London Global Dance Festival - Crew Club & Bar

LONDON GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL
LATER “THE GLOBAL EDITION” – SUNDAY 30TH MAY
INTERNATIONAL CLUB PROFILE – CREW CLUB & BAR


In our penultimate focus on the international clubs & outfits that will be gracing the massive London Global Dance Festival (LGDF), we take a look at South Africa’s premier gAylist club brand, “Crew Club/Bar”, who will be representative at the fifth event in the series of eight LGDF parties, Later’s “Global Edition”, which takes place at Fire tomorrow (Sunday 30th May), when resident D.J. Leroy Tayler will headline a U.K. based D.J. line up that includes The Oli, Paul Martin, Jamie head & Terry Bryan.

Having lived in South Africa during our informative teens & twenties and travelling back whenever we can, South Africa and particularly the countries so called “Mother City” is very dear to our heart, so we were very excited when we heard that a new club & bar was being launched within the Cape Town gay scene, being very much the new kid on the block, having made an immediate impact following its launch last May. Crew Bar has gained a reputation for stylish surroundings, drop dead gorgeous & often topless barmen, not to mention some of the best music that a vibrant Cape Town scene offers. Situated right within the compact yet colourful gay quarter , nestled between Green Point & De Waterkaant, Crew Bar stands proud just off the main drag into the city on Napier Street and combines with other venues in this gay hotspot to make an incredible circuit style attraction, ranging from uber cool restaurants through to full on nightclub experiences that see the stylist & flamboyant Capetonian gay society party from dusk till dawn & beyond, more often seven nights a week with no real respite. Crew Bar not only offers the opportunity to relax in comfortable surroundings, but with outside areas both at the front & the back of the venue, the alfresco style socialising & clubbing that is so characteristic of Cape Town can be enjoyed to excess at Crew. And the eyes are always continually pleased with virtual constant nighttime go-go dance displays and something the South African’s tend to do better than most, is serve up some drop dead gorgeous hunks of men and Crew is full of them every night.

But, it doesn’t stop there at the venue offers a superb dancefloor to party deep into the daylight hours as well as a very swanking VIP lounge/bar space where the glitterati of the Cape Town gay scene gather, before launching themselves on the dancefloor, which now also includes an added upstairs space, making Crew probably THE premier gay venue in town. And visitors constantly remark on just how they are impressed with Crew, comments ranging from “...the offer is outstanding...no entrance fee is a brilliant bonus...one of the best gay bars I have been to...” and “...an awesome bar & club...a great night out...”, need we say more?! However there is a lot more, not least in the very engaging owners, who can often be seen milling around the venue chatting with customers & making sure that the hospitality with Crew is virtually unrivalled. As supporters of gay businesses, clubs & events right across Cape Town, they often attract businesses to promote their services, using Crew as an ideal space to do so and were very much involved with the promotion of South Africa’s new gay adult outfit, Liberate Studio’s, hosting the launch party last year. Indeed they have welcomed international brands to host parties at Crew, most notably Salvation, which landed in Cape Town over Christmas and used Crew as a launch pad for their massive parties in the mother City back in December/January, as did Steven Sharp’s Orange, that toured Cape Town at the same time and who held an Orange style party at Crew on 2nd January.

Crew is also connected with Cape Town’s renowned Mother City Queer Projects organisation, which stages its massive annual event, “MCQP” in December each year across at the massive Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, evoking the massive outdoor dance events that are a feature of places like Madrid, Barcelona, Miami & Sydney and with Crew once again involved in the event for 2010, is no stranger to large scale festivals. And this month mark’s Crew’s 1st Birthday celebrations and will showcase that best of Cape Town talent that will include Josh Borril, D.J. Blaine, Miles Warren & Anthony Gareth. So, with their festival experience as well as being in birthday mode, inviting Crew to be part of LGDF was a straight forward decision for the organisers and Crew will add that unique South African spice to the eight event strong festival in the capital, bringing with it some of the smoulderingly sexy Capetonian hunks that we know you will adore.

So to get your slice of some South African splendour in London, make sure you head down to Later’s “Global Edition” party, which takes place tomorrow at Fire in Vauxhall, we know we will be in search of some nostalgia & desire for what we call as home. (DISCO MATT)

LGDF Special Preview - The White Party Miami Profile

LONDON GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL
MAIN EVENT – SUNDAY 30TH MAY
SPECIAL PREVIEW
WHITE PARTY MIAMI


With the Bank Holiday fast approaching, all eyes are pointing towards The London Global Dance Festival, that will be swinging into action tomorrow night (Friday 28th May), starting with the first pre-party at The Box in Covent Garden and the “official” opening event at Area, as “Onyx” plays host to the first of a veritable wave of international D.J.’s & entertainers, kick starting the truly global feel that will be captured in London over the next four days. However, it is the main event that gets our focus here and an extra special party that will be hosting the VIP reception, as well as taking its place within the event itself on Sunday.

So, what is The White Party? Well since its inception back in 1985, this annual event has become the largest worldwide HIV/AIDS fundraising contributor, this specially dedicated party taking place each November in Miami, with music being the central theme to the event, drawing in D.J.’s and artists from around the globe. The whole ethos of the party, however, is based on the support that it provides to those that are affected by HIV/AIDS and the wearing of white clothing at the party is intrinsic to its makeup, the co-founder of this now massive worldwide series of events, Frank Wager, being quoted as saying "...White stands for purity. white is elegant, non-political, non-combative and makes people look just plain beautiful..." and it is this simple message that has cemented the White Party as a symbol for breaking down prejudice and discrimination against those suffering from this terrible life threatening blood based immune deficiency condition. Care Resource, the organisation behind The White Party, which was developed from the merger of the original volunteer group, Health Crisis Network and Miami’s Community Research Initiative, today provides a “one-stop” location to primary medical care, conducts clinical trials and research studies and a whole host of other services in direct support to the whole community affected by this dreadful epidemic. And only with the massive fund raising from The White Party’s annual events, can Care Resource carry on with these all important, no-profit, multi cultural & community services, fundraising that has generated in excess of US$ 25 million over the years.

The White Party in Miami has sported some of the biggest names in the music industry that has included Chris Cox, Chus & Ceballos & Tony Moran, but also boasts an exhaustive list of D.J.’s and entertainers that star at the annual events, US drag queen stars including Kitty Meow, Vegas Dion, Velvet Lenore, Misty Eyez & Chyna Girl, as well as performers known across the Miami scene, including Debby Holiday, Jason Dottley, Joe Posa, & The Shawn Sutra trio, together with similarly well known D.J’s including Abel, Joe Gautheraux, Orin Nizri, Oscar Velaquez & Randy Bettis, the event also welcoming international D.J. stars including two that will be representing the outfit at LGDF. With the White Party phenomenon now extending way beyond Miami, with events linked to the original, taking place in cities across the USA including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles & San Francisco, as well as internationally, destinations for this amazing music festival brand including Melbourne, Montreal, Sydney, Singapore & in Europe in Amsterdam & Brussels, it is Miami that still remains the hub of activity, but nevertheless makes this a truly global brand.

So the fit with LGDF was a perfect one and The White Party will not only be part of the main event on 30th May, taking its place alongside new club brand on the block, The Face Of Ibiza, in Fire’s Lightbox room, but will more importantly be hosting the superb VIP reception, which will give guests the opportunity not just to meet up with all the international D.J.’s & artists jetting in for LGDF, but the chance to meet some of the people behind this massive Miami event and get a real feel of what The White Party is all about. And in this VIP reception, we are promised plenty of glamour & sophistication, very much the by-words of the annual fundraising event, but with music always being the central theme, played out in the Lightbox by White Party regular and a man that is (and should be) inextricably linked with it, Fabio White, while in the specially dedicated VIP room, our very own Brent Nicholls will be entertaining, he also having played at this incredible fundraising event in Miami before. So, best you grab yourselves one of those VIP tickets or places, so as to enjoy this extra special White Party experience and why not take a look at this fabulous video, giving you an insight as to the massive parties that take place in Miami each November, now it its 26th year, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIKsiB2ID1Y. Also, check out our special music post, focusing on D.J. talents Brent Nicholls & Fabio White and fulfill your complete White Party musical journey. (DISCO MATT)

London Global Dance Festival - Nightkomm Profile

LONDON GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL
MAIN EVENT – SUNDAY 30TH MAY
INTERNATIONAL CLUB PREVIEW
NIGHTKOMM


With the main London Global Dance Festival (LGDF) event on Sunday 30th May creeping ever closer, we are close on completing our special preview looks at those international clubs/outfits that will be part of this massive weekend of partying and now turn our focus to Germany and to uber chic underground club Nightkomm. This infamous club in Cologne, Germany, certainly evokes lots of images in the mind, but is, in fact, one of the country’s leading and longest running party nights that welcomes a truly mixed gay/metrosexual crowd that have music central to their sole. Nightkomm’s theme tunes are very much on the tech & trance side, but welcomes a whole host of other house music genres though the myriad of D.J.’s that take guest slots this prestigious German party.

While this is neatly displayed through the host of international stars that jet into Cologne, Nightkomm has some superb D.J. talent right on its doorstep, not least the fabulous Thomas William, who is the clubs main resident jock, the club is very much representative of the sound emanating out of Cologne & the vibrancy in the nightlife that sees Nightkomm drawing in massive crowds that end up being truly amazed by the incredible visuals, lighting & sound that the club generates. And in its home venue, Nachtflug, in the heart of Cologne’s vibrant Hohenzollering nightlife drag, the venue is a maze of incredibly lit corridors that lead to a main space which opens out in front of your eyes, having a glorious mix of podiums, stunning neon inspired backdrops, banks of video screens and multi levelled dance areas that give the whole space an incredible dimension. D.J.’s performing at Nighkomm feel right in with the middle of whole atmosphere and at one with the crowd, many of whom go to extra effort to dress to impress, giving this extra special club night quite a sophisticated feel, which is only added to by the host of glamorous drag queens, transsexual performers and muscular go-go’s that gyrate & perform in among the throng of clubbers, making for a truly energetic & extravert offering.

And the reactions of clubbers speak for themselves, many remarking that Nightkomm reflects “...perfect sounds, brilliant atmosphere, magnificent music...” even one review calling it “...the biggest discokugel in town...”. The monthly clubs always attract incredible attention and Nighkomm is very much at the centre of the annual pride events in Cologne, welcoming D.J. talent from far & wide to play, London’s own Oliver M often jetting across to play and the Berlin based Eduardo De la Torre also representing the club at outside events as well as playing at Nightkomm itself. But with resident D.J. Thomas William’s inextricable links with the club & with the Cologne based Sorry Shoes record label & D.J. agency outfit, many other stars guest at Nightkomm’s monthly parties, names like Chris Bekker, Jean Phillips & Mike Kelly and Spanish talents Ismael Rivas & Nacho Chapado have imported their sounds on regular occasions and gigs lined up both this month & next, with Nightkomm again in the thick of the action for both Cologne pride and the city’s colour festival this July, so as a club brand is no stranger to being involved in big events.

Therefore, Nightkomm will be a very welcome addition to the line up when it lands in London on 30th May for LGDF and will be proudly taking its place in amongst other big clubbing brands, but will have plenty of friends & connections with both Sorry Shoes and a host of inbound D.J.’s that have played for Nightkomm in the past. So, to get a flavour of what Nighkomm is about, why not take a look at some videos of the club, which you can find at the following links, http://youtube.com/watch?v=4XWnvQuEPsk, & http://youtube.com/watch?v=ANRbcDAbPiw, which link into further video clips including a six minute long clip showcasing the fabulous “Downpipe”.

So, to get your slice of underground German clubbing at its best, then a trip into the Nightkomm space will be well worth a visit and Thomas William, who will be representing the brand at LGDF, should certainly pack a musical punch. (DISCO MATT)

London Global Dance Festival - "S.O.S. Times Two" - Special Profile Preview

LONDON GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL
MAIN EVENT – SUNDAY 30TH MAY
INTERNATIONAL CLUB/OUTFIT PREVIEW
“S.O.S. TIMES TWO”


In the wider world when you see the letters S.O.S. you generally think of someone in distress, indeed since it was launched back in 1905, it became the global standard for people to transmit a message via radio and more theatrically, drawn in the sand to attract attention, although being a morse code signal there is no real attachment of words to the letters, although associations have included both “save our ship” & “save our souls”. But what does this have to do with the London Global Dance Festival (LGDF) and the clubs that will be represented there, well nothing really apart from those letters, S.O.S., which in fact stand for two massive brands, one Spanish & the other French, but both being renowned across the globe.

So, our first S.O.S. is the Spanish one and when you think of massive clubbing brands the list simply has to include this S.O.S., yes it’s Space of Sound, the huge dance & house music empire that is based in Madrid Spain, but extends its influence & energy right across the globe, whether it be through the comprehensive yearly tour programme which touches virtually every continent in the world, in the massive parties it holds back in it home city, through its own bespoke radio programme that beams around Spain & beyond, as well as its online television station, which definitely gives you a feel of this impressive & large scale clubbing experience that rivals any offering imaginable. Space Of Sound is part of the FSM group, Spain’s leading operator of clubbing entertainment concepts, which, having built up an extensive network & innovative reputation, manages to attract in incredible amount of top international stars to come & perform in front of massive audiences in Madrid, as well as being part of Space Of Sounds world tour, that definitely set this group aside from its competitors.

With a presence in Madrid since 1994, Space of Sound often spearheads many of the cities macro festivals which attract avid audiences of well over 20,000 and on a scale virtually unimaginable in London, the famous New Year festivals particularly attracting huge media attention. Through its collaboration with other clubbing brands like Matinee, Space Of Sound spreads its word beyond the Spanish mainland to Ibiza, although its core activity always remains in Madrid and such is the attraction of this Spanish clubbing giant, some of the world’s biggest D.J. has performed behind the decks, including Axwell, Armand Van Helden, Chus & Chebellos, David Guetta, Mike Kelly, Offer Nissam, Paul Oakenfold, Roger Sanchez and Taito Tikaro, to mention a mere handful and with a strong resident & regulars line up that includes Ismael Rivas, Jose Gonzalez, Sven Vath & Pablo Kopanos it comes as no surprise that the music quality & depth is without doubt the best you will find anywhere.

But an intrinsic part of Space Of Sound is the annual festival Infinita, known in Spain as “Infinitamentegay”, which is without doubt one of Spain biggest annual music festivals/parties, taking Madrid by storm every July and being the centrepiece of probably the worlds most explosive and prolific gay pride events. Unlike London, which shoe horns the gay community into closeted areas in their event, Madrid welcomes the gay community with open arms and not only does it turn the Spanish capital into a festival of gay celebration, but the whole city turns out in support, joining into festivities right across the weekend.

The concept of Infinita was born by massive group FSM (the organisation behind Space of Sound) and its roots & philosophies were always to bring together various business, media organisations, & large branded conglomerates, including giants Coca-Cola & Red Bull, who have once again endorsed the event this year, all these organisations having the same goal of supporting & promoting a strong LGBT society within Spain, the festival itself having music as the core activity, but welcoming artists from across the globe to join in what has become one of the most internationally renowned gay festivals. Infinita is an intrinsic part of Madrid Pride and stands at the single most biggest event, taking over the massive Telefonica stadium in the city, attracting crowds of well over 20,000, who party deep into the following day, with top international D.J.’s and artists flown in from across the globe.

Last year saw the biggest festival to date, with an incredible injection of glamour & glitz to match the stunning performers, showcasing everything that is supremely gay about this pride centre stage event, the shows based on the theme of “the conquest of space” with stratospherically intense performances including that from massive Spanish diva P.A. Vanessa Klein, who shot the party into orbit with a stunning show. Added to that was a fabulous D.J. line up that included Offer Nissam, Claudio Di Rooca, Jose Gonzales & Lydia Sanz, all who treated the audience to plenty of hand’s in the air sounds and well as deep euro beats that had the place pulsating, and with the combination of some of the most amazing dancers seen anywhere, as well as luminous lighting, massive production projections, the event ended up being the talking point of literally everyone who attended, definitely eclipsing London (and some) which held its own pride event on the same weekend.

Now in its eighth year, Infinita 2010 looks set to be bigger & better than before, opening proceedings on the Thursday with a spectacular party at Royal Club, with extra special shows & unique entertainment planned, then Friday continuing the build up to the big event, with a party at Macumba, “Shock” having been a real talking point when it was launched last year and will welcome back D.J. Peter Rauhofer amongst other stars. Then the main event itself on the Saturday will blow the mind and internationally renowned D.J. Offer Nissam has already been confirmed, this star having taken last year’s event by storm, rocking the Telefonica stadium to its foundations. But it won’t stop there as on the Sunday, Space Of Sound join the Infinita pride celebrations, throwing a massive closing party right in the heart of Madrid that other capital cities can only dream of.

This year has already seen the Infinita brand name touring across Spain, touching on Tenerife in February, Valencia in March & has more dates penned for later in the year. Included in the tour is LGDF and Infinita under the emblem of its mother ship Space Of Sound will not only be supporting and sponsoring the week long London festival, but will also be an intrinsic part of the main event on 30th May, bringing all the Spanish supersized show feel to the capital, injecting some real spice to proceedings for sure. But don’t just take our word for it, see it for yourself at http://youtube.com/watch?v=IyhM0WWpaH4, this link leading you to over 15 video captions of the incredible festival that is Space Of Sound’s Infinita.

So how do we follow that S.O.S.?, well with Sprit Of Star of course, one of France’s best & like Space Of Sound, has a near legendary status in its home country as well as across Europe. This Paris based outfit has been planning, organising and throwing parties since 1988 and during that time has built an impressive list of associations with clubs, not just in Paris and France, but right across Europe, the brand also establishing a host of parties to compliment the central theme, the massive pool parties that take place two to three times a year in the French capital and is this hugely successful event, that has spurned of a string of parties that have secured Spirit Of Star’s reputation for laying on the best quality gatherings, attracting massive crowds, whether it be in France, The Netherlands, Spain or indeed soon to be London, when the famous “Pool Party” will land in August this year.

The whole idea of Spirit Of Star was created by Michael Mau, an energetic and passionate individual who has used his skills & qualifications in the areas of PR, communication, internet design & fashion, to develop the brand as a superbly successful & professional outfit that has the desire to provide the best quality parties & events for a devoted national & international audience that gravitate on Paris for their succession of parties, central to its operation. And this desire has seen Spirit Of Star gain incredible loyalty, not only mobilising fantastic support for its events, often attracting numbers well in excess of 3000 at a time, but cementing its reputation as a top quality operator within the gay (some would say gAylist) male partying market.

As such, Spirit Of Star can command links with some of Paris’ best club venues that include La Loco, Barramundi, Elysee Montmartre, L’Etoile, La Scene Bastille, Le Madam & Neo Club, all that have quality, style & panache written all over them, so making for a superb fit with the Spirit Of Star ethos. But their links go far beyond Paris and renowned connections also exist with Heaven in Madrid, Salvation, Souvenir & Space in Barcelona and even Le Parking in Montreal, club brands & names synonymous with first rate gay partying right across the globe. However, it is with Paris’ biggest water park, Aquaboulevard, that Spirit Of Star has the most prolific of connections and it is here where they hold those awesome pool parties that have to be seen to be believed and are pretty much unrivalled anywhere in the world.

Naturally, music is also a big part of what Spirit of Star do and they have welcomed a whole host of international D.J.’s to play at their parties, the list including Peter Rauhofer, J Louis, Micky Friedmann, Chus Soler, Eric Entrina, Oliver M & D.J. Lugue, with residents Maue G, Little Nemo & Aurel Devil always proving really popular with clubbers that flock to Spirit Of Star’s season of events. And talking of those parties, this superb outfit has developed some of the best in the business, not least “Finally”, that was launched back in 2003, each event signalling massive lighting, visuals & animation, to compliment the best music offer which has seen the party not just make a huge impact in France, but has travelled across Europe. But within the Spirit Of Star family of parties, is “K-Liente”, a night of pure exuberance spread across three floors at the superb Maxim’s in Paris and often welcomes international club brands to guest in the second floor space, while its full on vocal house in the main space & experimental house genres on the first floor, a blend that keeps the uber chic & energetic clubbers coming back for more. Others include “& Go”, a Sunday morning clubbing experience & “Season Lounge”, another high quality party event attracting a like minded crowd.

So, with such a proud reputation & standing within the gay clubbing market, Spirit Of Star’s associations & involvement with LGDF was inevitable and Michael Mau’s incredible brand will bring with it some of that style & panache we have talked about and having strong sponsorship connections with London’s most prolific clubbing website, Seenqueen.com, the fit with between the operator that is Spirit Of Star, & what will be the biggest dance & music festival London has seen, is wholly appropriate, as will be the inclusion of resident D.J. Aurel Devil in the LGDF main event line up. And, to get a sense of just how prolific Sprit Of Star’s amazing pool parties are, check out their trailer video at http://spiritofstar.com/teaser/teaser.php.

So, it certainly won’t be a case of “save our ship” or “save our souls” with these two magnificent S.O.S.’s at the London Global Dance Festival on 30th May, but rather that both Space Of Sound & Spirit Of Star will be representative of the phrase “superbly outrageous stunners” as we are sure that is the impact they will have & we can’t wait. (DISCO MATT)

London Global Dance Festival - Propaganda Profile

LONDON GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL
MAIN EVENT – SUNDAY 30TH MAY
INTERNATIONAL CLUB PREVIEW
PROPAGANDA



Propaganda is one of Moscow’s longest established club venues that also serves as a bar & restaurant during the day, inviting a most cosmopolitan crowd of nouveau riche Russians, wealthy expats, local & foreign students as well as those either landing in Moscow on business or pleasure and looking for a satisfying pretentious free evening of great music and an enchanting crowd. Propaganda was very much at the forefront of an emerging gay scene when the old Soviet Union regime was overthrown and the previous censorship of gay culture & expression was relaxed, taking the then bold step to host on Sunday’s what has become THE most popular gay party in Moscow & indeed in Russia. So much so, that this club night, entitled “Chnatown” attracts the famous & the rich, whether they be artists, musicians, journalists or designers, so very much the cream of gay culture, but also in turn, draws a spurning gay culture across the city & from further afield.

On top of that Propaganda has sported a host of international D.J. talents that have included Paul Heron, Danny Verde, Steven Redant & Mickey Friedmann, who join resident Sunday nighter Tony Key, delivering some of the best house music sounds, this special club night having been part of Propaganda’s recent birthday celebrations, with guest D.J., New York’s Eric Kupper spinning alongside Tony. But the depth of this magnificent and long running club extends right across the week, Thursday’s also proving extremely popular when resident D.J. Sanchez spins tech house sounds and often introduces guest D.J.’s from abroad, the likes of Axwell, David Penn, Mark Night & D Ramirez having graced the decks of the club, with other specialist nights over Propaganda’s week long activity and even early sets from resident D.J. Studisky being beamed out across the city’s online radio show Headz FM.

And Propaganda or as it is more often referred to, “Propka”, receives plenty of accolades from visitors, especially those to its Thursday & Sunday night events, rapturous reviews on “The World’s Best Bars” website including comments such as “...Absolutely fantastic place! great people, amazing music, cheap drinks. a must in Moscow...”, as well as “...Sunday nights are the best, with international DJs spinning during the gay Chinatown night theme, beats anything else here!...” and “...The gay party on Sunday is excellent...”, all that really speak volumes for this very impressive & popular club and the reverence that the Sunday night gay event holds within the clubs calendar. And you can get a slice of the feel of Propaganda in action by checking out some video clips that include Denis Ferrer performing, via http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srl6nS7ZVyk, with information on the club also available at http://propagandamoscow.com/.

And with a big slice of Moscow landing in London on 30th May, there is no doubt that Propaganda will add a brilliant dimension to LGDF, the energy & the vitality of the Russian tech & house music scene being appropriately represented by both resident Tony Key & fellow Russian Tin Rotter, who both bring a wealth of talent & experience to this massive music festival. The club has been devoted its own space at Fire and will sport its wears from the lounge room, thus adding some London glamour to the Moscow offering and will be well worth a visit. (DISCO MATT)

London Global Dance Festival - Scream & Delice Profiles

LONDON GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL
MAIN EVENT – SUNDAY 30TH MAY
INTERNATIONAL CLUB PREVIEW
SCREAM & DELICE


Well, we have covered Italy’s finest, have given a big shout to Spain’s new kid on the block, so now it’s time to look at the crème de la crème from where else but France and here we focus on a club that always hits the high notes in Paris and a dance crew outfit based in Lille that never fail to make a splash in the parties to grace their presence with, whether it be in their home country or across the globe. Both of these French fancies will be landing in London for the main event and will definitely be injecting plenty of va va voom to proceedings.

First up is Paris super club Scream and there is no doubt that since its inception in 1996, this club has definitely stood head & shoulders above the competition in its home city of Paris, very much evoking all the fashion, glamour & style that this French capital is reputed for and as a result the club has attracted some of the biggest names in the D.J.’ing game & music industry. And this comes as no surprise as Scream has a very distinctive pedigree, being the brainchild of worldwide renowned megastar producer David Guetta, who, together with co-founder Ludo Menard, has definitely used his influence within the industry, not just to project Scream’s profile, but has secured the services of the likes of pop phenomenon Lady Gaga who performed her first European gig at the club back in 2008, as well vocal diva’s Rebeka Brown, Ultra Nate & Giovanna, each attracting huge audiences to the club and confirming its reputation for putting on massive parties.

It therefore goes without saying that Scream has also attracted the world’s biggest D.J. names that include Pater Rauhofer, Victore Calderone, Tracy Young & Mike Kelly, not to mention the talents of Danny Verde & Stephen Redant, both of whom will be familiar to the London gay scene So, along with superstar resident Ben Mason, the club is recognised for delivering top notch electro infused, progressive & tech house genre sounds that go down an absolute storm with the Paris crowd as well as international clubbers that crave for the fresh & fulfilling sounds that are very much a trademark of Scream, this enigmatic club brand having even hosted after parties for some of the world’s biggest pop stars performing in Paris, among them a spectacular event for Madonna.

It was inevitable that Scream would extend beyond its native home and is currently embarking on a world tour which includes parties in Amsterdam, Cologne & Madrid, will be part of the summer season in Ibiza, will feature in the massive Circuit Festival in Barcelona in August and as part of this tour will be shouting out as part of the massive main room line up at LGDF’s main event on Sunday 3oth May, with Ben Manson spearheading the musical direction and we are told Ludo Menard making a flying visit especially for the night. And for a glimpse into the glamour & party action that has Scream written all over it, why not check out these video’s, http://facebook.com/video/video.php?v=389074884110 & http://youtube.com/watch?v=TzuhpBeeJMk

Our other French fancy is the magnificent Delice is probably recognised as one of France’s biggest gay dance club party brands, having been established for over 8 years and having a presence in virtually every major club across the country, from Queen & Le Mix clubs in Paris through to its very own down in Lille, but has extended across five continents and has been part of major festivals in Rio, Miami, Sydney, but more famously at the massive Circuit Festival in Barcelona & the huge Xlsior week in Mykonos which forms part of this party group’s exhaustive annual calendar of events. Extending its energetic & extrovert activity over up to 22 clubs across the world, Delice adds its own extra special spice to parties that include those at La Demence in Brussels, Billy in Milan, Muccassissina in Rome, Fly Club in Toronto, but has also seen the group provide its stunning array of dancers for parties in Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza and Athens, but has also seen the team come to London on many occasions, supporting parties for club brands across the capital.

Such is the strength of the organisation, that it sports well over 8000 dancers on its books, influencing the dancefloors across the world virtually weekly and has also attracted some of the most renowned international D.J.’s to play alongside its bevy of beautiful dancers at their specialist parties, London’s very own Paul Heron being part of the team and very much in the thick of events in Athens, Lille and, of course, Mykonos, where he absolutely rocked the “paradise isle” with his magnificent music & along with Delice’s stunning dancers, has secured this premier party brands reputation not just in Mykonos , but wherever they play & perform, including the infamous red party in Antwerp. Also as part of the Delice team is ace vocalist Tonnic, known for rocking the dancefloors here in the capital at Trade, Orange & other events and she often tours with the group, injecting her own enthusiasm to the parties Delice hosts, along with other touring resident D.J.’s Jeremy Reyes from Paris & Mister Mola from Antwerp.

So, the team behind LGDF were very keen to bring Delice on board, not least securing the services of both Paul Heron & Tonnic, but also bringing to the festival the stunning choice of dancers to compliment the troupe teams sourced from within London and Delice will be providing much of the animation, dancing performances and heaps of gorgeous eye candy to add real spark to the main event, as well as extending to the plethora of parties across the whole festival, very much introducing added glamour & spice to proceedings. And for a taste of what Delice has to offer check out their website at http://deliceboys.com/ which has loads of images, visuals & video’s of the gorgeous Delice boys in action, or these other selection of fabulous videos at http://youtube.com/watch?v=IvJc4pHHoVw , http://youtube.com/watch?v=0ALOhnBfUJA&feature=fvw & http://youtube.com/watch?v=5NQLkbpQtIs&feature=related (we can’t get enough of these gorge Delice boys!!).

So, France will definitely be well represented at LGDF and we will definitely be biting into more than just a croissant of action in the hands of Scream and those gorgeous Delice boys across the weekend of 30th May. (DISCO MATT)

London Global Dance Festival - The Face Of Ibiza Profile

LONDON GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL
MAIN EVENT – SUNDAY 30TH MAY
INTERNATIONAL CLUB PREVIEW
THE FACE OF IBIZA


In the second in our series, focussing on the global clubbing brands that will be landing in London on 30th May, we take a look at new kid on the block, The Face Of Ibiza, which has already been making a splash & impact across the world, in advance of its official launch on the White Isle for the forthcoming summer season there and as part of its tour around the globe, includes London as an important stop off. Given the pedigree of the individuals involved, not to mention eye catching and awe inspiring shows, performers & artists that give you a real sense of being in Ibiza wherever they are, we will certainly be in for a treat when this fresh faced club brand casts its spell on the London Global Dance Festival (LGDF).

Created by two individuals that are themselves recognised as household names of the famous white isle, D.J. Oliver & Baby Marcelo, The Face Of Ibiza is a new Thursday & Saturday night clubbing concept of a party that will be taking up residence at one of the islands most popular clubs, Privilege, and promises to bring a fresh new & exciting look to partying throughout the summer season. Having worked closely together in Ibiza for many years, both Oliver & Baby Marcelo first found fame there when they launched the iconic club party La Troya, Oliver employing his skills in production & technical lighting, while Baby Marcello brought his experience in the theatre & stage, both combining with explosive effect and creating a brand that is now known right across the globe.

La Troya very much paved the way for their new venture and the name of this latest concept came quite easily, as Oliver was often labelled as “the face of Ibiza” and Baby Marcello’s drag persona is the very much the face of La Troya. As for this latest party incarnation, the whole ethos of the club night being based on it being “...the face of happiness, the face of joy...” and looking at the D.J. line up, there will definitely be amazing music on tap which will be supplied by Oliver & his team of residents that will include fellow Ibiza stars, Java, Javi Munoz, Valentin Huedo, all three household names at clubs such as Pacha, Amnesia, Privilege, Space & Cafe del Mar, each brining their own impeccable pedigree’s in the D.J.’ing game and offering a wide genre of sounds from chilled Balearic vibes, through to electro funk, deep, progressive & minimal house that will give the music offer incredible appeal. And the performances will also no doubt dazzle, with Baby Marcello at the centre of a plethora of artists, playing out mime, acrobatics and circus style acts & displays that are very characteristic of the Ibiza style of flamboyant showmanship and is very much at the heart of The Face Of Ibiza ideal.

In advance of the official launch this summer, Oliver & Baby Marcelo have already embarked on a worldwide tour with the new club concept to increase its profile and the results have been spectacular, with highly successful parties to show for their hard work, the tour having started back in December 2009 and has currently touched Bari & Ferrara in Italy, Moscow, Lyon, Miami, Rio & even Morocco & Egypt, closer to home in Bilbao & Valencia but much further afield in New York & San Paolo, but still have some exciting dates to come, not least Muccassassina in Rome, Discotheque in Barcelona and Rotterdam’s gay pride event. And it is clear that the message of the club has certainly got considerable recognition already and some of the world’s top D.J.’s & music industry names have already given their endorsement to what looks like being the biggest thing to hit Privilege in years. But an important part of the tour will in clued London and Alex Erfan, promoter of LGDF, is thrilled that The Face Of Ibiza will be part of the line up on 30th May and with both D.J. Oliver & baby Marcello flying in to represent this explosive & energetic club brand, you simply have to make a visit to their dedicated room to get you slice of The Face Of Ibiza action.

However, LGDF aside, there is little doubt that this new clubbing brand is going to be the talk of the white isle this summer and there is no better way to get a sense of exactly what The Face of Ibiza stands for than by going to the official website http://thefaceofibiza.com/, which is drenched with fantastic visuals & information, not to mention the fabulous theme tune of the club played out in all its glory. Why not also take a look at You Tube via http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGYLEY2Bfm0, which links you not just to the 3 minute video clip of the club, but a whole array of other video’s of Baby Marcello, D.J. Oliver and , of course, The Face of Ibiza. (DISCO MATT)

London Global Dance Festival - Muccassassina Profile

LONDON GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL
MAIN EVENT – SUNDAY 30TH MAY
INTERNATIONAL CLUB PREVIEW
MUCCASSASSINA


When we gave you a preview insight to the huge London Global Dances Festival, a weekend of all encompassing parties, showcasing a whole host of top international D.J.’s, we also hinted towards the involvement of some major global clubbing brands & party outfits and in a small series of further previews, we will be bringing you our take on these brands and what they will be bringing to the festival. So, first up in our series is our focus on an Italian giant club brand that will be taking its own dedicated room at the LGDF main event at Fire in Vauxhall on Sunday 30th May.

Muccassassina in without doubt Italy’s most flamboyant & glamorous gay clubbing events which takes place every Friday at Club Qube in Rome, boasting the most cosmopolitan crowd of ardent clubbers in search of some of the finest music that this Italian capital has on offer, as the glitterati of the city’s gay scene mix in splendour with their uber chic & straight clubbing cousins, as well as a dazzling doze of head turning transgenders & an intriguing injection of inquisitive queens that give this weekly event a truly awe inspiring atmosphere and has often been summarised as being “very sexy, having a definite circuit party feel & offering a complete experience”.

Having celebrated its 20th Anniversary back in November 2009, Muccassissina has established a firm reputation for putting on the most splendid events, speaking massive volumes through the music offering which is unbeatable, thus attracting some of the world’s biggest D.J. names to play, including Junior Vasquez, Mike Kelly, Max Morel, Taito Tikaro & Pablo Kapanos, but also draws in the cream of the London talent, names such as Paul Heron, Per Q.X., Guy Williams, Brent Nicholls, The Sharp Boys & Gonzalo Rivas to mention just a few, although linking in with Italian D.J. talent always seems to go down very well, Pagano & Severino having graced the clubs decks on many occasions and both Danny Verde & Phil Romano being firm favourites, complimenting the strong resident D.J. line up that includes Claudio Di Rocco, Micky Galliano, Luigi Rossi, Gianluca Pacinni, & Fabio Lanzone.

Spread across three floors, the club event hosts three distinct genres of sound, from uplifting & commercial house, through to more progressive, tribal & electro genres, also serving up a taste of hip hop & New York style underground sounds that offer an enticing blend of music styles catering for a wide variety of tastes. Add to that the stunning array of performers, whether it be muscled go-go dancers, resident drag queens that include Fuzia, Alba & Tsunami, along with extrovert vocal talents Mark & Matthew as well as Miss Mandengo, all draw together magnificently by the musical & performing direction of the flamboyant Diego Longobardi and you can just imagine why Muccassissina is not just the talk of Rome & of Italy but has a global reputation for its stunning shows & extravagant events, testament to that fact being the collection of club brands that have collaborated with Muccassissina, in the past like global sensations Salvation & Space of Sound as well as London favourites Crash & DTPM, attracting an international audience as well as cementing its impeccable reputation in its homeland.

So, Muccassassina will take its place within the main LGDF event, hosting the Mirrorarch space in Fire on Sunday 30th May and two of its most prestigious Italian D.J.’s Danny Verde and Phil Romano, will be flying the Mucca flag. But it won’t stop there, as the clubs creative director, Diego Longobardi, will be jetting in especially for the night, bringing a band of his performers, dancers & singers to really inject that extra special feel to the space. And we are definitely looking forward to sampling a taste of gay clubbing Italy at its best and this will be one room that you won’t want to miss out on for sure. However, don’t just take our word for it, to get the full flavour of this amazingly energetic, extravert & glamorous club & to get a sense of exactly why it commands a slot at LGDF, why not check out their “official” website at http://muccassassina.com/ or indeed take a look at some amazing videos via You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72aq5igiuzU, which links into over 12 video clips of Mucca events/parties and feel the passion & glory that is Muccassassina. (DISCO MATT)

London Global Dance Festival

LONDON GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL -
SPECIAL PREVIEW
WEDNESDAY 12TH MAY 2010


We can be very proud of the depth of talent across our gAylist/land/metrosexual scene in the capital, for sporting a huge depth of talent & choice, whether it be in the different venues, club, bars & businesses, in the range of promoters & entrepreneurs that constantly strive to make the scene a stronger & better place, but moreover in the depth of D.J. talent that, week in, week out, deliver top quality sounds meaning that clubs across the capital can be proud of offering truly world class music to the hoards of discerning clubbers & socialites that make our scene one of the most prolific in the globe. Yes it’s true that we don’t always do everything the best, Madrid is renowned for putting on a much more prestigious Pride event, & Sydney’s Mardi Gras festival remains one of the world’s strongest & most reputable gay gatherings, but there are plenty of reasons why other countries & cities look to London, not just for inspiration, but as a place that leads the way in innovation & music styles.

However, while we can be very proud of our home-grown talent and those international D.J’s that have made London their base, there is a veritable feast of great jocks across the five continents of this amazing place we call Earth (couldn’t find any in Antarctica though!) and in many ways, this was the inspiration behind the concept of creating a global festival, drawing on some of the crème of the crop of disc spinning masters, to join forces in one massive event, in the thick of what we have described as the strongest scene’s in the world. And so the London Global Dance Festival idea was born, the concept of one man, a club promoter who tirelessly delivers the best in every event that he launches, delivering on his insatiable appetite for bringing top class & first rate performers to strengthen our scene in London. Alex Erfan will be known from his days involved with Salvation way back when, but more latterly for launching & improving the brand Lovechild in London, as well as being behind what we have called the success of 2010 so far, As One, this event in itself testament to his skill for bringing together, promoters, clubs & D.J.’s under one roof to create a prolific & popular party.

But never wanting to rest on his laurels, Alex decided that London deserved an internationally renowned gay dance festival to not just showcase London’s ability to host & put on a massive & fabulous event, but to collaborate some of the biggest D.J. names & clubs from all corners of the globe. And in the London Global Dance Festival, that is exactly what he and his team have set out to achieve, serving up a weekend of parties around one huge event that will bring together over 20 internationally renowned D.J.’s & producers, joining the crème of London’s best, not to mention some of the world’s biggest gay club brands from Europe & further afield, all who will form a incredible partnership of clubbing & musical excellence never seen before in London. Plus, in bringing so much talent to the U.K., The London Global Dance Festival will rival the likes of Miami’s Winter Music Conference & Barcelona’s own Circuit festival and thus cementing London’s reputation for being the hotbed of top class club eventing, also linking in some of the capitals most renowned & successful club brands.

So, that is the concept, but what about the detail? Well, the London Global Dance Festival will be taking place across the bank Holiday weekend of 28th to 31st May, that’s Friday through Monday and will encompass eight separate parties including the main event itself which will be held at Fire on Sunday 30th May. And it is recognised that Vauxhall is the centre of gAylist clubbing in the capital, so all eight parties will be based in this popular south of the river clubbing village, sharing the events & D.J.’s between two of the major clubs, Fire & Area, encapsulating club brands, Onyx, A.M., Queer Nation, Beyond, Later & Orange within the weekend long schedule, all as delightful tasters & celebrations of the main event itself. So, in these various club brands, not only will there be a fusion of international & London sounds, with each party having representatives from across the globe, but each event will have the London Global Dance Festival (LGDF) as their central theme for the weekend, right from the launch at Onyx, through to the Orange afterparty, clubbers will be treated to some of the best music, production, lighting & visuals seen & heard anywhere in the world and with talent coming from both North & South America, Europe, Africa, Asia & Australia, there is no doubt that the result will mean that London & more importantly Vauxhall, will have a truly global feel right across the whole weekend.

In terms of the schedule, the various parties will be as follows :-

Friday 28th May Onyx “International” at Area 10 p.m. till 5 a.m.
Saturday 29th May A.M. “Global Edition” at Fire 3 a.m. till 11 a.m.
Saturday 29th May Queer Nation at Fire 11 p.m. till 6 a.m.
Sunday 30th May Beyond “The Universe” at Area 6 a.m. till 1 p.m.
Sunday 30th May Later “Presents” at Fire 11 a.m. till 7 p.m.
Sunday 30th May LGDF Main Event at Fire 10 p.m. till 7 a.m.
Monday 31st May Orange LGDF Official Afterparty at Area 6 a.m. till 6 p.m.
Monday 31st May LGDF Recovery Party at Fire 10 p.m. till 7 a.m.

with each party surrounding the main event drawing a truly international theme as a backdrop to their award winning and successful party philosophies. Now, rather than bogging you down in massive detail now, in a series of posts running up to the weekend itself, we will be providing a full insight into each event and what will be on offer. However, to give you a flavour of the main event itself, you can expect the collaboration of International club brands that will include Scream from Paris, Space of Sound/Infinita from Madrid, Muccassissina from Rome, Propaganda from Moscow, Crew Club from Cape Town, and new club brand The Face Of Ibiza, as well as international clubbing outfit Delice, gay partying brand Spirit Of Star and industry renowned record label & agency Sorry Shoes, with this main LGDF event having an upfront, fresh & truly international flavour.

Now, the London Global Dance Festival weekend will clearly be a celebration of the best music on offer across the globe, with the main event itself offering a succession of different sounds spread across six rooms of action &, as we have said, will have a distinctively international feel to it. Not only will you be able to sample the latest cutting edge sounds from all five continents under one roof, but this LGDF main event will draw in massive internationally renowned names including Danny Verde, Phil Romano, Steven Redant, Ben Manson, Leomeo, Ismael Rivas, D.J. Oliver, Danny Tuval, Leroy Tayler, Tin Rotter, & Tony Key, each representing either a club of concept across this main event. Then with a wealth of additional D.J. talent across the other seven parties including Dikky Vendetta, D.J. Luque, Chris Bekker, Alex Taylor, Mike Kelly, Ivan Gomez, Jean Phillips, Thomas William & Nacho Chapado, each taking centre stage at their respective outings, a truly international flavour to these London based club brands will exist. Like the various events, in a series of “Music” posts, we will be giving you an insight to each D.J., familiarising you with their work & sparkling C.V.’s as well as fitting them into the amazing musical jigsaw that will be the London Global Dance Festival.

But, while music is clearly the linchpin to the festival, it won’t just stop there, as the best that the globe has to offer in the worlds of lighting, production, pyrotechnics & visuals will be on display across all eight events, as will be a stunning array of world class performers, dancers & artists that will add a real sense of carnival, drama and excitement to each party. There will be stilt walkers, angle grinders, fire eaters, circus characters & of course a veritable feast of delicious eye candy in the form of stunning muscle go-go dancers, from the best of London’s outfits as well as the lovely Delice boys, Muccassissina will be flying in its infamous drag artists & song stars & Space Of Sound have a whole team of performers jetting in from Madrid too. Each international club represented at the LGDF main event will be bringing their own stunning production, which will compliment the world class lighting & effects that Fire is renowned for and with amazing visuals characterising the different spaces, not to mention an international feel to all the other events, expect to be blown away by the truly global extravagance that will result.

So, now that you know the basis of what will be one incredible festival, keep your eyes peeled for more our upcoming reports, detailing each & every club brand & party that will be taking part across the massive festival weekend, as well as extensive profiling of all the international guest D.J.’s & performers coming up in our specially dedicated “Music” & “Preview” posts. We will also be bringing you the latest hot off the press news as the weekend draws nearer, giving more detail on that all important information of ticket sales, availability and website links to guide you through what will be the biggest event to hit the gAylist scene in the capital, the London Global Dance Festival. (DISCO MATT)