost...” he further going on to say “...poignantly starting with the Freddie le Grand remix of “Missing....it mixes into the latest mashup up by the Black Eyed Peas, “The Time”, reminding us that we’ve had the time of our lifes’ before moving into a more clubbier, deeper, sexier vibe...” Now, whilst we haven’t not yet listened to one second of this mix, we are sure it rightfully deserves its place in our own special devotion to World AIDS day, so like Brent states, we have celebrated the life of someone we love by downloading his mix, and you can do too, by going now to direct link http://djbrentnicholls.com/web/2010/12/01/download-2010-red-missing-mix/, by subscribing to him on iTunes, via dropbox, or even downloading via http://brentnicholls.mysites.com/-podcasts/1012-downloadred-2010-128.mp3

"Welcoming Espania" WE Party - Special Preview

“WELCOMING ESPANIA”
WE PARTY – SATURDAY 4th DECEMBER
SPECIAL PREVIEW


The date was 29th July 2006 and the event, the introduction to London gAylist clubbing of a Spanish brand that very much shook up the scene & heralded a wave of what was commonly termed as the “...Spanish Armada...”, pretty much transformed the style of clubbing in virtually every respect, from the music, to the shows, even to the crowds, Latino’s seemingly coming out of the woodwork and burgeoning a whole new class of clubber with smouldering looks to match the scintillating style of these Spanish imports. Yet, whilst both Matinee & SuperMartXe have pretty much ruled the waves, other brands like Space & La Troya getting a mere look in on their dominance, the tide of change has seen fortunes change for these enormous Espaniol outfits in London , clearing the way for a new pretender to the armada crown, a party concept & brand that made waves back home in Spain from the minute it was launched and, having stretched its legs across Europe, simply had to make it to the capital, sooner rather than later.

WE party was born very much on the back of the Spanish superclub concepts Matinee & SuperMartXe, these two big players on the Spanish scene slowly having shifted their fan base back home, from a predominantly gay audience for a much more mixed affair, some SuperMartXe parties aiming their intentions directly at the metrosexual crowd, paving the way for a new offering to woo the gay audience. And from the very first party in Madrid, WE proved its worth, through flamboyant & Fantastic lighting, effects, stage shows, dancers, music that have, inevitably, drawn comparisons with SuperMartXe, although it has not only wooed back gay audiences, but well & truly wowed them with draw droopingly amazing visuals & sounds that have set it aside from its alter ego and has set the WE brand on its own successful course. Indeed the philosophy of WE parties has, from day one, been one that pushes the boundaries, elevated the excitement & creates a carefree atmosphere, very much the epitome of gay clubbing & partly why our straight cousins have long wanted a slice of our action.

Digging a little deeper into the brand, probably the one question that we have been asked more than any other, is what does “WE” stand for? Well, to be honest we don’t know the actual answer, although it could possibly have been created from the inspiration that is the song “This Is How We Party”, a hit back in the 90’s for Swedish group S.O.A.P., this also hinting at the imagery of the WE party brand, being a washing soap bottle, hence the link. However, whilst this remains a mere hunch, what we can say with conviction, is that WE parties in Spain have been certainly created a new clubbing formula behind the brand explaining that “...WE party offers a new visual & sound reality, one that makes you think while you dance, a party where you have to adjust your memory & senses to actually perceive what is happening...”, the thought & the dedication to this philosophy showing through in each & every party the team have thrown. And, whilst immediate comparisons with SuperMartXe have been drawn, there is an unquestionably different & more exciting feel to WE events that have made it the new darling of the dance scene in Spain.

So, having very much filled SuperMartXe’s boots in Madrid, they even hold their parties at La Riviera, the accolades have well & truly flown in, one city guide website neatly summing up the brand by saying, “...as the name of this event suggest, WE really does party. Taking place at SuperMartXé’s original digs at La Riviera, a huge Ibiza-style clubbing space complete with palm trees, WE Party puts on the kind over-the-top stage shows and fun-filled parties that made the former tenants loved and famous and get the hot boys out by the thousands, ready to whip off their shirts before you can say ‘is it hot in here or is it you?...” But more than that, WE has also anchored a reputation across Spain, expanding across the Barcelona, where it got more than a look in during the Circuit Festival week, much to the irritation of Matinee who has always considered Barcelona as its own exclusive backyard, WE also making a big impact across in Ibiza this summer, partying with all the big boys and teaming up with Cafe Ole at Space. But the intentions of WE have extended across Europe, with a highly successful party in Rome, at Muccassassina, as well as a brilliant event at Xlsior in Mykonnos and with Paris planned for 11th December &, of course, London this coming weekend, the ambitions of the brand are big, WE’s driving force, Victor Pallas keen to expand into The States as well, as of going to press, his team tipping the scales over in Miami. Plus, with dates back in Madrid, you only have to take a glimpse at http://wepartyontour.com/ to get a feel of just what WE is looking to achieve, injecting bucket loads of fun back into clubbing that has long been missed and Victor, together with his terrific team, are now very much setting the trend & shaking up the scene in superb style.

However, all of this said, the best way to demonstrate just what WE is all about is to see the action for your own eyes & a whole myriad of videos are available to give you an insight into the exciting new formula that is WE parties, we picking out our favourites to whet your appetite in advance of Saturday’s event here in London. Our first & favourite is a their main promotional video which gives you the best idea of the extent of just what a big part the visuals play in the concept & construction of the amazing shows, which you can check out via http://facebook.com/WEpartygroup?v=wall#!/video/video.php?v=386744584701, the trailer to WE’s residency at La Riviera in Madrid, hinting to the kind of quality you can expect from this clubbing brand outfit when it plays out at The Coronet, at FB link http://facebook.com/WEpartygroup?v=wall#!/video/video.php?v=382276814701, while the essence of the fun the team want to bring back to the scene (with a dollop of wackiness thrown in for good measure) displayed at http://facebook.com/WEpartygroup?v=wall#!/video/video.php?v=382274779701, although what best captures the whole wonderment of We for us, is the video taken at their “Tokyo” party at La Riviera, the lighting , the crowds but moreover the visuals speaking volumes at http://facebook.com/WEpartygroup?v=wall#!/video/video.php?v=382252164701.

So, there is little doubt in our minds that this new Spanish sensation is set fair and as WE party delves deep into its second full year in operation, it certainly looks like making an impact on London in a similar way to SuperMartXe did two years ago, and we will be bringing you all the details you need to know about this exciting event, in a special Weekend Focus post, due out shortly. We will also be looking at the music of WE in a special post entitled “Wonderful Ensemble”, honing in on the talents that will be scintillating with their sounds on Saturday, this special devotion, issued via our music section in due course. . However, the best way to conclude our look at WE is to echo the words of Pablo Picasso in saying that “everything you can imagine is real” and the WE dream has very much become a reality for Mr Pallas & his team, meaning we cannot wait to toast its coming in the capital. (DISCO MATT)

"The Big Two Zero" - Trade 20th Birthday - Special Preview/Reflection

“THE BIG TWO ZERO”
TRADE 20TH BIRTHDAY – SUNDAY 31ST OCTOBER
SPECIAL CLUB PREVIEW/REFLECTION


Having not long returned from Berlin where we sampled a true clubbing legend in the form of Berghain, the byword for techno in this most dazzling of cities, it seems appropriate that we take a preview look at another clubbing legend, which may not have the purist techno base in its music like Berghain, but is definitely on the tougher side of the house music fence. And this coming Sunday marks a special celebration, as one very special clubbing brand turns 20 and looks like partying in true decadent style, like it did all those years ago when it launched itself on an unsuspecting public at Turnmills in Farringdon, going on to become one of the biggest phenomena’s of our time, transfixing everyone & anyone that graced its doors, meaning there is only one club we could be talking about here.

Trade certainly has made a huge impact on the global clubbing scene, yes global, this afterhours audacious event that started as an experiment in 1990 by Laurence Malice & his small team, soon grew into a brand that extended right across the world, regular tours of countries including Australia & South Africa and continents including Europe & Asia, meaning that there is hardly any corner of this wonderful world that this brilliant brand hasn’t touched in some form or other. Plus, Trade when mentioned to any ardent clubber, evokes everything that is exceptional about afterhours clubbing, the foundations of this legend in our lifetime, very much cemented in Sunday mornings, but often extending deep in Sunday afternoon, not quite the 18 hours of Berghain, but plenty long enough to make it one of the longest running afterhours, not just in time but in years.

Those years, 20 of them to be exact, have thrown up a veritable feast of D.J. talents & scene faces that have become inextricably linked with Trade, Laurence Malice without question being top of the pile, this larger than life character always the lynch pin in the success of the brand, both in London & overseas. In the halcyon days of the club at Turnmills, not a week would go by without Miss malice wafting around the club & even quite often diving onto the microphone come midday or 1 a.m., sometimes extending the party deep into Sunday afternoon, meaning that trade is never the same with Laurence in attendance. Other huge character’s in the clubs history include Trade Mark, the man responsible for all that iconic, Andy Warhol inspired art, that was very much the stamp on Trade as a club, the Trade baby probably THE most notable piece of his work, but scores of other creations making the walls of Turnmills at each event, the flyers for the club & the adverts in the press. But if you want to oook to one man (apart from Laurence of course) to tell you everything you want to know about Trade, then Tom Fuller is your man, for many THE face of Trade, or at least the first face you would see on entering the club. To say that he has the most memories & the most memorabilia on the club is an understatement and our reflection pales in comparison to what this man could tell you about Trade.

Laurence, Trade Mark & Tom aside, the list of others is endless, but no look back or preview (as this is) of Trade would be complete without listing some of the legendary D.J. talents that were very much Trade in those amazing years from 1990 through 2000, those incredible first ten years, for us meaning names such as Malcolm Duffy, Alan Thompson, Steve (Janet) Thomas, Rachel Auburn, Ian M, Tall Paul, Pete Wardman, Gonzalo & not forgetting the truly legendary Tony De Vit. Yes, plenty of other names have been linked with Trade, both in the latter part of the first 10 years, some more predominate in the second half of the clubs 20 year history, we including The Sharp Boys, Guy Williams, Fat Tony, Nick Tcherniak, Gabriele Cutrano, Lady Bianca, Lisa German & Pagano, to mention a few, but it will always be that original line up in those simply superlative days at Turnmills that will always be Trade.

Plus, in terms of D.J.’s no one can deny that. Like Laurence being the face of Trade, the D.J. most recognisable with the club will always be the late great Tony de Vit, a talent & individual who, without doubt, had the biggest following of any and commanded the most respect from his peers. Tony’s talents were simply incredible and not a week would go by without his sets being the pinnacle of perfection & peaking the club at its brilliant best. Whilst the whole concept on the music was to be a gradual build in pace, from the relative sedate style of Malcolm Duffy through the more rousing & raucous beats of Alan Thompson & Steve Thomas, to the ultimate end of Pete Wardman or Tall Paul, Tony’s music was right in the middle of the jubilant journey of sound that always had the biggest following & the best reaction. So, his untimely death in 1998 was a huge loss to the brand, although the magic of the divine Mr De Vit survives in the myriad of mixes he recorded for both Trade & for his own individual releases, “Global Underground” our most favourite & among the six separate Trade CD compilations he is featured on, represents the greatest memories of this magnificent man’s music.

So, those are some of the clubs legendary people, but what about Trade itself over the years? Well, it has transcended both the gay & straight markets, has attracted mega stars & celebrities through its doors, notable musical figureheads including Grace Jones, Madonna, U2, Boy George, & George Michael, while it has also be featured in a number of T.V. programmes, even a special documentary have been recorded back in 1996, recording for posterity both Trade back in the U.K. and its tour of South Africa with our own legendary Trade team of D.J.’s Malcolm Duffy, Steve Thomas, Alan Thompson, Tony De Vit & Pete Wardman. Moreover the club has featured in all the top music magazines, has been listed in both the gay & straight media as THE afterhours clubbing choice and was always an intrinsic part of the yearly Pride park parties in London, also featuring large on radio stations including Kiss FM and (of course) Radio One. Beyond that, Trade has been featured on virtually every single piece of merchandising you can think of, we even have our very own “Trade” bomber jacket which we continue to wear with pride.

But of anything which connects with Trade the most is Turnmills, a venue has featured large in the clubs history and remains its ancestral home, although with its demise as a clubbing hotspot in 2002, Trade has since found occasional homes at Ministry of Sound, The Arches, Fire & Colosseum & Laurence’s own club The Egg, and whilst weekly parties have given away to more infrequent gatherings, dates such as Christmas Day, Easter &, naturally, their birthday, continue to keep the Trade phenomenon alive. Now nearly 20 years old, the passion for Trade, particularly with those that were around in the early, dare we again call them, halcyon days, these people aptly called “Trade Babies”, remains as strong as ever and whilst they would all say, Trade is never quite Trade unless it is in Turnmills, nevertheless will be making the homage to this awesome afterhours event come Sunday 31st October.

And, of all the parties in recent years, their 18th anniversary at The Arches is probably the most notable, hence the team deciding upon a return for this landmark big two zero turn, the myriad of rooms as close to Turnmills as you could get, recent updates to this Southwark base (now called Arcadia) heightening the appeal and closing the deal as being the place to celebrate Trade turning 20. With the D.J. line up finalised & all other details confirmed, our preview of this brilliant brand is complete, so keeps your eyes peeled for our weekend post coming up, honing in on that all important info on Trade’s 20th Birthday, but make sure 31/10/10 is a date & Trade is the place as if, like us, your clubbing history is steeped in Trade, you simply cannot miss this euphoric event. (DISCO MATT)

Disco Matt-ers - "Oliver & Orange"

"OLIVER & ORANGE”
DISCO MATT-ERS
WEDNESDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER


This Saturday sees the massive re-launch of amazing afterhours club A.M., the Orange Group brand that has been reigning supreme for close on 10 years in the capital and amidst a whole host of “...careful tweaks...” is the introduction of a new promoter, taking the helm of this Vauxhall institution.

Without question, 2010 has been one amazing rollercoaster of a year for Oliver M, this enigmatic German probably best known for his D.J.’ing across Europe & the wider globe, but here in the capital, more for his club promoting, most notably his links with Spanish giant clubbing brand Matinee. It would be fair to say that some of its most successful parties in its four year history in London being while under Oliver’s steership, but as the New Year dawned, the change of Matinee London’s hands was undoubtedly top of gAylist headlines in the capital. However, despite this set back, Oliver not only threw himself into his D.J.’ing, but took stock on his promotional duties and amidst a fair amount of activity that included new ventures Matador & Impact, news came through that, not only would he be working closely with The Orange Group but would become the new promoter for afterhours club A.M.

So, given this momentous year for Oliver, as well as the exciting news that he would once again be in the thick of club promoting, we took the opportunity to devote our second “Disco Matt-ers” report to delving a little deeper into the twists & turns that have seen Oliver emerge as a key player in the Orange Group, also probing into plans for A.M. and what the future looks like in Oliver M land. In his inimitable fashion, he has responded with candidness & authority to our probing, answering his critics on this move he has made, his responses very much speaking for themselves.

Firstly, many congratulations on the appointment as promoter of A.M., tell us a little of exactly how this came about?

Hey Matt, thank you very much, I’m very excited to take over such an institution like A.M. and to be given the chance to be able to put my own stamp onto it. Well as everyone by now knows, I had a meeting with Craig & the rest of the Orange Group and we decided to work together on great new projects for the London scene. Craig told me that even though we were in competition for around 3 years, he did like what I did with Matinee and he asked me to take over A.M. to realise both his and my vision & ideas for this long running afterhours.

So, you will be working closely with Craig Elder & The Orange Group, how is this panning out and how do you see this new found working relationship developing?

I think we both went with caution into this new found business relationship but I have to say that I’m over the moon working with Craig and his family/team and I can for sure say that this is the current mood from both sides. We enjoy working and spending time together, that in my eyes is the most important aspect when working in a successful team.

We know you were involved with both club ventures Matador & Impact. Do you still have ties with the brands & if so, will we be seeing these emerge as new events within The Orange Group calendar?

Matador was invented by me and was promoted in co-promotion with a guy called Manuel Garcia and Barcode. However, there were some not so nice tactics being played out in front of me which made me leave the brand behind and to concentrate on the much bigger plans I have with A.M. I’m sure my crowd I brought into Matador will appreciate the much bigger scope I have at Fire and Area to offer them a top class D.J. line up & entertainment which I was not able to at Matador due to the budget given to me.

Impact was a club night promoted by me and my friend and fellow promoter Steve Elliott of Salvation fame, and this concept will come back soon bigger and better, so watch this space...

Some have questioned your connections with The Orange Group, given past history. What would you say to those critics that are confounded by this change of attitude & direction?

I’m not sure what all the fuss is about...is I’m sure 98% of the clubbing scene is not interested in politics and things behind the scenes but only in getting offered amazing night’s out for money which doesn’t break the bank. These sorts of questions have mostly been raised by insiders of the scene but, I say to those people that they have to try to move into the future instead of always living in the past. We did what we thought was the best thing and that’s it...

Moving onto your exciting new promotions challenge. A.M. is a strong and long established brand. What new elements will you be bringing to this successful Saturday morning outfit?

A.M. is one of London’s longest running after-hours and it’s been a scene institution for the last 9 years, but like anything which is runs for such a long time, it needs an slight nip and tuck here and there to make it current again. I thought that A.M. even though busy, is too straight these days and therefore I want to & will be introducing a strict majority gay Policy and any trouble makers or any who does not respect our gay clientele will be thrown out. I want to give A.M. back to the gay community with a stricter door. Also the feel of the party will be much lighter with more visual effects and surprises. The main floor music will be also giving a little make over and I will introduce more accessible sounds without being cheesy and still remain cool and forward thinking club.

Tell us what we can expect from the re-launch party in terms of D.J.’s & shows?

I will use most of the A.M. residents as they are a vital part of the success story of the brand, but I will rotate them from week to week and take a bigger more diverse D.J. team on to play, plus I will introduce some new unknown DJs to the scene. For the opening, the newcomer featured at A.M. is Joel Antunes who is playing the “Fresh” room, with a hot new underground sound. Other D.J.’s on rotation for the new look A.M. include Alan K, Andrei Stan, Gonzalo Rivas, Guy Williams, D'Johnny, Alessandro Londra, Fat Tony, Severino, Pier Morocco, Saki, Micky Galliano, Tasty Tim and Jonny M, plus international guest D.J.’s and exciting new D.J. talents...I will invite for the re-launch night D.J. Andrei Stan from Brussels, who plays at the massive La Demence party and the Box club, plus we have a P.A. in the amazing Lisa Millet of “Now You’re Gone”, “Bad Habit” and “Sleep Talk” fame, and the sexy Dylan Naylor, a violinist who plays an electric violin over house tracks and who wowed the crowds at the Salvation event at Space Ibiza where he played live during my D.J. set, the crowds went mad!!!

There have been lots of changes to Fire, how will these benefit the new look A.M.?
It will not just help A.M. but all of the club nights I think. Fire was Vauxhalls first mega club and its still is the biggest but the venue’s mainfloor needed a dramatic overhaul because the need of today's clubbers are much higher than years ago.

Turning to Oliver M as a D.J. What does the future look like for potential gigs in the capital or will you continue to concentrate on international prospects?

I will still play all my international gigs at clubs like, Space Ibiza,La Demence, Sexy, GreenKomm, Gay Village, Into the Tank and of course Salvation, because most of them are on a Saturday. For 2011 there are much more and much bigger gigs in the pipeline than this year & I expect it will be my biggest year as a D.J. yet.

We suspect you were thrilled to be part of the Beyond D.J. line on August Bank Holiday. Will you be playing there again and what about other Orange group events?

Yes, August Bank Holiday was my first ever Beyond ...I loved every minute of it and it was the biggest Beyond party yet. I played alongside my D.J. friends Rony and Andrei Stan and it rocked. For sure they will be more gigs coming up for the Orange Group like the B2B at the Colosseum this Saturday and “Massacre” in Vauxhall at Halloween. Plus you will catch me playing guest sets at A.M.

Finally, following your superb track release “Strings Of Motion”, have you been back into the recording studio and if so, what can we expect in terms of future releases?

Ohh thanks, Btw I just found out that “Strings of Motion” is now one of the biggest tracks in South America, being playing in most radio stations and in both gay &straight clubs...I just finished with my production partner and close friend Jean Philips a new track which is called “Paramount” and which is a progressive but uplifting instrumental tune in the “Downpipe” style. We are just waiting to get a vocal to be added by one of the major European house track singers. Plus there’s a new track is in the planning which I can’t tell you about yet as it’s a big surprise...


So, without question the future for Oliver both as a D.J. and as an Orange promoter is looking very bright indeed and we certainly wish him every success disco spinning career, in his new found working relationship with The Orange Group and for A.M. under his direction. Whilst Oliver has given us a good insight into plans for the changes to A.M., for our own look at the re-launch on Saturday, why not check out our Weekend Focus report at direct link http://discomattweekend.blogspot.com/2010/09/weekend-focus-am-massive-re-launch and for an insight to Oliver M’s latest D.J. sounds & studio works, check out his website http://djoliverm.com/ and/or his podcast page http://djoliverm.podomatic.com/. Plus, make sure that A.M. this Saturday (2nd Oct) is a date in your diary and join in the fantastic festivities at Fire, we will certainly be there to report on it all. And, if that wasn't enough, watch this space our forthcoming "Disco Matt-ers" when we probe The Orange Group's owner Craig Elder on changes to his empire as well as other develpments in his world. (DISCO MATT)

The Week - Event Preview

“SOURCED IN SAO PAULO, LANDING IN LONDON”
THE WEEK – SATURDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER
EVENT PREVIEW


There is little doubt that when it comes to carnival & to samba, the country that immediately springs to mind is Brazil and nowhere on this planet do a race party in ostentatious style more than the Brazilians, we should now, we bump into plenty of them trading extravagant dancing moves with us on Beyond’s dancefloor in any given week and such is the vitality & sense of community within this multicultural country that you get the sense that they very much know how to live life to the full. So, in the same way that all this goes for Brazil & Brazilians, like carnival & samba, when you mention the word week in clubbing circles, it means simply one thing, the massive institution & enterprise that is “The Week”, Brazil’s biggest nightclub by a long stretch. Such is the extent of this amazing brand and so proud of The Week are both the people behind the club and the people in front of its doors, craving for them to open at each & every event, that the strap line “Made In Brazil” is blazoned across all advertisements, billboards & posters connected with the brand that speaks volumes about the clubs origins.

And while those origins are very much in Sao Paulo, not just Brazil’s but the southern hemisphere’s biggest city, it was only natural that the Week would spread its wings across the country to Rio De Janiero in the east and to Florianopolis in the south, although it is back in its original home that the club has its hugest impact, regularly attracting well over 2000 people into its multi levelled host venue, that boasts two huge (and we mean massive) dancefloors, both illuminated with huge wall lighting blocks that stretch around & by banks of lasers that sweeping across the floors & walls of the club that rival anything you have seen anywhere. But as if that wasn’t enough, it also has an incredible outside area that includes a swimming pool & garden as well as extensive bar facilities, for clubbers to chill & grab a refreshing break from the action & heat inside and, naturally the crowd is full of handsome & scantily dressed go-go dancing boys, encroaching on the masses of muscular men & glamorous girls that The Week is renowned for attracting, many of the reviews of the club speaking for themselves in its praise, phrases such as “...a paradise for muscled guys...”, “...the best gay club in Sao Paulo...”, “a buff & gleaming crowd, some with shirts, many without...” common place.

It therefore came as no surprise that the biggest gay dance club in South America would soon be making tracks across the Atlantic ocean, having already gone the other way to Australia and following a hugely successful involvement in The Circuit Festival over in Barcelona in August, makes a return to Europe for a mini tour, the first of two stops being London and a project that is of the making by Lovechild & As One (amongst a host of other brands) promoter Alex Erfan, a man with the reputation for pushing the boundaries and attracting not just international D.J.’s but international brands to the capital, a perfect example being the massive undertaking that was the London Global Dance Festival in May. Mind you, bringing The Week over from Brazil is a much less daunting prospect than the former and with a pretty much readymade market here in London, a considerable population of gay & gay curious Brazilians very much part of the clubbing scene across the capital. Plus, given the fact that the party will be on a Saturday, it certainly stands a far better chance of succeeding than did the last undertaking from this part of the world, Rio, which was held at Heaven on a Sunday, only having limited appeal & draw, pretty much falling at the first hurdle.

So, with the scene pretty much set for the arrival of this Brazilian splendour, what can you expect from The Week in London? Well, all the razzmatazz of the carnival for a start, as everything that is characteristic of the sparkling dancing festivities that is so Brazilian, will be brought to bear on Fire, host venue for The Week on Saturday 18th September, Alex Erfan drawing in all of his contacts of Brazilian disposition, to join forces with the inbound team from Sao Palo to bring what the guys from The Week’s crew describe as “...the arrival of Brazil’s biggest club in the UK for the first time will include all the thrill, energy & passion that only The Week can deliver, will prove to be a night that London will remember and will blow the mind...” (we translated it from “raw” Portuguese!), with the London team chipping in to say “...added to this we will have the most amazing production and costumes to get everyone in that carnival mood and with the most super hot Brazilian dancer & performers to spice up the night, you will think you have been transported to Rio...” (no translation required!). And on speaking with Mr Erfan, boy have the team got loads of surprises up their sleeves in terms of those dancers, those effects & those costumes, much of which we have been told to keep under wraps, although we can tell you that not only are they drafting in the skill & knowledge of the Australian responsible for staging the magnificent Mardi Gras festival in Sydney, but extra special lighting & will be imported for Fire’s main room & installations provide by Obsquare, the organisation responsible for The Gallery & now The Supper Club in London. And with all three rooms, that is the mirrorarch, the main room & the lounge springing into action, expect no holds barred in terms of decor, display & dance.

And in terms of dance, there will be no excuse not to as the music is going to be absolutely top draw with London’s finest joining in-bound The Week resident Leandro Becker who will be jetting across to Europe for the mini tour & naturally will take centre stage at the London event. In choosing Leandro from the team of 11 resident D.J.’s back in Brazil, not only will he bring his amazing Brazilian charm, handsome looks &, we are reliably informed, incredible physique (turn u the heat in the main room boys, we want to see him take his top off), no surprise really as Mr Becker is yet another model turned D.J., joining the ranks of Marco Da Silva, Phil Romano & fellow Brazilian Leandro Kloppel, although, it seems this Leandro is revered back in Sao Paulo for his amazing ability to switch between musical genres to produced some of the most energetic & uplifting performances, drawing in elements of progressive, tribal, tech & electro house, much of it drenched with vocals that makes his performances quite breathtaking. It there is no surprise that he was a sure-fire hit at The Week’s party in Barcelona last month, the feedback received from his set there nothing short of feverish and we know he is tremendously exciting about coming to London & playing here for the first time.

Mind you Mr Leandro will be sandwiched in the main room by two talents that will be the perfect match for his skills behind the decks and in selecting these two mixing maestros, Alex Erfan will certainly be pandering to the London crowd, choosing probably the two most popular D.J.’s in both Steve Pitron & Gonzalo Rivas. Now, what we have said about these two individuals through a number of our music post focuses very much speaks for their brilliance & quality but you can pretty much guarantee Beyond-esque performances from both Steve & Gonzalo, mixing in all the uplifting & octane fuelled that make their sets simply spectacular. Mr Pitron is definitely the perfect fit for The Week style of music, his amazing ability to raise any atmosphere through his sumptuous selections of sounds, ranging from disco tipped dance to full on energetic house will no doubt go down a treat with the Brazilian contingent that we are sure the lovely Celso, Steve’s partner, will draw into Fire for this special party. But then the latin intentions of Gonzalo Rivas will surely also come into play and given recent performances at the big parties across the capital & beyond, Gonzalo will ensure the main room at Fire will be well & truly pumping with uplifting & tech infused beats for which he is more than capable of producing to exceptional effect.

But it won’t stop there as the mirrorarch will be given away to international megastar D.J. Paul Heron who has played in every single continent of the world, but unlike any of the other London stars, has played a number of times at The Week in Sao Paulo, so is very experienced in delivering to Brazilian tastes in more ways than one and he somehow seems to really come into his own in the mirrorarch, As One just a couple of weeks ago proving that, when he built up the room to magnanimous proportions. Joining him will be Sweden’s finest & London based Per Q.X. who has really hit the high notes recently with his single “Blow My Trumpet” and we know that his set will include a live performance of the track which we know you will recognise in an instant (check out http://soundcloud.com/perqx/per-qx-blow-my-trumpet), this record the perfect accompaniment for this Brazilian feast of a gathering, a will Per’s smashing sounds.

But the lounge will also be getting its say & will be go into latin overdrive as the man know best for his latino music intentions, Brent Nicholls, will be performing an exclusive “nu funk” set that will definitely have shades of his recent compilation entitled “No Americano” which has samba styled beats & uplifting tunes written all over it, as we are sure will his set on the night, so will definitely be a highlight of this The Week event. Now, we know his mix is still available to download for free, so go grab a slice of Brent’s Brazilian slanted beats at http://speedyshare.com/files/23798605/1008_NoAmericano_128.mp3) and prepare to be dazzled. As if all that wasn’t enough, to complete the D.J. line up & balance the Brazilian element brought to play by Leandro Becker, Alex Erfan will be introducing two London based D.J’s, one to the main room & one to the lounge and as soon as these details are finalised we will share them with out, but suffice to say, think samba, think energy & think vitality, as will the music be across all three rooms.

Now, we will bring you all the important detail closer to the event in a special extra bites post, but suffice to say, tickets for this amazing The Week event at Fire on Saturday 18th September have just been released for sale, so like the team always suggest back in Sao Paulo, its recommended that you get in early, advance tickets now available at the usual Soho outlets, Prowler, Clone Zone & DV8, as well as online at http://clubtickets.com/, all priced at just £10, so go grab yours now, so as not to miss out on this brilliant Brazilian carnival of a party.

Finally to get you in the uplifting carnival mood, why not check out this amazing record we found, which is being played out on the website for The Week in Brazil, http://theweek.com.br & is also available in a slightly more upbeat form via http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=JyfoKPzLJc0, this truly uplifting tune entitled “Happiness” by Alexis Jordan, having been given the remix treatment by Dave Aude and, we hope (having laid down the gauntlet) may get further mixing by either Mr Heron or Mr Pitron, possibly in time for the party next Saturday’s party, which looks like being a real gem. So it may be sourced in Sao Paulo, but it will definitely be landing in London, meaning The Week will be the place to be and as a result, like us, you should, Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)