Disco Matt's - Club/Bar/Events Previews & Special Reports

"Doing The Disco Matt" - DM Reports

2010-12-08T08:17:00.002Z

“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)

2010-12-07T19:53:00.001Z

“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

2010-12-01T11:34:00.005Z

“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

2010-11-27T14:37:00.005Z

“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

2010-10-28T14:48:00.004+01:00

“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"

2010-09-29T14:48:00.005+01:00

"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

2010-09-08T06:07:00.004+01:00

“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)

Disco Matt-ers - "Beefing Up Beyond"

2010-08-28T14:22:00.005+01:00

“BEEFING UP BEYOND”

DISCO MATT-ERS
SATURDAY 28TH AUGUST

Firstly welcome to the new addition to the Disco Matt family of posts, Disco Matt-ers, a concept born out of the need & desire to create a vehicle to allow us to delve deep into the issues of the day and answer many of the questions you yourselves are asking. We will tackling topics of the day, exciting changes in the club, bar & events scene and also dealing with the tricky issues that the more mainstream press outlets tend to avoid. As a result we will be pushing the boundaries a little but in doing so will give club & bar owners, promoters, event organisers, D.J.’s & scene figureheads the opportunity to respond, having put them on the spot in full & frank discussions & interviews. Disco Matters will deliver transparency & unbiased reporting with the ultimate aim, like all of our posts, to make the scene a stronger & richer place.

So without further ado, let’s crack on with our first Disco Matt-ers entitled “Beefing Up Beyond” which is as a result of our recent special report on the massive afterhours phenomenon that is Beyond, a club brand that has very much dominated the gAylist clubbing market in recent months and has, as a consequence, been under microscopic attention resulting in a few issues that we highlighted in our recent special report “Disconcerting Developments”. Therefore, in the spirit of fair play we thought it only right to allow those people in a position to respond to the issues, the right to reply, so in two exclusive interviews we pose questions Beyond’s promoter Steven Sharp & the forthcoming “Super Size” party room two host Oliver Mohns.

Steven Sharp is one half of the famous D.J./Producer duo that is The Sharp Boys, who have been at the cutting edge of the music scene for well over 15 years, amassing a myriad of club residencies & music mixes in their time within the Industry. However, Steven has also branched out into the club promoting game and is the man behind the recent successes of Monday morning afterhours club Orange and can now also add the Beyond feather to his promotions cap. In advance of the massive Bank Holiday party “Super Size”, we posed some probing questions on recent & future developments in the life of this amazing afterhours club asking.....

Disco Matt: So, welcome back to promoting Beyond and tell us, why the short break away?

Steven: Thank you very much, it’s great to be back and the reception I have had from the clubbers, D.J.'s and staff alike has been extremely positive and warm hearted. In all honesty Craig was concerned that promoting two major parties (Beyond & Orange) within 24 hours of each other was taking its toll on my health. On some of the Bank Holidays I was inside a club for nearly 30 hours with just 6 hours rest between the shifts. I’m still promoting both clubs but what has changed is I now have a wonderful assistant Philippe Giovanni Chiarella who is spot on and can thankfully take some of the pressure off me, he has made a huge difference and he is fantastic to work with.

We were really impressed with the impact & changes you made first time round, although, certain elements have recently affected the quality & feel of the club. What are your priorities now you are back promoting this fabulous club?

On your first point I thank you for noticing, I have been involved with Beyond since the beginning and have always had a passion for the night, but I do need to add that all clubs go through phases of ups and downs, we are in a recession after all and clubland is currently more unpredictable than ever. It upsets me if some clubbers feel certain nights didn’t live up to memorable others but I always endeavour to make sure everyone who attends Beyond will have the best time possible. I’m very approachable and will deal with any concerns that anybody has with their Beyond experience. Customers have less disposable cash for their entertainment than ever before so I am truly grateful when they decide to visit one of my nights. If you do have a problem ask any member of staff to radio Steven Sharp and I will do my upmost to resolve it.

Tackling the main issue we raised in our special report, what steps are being taken to manage the straight/gay mix in the Beyond?

We have a great team of door pickers (headed by Tom Fuller – who previously ran the legendary door at Turnmills for over 15 years) and security who all are more than aware that Beyond is predominately a gay party. We do not allow groups of straight guys or girls into the event. Obviously many gay customers have numerous straight friends who like to go clubbing together. Occasionally like with all club nights a problem customer sometimes slips through the net, but I can assure you that if a gay person has any concerns about a fellow customer or has received any form or hostility, aggression or homophobia I will eject them from Beyond with immediate effect, and believe me I have on the thankfully rare occasions. If I witness anyone being rude to the door staff when I am assisting getting the queue in quickly I will turn them away at the till without hesitation. It is however never an easy thing to get the exact mix of straight/gay correct to make every single clubber at Beyond completely 100% happy every single week, but I honestly feel overall, we do a great job. All my promotional activities with the night are aimed at the gay market, you won’t ever see our ads in straight magazines, we are proud and welcoming of our fabulous gay customers, you guys made the club what it is today and we will never forget that. The whole team puts on this night for YOU!

There is a question mark over the power that the security have on entry to the club & the preferential treatment they sometimes employ. How will you be managing this?

Our Security team are very experienced and I have never witnessed any preferential treatment to Straight people. If I did I would obviously deal with it immediately. I promote two nights in Vauxhall with the same team and I personally hold the highest respect for them. They are fair and professional and if I ever have a concern about anyone either at the door or inside the venue they assist me swiftly and efficiently.

Clearly, we were impressed with how you personally dealt with the incident involving the violent act against us in the club recently. However, having been informed of an increasing amount of similar incidents, what is your stance on this & how do you see it being managed out of Beyond?

As I have previously stated I am completely approachable and if any such incident is brought to my attention I will establish the facts and make a decision. Anyone can contact me through email privately on my “stevenreactsharp” Facebook page and I invite any clubbers who have experienced any type of aggression to get in touch. I am a total pacifist and condemn violence in any form. From a D.J. perspective as one half of the Sharp Boys I have fortunately travelled the world playing both gay & straight clubs and in over 16 years in this career the most fights or aggressive behaviour I have ever witnessed is always in straight clubs which makes me even more proud to be gay and the gay scene in London so much more friendly and warm. As a promoter the last thing I want to do is to change this unique quality that sets our scene aside, if anything I want to embrace it. With every event I promote I strive to create the most relaxed environment for happy clubbers regardless of their sexuality who want to have “FUN” and respect their fellow dancing companions. If there was no “fun” in clubland then we all might as well stay at home, drink a hot chocolate and watch “Last of the Summer Wine”!

Turning to the club itself, we here that changes have been made to the venue, so can you tell us about the major ones?

Well, well, well...it’s all very exciting....where do I begin?? The Main floor at Area now has a custom built two tier stage which will mean that we can produce bigger shows than ever before! The floor level stage has a multi revolving centre piece which is incredible and a brand new rig of astonishing lights. The staircase which used to host one of our coat checks has been removed and the ceiling above the main floor bar has now been pulled back to create a spectacular new high performance stage with projections and additional lights. Over in the all new extended Black Box the wall between the Chapel bar and the dancefloor has been knocked down, it has made a huge difference and is almost unrecognisable; I’m sure the loyal Beyond devotees will be impressed, the whole production team has been working 18 hour days to get to where we are and it shows!

Beyond is always extremely popular on Bank Holiday weekends, what are your expectations for the forthcoming “Super Size” event and what can we expect in terms of music, performances & entertainment?

As I have always said to people Beyonds’s music really does speak for itself. I’m very fortunate to be working with such a talented and dedicated group of unique mixing maestros who know their craft –let me try to explain why I rate them so much: Beyond every single week from now on will start at 4:30am with the Masterplan Man who always gets the party off to a blinder Paul Christian. Musically, Paul is genius! deep & tough in equal measures, he sets the mood perfectly, his building technique is sublime – I’m a big fan! Then we come to David Jimenez; a man with an astonishing ear for the fiercest beats in the land and a heart for the deepest bleeps in mankind! Gonzalo Rivas is the maverick of the team, totally versatile, always flawless and I have never heard him and not been impressed. Then there is Hifi Sean – a secret weapon of Tough Grooves with Disco influence, forever the perfectionist, sensational delivery every time. From Sweden via Berlin we have D’Johnny – the master of anticipation and sonic corruption, dark & uplifting in equal measures – he always rocks! Lest we forget Jamie Head, his tough funky house is as bright as his smile!, a wicked sorcerer of relentless house with a unlimited talent! So we head to our main floor key operators & first Steve Pitron, the wizard who creates a unique form of Beyond magic every time! Acapellas a plenty on top of the finest cutting edge new music around – Steve sets the blueprint for every aspiring new D.J. to follow! Mikey D tones and directs the Main Floor with multiple peaks like there is no tomorrow!, contemporary house with his extensive palate for hands in the air mayhem! Mr Alan K has recently been flying the international Beyond flag in Mykonos & Amsterdam alongside other UK cities. His always euphoric and uplifting style has propelled him into one of most popular D.J.’s at Beyond – I don’t call them my “Beyond Perfection D.J. Team” for nothing as they never fail to raise the standard of afterhours clubbing. Also for Beyond “Super Size” we have invited the German Club “Sexy” to this event to add yet another unique element to this weekend. The main stage show will have a “Burlesque” feel to it with a five foot martini glass and the biggest dance troupe we have ever booked! Our fantastic artistic directors Shaun Capewell & Elektra have been so busy purchasing the costumes and walking the dancers through the choreography. I have headed into the Sharp Studio and edited with James Hurr the soundtrack to the show and full rehearsals have been ongoing throughout the week at the venue. Another exciting addition to the event is the much anticipated return of the futuristic performance artist, Globot, who has been extremely popular on his previous visits. If you have never experienced a 9ft Robocop shaped walking LED Giant dancing next to you and your friends then Beyond “Super Size” is the place to head to this weekend! As always we like to push the Bank Holiday boat out further than the others so we have not one but two incredible PA’s: Supersexy Cass Fox who is amazing live and recently rocked Brighton Pride with her huge hit “Touch Me” plus the wonderful Peyton is back! He is one of the sweetest guys and very popular with our crowd. He completely rocked Area last year for one of my “Orange Summer Of Love” parties so he is always welcome – his vocal is divine! It really is set to be the biggest Beyond ever!

We also took the opportunity to talk with Oliver Mohns, the man behind Evolved events and previously responsible for promoting Matinee in London. In a rollercoaster year, Oliver has tackled a number of challenges and is now working closely with the Orange Group, not least hosting the second room at beyond “Super Size” this Bank Holiday. So we asked......

Disco Matt: Following recent developments, we see that you will be part of the Beyond “Super Size” event this weekend. How did that come about?

Oliver: Well after Craig and myself decided to cooperate and work together on some of his projects he ask me for a great International brand to host the newly re-designed black box which now will be known as the chapel bar.

So, you will be bringing the German club “Sexy” to London. Tell us a little bit about the brand & your connections with it?

“Sexy” is Cologne’s answer to the Spanish mega brands out there at the moment. It’s a very stylish and exciting monthly party with the biggest International guest D/J’s and performers and in an amazing venue called the Opernterassen. Its run my Andreas Linek and Chicos event, Cologne's biggest club promoter who also run the yearly Colours event for 10.000 gays in a stadium at Cologne pride.

We hear that “Sexy” will be taking over room two (formerly known as the Blackbox). How do you see the re-designed space working & appealing to the Beyond crowd?

Well the black box itself was before a dance space separated from the bar and it was quite boxed in. Now Craig and his team have opened it up to the bar with the massive church stained galls window as visual focal point at the end of the room. It really is now more like a 2nd main floor, which makes it very exciting and I’m sure Beyond and all other clubs at Area will benefit from the redesign.

The line up in this room includes two international artists, Sexy’s resident D.J. Roni & La Demence’s Andre 1, What will they be bringing in terms of music style to this Beyond event?

Rony is Cologne’s Chico’s events resident D.J. and a very famous producer in Germany who had some massive hits with last year’s “I feel Love” remake and this year’s “Colours” theme tune “Colour of Love” His style is quite progressive and tribally but still full of energy with a few vocals and anthems thrown in for good measures. The same counts for Andrei Stan, he is very young and talent D.J. and already resident at the massive La Demence party and Box club in Brussels , he got the amazing ability to just read the crowd and play the right music at the right time and to lift the crowd up even at 11am in the morning.

Will you be D.J.’ing at Beyond Super Size & if so what can we expect from your set?

I will be playing my first ever Beyond set in the “Sexy” room and I’m determent to make my set one of the highlights of the night. I want that people remember Beyond “Super Size” for the rest of the year not only in terms of the amazing production but also the music.....I see you all there hopefully.

Finally, we turned back to Steven to point us into the future of Beyond and what we can expect from him & the brand, posing the question.....

Looking onward from the Bank Holiday, is there anything special we need to keep our eyes out for like new D.J.’s, club combo’s etc?

Steven: Beyond is forever evolving and the new interior alterations at Area give the team & me a whole new chapter to write in its future history. One thing I like to think I am not is complacent, so there will be lots of new themed parties and full performance shows over the forthcoming weeks and months. The new stage set up now enables me to book many more regular PA’s than before and my provisional enquiry list is looking very promising! The final details of a brand new membership card scheme are also being fine tuned ready for an Autumn launch. There are lots of new plans in store, I am very confident I won’t let any of you down, so in short we really are entering a brand new exciting era for the club which personally I can’t wait to explore, envisage and deliver for you all!

Now, having seen the changes made to Area for ourselves at Onyx “Digital” last night, we can certainly vouch for many of the improvements, which, once bedded in, should prove very popular with the Beyond faithful. The opening of the Black Box is a triumph & will boost the appeal of the space and in combination with the increased size of the main room dance space, means this upcoming Bank Holiday “Super Size” experience should be a less cramoed & more comfortable one.

We would like to thank both Steven Sharp & Oliver Mohns in being so candid with their responses and take the opportunity to wish both them & the whole team involved with Beyond, a fantastic “Super Size” Bank Holiday party and be rest assured that, despite commitments this weekend, we will be back to Beyond very soon. (DISCO MATT)

"Amazing Amalgamation" - As One - Sunday 29th August

2010-08-27T14:28:00.002+01:00

“AMAZING AMALGAMATION”
AS ONE – “MASSIVE FUNFAIR GARDEN PARTY” –
SUNDAY 29TH AUGUST
SPECIAL PREVIEW

As 2010 dawned there was much hot news hitting the dancefloor with some dramatic developments with a huge Spanish club brand in the capital changing hands, although the biggest news turned out to be the huge success that was the new collaborative club event that was As One, a concept born out of parties such as Famous Five, Universe & even the Pride park gatherings, where like-minded promoters put their heads together to not just combine forces to create a unique blend of club events catering for a wide audience, but moreover putting the clubber first and self gain last. For those of you that may not be familiar with the Famous Five concept, these were massive parties that were held on major weekends of the year, most predominantly Bank Holiday Sunday’s at the infamous Bagley’s warehouses in Kings Cross, London, brands such as Love Muscle, G.A.Y., Fruit Machine, Sherbet & Fist combining forces to create a unique experience that, at the time, was a radical yet welcome progression for all encompassing clubbing. Whilst Famous Five’s glory days were relatively short lived, the concept was to re-emerge with events Giant & Universe which combined clubs, Crash, Salvation, Atelier, Coco Late & Heaven, continuing collaborations seeing Ultimate take its place in the history books of clubbing combo’s in the capital, at the time named “the biggest alliance since Star Wars”, when Crash, DTPM & Trade partied under one roof.

So, looking back over the years paints a very healthy picture of amazing amalgamations and with the date being 01/01/2010, not only was it the start of a new year & the start of a new decade, but it was the start of a new clubbing collaboration that very much had its roots in those parties back in the nineties & early noughties, although As One would literally captivate its audience, packing out its host venue with numbers that had rarely been seen in many months nay years, the collaboration between five clubbing brands & six club promoters ending up as mixing match made in heaven. In the marriage of current cutting edge club brands Trannyshack, Megawoof, Lovechild, Orange & Lo-Profile, each having their own special area to flex their musical muscles, As One very much captured the imagination when it was launched on New Year’s Day, the added spice of a Beyond room really cementing its popularity & success. The follow up event in Easter had a similar effect, very much setting the trend for a refreshing collaboration of clubbing minds and, just like the first party, As One short of stole the headlines, firmly cementing it on the scene as a vibrant multi faceted party appealing to a broad spectrum of clubbers, something the scene clearly was craving for, given the sheer numbers through the doors.

However, plans to bring As One back for London Gay Pride were mysteriously put on hold, the emphasis falling back on trusty brands Beyond, Later & Orange to fly their individual flags for this most popular of weekends and indeed when we were informed that the next party was not scheduled until 1st January 2011, we kind of resigned ourselves to the fact that one of the major success stories of the year was going to be consigned to just two parties. But, hope springs eternal and just days after our return from Brighton’s Gay Dance Weekend, news came through that As One would actually be a feature of the August Bank Holiday schedule, fitting neatly in line with a hectic Vauxhall list of parties, planting itself in the new Sunday afternoon slot normally occupied by Later. In moving the event back from its expected Bank Holiday timing of Monday morning has effectively filled the gap in a strong line up of parities that includes a double dose of Onyx, Beyond’s “Super Size” and the citric & tech collaboration of Orange Trade, thus creating the circuit of events across Vauxhall stretching from the Friday evening right until Monday afternoon when Later rounds off a full-on Orange Group weekend, As One for us being the massive centre stone in a diamond encrusted schedule.

So, what can we expect from this latest, the third instalment of As One? Well, being the August Bank Holiday, when the team mapped out the event they were very much banking on good weather, although as London has proven on so many occasions, you can never guarantee for hot weather on a long weekend. However, with the main theme of the party being “...a massive funfair style garden party...”, but with the emphasis on the indoors as well as the outdoors, on speaking with Alex Erfan just this morning, he was naturally cautious about the weather prospects, particularly given the inclement conditions that have battered the capital during the week. However, should the sun shine, then the outside area will get considerable focus, the space being hosted by Later and in doing so, promoter Jay Sharp Vokins will be replicating the hugely popular & successful funfair theme that was a hit on Gay Pride weekend. However, adding to the atmosphere will be the addition of D.J.’s playing outside and currently in the line up spin the sounds is The Oli, Paul Martin & Terry Bryan, all three regulars to Later’s decks and should prove popular draws.

Inside and the usual As One brands of Megawoof, Lo-Profile & Lovechild will feature, with the addition of Brighton’s Wild Fruit in the line up. Having successfully collaborated with Lovechild both in Brighton at Dance Nation and then just last weekend at Fire, Wild Fruit returns to the capital to storm the main room with a D.J. line up that includes Lee Harris, D’Johnny & duo Prok & Fitch who will make the journey up from Brighton especially for this event. Having met back in 2006, Ben (Prok) & James (Fitch) have formed a production & D.J. partnership that has seen them create their own record label, Floorplay, which has hosted its own night in their home city’s club Coalition and now also hosts events in London & Dubai. Indeed the boys have been spreading their word around the world in the last eighteen months, touching on Australia, Brazil and Ibiza, as well an exhaustive schedule in the studio and promoting their record label, all which has attracted names such as David Pen, Mark Knight, & Chris Lake, with support for their work coming from the likes of Carl Cox, Paul Van Dyk & Steve Angelo, impressive indeed. However, in landing in the Wild Fruit room at As One, it will feel a little like a home coming for the boys, who have played for the Brighton dance brand on a number of occasions, so will definitely prove popular on Sunday for sure.

However for us, the focus inside will be on the Lovechild room which has a truly amazing line up foursome that have every chance of stealing the As One show, as Lovechild resident regulars Alessandro Londra & Paul Heron will be joined by Eduardo De La Torre from Berlin and Javier Medina from Barcelona. Taking up its slot in the Mirrorarch room, Lovechild has proven to be the most popular choice at As One parties, as it sits neatly between the four inside spaces & in the Mirrorarch, is a room that has always been the most successful for us, you just have to look at Orange Trade parties there, not to mention the fabulous Muccassasina room at The London Global Dance Festival. So, Eduardo’s opening set will certainly draw the crowd in from the off, with the experienced hands of both Alessandro & Paul securing the rooms draw right up till the 8 p.m. finish. Mr Heron is particularly adept in this space, a whole collection of Lovechild sets proving more than his worth and his international status & pedigree definitely making him a crowd favourite. Alessandro also loves playing this room, indeed just last weekend had the space absolutely rocking with an inspiring set that, for us, was the performance of the night, delivering a fabulous blend of tech & progressive pumping house that is so characteristic of his style at the moment and very much in the Lovechild modus operandus.

But the real & exciting prospect will be the London debut of Javier Medina, a talent we have been tracking for a few months now and has had a spectacular summer, not least featuring heavily in the emerging brand & talk of Spain WE, which is slowly expanding across Europe and will surely make it to London soon, Javier being very much in the mix there as one of their roving resident D.J.’s. That aside, Mr Medina is resident for Devotion in his hometown of Barcelona and was part of their huge Circuit Festival party when he played alongside Pagano, opening up the eight day string of parties in superb style, although it isn’t all about Barcelona for Javier, as he has also jetted across to Cologne & Paris to play at Beardrop’s “Xtreme” events and has even made it out to Australia for the Mardi Gras season, playing at Sydney’s “Extra Dirty” event back in March. So, it is fair to say that 2010 has been a superb year so far and this is one D.J. that, in our view, is definitely going places & getting his name picked up in the music clubbing press pages across the world, one such article out in the capital’s Boyz magazine (check it out at http://boyz.co.uk/onlineViewer/viewer.php on page 51), his style of tech & tribal house very much a theme of his live performances, as well as works in the studio which will definitely bring added dimension & spice to the sometimes monotone London sound. In advance of his first gig in the capital, Javier has commissioned a special mix dedicated to is As One appearance, entitled “Barcelona To London”, which is well worth a listen at http://soundcloud.com/javier-medina and will give you an insight of what to expect from his performance, as Javier tells us and everyone, “...expect the unexpected & come discover yourself through my music...” and we know you will.

That leaves the other two rooms and Megawoof return to the As One fray for the third time, resident D.J.’s Daz Saud & Leonardo Glovibes spearheading the line up in the Lightbox that will also include Tim Mcloone & Diddy, the team drawing their own crowd for sure, but also tempting in a few that would not normally make it to a regular Megawoof event. Over in the lounge it s all about Lo-Profile with Stewart Whoo kicking off proceedings and then scene favourite and nu-funk exponent Brent Nicholls centre staging the space, although we are hoping his set doesn’t clash with Javier’s as our choice could be incredibly difficult as a result. Again on speaking with As One head poncho Alex Erfan, he has explained to us that “...the timings for all of these rooms may be a little fluid and will be very dependant of the weather and the popularity of the outdoor area as a result...” he further adding that “...we may need to swap D.J.’s around as a result of conditions, although I am expecting the Lovechild room to remain as advertised and Prok & Fitch will be playing in the main room at the advertised time...”, well you can’t say fairer than that.

Right, now to the all important detail and information regarding this As One “amazing amalgamation” which takes place at Fire in Vauxhall this Sunday (29th August) from midday till 8 p.m. Advance tickets priced at £12 are available online now at http://clubtickets.com or in person at Soho outlets Prowler, Clone Zone & DV8, as well as at The Box in Covent Garden and if your are heading to Beyond’s “Super Size” party beforehand, why not grab a joint ticket for £20. Entrance on the door to As One will be available priced at £15 and we are told, special discount passes to Onyx’s second party of the weekend, Neon (which immediately follows over at Area), will be available during As One’s party. More details, could you need them, are available at http://alexerfan.com or by checking the club page diary at favourite clubbing website http://seenqueen.com.

So, The August Bank Holiday weekend is on us and it’s time to party, pray for a little sunshine, but be comfortable in the knowledge that As One looks like being THE place to be & be seen on Sunday and with the likes of Brent Nicholls, Paul Heron, Eduardo De La Torre, Alessandro Londra, Terry Bryan, The Oli, D’Johnny Stewart Whoo, Prok & Fitch, and many more, plus not forgetting Mr Javier Medina, they should all prove that “music is the answer” and this amazing amalgamation” is an absolute MUST. So, as we always say....”Go There!
Be There”. (DISCO MATT)

Postscript

Why not check out the specially commissioned video trailer to this As One event by going to http://facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1476700552309&ref=mf and while you’re at it, check out Lee Harris’ compilation dedication at http://soundcloud.com/mashed/lee-harris-as-one-aug-2010.

"Disconcerting Developments" - Beyond "Club Choice or Political Pawn?" - Special Report

2010-08-16T14:55:00.008+01:00

"DISCONCERTING DEVELOPMENTS”
BEYOND - “CLUB CHOICE OR POLITICAL PAWN?”
MONDAY 16TH AUGUST
SPECIAL REPORT

Without question there is one club that always seems to dominate our thoughts more than any other and for good reason, as not only did we fall in love with its charms when it was launched back in 2001, but with the possible exception of Trade, it has been the biggest part of our clubbing life, homage’s to first Colosseum & now Area being pretty much weekly. The associations we have developed with the club, the friends we have made & the support we have given it across the years, means that our feelings for this brand now run deeper than many of the most meaningful elements of our life. And looking at the history of this awesome afterhours clubbing event, during its time, it has sported our favourite D.J.’s, our favourite door staff, our favourite music & our favourite promoters, indeed in the inimitable vocals of Julie Andrews “...when I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favourite things, and then I don’t feel so bad...”, these words represent the eptiomy of this incredible club and the power it has in lifting any mood & enhancing any experience.

Yes, Beyond is, without question, our most revered club of all time, so, as a result, words cannot describe just how passionate we are about this now legendary Sunday morning outfit and whilst some may question the unparalleled level of exposure the club gets in our reviews, previews, etc, the success & popularity of Beyond speaks for itself, thus, in our view, fully justifies our support. Therefore being bullishly approving of the club comes naturally, whereas tackling & dealing with the controversial issues that occasionally arise, makes us feel uncomfortable. Yet, we can never be accused of not speaking our mind, indeed our forthright opinions & straight talking comments have become our trademark, although we would be the first to admit that they have sometimes landed us in hot water. Nevertheless, we are certainly not scared of tackling these controversies or bowing to pressure, and whilst we cannot deny that Beyond’s year has been a brilliant one so far, recent experiences have taken the edge off our whole buoyant opinion of the brand, and some of the decisions being made behind the scenes leave us wondering just what is happening to this, our favourite club.

So what has been happening? And why this shift in our opinion? Well, Beyond, in our view, is possibly becoming a victim of its own success, this ostensively gay afterhours event attracting media coverage in the pages of the most well known mainstream music magazines, the most popular national clubbing directories & virtually every must visit nightlife guide for the club tourist landing in London. This has meant that Beyond’s attraction has stretched to a much wider, metrosexual cum straight audience, all craving for a piece of this amazing action and the use of headlines in its advertising campaigns such as “...the U.K.’s biggest and best afterhours club...& moreover...the world's favourite afterhours party...” has fuelled this desire. However, such has been the popularity of a Beyond event on any given week, let alone on Bank Holiday’s when host venue Area is filled to such a degree it becomes uncomfortable, the team have set themselves a precedent which, on the quieter weeks (and even Beyond has those), its seems to us that they feel obliged to fill out the club with an ever increasing mix of, what we awkwardly describe as, very unlike Beyond people.

This has not only impacted on the previous qualitative feel to the crowd, but pockets of the club have become effectively “straight” hangouts, thus diminishing our experience, recent weeks having seen this straight/metrosexual mix increase and very much of the unsavoury kind, we ourselves becoming a victim of one such individual whose barbarous act of violence against us will remain in our memories for ever and has left somewhat of a bitter taste in our mouth. Now, we have no objection to a club that has a good mix balance, but there comes a point when you are standing in your favourite gay club being abused by someone, especially when all you are trying to do is have a good time, you then ask yourself the question “does the team want this to be this gay or straight club?” Beyond has its foundations firmly in the gAylist market and we have every confidence in the current promoter & his close team in positioning it so, yet while we have no objection to the club embracing a more mixed following, it has to be on the premise that the type is of an acceptable quality, not least given the emergence of new brands & choices.

With that issue now dealt with & kicked firmly into the long grass, what of these new brands that are beginning to appear in gAylist London? Well, the forthcoming bank holiday heralds a new Sunday morning clubbing event, yet what should be seen as a welcome choice of club outings, is rather being viewed in some quarters as an out & out threat to Beyond, thus invoking a reaction that has the desire to crush this choice and to hit those individuals where it hurts, or at least that seems to be the mentality. So, rather than opening up that choice, as one promoter has been credited with stating, “...an opportunity to shed more light on London daytime clubbing...” thereby offering the clubbing consumer not just an alternative option, but moreover something a little different to Beyond, the feeling we get is that certain individuals want this institutional Sunday morning legend of ours be the only playing ground. Considering all of this, you would be forgiven for thinking that, as different concepts in different parts of London, these new events would not pose any sort of threat to SeenQueen’s 2009 club poll winner and that the team behind the most successful afterhours club for years would be content with their lot.

But like the disturbing incident we encountered a few weeks before, an interesting and quite surprising development was played out for all to see on networking site Facebook very recently, when it was discovered that a long lasting & quite venomous hatred between two individuals was not only cast aside, but a close working relationship looked like being the result. The message which’s content included the following, “...after a long but amazing meeting....we both decided it was best for the London gay Scene to work together and to create amazing events instead of fighting each other...” kind of speaks for itself and, on the face of it, is a refreshingly positive reconciliation that would see much of the previous back-stabbing, disco politics & competition crushing relegated to the history books. Good news indeed, although reading between the lines, with one new alliance springs a new conflict and what the title of this special report on Beyond suggests, the club, through this new formed alliance is quite possibly the pawn for yet more of this club politics nonsense that, for us and possibly many more, is being seen as one of a few disconcerting developments.

So, despite the new year springing new hope that tacit working relationships would put these sordid club politics behind us, while the first few months seemed to be reflecting this most welcome change in attitude, recent weeks & the issues played out before our eyes seem to indicate that, not only are the bad old days back with a vengeance, but in truth they probably never went away. Making peace between individuals is one thing, but to then broadcast supposed alliances & marriage of brands through misleading messages is another and as much as working relationships are healthy for the scene, there has to remain a distinction between clubs, promoters & the like. Yes, we should be providing choice to the clubber, the product of this being prolific new parties to keep the scene invigorating & fresh, but as much as the ideal would be that each & every club event on the calendar work in tandem with each other, the reality is that they can’t and a line has to be drawn in the proverbial sand, with certain operating principles followed. After all, it’s like saying that Tesco’s & Sainsbury’s have formed a working relationship, it is a concept flawed for every conceivable reason and, for us, so is this new found alliance in its current form.

That said, in a country which has seen a marriage of minds & political forces, a coalition to move matters forward in a cohesive & measured way in the national interest, club owners & promoters within this scene of ours could learn a lot from our leaders in Whitehall. So if this alliance & others are to continue, it should be in the interests of the clubbing consumer and not those alliance individuals, therefore, rather than employing devious & underhanded tactics for self gain, wouldn’t it be so refreshing to see a greater level of peace & understanding between promoters, not a collation per say, but an even playing field that allows for greater choice. Using Beyond as a pawn to try to crush the competition is, for us, a club politics step too far and rather than trying to run competition out of town, we should be embracing choice that will only serve to make this glorious gAylist clubbing scene of ours the best it can be. So we say, let the dancefloor’s & the D.J.’s talk the talk & walk the walk, consign the promoters to promoting & not competition crushing and let the clubbing consumer have the choice they deserve & what the scene so desperately needs. (DISCO MATT)

Postscript – Tuesday 17th August

Having reflected on the content of our report, we thought it only fair to also bring you an extract from our “original draft” which details that violent incident we referred to. We do this, not least as we feel very strongly about the issue, but, judging by the reactions received already, it seems our readers do too.

“....One such example of this was when we ourselves became a victim, our characteristically energetic dancing moves in our usual & favourite spot, this time to an amazing set by Mikey D, were met with disapproval by one such female, so much so that she considered a swift kick to our back was the remedy to her supposed annoyance. However, as if that abuse was bad enough, the emotional insult to our physical injury was when the straight security took her side, stating that “...it was our word against hers...”, effectively condoning this barbarous act of violence. Now, it has to be said that both the promoter & the club management were extremely supportive of us on this occasion (major thanks to Steven Sharp, Aaron Elder & Tom Fuller) and eventually, the female in question was ejected from the club, although we would be lying if the whole affair has left somewhat of a bitter taste in our mouth....”

We urge the promotions & management team to really wake up to this issue, which people on the ground are talking about with increasing ferocity,

"Home-Grown Hybrids a-la Schmitz Style - Hype & M.O.S.T. - Special Preview

2010-08-12T09:40:00.003+01:00

“HOME-GROWN HYBRIDS A-LA SCHMITZ STYLE”
HYPE & M.O.S.T.
SPECIAL PREVIEW

There is no escaping the fact that the gAylist clubbing scene in the capital today paints a very different picture to the one it depicted ten or so years ago, when there were so many events that had much more of an air of exclusivity to them and an entrance on a guestlist meant that you were part of an elite few that the club or the promoter wished to see in their venue or event. These days, being on a guestlist isn’t so much a privilege bestowed on a few, more a free for all attempt to get into the club without paying and, as a result, the cases where paying customers get into clubs & events before guests is becoming more common place. This shift in attitude towards the exclusivity that used to exist when we first started clubbing has, in our view, decremented the whole experience of a great club night and the quality of crowds has suffered as a result, in some cases clubs that were the bastions of the gAylist byword have since been infiltrated by our straight cousins, only a couple of weeks ago, one of our favourite afterhours events falling foul of this & us of one of its most unsavoury elements.

However, for those of you that have been observing the scene carefully in recent months, this trend is very much being bucked by one individual who has developed both a loyal following and has attracted a like minded crowd that is very much in the gAylist style. As a friend appropriately put it “...he attracts the sort of people to his clubs that look like him and it is his look as well as his manner that makes the crowds so good and the events so popular...”. Now, if you haven’t guessed who we are talking about by now, then here are another couple of clues. He was responsible for the stage shows in the heyday of Matinee’s time at Fabric and he was the man who brought SuperMartXe to the capital, thus transforming the scene pretty much overnight. Got it? of course you have, it’s Logan Schmitz, the go-go dancer turned club promoter that has, without doubt, put the capital A back into gay and the purest form & definition of guest into list, very much pioneering a resurgence in the true gAylisting event, whether it be through the awesome SuperMartXe parties at The Coronet & The O2 Academy, the highly successful one-off Queen Of Clubs or the new style Matinee which took the scene by storm in July with what was, undoubtedly, THE best party of the year so far in the public domain.

As successful as these Spanish brands within the Logan Presents portfolio of clubs are & have been for him, the rumblings of conflict of interests continue and whilst Mr Schmitz has proven to all his critics that he can sustain both of these giant Espaniol events without them treading on each other’s toes, you still get the feeling that the powers that be in both the Matinee & SuperMartXe camps are finding it difficult to comprehend just how one person can manage & promote the franchises for two competitor brands. So, it comes as no surprise to us that this ingenious young man is more than likely thinking on his feet and is looking to, as he describes them himself, his “home-grown” concepts to pave a further way along the gAylist road, most likely standing out & proud next to Matinee & SuperMartXe, but ultimately offering Logan & his team tangible vehicles to continue their quest in re-painting the clubbing landscape and continuing this resurgence of quality clubbing with crowds to match which has been so missing from the scene in recent years.

So what are these so called home-gown brands that we are talking about? Well, for those of you that are glued to social networking site, Facebook, you will have seen snippets of news, notifications & pictures of his private party UP, indeed we were privileged to be invited to the last party and you can catch our full review right here at http://discomatt.com/ &.or via direct link http://discomatt.blogspot.com/2010/07/up-up-and-away-logan-presents-up-at-dex.html, which should give you a good idea of what Mr Schmitz is aiming at with this exclusive event. But it is clear that Logan & his schmitzels also want to play their part in the public domain with their own branded gAylisting events and so enter the fray both Hype & M.O.S.T., two concepts that will spearhead Logan Presents’ Bank Holiday weekend push for the punters and should prove very popular events for sure. Now, Hype will be, or should be familiar to those that were in & around London during May last year, when the team launched the concept onto an unsuspecting yet suspicious public, many reading between the lines of Logan’s intentions and the whole affair causing controversy in our camp, not to mention victrionic disapproval in our review, which you can check out for yourselves at http://discomatt.blogspot.com/2009/05/hype-club-review.html. However, since that time, much proverbial water has flown under the bridge and we suspect that, like ourselves, the prying public will be most likely much more affable towards this re-launch of the Hype brand, particularly as SuperMartXe has now lost much of novelty factor element, which at the time of the launch of Logan’s first own brand, was still quite prevalent.

So what does Hype actually offer that separates it from SuperMartXe? Well, perhaps the single biggest thing is that it allows Logan and his team to literally pick & choose the D.J.’s and performance artists that he wants, whereas with SuperMartXe, he is compelled to book at least one of the Spanish clubs residents, many of whom in our humble opinion are never a patch on their London counterparts and given that the brand also insists that they take the headlining slot, means that, what we would call the fat end of the evening can be dominated by a D.J. that really isn’t doing it. Then there are the PA performers, although here we have always found those at SuperMartXe to be really good, but again, with Hype Mr Schmitz has a free reign. And finally of course, there is the production of the club which is probably one of this team’s biggest strengths, their stage shows being nothing short of iconic, the pomp & circumstance surrounding each & every party impressive, although in Hype it is not so much about the shows, but more about the music collaborations within the shows & between the performers & the D.J.’s

Right, with the Hype hysteria pretty much sorted, what can you expect from this re-launch party? Well, it will take place on Saturday 28th August (that’s in three Saturday’s time) and making his London debut will be D.J. Carlos Gallardo, whom we are told made considerable waves at The Circuit Festival last week, particularly at the huge WE pool party, a club brand which is creating quite a buzz & stir over in Spain itself and is generating lots of media coverage as well as thrusting some new names into the international D.J.’ing limelight, Carlos being one and the very talented Javier Medina being another. Mr Gallardo, whilst still a rising star, will be best known for his track “Don’t Let This Moment End”, but has a couple of others under his belt, not to mention his compilation mix entitled “A New Generation”, so should be an exciting prospect on 29th. He will be joined on the decks by Logan’s London regulars Tony English & Paul Heron and whilst Tony has played at a number of SuperMartXe parties at The Coronet (the host venue for Hype), it will be only the second time Mr Heron has done so, he having performed alongside the capable if but very camp Offer Nissam at Queen Of Clubs earlier this year. To say Mr English is on fire at the moment is an understatement, as not only did he treat us to what was probably THE best set we heard him play at the last UP party at the end of July, but he did it all again last weekend at Dance Nation, so we are very much looking forward to that. As for Paul, well the man seems to be in ever increasing demand overseas, in fact, Logan landing him for Hype is a bit of a coup as we know he will be squeezing this between gigs in Greece for Xlsior & Berlin, the man hardly ever being in the UK at the moment.

Completing the Hype package will be the performance duo known at The Free Radical Formation (not to be confused with the pop group of a similar name), the vocal talents of Brit Rob Harris & Spanish electronic music wizard Sergi Gadi have, just this year, produced dancefloor anthems including “Supernova”, “Reign” & “To The Stars” and will bring to London their brand new smash “Broken Dreams” which will get its first exclusive live airing on the Coronet’s stage. So, they should certainly make an impact on this home-grown brand’s re-launch, which, as Mr Schmitz neatly concludes “...with all of the dazzling, over-the-top production, pyrotechnics and effects that you have come to expect from Logan Presents, this is one Bank Holiday party you will not want to miss!!...BELIEVE THE HYPE...” and it seems that this time round we might well be one of those believers.

But not content with just Hype & UP, Logan has created a third way, which was born out of the success of the last Matinee “Open Air Summer” party, which, as we hinted earlier, was THE best clubbing event for the year so far, even outstripping the brilliance that was As One on NYD (and that’s going some!). So pleased were Ministry Of Sound (MOS) with that event, that Logan has really found favour with them and has been handed a bit of a gem as a result, the use of MOS on Bank Holiday Sunday morning (29th August), when he will roll out his new concept, M.O.S.T., which he has described to us as “...an opportunity to shed more light on London daytime clubbing...” but will also crucially “...offer a unique carry on experience, a non-stop party fusion with Hype which, as The Cornet lets out, MOS will draw in...”. And we can certainly see this happening, not least due to the two venues close proximity to each other, so yes you guessed it, M.O.S.T. is a Sunday morning club, although will be one that differs from main rival Beyond, as the focus will be on alfresco dancing, the formula that made Matinee the success it was in July, meaning much of the action (weather permitting of course) will be out on MOS’s terrace, where the irresistible line up will include two of our favourite Italiano’s the London based Pagano & Milan’s vey own Danny Verde, who will sandwich Carlos Gallardo who, like loads of Hype followers, will have hot footed it across to M.O.S.T.

We cannot tell you just how excited we are that Danny will be back in London, especially having been hugely disappointed when he pulled out of Lovebox last month, so you know exactly where you will find us on Sunday morning, but then Danny will be fresh from a whirlwind sequence of gigs around the globe, which will have included Canada, Brazil, Germany & The USA, the rise & rise of this now shining star seemingly endless. We are hoping he will be giving us a sneak preview of his new remix which is called “Till We See The Sun”, so watch out for news on that closer to the time. As for Mr Pagano, well, like Tony English, we were simply blown away by his set at UP which was, unquestionably, the best we have seen him play and so appropriate for that party. And arriving at M.O.S.T., Francesco will have hopefully recovered from his massive 7 hour set at Rapido (7 hours!!), but will no doubt be pushing the release of his much awaited compilation and yes you heard it right, he has bowed to all that pressure, good on him. Apart from these three, the inside action should be just as hot with rising stars & Logan protégée’s starring, Brazil’s Leandro Koppel (another UP boy) and Israeli Michel Mizrahi, who makes his second appearance for Mr Schmitz at MOS.

Now, as we expect these parties to be the talk of the town, we will be devoting special focuses to both Hype & M.O.S.T. when we will not only recap on details here, but fill you in on that all important information on tickets, opening times, etc, plus we will be bringing you special links to music from the various D.J. and artists performing. However, if you are itching to find out more now, then why not pay a visit to http://loganpresents.com/ or check out the events pages via Facebook, but keep your eyes peeled for those focuses coming up and join the Logan Presents gAylist resurgence revolution with their two “Home-Grown Hybrids a-la Schmitz Style”. (DISCO MATT)

Matinee "Open Air Summer Party"

2010-07-07T14:36:00.003+01:00

“GOING BACK TO ITS ROOTS”
MATINEE LONDON “OPEN AIR SUMMER PARTY” -
SUNDAY 11TH JULY
SPECIAL PREVIEW

When you paint a picture of summer, then cast your thoughts towards clubbing, add a little bit of Latino and a dollop of alfresco dancing, then put them all together, what do you get? Well there is one name that shoots straight to the top of the list, a name that has been dominating the club scene across its homeland for well over a decade now, during which time it has extended its massive branding arm to stretch right around the world, touching on every single continent like no other clubbing concept. The moment you utter the word Matinee, you immediately think of a whole myriad of other words that capture the whole essence of this huge partying phenomenon, although the core principles of this Spanish born & bred giant have always centred on summer & sunshine, just look at their logo and its screams this out loud & proud. However, two other elements were intrinsic Matinee ingredients right from the brands birth in 1997 and they were Saturday’s & Sunday’s, but not as you would expect, as the one thing that stood this fledgling clubbing group out form its competitors was its afterhours status.

Yes, Matinee was born out of clubbing deep into both Saturday & Sunday mornings, based primarily on the principle that in Spain at least, they adore going out in the early hours of the morning and then partying, especially at the weekend, deep into the day and, if they can manage it, right up to siesta time, in some cases beyond. And this was a principle that the group carried through to its launch on the white isle, Space in Ibiza playing host to the first Matinee party which took place, not on a Saturday or Sunday, but on a Thursday morning. But such became the strength of the brand, not only did it begin to infiltrate the conformist hours of clubbing both on this most iconic of party islands and in its home city of Barcelona, but with the Matinee word spreading across the globe through their much acclaimed series of world tours, it was inevitable that Saturday night would become the familiar territory for the majority of its parties. But there can be no escaping the fact that there is something quite special about clubbing in the daylight, not least the decadent feel it gives you, the sense of being just that little bit naughtier than your neighbour and pushing the boundaries of normality, then add to that being in the outdoors, possibly soaking up then sun while dancing, and it makes for the best partying recipe we can think of, a recipe that made Matinee so popular in those informative days.

However, Matinee in London has always followed the more conformist route, launching as it did in 2006 on a Saturday night at Area and whilst, at that time, Saturday still dominated the scene here in the capital, there is no doubt that times have changed, meaning that trends have too. With Beyond re-launching in 2008, then going on to dominate the gAylist scene, the impetus for Saturday nights has slowly ebbed away, with Sunday very much in the ascendancy, the big winner in this change of clubbing hearts being not just Beyond, but moreover its natural onward destination Later, the recent surge in this Sunday afternoon club signalling a real shift into daytime & evening events on this end to the weekend slot. So, it comes as no surprise that Matinee in London has decided to dip its toe into the pool of opportunity that seems to presenting itself at the moment, with its next instalment in the hands of the Logan Presents team, who as you know, took over the London franchise back on New Year’s day and promised, at the time, a fresh new & exciting look for this most prestigious clubbing brand, now of the cusp of its fourth year in the capital and in its fortcoming party it very much looks like delivering on that promise of a fresh & exciting new look.

And this change could not have come soon enough for us, as Matinee has desperately been seeking to find firm footing for close on a year now, having jumped through a succession of hoops since taking London by storm back in 2006. The short span of successful events at Area, was followed up by a period of expansion in both size & popularity during its time at Fabric, although the switch to Sunday evenings soon fell out of favour, prompting the switch back to Saturdays & back to Vauxhall, superclub Colosseum becoming the host for what will probably be noted as the most prolific period for the brand in the capital. However, the desire to keep Matinee fresh, saw a further move to 21st century & state of the art venue Cable in London Bridge, although a promising start soon led to a lack lustre end, as the then promotions team seemed to be losing their way & focus in amongst the political issues of the day. This led to the fateful news that Matinee in the capital was to change hands, falling under the control of the man in charge of the brands major competitor, SuperMartXe, an announcement that initially shocked, then seemed a strange choice, but soon made resounding sense, as Matinee bosses were keen to re-capture the kind of success it had enjoyed back in those early days in London, the top brass of the brand looking to Logan to achieve that. Moving to The Fridge in Brixton was a bold move, but as the team cleverly deluded to with their first party, it was always going to be “Matinee Under Construction” and indeed it seems, as far as The Fridge is concerned, that is exactly what looks like happening, as plans for reconstruction of the venue have been muted by its new owners and not before time we say, especially if it is to continue to host this world class clubbing brand.

So, all that said, what is this fresh new & exciting look we have deluded to? Well, not only have the team behind Matinee London decided to go back to their Spanish grass roots, switching the timing of the club from a Saturday night to Sunday daytime, but they have secured a venue with a pedigree to match the Matinee brand, as London’s famous Ministry of Sound (MOS) will host the forthcoming “Open Air Summer Party”, which will be taking place this coming Sunday (11th July), kicking off from 12 midday & running through until 10 p.m., MOS opening its doors & opening out its outside terrace to accommodate this Ibiza style open air event, that will combine both inside & out and give Matinee in London a whole new feel. But hold on, we are talking a London summer here, so surely this move is a gamble with the weather? Well yes, but with all the good weather we have been enjoying lately and with the forecast looking very promising indeed, in the words of the organisers, Sunday afternoon will definitely be a time to “...dig out those summer shades & come see Matinee in a new light...”.

Now as for those new lights, not only will you be able to choose between clubbing indoors & out, but the team will be introducing a new D.J. to the Matinee London team, as well known dancer to the stars Marco Da Silva makes his D.J.’ing debut in the capital, on the back of a successful stint on the US clubbing circuit where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Peter Rauhofer & David Guetta. Having been thrust into the limelight following his big break into the disc spinning game at Barcelona’s Circuit Festival last year, Marco has been in the minds of Matinee ever since, his dancing career having seen him perform right across the world, building up contacts with artists such as Mariah Carey, Geri Haliwell & Kylie Minogue, although in adding the D.J. string to his bow, is making considerable waves in amongst his peers. So, not only is Marco a real asset to Matinee, but his style of euro house, dipping into tribal with plenty of experimental beats on the underground & progressive side of house should certainly ignite reaction on MOS’s terrace this Sunday. He will be joined by an incredibly strong line up that includes Matinee Spain resident Taito Tikaro, who will be flying into London direct from Matinee’s Ibiza party at Amnesia literally hours after spinning in front of a packed crowd on the white on the Saturday night. Taito is well known to London, having made numerous appearances in the capital for Matinee, although his experience of the Ibiza scene should see him set the terrace alight with dancing action. Then, completing the line-up on the Matinee terrace at MOS, although kicking proceedings off, will be international megastar D.J. Paul Heron, who will be fresh from his smash appearance at Madrid Pride and raring to get this “Open Air Summer Party” off to a cracking start with his characteristic chunky & hard hitting house sounds.

Inside, the line up looks just as sparkling, with Matinee regulars, Pagano & Alessandro Londra are both on fire following prolific performances across our very own Pride London last weekend, Mr Francesco having created plenty of drama on the capital’s dancefloors at both Onyx & SuperMartXe, as well as fitting in a trip to Madrid’s pride closing party, so is sure to once again make a dramatic dent on proceedings at MOS, no doubt treating us to his latest track “Drama On The Dancefloor” amongst a few of his other favourites. As for Alessandro, well he simply blew us away with a stunning pride inspired set at Rupert St last Saturday and then repeated it at Lo-Profile, packing the place out till close on dawn with his scintillating sounds and we know he is truly excited about returning to the Matinee decks once again. These Sicilian stunners will be joined by new boy Michel Mizrahi, who played out at the recent Lookbetternaked party at Fire, but was also part of Logan’s D.J. team for the Easter Party “Queen Of Clubs” at the Coronet, when he played an opening stormer of a set laying down the gauntlet for special guest Offer Nissam, so should be comfortable in the company of Messrs Londra & Pagano.

Now, we will be bringing you the all important detail of this latest Matinee instalment in a specially dedicated extra bites post later this week, together with any latest news that hits our desks between now & then. However what we need to say now is that, in ringing these changes, the reaction has already been incredible & tickets are likely to be like gold dust, given the extent of interest. So, it goes without say that this Matinee “Open Air Summer Party” will prove a very popular event indeed, so much so, you should go grab your advance £15 tickets now while you can, limited availability remaining online at http://clubtickets.com/ and/or at Soho retail outlets Prowler, Clone Zone & DV8, as well as at SolarStation on Archer Street of Covent Garden’s The Box. More information can be obtained via http://loganpresents.com/, but suffice to say if this isn’t in your diaries by now, it should be as this looks like being one of THE best Matinee parties we have seen not just this year. Naturally it gets our thumbs up and we expect that this bold move by Logan & his team will bear considerable fruit, capturing the imagination of the clubbing fraternity in the capital who have been craving for something new for a considerable time now. So don’t miss out, make Sure Matinee’s “Open Air Summer Party” at MOS this Sunday 11th July is a date. (DISCO MATT)

"Proud To be Pride" - London Gay Pride 2010

2010-06-21T22:24:00.007+01:00

“PROUD TO BE PRIDE”
LONDON GAY PRIDE 2010
SPECIAL PREVIEW

Ever since we forced open the doors on our closet and started strutting our stuff on a vibrant gay scene across the capital, London pride weekend has held some incredible & interesting memories for us. Not only have we fully thrown ourselves into the marching festivities on a number of occasions with gusto, such mass processions through the streets of the West End of London that have always been a central theme to Pride weekends, but we have also been drawn into post party celebrations more times than we can remember. Those days, when shouting that we were out & proud from the streets was much more of a taboo than it is today, plus the political aims for gay rights seemingly so much forthright then than now, it is true to say that times have certainly changed, with the gay community so much more an acceptable part of our larger society, meaning that, for us at least, the emphasis of the parade has changed into being much more a celebration of rather than a demand for gay liberation.

However, we look back on pride weekends in London during our informative days, proud of what the capital laid on, not least in the massive park based gatherings that gave people one huge spot to celebrate & let their hair down, whether it be dancing in their favourite club tents, indulging in a little sporting activity, having a laugh on funfair rides, or just sitting back & watching performances from a host of artists from a massive main stage. Amazing events at Brockwell Park in Brixton, Clapham Common, even Victoria Park in the east end & more latterly Finsbury Park in North London, hold very dear & fond memories for us, while many may remember the early days of Kennington Park or the acclamation of the organisers landing of Hyde Park, even if the sometime characteristic wet weather marred these events. Having been intrinsically involved in four of these memorable outdoor pride parties, working non-stop in various bar concessions, there was always something extra special about those times and pride weekends.

But despite the massive park style parties falling by the wayside, pride in London has become a gigantic event, as not only is it one day of celebration, but encompasses a whole host of happenings, some of which have already started, as the so-called “Pride Fortnight” actually got under way on Friday (18th June) and the build up to the big day itself, Saturday 3rd July, encompasses events across the mediums of music, theatre, dance, comedy, visual arts, sport, debate, film, fashion, participation and literature. Highlights have & will include Pride London’s involvement in T-Mobile's Big Dance, Paul L Martin's Cabaret at Battersea Barge and the final DVD launch of the L Word. Pride London as an organisation is also proud to support UK premieres, new writing and a 48 hour film festival, they are even hosting their own variety gala at Leicester Square Theatre, as well as participation events in one of London's best kept secret galleries “10 Gales”. And with lots of events emerging, not least what looks like an unmissable theatrical cabaret entitled “Confessions Of Dancefloor Whore” billed as a show “...where politics and pop culture clash, fusing comedy, burlesque, drag and new media performance to explore the contradictions and clichés of queer life...” at the Trafalgar Studio’s in Whitehall, you kind of get the gist about what the festival fortnight is about, with full details available at http://pridelondon.org/ and via their dedicated Facebook group page .

But, of course, everything leads to the big day itself when Pride London will be celebrating 40 years of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) in London, which was seen by the government of the time as a revolutionary group of radicals, but were actually activists who brought LGBT rights out into the open, gaining its recognition as a political movement in the national press, although not always receiving favourable coverage, overt acts taking place in public places that included releasing mice, sounding horns & unveiling banners, as well as street theatre, radical drag & kiss-ins to get their aims & messages across. Founding members including Peter Tatchell who, along with several others went on demonstrate & fight for gay rights through the organisation “Outrage”, also saw the development of “Stonewall” that sought more passive lobbying, but are two of many organisations that we can be thankful for contributing towards the freedom & acceptance the gay community enjoys today. So, with the theme of “Paint the Town Ruby Red” Pride London wants you to “...put a flower in your hair, dust off those platforms and wear a frock with a fabulous hat...” and aims to bring back a slice of 1970 “...in all its disco glory...”, although while we love a good bit of disco (its in our name after all) whether we will extend to wearing a frock is left to question, but we may manage a flower or a hat!

Now, what is certain is that the parade through the streets of London’s west end will take place as planned, setting off, from Baker Street at 1pm and proceeding down the shopping heaven of Oxford Street & Regent Street, then swinging round through Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square, where the main thrust of celebrations, stage shows, speakers, stalls & other attractions will swing into action from 3 p.m., the festivities also stretching up to Leicester Square, all free of charge. However, if you have seen the recent announcement that the usual dance stage in Soho Square will now not take place (check http://pinknews.co.uk/2010/06/18/london-pride-in-soho-cancelled for the full story), there is much debate as to what sort of a part THE recognised gay area of the capital will play in pride. Naturally, many of the bars will be celebrating the day in style (we are duty bound behind the bar at Rupert St), but the very popular dance stage, which was to be hosted by The Orange group has been thrown into considerable doubt. However, fear not, as we will of course share with you the information on the fate of Soho’s celebrations at the news hit our desks.

However, as day turns to night, plenty of parties will swing into action, not least the “official” Pride London party which will take place at the fabulous Koko venue in Camden, being the first ever event organised by the Pride London charity for pride in London. “Liberation” will encompass a whole host of entertainers from fire eaters, stilt walking drag queens, dancers, acrobats and a surprise PA taking part in a fully choreographed show to entertain the crowd. The music will be delivered by top notch scene D.J.’s that will include The Freemasons, Wayne G, Stewart Who? & Andy Almighty, while the magnificent VIP area will be hosted by drag queen Dave Lynn and ticket holders will enjoy a great view from a glamorous balcony at the centre of the club. As the only official party on the night of 3rd July, 100% of profits will be returned to the charity to help fund next year's free pride event, with more details of this party available at http://pridelondon.org/ and tickets available via the site, as well as at outlets Prowler, Clone Zone & DV8 priced at £20 (£25 for VIP’s). Plus no party would be a party, without a pre-party and The Shadow Lounge is the destination on Thursday 1st July, when club night “Hola” will take centre stage, D.J.’s Laurent C & Terry Vietheer joined by Marron Bitch (aka Fidel – what a fab new name girl!), more details available at http://theshadowlounge.co.uk/.

But it goes without saying that Pride in London sees many of the big guns in the gAylist clubbing scene make their mark on the weekend and this year will be no different as not just Soho but Vauxhall & beyond swings into action, our best picks including the weekend kicking off in style with a special “Onyx” party at Area, then the night itself seeing the return of “The Best Of Brits” to Fire, but with the very un-British Seamus Haji headlining a breathtaking list of over 20 London, U.K. & internationally based D.J.’s, including Steve Pitron, The Sharp Boys, & Guy Williams, spread over across four rooms of fun, the weekend ending as it should with “Orange” who welcome back Boy George to the decks. Mind you, fetish alternative “Hard On!” will definitely pull a crowd, promoter Suzi Krueger going all pride on us, shifting the event from its usual slot of the last Saturday on the month, also swapping the music around between the two rooms & for one night only you can enter without membership, with free membership offers to new “Hard On!” recruits. However, the Pride weekend of clubbing looks set to be dominated by two biggies, “SuperMartXe” and “Beyond”, Logan & his team laying on an extra special pride party event at The Coronet in Elephant & Castle, the “Wizard Of Oz” themed SM event, thrown in conjunction with Jodie Harsh’s “Circus”, definitely being the hottest ticket in town, the gorge Hugo Sanchez flying in from Spain, flanked by Tony English & Mr Italian stallion Pagano & prolific PA Abigail Bailey, while the “Circus” room sports, Jodie, resident Kris Di Angelis & special guest Fat Tony. Then everyone will then converge on “Beyond”, which will surely be a roadblock event as “Liberation”, “Hard On!”, Best of Brits” & “SuperMartXe” party hedonists collide, so this audacious afterhours will be THE place to be & be seen this pride. But we also give a big thumbs up to new club night “Revolucion” which chooses Sunday 4th July to launch at stunning new club Opal (formerly The Rock) on Embankment, legendary D.J.’s Stevie B & Fat Tony going back-to-back on the decks, with plenty more besides. We will bring you full details of all these parties in upcoming Hot Dates posts out in the next few days, so keep your eyes peeled for those, not to mention the latest news on happenings across the pride weekend via our Recommendations & Extra Bites posts.

Right, that’s our preview take on this year’s London pride, which should prove to be not just a weekend of feverish entertainment, celebration & activity, but encompasses over two weeks of partying, unrivalled by any in the whole gay yearly calendar. And to the doubters that say that Madrid is ten times bigger & better and Cologne is one of Europe’s best pride events, (both which fall on the same weekend as ours), with the host of club nights, parties, & festivals taking place in London, pride in the capital looks like very much holding its own this year. Yes there are question marks over the Soho issue on the day, but be rest assured that, come rain or shine, London will be awash with brightly coloured, energetic party goers, entertainers, scene workers, & 10’s of thousands of people from all walks of gay life, converging on the capital to make this a pride to remember. So, make sure you book your place on the ride that will be Pride London and be “proud to be pride”. (DISCO MATT)

Beyond "Back-To-Back" - Special Club/Event Preview

2010-06-03T13:57:00.007+01:00

BEYOND “BACK-TO-BACK”
SATURDAY/SUNDAY 5TH/6TH JUNE
SPECIAL PREVIEW

This coming Saturday sees super afterhours club Beyond combine the old with the new, as the “Beyond Back To Back” event takes over both Coliseum & Area in Vauxhall, so to mark this occasion we take an extra special look at both the history of this legendary club, as well as focussing on the event itself.

You will know from our virtual unparalleled coverage of this club that in all the years we have been partying on the scene, and believe us it’s a long time (Trade 1991 is our first major recollection), we can count on less than one hand, the clubs that have made the biggest influence & had the largest impact on our lives. We have already mentioned one just now, the other being the iconic Crash, the absolutely amazing underground club, launched by uber legendary (we will be using that word a lot) Wayne Shires, a day before our birthday back in December 1998, which not only put Vauxhall on the gay clubbing map, but was a real pioneer across a very diverse Saturday scene that, at the time, was very much aboutclubs like Heaven, Love Muscle & Substation (we don’t mention G.A.Y.), Crash going on to head up the market for well over eight years. But there is a third and it is of course, Beyond, the incredible Sunday morning afterhours legendary club that has not only won awards, but now itself dominates the market like no other we have know.

In the good old days, Sunday mornings were always set aside for Trade and we, along with hundreds of others, used to make the weekly homage from Vauxhall to Farringdon, dancing way past dawn & deep into Sunday afternoon, then falling out onto an unsuspected Soho afterwards to wind down our weekend. But with Vauxhall very much in the ascendency, especially with the now established clubs A.M. & Orange in a venue that is now probably THE major tore de force on the scene, Craig Elder's venue Fire, the place to be at the turn of the century was south of the river and the collaboration between the owners of Crash & Fire saw the birth of Beyond on 1st June 2002, following the massive Purple In the Park outdoor event in Brockwell Park. Aimed at being “...the freshest Sunday morning afterhours...”, Beyond was a success from the moment it started, even eclipsing then very powerful & dominant Trade and quickly became “...the stuff of legend...” and for good reason, as not only was Vauxhall becoming the premier clubbing hotspot in the capital, but in Beyond particularly, the music & the D.J.’s that played there were outstanding & the crème de la crème of the scene crop. The original team included Brent Nicholls, Paul Heron, Alan X, Severino, Steve Pitron, D-Lux, & David Jiminez (many that were Crash residents) and such was the success of this afterhours phenomenon in the hands of these D.J. stars, that not only was the main room packed every week, but the much loved VIP room in the hands of Brent & Paul reached near iconic status, this all sparking a third room entitled “Beyond Therapy”, launched in December 2002, where legends Antoine 909 & Malcolm Duffy played but which evolved to become the Long Room as time went on, D.J. Paul Martin making the space his own. Other big hitting names that graced the original Beyond decks have included The Sharp Boys, Hugh Stevenson, Stevie B & Elemental D.J.’s Red & Blue, the club even spurning Sunday afternoon outing Later.

However, in mid 2006 Beyond disappeared off our radar as new club venue Area launched and with Crash still going strong, the balance shifted from one side of Vauxhall to the other, many of the Beyond residents also switching when afterhours club Ultra was launched, the likes of Steve Pitron, Brent Nicholls, Paul Heron & Severino joining forces with current Beyond favourites Jamie Head & Mikey D that saw “...the coolest afterhours clubbing in town...” concept take the place of Beyond, Ultra even joining forces with 1990’s afterhours powerhouse Trade at Area and developing the concept into Bank Holiday special’s “Essential” back in Beyond’s original home Coloseum. With Area the new sensation in town, this modern & bespoke clubbing venue was soon to attract other clubs and Spanish club Matinee was launched in London at this super swish Vauxhall hangout, a club that was to dominate the late noughties, the venue even sporting the collaboration between Crash & Megawoof, called “Union” (get the connection?!) for a short series of special parties. So what happened to Beyond? And why did is suddenly drop off the clubbing calendar? Well, those that are in the know will know and for good reason we will not go into the detail, but as they say, you can never keep a good thing down and on May Day Bank Holiday Sunday 4th May 2008, like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Beyond was re-born, not at Coloseum, but at Area, following the venue's re-vitalisation in the hands of The Orange Group and whilst the early months at its new home were a little hit and miss, the traditional clubbing fraternity taking a while to adjust to this legendary afterhours’ new home, as quickly as it disappeared in 2006, a mere two years later, Beyond was virtually back where it belonged, at the top of the afterhours clubbing pile and pulling in massive crowds. Bringing the story right up to date is an easy one, as not only has Beyond continued to grow in strength, bringing old time favourite D.J.’s along with it, Steve Pitron & The Sharp Boys especially (even Brent Nicholls was back behind the decks in March), but the residency team that includes Crash D.J.’s Jamie Head & Mikey D, but sports names such as Hifi Sean, Gonzalo Rivas, D’Johnny, Terry Bryan & (how could we leave out) Alan K, mean that the weekly homage’s that were part & parcel of our life back in 2002 are back with us again in 2010, Beyond dominating the gAylist clubbing market & even scouping numerous awards.

So with that historical backdrop, you can imagine our excitement when news hit our desks a couple of months ago that the team behind Beyond these days, were planning what was described to us as a “Beyond Classic”, a one-off event & journey back in time to re-capture the magic of those days in Coloseum and bringing back (where possible) the original D.J.’s in the original format. And looking at that line up back in 2002, virtually all the names still play a predominant part in the clubbing scene of today, or at least are still very much active, Brent Nicholls, Paul Heron, Alan X, Steve Pitron, David Jiminez, Severino, Hugh Stevenson, Paul Martin & The Sharp Boys, even the lovely Antione is still very much around (we were with him at Beyond just last weekend), so it seemed, on paper at least that this “classic” Beyond would be just the celebration of everything that was great about the original concept & D.J. line up that we had expected. Indeed having been a stalwart regular of Beyond since its launch, there is no other club for which we have so much love & passion, hence our genuine excitement & desire to see the orginal formula re-created as near as damn it to 2002. Of course times have moved on and the music has changed considerably, Brent Nicholls’ original mix (we love it!!), which is well worth a listen at http://djbrentnicholls.com/music/B2B (you can also download the mix from here, just follow the instructions), is testament to that and no-one could expect this “one-off” event to be a carbon copy.

But, nevertheless Beyond is back at the Coloseum, so what can you expect from this party? Well, firstly, Coloseum plays its part in a fourteen hour (yes you heard us right) extravaganza, balanced between Beyond’s old & new homes and in the words of the organisers, the first part of this named “Beyond Back-To-Back” event, will be “...a nostalgic return to the glory days of clubbing for some, and a piece of clubbing history for others who have yet to experience it...” they going on to say “...Expect a truly hedonistic musical journey, reliving those groundbreaking early days of Beyond, rekindling the magic which made Beyond ‘the world’s favourite afterhours party...” also mentioning that “...many of the original Beyond residents will reign supreme, spinning a sensational mix of current pumping underground house with some favourite Beyond classics sprinkled in for good measure...”. So, it definitely sounds that this Beyond return to Coloseum will be the celebration we have been looking forward to and with the added bonus of new lighting, lasers, plenty of pyrotechnic effects and stunning dancers to give the old feel and more up-to-date & eye catching appeal, to meet the modern audience. And of those original resident D.J.’s who can you expect? Well, Brent Nicholls will be there, as will Paul Heron & Alan X, with Paul Martin who was part of the “Long Room” set up back in 2004 also being part of the team. Joining them will be current Beyond Area resident Gonzalo Rivas, Orange regular Fat Tony & Onyx promoter Jonny M, the music spread across three rooms, although as yet, which D.J.’s will be where we are not sure. Now, it has to be said that this line up the not quite the classic line up we expected, but we are sure each & every D.J. will nevertheless pack a pumping & pulsating musical punch, we however being reliably informed that there will be plenty of extra special surprises in store and as soon as the final D.J. line up reaches our desk you will be the first to know.

No Beyond party would be complete without its current incarnation at Area and there is not much we can add to everything we have said in recent reviews & recommendation posts apart from the fact that 2010 has seen this party stand head & shoulders above the competition. Beyond, just last weekend, was rammed with revellers that saw all three rooms full to capacity and superb sets from residents Hifi Sean, D’Johnny, Alan K and a special b2b three hour set from Steve Pitron & Mikey D truly delighted, other special ingredients including Logan’s gorgeous dancers and extra special host Naomi, not to mention the marvel of Tom on the door, making sure everyone’s entry was as smooth as possible, ensuring this was a Beyond not to forget. Last week also saw the welcome return of David Jiminez, who’s inspired energy behind the decks, saw the Blackbox room packed much longer than usual, and whilst the line up for this week’s party has yet to be confirmed, we are sure that the main room will be reigned supreme by Mikey D, Steve Pitron, & Alan K. Resident Hifi Sean will be sadly missed (he has commitments over in Amsterdam) although others joining the main room stars should include D’Johnny, Jamie Head, Paul Christian, David Jiminez & The Sharp Boys, but as with part one, we will let you know as soon as we do. Plus the gorgeous dancers will be back, as will Area’s unbeatable lighting pyrotechnics, lasers & effects to once again hit the mark with every move.

Well, that’s our overview, now to the detail. “Beyond Back To Back” kicks off at 11 p.m. this Saturday (5th June) at The Coloseum, part one taking you through till 7 a.m., while over at Area, part two starts at its usual timing of 6 a.m. (Sunday 6th June) running through until 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Joint tickets to both Coloseum & Area are available at £20, either online at http://clubtickets.com/ or at Soho outlets Prowler, Clone Zone, DV8 & The Box, as well as at both Fire & Area. Mind you, if you were out last weekend you may have picked up free entry passes to the Coloseum part & these are still available via e-mail at vip@prototype-music.co.uk with individual tickets to each part on sale for £12.

So, it certainly looks like being one hell of a Beyond bender for devotees to the new and you simply couldn’t ask for more. As for those that were at the original back in 2002, well there are definitely elements that evoke those heady early days, although we are holding our breath on the confirmed D.J. line up at Coloseum to see if it will fulfil our expectations, not least rekindling the magic of that very special VIP room space which still lives in our memories. (DISCO MATT)

London Global Dance Festival - Sorry Shoes Profile

2010-06-02T09:50:00.001+01:00

LONDON GLOBAL DANCE FESTIVAL
MAIN EVENT & AFTERPARTY – SUNDAY/ MONDAY 30TH/31ST MAY
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC OUTFIT PREVIEW

Well, you find us just over half way through the massive London Global Dance Festival (LGDF), having savoured a spectacular launch party in the hands of “Onyx” and a brilliant performance by Amsterdam’s Dikky Vendetta, followed by a auspicious “A.M.- International, a brilliant “Beyond – Universe” and a lavish “Later – Global Edition”, although as good as all these were, it seems that the best is yet to come, as we are literally three or so hours way from the main event, which will be followed by the huge “Orange LGDF Closing Party” event and one particular outfit that will be present at both parties gets our final devotion in what has been a truly exhaustive yet most comprehensive look at all the international clubs & outfits that will be representative & part of this massive London music & dance gathering

Sorry Shoes Sorry shoes was created as a record label & agency by international D.J./Producer Mike Kelly back in 2008 and has both German & Australian origins, but serves to bring together D.J. talents from across the globe, sourcing individuals from as far away as Brazil, America, and, naturally, Australia, but as near as France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the U.K. Since its inception Sorry Shoes has attracted an impressive array of well over 30 masters at their game, with a core team that includes Jean Philips, Ben Korbel, Chris Bekker, & Thomas William joining Mike, but extending to members that include Alex Taylor, Ben Manson, Hifi Sean Dickson, Ivan Gomez, Nacho Chapado, Oliver M & Steven Redant, the huge list of artists offering up a whole expanse of genres across house music, giving the label & agency incredible depth. Sorry shoes philiosphy is based on its desire to “aim to make you dance, provide professionals, yet always remember to smile” attracting D.J.’s that push the boundaries with their music yet always remembering that music is still there to dance to and that their production works should be stimulating yet full of fun.

So, from elements of progressive, tech, trance, tribal, minimal & electro, the ever increasing team includes both longstanding contributors to the music industry as well as new & upcoming talents and in the relatively short time the label & agency has been running, not only is the membership impressive, but so is the list of releases which have included Jean Philips’ & Mike Kelly’s “Tisco”, Exit Earth’s “The Sun”, Steven Redant’s “Discotheque”, Rene Raabe’s “Me” & Van Gomez’s “D-Pressed” and has seen support both through radio airplay & live gigs come from the likes of Judge Jules, Axwell, Ismael Rivas, Lisa Lashes & Hector Fonseca to name just a few. So, having established a solid reputation within the Industry, Sorry Shoes continues to move forward, with over 10 commercial label releases already under its belt and with plenty more to come and therefore the management team behind Sorry Shoes are thrilled to be part of LGDF. Both Mike Kelly & Jean Phillips will be representing the organisation at the main event tomorrow night, and fellow Sorry Shoes artists Thomas William, Ivan Gomez & Nacho Chapado, will be part of the “Orange event, Thomas flying the flag for Cologne club Nightkomm & the “peas in pod” duo of Ivan & Nacho influencing the main room & The Blackbox at Area, respectively.

Plus don’t forget that Sorry Shoes have sponsored the “official CD compilation for LGDF, a 12 track mix that was put together by Mike Kelly and includes some real corkers. Complimentary copies will be handed out to VIP guests at the main event tonight, with the CD’s also available for sale at both Fire & Area, as well as in super Soho retail outfit Clone Zone &, we are told, countrywide at HMV stores, but why not get your slice of some Sorry Shoes action, live at the LGDF main event & the closing party and a better brand to be involved, we couldn’t think of. (DISCO MATT)

London Global Dance Festival - Crew Club & Bar

2010-05-29T18:44:00.004+01:00

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

2010-05-28T10:56:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-25T07:33:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-22T20:56:00.005+01:00

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

2010-05-22T12:51:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-20T06:40:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-19T07:51:00.003+01:00

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

2010-05-17T20:46:00.002+01:00

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

2010-05-13T05:45:00.004+01:00

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)

"Cupids Arrow" - Lovechild & DTPM - Special Valentine's Weekend Preview

2010-02-05T06:47:00.004Z

"CUPID’S ARROW” – LOVECHILD & DTPM
VALENTINE’S WEEKEND - 13th & 14th FEBRUARY
SPECIAL PREVIEW

Now, when it comes to Valentine’s Day we always end up being a tad out of place, particularly in recent years when we have been far from loved up in any way, the last real love of our life being a guy called Chris back in 2001 (yes we have been single that long!). So, we have come to rely on our most favourite pastime, clubbing, as our moment of passion on this special day, in fact, last year had us very much “loved up” in a clubbing sort of way, with special events right across the weekend, not least at our most favourite social soiree and then our favourite clubbing brand. Mind you, it would have helped to have a man on our arm or at least some sort of love interest, but with plenty of great pals around we had the next best thing & some brilliant clubbing to boot.

A year on and with our relationship status still very much beginning with a big fat S, it looks like Valentine’s weekend is once again going to be all about the clubbing, but as we wade through the myriad of offerings as the world & his wife of venues across gAylist/land London take advantage, cutting to the chase, there are two events that stand out like tall poppy’s, well in Valentine’s case, red roses among a field of pink carnations and have love central to their theme. For one of these events, the mere mention of the name say’s it all, while the other could hardly be anything else, falling on the day itself, so, rather than just giving them the usual pre weekend highlight, we thought it only appropriate to get completely loved up and enter into a full on relationship, filing out our version of a valentine’s card and posting it to each event, loading our bow & aiming cupid’s arrow right into the heart of the action, touching on the clubs histories & re-enforcing their credentials as our choice picks.

Now, it reads like a match made in heaven, and who could have dreamt up a better name for a Valentine’s weekend party than calling it “Lovechild”. Well, in actual fact it is the name of a club that has been in existence for much more than just Valentine’s, but an event that has its foundations set firmly in the gAylist London clubbing calendar, starting it all virtually a year ago to the day at Pacha in Victoria. Originally planned as a monthly Sunday t-dance style event, it was fair to say, the club failed to truly capture the imagination and whilst the concept was sound, there was something required to really inject enthusiasm. So the team went back to the drawing board following the May outing, giving the brand a rest over the summer, but coming back with what has proven to be a winning formula, shifting the club from a Sunday to a Saturday, shifting venue’s, from Pacha to Fire and most notably shifting the style & pace of the concept to broaden its appeal. The re-launch in November was a resounding success December’s Lovechild drawing us in and leaving us wanting more, which was fulfilled impeccably on New Year’s Day when it stole the “As One” show, transforming our attitude towards Fire as a venue & re-kindling one of our favourite dancefloor spots in the famed mirror arch.

So, a year after it all began in the capital, Lovechild returns on Saturday 13th February to celebrate one whole year of eventing in London and the timing couldn’t be more appropriate as the club actually runs into the heart of Valentine’s Day itself, so more than one reason to have a party and get all loved up at Lovechild. Not that just love will be on the cards, as the new look Lovechild has a thick vein of raunch, sex & seductiveness running right through it, served up with saucy shows, muscular & scantily dressed dancers & magnificent music from a band of residents that are not just known for their smouldering sounds, but have smouldering looks to match. And if that isn’t enough, then Fire’s awesome lighting, lasers, pyrotechnics & atmosphere suits Lovechild perfectly and the team will be going all out on production to transform the space into a lovers heaven, so whether your married, single or divorced, there will definitely be something to please the eye & raise the hormones (and maybe something else!).

Now to the detail, as Lovechild’s 1st birthday bash will herald its strongest D.J. line up yet as residents Mattias, Gabriele Cutrano, Alessandro Londra, Lee Harris, Craig Daniels, Phil Hewson, Saki and Tony English welcome three new names to the fold. You may have heard of them somewhere before or even seen them on a dancefloor recently, three masters of their game who have over 30 years of D.J.’ing experience between them (that’s a collective 30) and bring an incredible depth to an already talented line up. Mind you, all three are no strangers to Lovechild, two having played for the club at “As One” and the other there for the launch a year ago, but their inclusion in the team moving forward will allow the musical style to really stretch its legs & definitely keep the variety & interest levels at fever pitch. We only have to mention names as, for us, they speak for themselves, so it goes without saying that Lovechild welcomes with open arms, Pagano, Paul Heron & Brent Nicholls to the team and there is no-one more pleased than us with their inclusion. With three rooms of scintillating sounds & with the depth of house genre’s on offer from this band of delectable D.J’s, the music is guaranteed to be the best that Lovechild & Fire has ever seen and you will be simply spoilt for choice in deciding which room to be in & when, but what a fantastic dilemma to have to deal with.

As if that wasn’t enough, Chris Geary’s band of beefy beauties will be performing right across the event, serving up sex fuelled shows & revealing more than just a pec or bicep, mingling with the crowd to turn up the horny heat and flaunting their flesh on the plethora of podiums, with colourful costumes & audacious action. Add to all that supercharged sauciness is the return of the infamous Contact room, hosted by Svetlana Queen who has been quoted as saying “There are so many couples and single gay guys who like to be naughty and let their inhibitions out, and my Contact Room at Lovechild is the perfect place for such fun.”. Need we say more?! Well, not much really, apart from the fact that Valentine’s Day will have a whole new meaning in the hands of Lovechild and we simply can’t wait to not just celebrate the 1st birthday of this fabulous club brand, for which promoter Alex Erfan & his team have worked on tirelessly, resulting in its recent success, but will be joining a whole band of lovers to discover who will be their Valentine & will be savoring a fresh concept in clubbing that has never been sexier. Full details of opening times etc., can be found by going to http://alexerfan.com/, with tickets on sale now at all the usual Soho outlets or online at http://clubtickets.com/, so grab yours as soon as you can as this is one event you simply won’t want to miss.

Then later on Valentine’s Day, iconic club brand DTPM returns to the capital, riding on the success of it’s “The Bitch is Back” & “NYD 2010” events, seemingly carving a new niche with its so called “pop up party nights”, with the emphasis on not just the music but the choice of venue to keep the feel completely fresh. So, having thrilled us with the amazing views of London, 31 floors up at Paramount & then going lofty on us again over at The Roof Gardens in Kensington, promoter Lee Freeman has chosen to really up the ante, selecting ultra swanky new Mayfair venue Jalouse to host this latest outing, although when we say Mayfair, its location is much closer to Oxford Street (on the corner of Hanover Square actually), but that does not belittle the sumptuous style of this private members club which has welcomed the rich & famous, including Maria Carey, Leonardo Di Caprio & Pixie Geldof, as well as opening its doors to pop star bad boy Pete Doherty. Very much a heterosexual domain, the club has seen fab comedian gAylister Alan Carr perform an impromptu strip, so we suspect that a band of DTPM’ers will be a walk in the park for the team, although we have to applaud Mr Freeman for landing this exclusive venue, albeit it a bit of a gamble in our view and very much a departure from the DTPM of old.

And looking back over the years, DTPM has been in the forefront of Sunday clubbing, kicking off a glorious history of decadent debauchery at Villa Stefano in Holborn, originally being an afterparty for Trade, but then finding its own identity, first at Bar Rumba on Shaftesbury Ave, then at The End and then across in Farringdon at Fabric where we truly thought DT was at its best, often Sunday evenings becoming Monday mornings & an excuse not to go into work. But, the one thing that has remained the focus of the club brand has been the quality of the music and when you consider some of the resident D.J’s it has sported, you can see why, names like Miguel Pellitero, Alan Thompson, Steve Thomas, Nick Tcherniak, Guy Williams, Malcolm Duffy, Justin Ballard, Lisa German & Mark Westhenry to mention a few, the music has definitely been the name of the game and central to the clubs success. Extra special events “Ruby” and sister club “Ficton” have cemented DT’s legendary status and it was a very sad day when Lee decided to hang up the clubs boots, heading off to sunny Spain to what seemed an early retirement.

But, you know what they say?, you can never keep a good thing down and DTPM is very much back, grabbing everyone’s attention, although there seems to be a different feel to the operation now, not the overt supersized events of before, but a much more select & special status. Lee Freeman & the crew seem to have a goal of keeping the pace of the brand under wraps, and whilst there is nothing wrong with that, there is a feeling that with the limited numbers/ capacity of the last two parties, many people may have switched off, disappointed with not being able to get a look in. But, there is no doubt that DT has re-captured the imagination, with tickets for this latest outing, entitled “From DTPM With Love”, already having sold furiously, the last batch having been released this week. The team have also put three pairs of tickets up for grabs via their new “twitter” page, asking you to answer the question, “What does DTPM stand for? (now let’s see...D is for dance, T is for...well you should know!), but with a capacity of just 400, Jalouse will retain the selectivity the DT crew are aiming for, so if you haven’t got your ticket yet then grab one now.

So, what about “From DTPM With Love”?, Well, don’t expect Matt Munroe, but the music should prove far better than the James Bond theme tune, as old favourites Nick Tcherniak & Steve Thomas are back by popular demand to keep the traditional DT musical flag flying. With sparkling b2b performances at Trade parties as well as a whole string of individual peaches of sets across the years, they, for us, will be the real highlights of the event. The House Husbands will also be returning after a triumphant inclusion in the NYD party, being the new face of DT, although we cannot escape the fact that we are still a little bemused why Messrs Pellitero & Williams have been overlooked again. As for the running times, the formula of starting Sunday evening & finishing just before midnight is sure to appeal as will be the inclusion of super hot & sexy sponsors Manhunt to add an extra amount of spice & eye candy (come on Llyd!!), and in the promoters own words, “now we’ve found a gorgeous spot for you to meet your Love, here’s a handy way to help you do it! Why not visit http://www.manhunt.net/, find your mate and set a date for 14th Feb”. So, get your glad rags out (we think the dress code may need to be smart), grab your tickets & get yourselves down to Jalouse for the next DTPM instalment, with full details & ticket sales available at http://dtpmevents.co.uk/.

So, that’s our preview of the two red roses in the field of pink carnations, but fear not as our forthcoming “weekend recommendations” post will not only give you, the choice picks of where else you can get all loved up, but we will also cover the vital detail you need to know about both Lovechild & DTPM, events which should be a must in your diary. We will be there to review them both and can’t wait. (DISCO MATT)

Matinee 2006 to 2010 - "Looking Back Then Looking Forward - Special Preview

2010-01-13T21:26:00.003Z

“MATINEE 2006 TO 2010 – LOOKING BACK, THEN LOOKING FORWARD”
A SPECIAL REVIEW & PREVIEW

There are some amazing home grown brands across the gAylist scene that have made waves in the history of clubbing, names that spring to mind including Trade, Crash, Beyond, Salvation, DTPM & Orange, many of these having successfully made an impact across the globe, Trade making it big in Europe and Salvation being a worldwide phenomenon, celebrating its latest conquest of the dance floors in South Africa. It is clear that brit clubs know how to lay on great parties abroad, but you can’t escape the fact that one massive brand emanating from Spain seems to really show the way, with prolific events across the mainland & on the white isle Ibiza attracting incredible attention. Their latest incarnation, the Circuit Festival in Barcelona, has developed into being one of Europe’s biggest & heads always turn & people flock to party after party this brand lay’s on, whether it be in Spain or worldwide.

The brand? Well, Matinee of course, the Spanish giant club which was launched way back in 1997 as a small outfit operating out of Barcelona, but in its 12 year history has become one of the best known & powerful clubbing brands in the world. Through a series of parties, first in home territory Barcelona with Le-Soleil, Souvenir & then Cafe Ole, it was never going to stop there, as the Matinee magic spread across the Mediterranean, Ibiza heralding the highly successful “Saturday Sessions” held at Space, which was to form an important connection with the group as it spread its message of clubbing excellence far and wide, with L’Atlantida in Sitges and “Nightology” boat tours right around Spain. Then, Matinee took on the biggest gamble in hits history, as it embarked on a world tour, taking in some of the major capital’s & party hotspots, proving to be the best clubbing export Spain has ever seen, with massive successes in France & Italy, but with parties in Frankfurt & Miami becoming real vindications of this risky decision to spread the Matinee word.

But what about London? well it was certainly wasn’t going to miss out & as part of the 2006 “Around The World” series of parties, the Matinee machine hitting the capital on 29th July, importing hot Spanish go-go’s, along with then resident D.J. Juanjo Martin and joining them with London. based D.J.’s , which included Steve Pitron, Paul Heron, Brent Nicholls, Mikey D and one Oliver M, the party hosted by Area in Vauxhall, which at the time was owned by co-promoters Wayne Shires & Rod Lay. It proved to be a resounding success and was certainly a taste of an upcoming Spanish invasion to hit gAylist/land London, being voted the best clubbing event of 2006 and really showing the way for a scene that was suffering from a little mundane normality. During 2007, the Matinee world tour brought the event back to London and was not just keen to follow the successful format that had seen it top the 2006 club poll, but make Matinee a regular feature of the London monthly clubbing calendar.

However, 2007 saw much turmoil in Vauxhall, with The Orange Group (owners of Fire) taking over Area, the venue for the Matinee parties in the capital, thus effectively sidelining this Spanish import, making it clear that somebody needed to come it it’s rescue. And that someone was Oliver Mohns, who along with his business partner of the time, Logan Schmitz, approached the Matinee group in Spain, to take over & fully promote their parties in London, offering the kind of high quality, large scale & glamorous parties the brand had become famous for around the world, but especially in their own backyards of Barcelona & Ibiza. Oliver’s associations with Matinee certainly helped, as he had D.J.’d for many of their parties not just in Spain but as part of The World Tour, including London, so he was a known quantity by the brand’s big brass. In addition, with Logan Schmitz bringing his expertise & skill for laying on stunning stage shows & providing exceptional dancers, this seemed like the golden ticket and the new look Matinee London was born, holding its massive launch party in Jan 2008 at the fabulously spacious Fabric nightclub in Farringdon as a Sunday night event, in some way’s following on from the successful gay formula the venue had sported with a long lasting run of DTPM parties.

It was at Fabric where we witnessed some amazing parties, well and truly dominated by some spectacular shows, Matinee “Knockout” in Feb being a superb example, as the main room was taken over by a huge boxing ring, creating the biggest splash we had seen in a club in the capital yet, although as the crowd consumed the space following the shows & the ring crumpled with the weight, it may have proved a costly affair. Other scintillating parties, the luscious “La-Leche” at Easter, the t-dance delight “Rewind” and then the pulsating “Paparazzi” in May served to cement Matinee’s popularity and its dominance of the glamorous gAylist scene. However, the success that was now the Evolved Events team then seemed to overfill with this exuberance, spurning the launch of their home-grown club Revolver, which, to the outsider, seemed to take some of the teams focus away from its Matinee events, Revolver in reality only receiving only a lukewarm reception.

July’s “Gay Pride” Matinee party was regrettable evidence, with a lack-lustre turnout and it seemed the time had come for change which resulted in a return to where the fairytale had started back in 2006, in Vauxhall, although this time it would be super club Colosseum that would be Matinee’s home. The Sunday formula was also set to change, but not before the massive August Bank Holiday “Superbowl” event which saw the venue filled like never before, but Saturday was Matinee London’s target, which came in the form of probably the best ever party to date, Viva, a spectacle of delirious dancing, magical music & an awesome atmosphere, which was to be our yardstick of all future Matinee events. “Marineros” followed in October, affirming both the move to Colosseum and the change back to Saturday’s, although some quarters missed the large scale shows & glamour that came with parties at Fabric and it was clear that all was not well in Evolved Events land, with an imminent split in the business partnership that was Oliver Mohns & Logan Schmitz, which was set to dominate the pseudo Spanish clubbing landscape in London for the next 15 months.

Matinee London continued, seemingly unabated & unaffected by the drams behind the scenes, with a superb “Space Invaders” event & an exuberant “Xmas Special” party, signalling that all seemed well with the brand in London and with the New Year’s event a complete sell-out, even though it was at the awkward “afterhours” timing, being at Colosseum, the host venue for NYD gAylist parties for many years, it was bound to be a success. Regrettably, the party was plagued with massive queues, both inside & out & cold spaces, the finger of blame being pointed in lots of directions, but unrepentant as the Matinee brand & crowd seemed to be at the time, the NYD was a virtual immediate distant memory as it scooped top spot on the 2008 club poll, followed by further huge successes, first with a charismatic birthday party, in celebration of the Spanish group turning 11, then y the “Masked Ball” and then “Erotica”, all parties delivering stunning shows & amazing D.J, performances. Nevertheless, under the surface, Matinee London & Evolved Events were becoming agitated with former business partner Logan Schmitz, who was making massive waves & taking the capital by storm with competitive brand SuperMartXe, hinting that fortunes were beginning to change for Matinee.

With the economic downturn that was dominating 2009 having its effect, the next three months were to signal a succession of winners & losers and whilst SuperMartXe under Logan’s steerage was going from strength to strength, Matinee was in search of inspiration, finding it in uber new venue Cable in London Bridge. The Evolved Events team launched at this new space & home in July, kicking off with their “Evolution-Revolution” party to critical acclaim, which was to be the new beginning, the August Bank Holiday party being even more popular than the launch. Cable, on the face of it, was proving just the change Matinee needed, however, the euphoria was relatively short lived and whilst Matinee London’s 3rd party went down well and their follow up “The Next Chapter” was a resounding success, for us the best of 2009, it was evident the ravages of inter club promoter feuding & foul play was taking its toll on Matinee London. When the December event “La Nocha Roja” didn’t quite hit the mark & was definitely missing something and then the fateful NYD party failed to ignite any sort of excitement, you would have been forgiven for thinking that this was a signal of things to come.

Then, as 2009 turned to 2010 amidst optimism that the New Year would bring improved fortunes, news came through of a dramatic change, as the Matinee group announced that the London franchise would be changing hands, ironically from Oliver Mohn’s “Evolved Events” to Logan Schmitz’s “Logan Presents”. The news caused a veritable tsunami style reaction across gAylist London’s dancefloors within hours of Matinee’s decision, those close to the respective “camps” taking the news in different ways, lots of questions already being raised as to why Matinee chose NYD to make the announcement, would Logan’s involvement with competitive Spanish brand SuperMartXe result in a conflict of interests, what would be the plans for Matinee London moving forward, would the old team of D.J’s & support staff be part of the new look and just when & where would the next Matinee event be?

Well, many of these questions remain unanswered, some in whole others in part, but with the dust having settled on the biggest announcement in gAylist clubland London in a long while, Matinee 2010 is now beginning to take shape. So, where are we with it all? Well Matinee’s first party of the year was always scheduled to take place on 6th February and this has not changed. Other details that were confirmed or at least planned out back in December, included the involvement of Spanish resident J Loius and he will be heading up the team of D.J.’s for the event, which we can confirm will be international superstars Paul Heron & Pagano, both previous Matinee London residents and rulers of the main floor across most of its history. The other inclusion secured before the promoter news change, was power house vocalist Vanessa Klein, who will be P.A. for the event and will perform, amongst others, her latest smash hit track “Addicted”.

But what of Matinee itself? Well, the new promotions team representing Matinee London & working with The World Tour, are beginning a phase of refurbishment, rejuvenation & reinvigoration, with the February party be hailed as Matinee “Under Construction”. They are promising the highest quality pyrotechnics, lighting & sound, combined with the finest dancing hunks seen anywhere in Europe, as well a stage show spectacular, everything that you have come to expect from the Logan Presents team, all this fused with Matinee’s unique Spanish sound, making for a new Matinee London like you have never seen before. Well, that seems to be the idea and given the level of coverage of both the change & the resultant plans, there is no shortage of hype surrounding this first outing, which will take place at The Fridge in Brixton, an iconic venue with plenty of gay history both old & new. We understand the club has undergone some dramatic improvements, with more to come and with the combination of Logan’s ability to stage prolific parties in these theatre style venues, the first outing is destined to be a huge success, even if the attractiveness of the Fridge has got a big question mark over it.

So, what is our verdict on the change? How do we see Matinee looking as 2010 progresses? And will there be further controversial times ahead for its new promoter? Well, there is no doubting the credentials of Logan Schmitz & his team, their work with SuperMartXe being nothing short of inspirational. In the relative short time that he has been hosting the brand in London, SuperMartXe has literally captivated the gAylist scene like no other venture we have seen in our lifetime, his skill at co-ordinating & choreographing stage shows is undoubted and this talent amongst others should prove to be a great asset to Matinee London. A business decision to change was made by the Matinee hierarchy and whilst the timing could have been seen as heartless, it is nevertheless clear that “team Logan” is very much in business and in the business of putting on superb parties, attracting the glitterati of the scene, which we are sure was seen as a reason for the decision coming out of Barcelona. As for Matinee London having legs in some form or other in 2010, we really hope it will, although we think possibly not at the Fridge, but maybe back where it all began and hopefully with much of the old team intact.

However, there is a nagging concern that that ominous phrase “a conflict of interest” may come into play, after all Matinee & SuperMartXe are major competitors in Spain & have been in London, so having one promotions team managing both outfits has got to have its pitfalls, perhaps signalling some rough seas ahead for Logan and his team. Nevertheless, for the sake of great partying, for the sake of high quality clubbing & for the sake of one of our most favourite clubbing brands, we hope this is not the case, we hope that Matinee London in the hands of its new maker is not only rejuvenated & reinvigorated, but most importantly builds on all the incredible ingredients that made a whole host of parties in the hands of its promotions predecessor superb, by going from strength to strength. There is an undoubted legacy left behind by the outgoing promotions team, who have brought Matinee a long way in London, hosting some truly outstanding parties, so Logan has some amazing past events to not just surpass but equal, although if the new teams track record is anything to go by, they should achieve it in bucket loads & we will be there to support it all. (DISCO MATT)

Matinee "NYD 2010" - STOP PRESS News

2009-12-31T00:51:00.001Z

Hey Folks,

Well, with 2010 literally just under a day away, it seems that all the big guns are vying for your attention, with New Year’s Day looking like the best time to celebrate the dawn of a new decade. Now, if you haven’t yet made up your mind where to go, then check out our special NYD/NYE “weekend recommendations” post at http://discomatt.com or go to http://seenqueen.com, which also has special coverage of where to be seen between tomorrow night & Saturday.

However, we want to take a moment to focus on what looks like being the best way to kick off your Jan 1st morning, as mega Espaniol brand Matinee goes afterhours for the occasion, presenting their “supersized” event over in London Bridge at the state of the art Cable nightclub. And we must stress, that contrary to certain rumours, Matinee’s doors will be opening at 5 a.m., yes that’s 5 a.m. (not 7 a.m.), meaning this will be the first afterhours event to kick off 2010, the party running through to a planned 2 p.m. finish.

So, with that detail made crystal clear, what can you expect from this special Matinee outing? Well, the Evolved Events all star D.J’s Guy Williams, Paul Heron, Fat Tony, Jonny M, Alessandro, Jon Dennis & Saki will be present, joined by Spanish superstar Matinee resident G-Martin, providing the best quality D.J. line up of the day. Fierce International will be out in force, supplying chunk loads of hot & sexy dancers, but will also be joined by the infamous “Stress” performers, noted for their outrageous & scary club shows across the world, who will be flown in especially for the event from Barcelona & Ibiza.

Plus the latest “hot off the press” news, in an exclusive interview tonight with Oliver M, Matinee London’s promoter, is that Contagious Entertainment will be providing two muscle hunks who will perform a stunning & sexy fire eating & angle grind show. Plus, the first 400 paying guests through Matinee’s doors will receive an exclusive, rare & limited edition A3 wall calendar featuring 12 of Matinee Group’s sexiest dancers (what better way to spice up your office, kitchen or bathroom!).

Oliver has also asked us to express not just his, but the whole of the Evolved Events teams gratitude for your support of Matinee throughout 2009 and promises that you will be blown away, not only by NYD, but by the plans the team have for 2010, as Matinee is definitely in London to stay (more on our exclusive insight to plans in future posts).

Now, if last year is anything to go by, this is going to be an absolute “roadblock”, so we suggest you grab your advance tickets in person, which are still available for £25 at the usual Soho outlets or if you prefer, go online to http://evolvedevents.co.uk and we have assurances that there will be no repeat of last year’s problems, both on the door & with the coatcheck(s).

Finally, we have been provided with one of those rare & limited edition Matinee 2010 wall calendar’s, which we will be giving away to the lucky entrant drawn from the all those that correctly answer our special Matinee competition question, which is, Name the event which marked the launch of Matinee London at Cable back in July this year? E-mail your answers to discomatt@hotmail.com to be received no later than Monday 4th Jan 2010.

We will, of course be at Matinee this NYD to review & report on it all, so make sure you are too & come say hi.

xDM

SuperMartXe - "Alice In Wonderland" -STOP PRESS News

2009-12-30T02:05:00.005Z

SUPERMARTXE "ALICE IN WONDERLAND"
STOP PRESS NEWS/PREVIEW

Well, we have already given you more than a taster in our recent “Wave Goodbye to 09 & Hello to 10” post on what looks like being the most prolific party of New Year’s Day, as SuperMartXe delves into all things magical & mystical, with its special party “Alice In Wonderland”, which takes place at the O2 Academy in Brixton on 1st Jan 2010, from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m. However, given the massive plans for this extravaganza event, we thought it only appropriate to devote a “special” STOP PRESS post to the party, with the latest & hot news coming direct to us from promoter Logan Schmitz.

So, first let’s get the mundane stuff out of the way. As mentioned above, the party kicks off at 5 p.m. with the event running through to a planned 2 a.m., so very much in the tea-dance timescale, although this will be no regular early evening event. Tickets are on sale at your favourite Soho outlets, including Prowler, Clone Zone, DV8, The Box & Profile, but also online at http://ticketweb.co.uk, priced currently at £20. VIP options are available (more on that in a mo) via http://loganpresents.com. We recommend you grab a ticket in advance although they will be on sale on the door.

With the boring detail over, let’s concentrate first on the party itself, which promises to be much much more than just a peep through the looking glass. If you have marvelled at SuperMartXe parties at The Coronet, “Alice” promises to pail these into insignificance, with the most lavish, flamboyant & extravert stage production you have ever seen, whisking you away into a fairy tale land of magical dreams & enchantment, with a stunning array of performers, dancers & P.A’s all dressed for the occasion, think Mad Hatters Tea party (very apt), Queen of Hearts (possibly tarts!), Cheshire Cats & White Rabbits galore, plus all the wonders that this amazing Lewis Carol story gives out.

In a “stage curtain” reveal at just passed 8 p.m. expect everything that SuperMartXe is renowned for, high-tech lighting, lasers & pyrotechnics, as well as flying acrobats, fire eaters & larger than life inflatable’s, enough to captivate you party goers all night long. The magical musical journey through “wonderland” will be provided by SuperMartXe regulars Steve Pitron & Marlon Jones, joined by Spanish superstar D.J. Juanjo Martin in the main “wonderland” arena, while Tony English, Phil Marriot, Aron, & Nathan 6 will play out in the Gaydar sponsored “garden” room. Live P.A. performances will come from Belle & Aimee, with whom Logan & his team have worked closely, not only to secure the integrity of the music, but to provide some extra special surprises on the night. You may have seen previous publicity promoting the appearance of X-Factor finalist Danyl Johnson, but as a compromise on his inclusion within the planned musical content couldn’t be arrived at, he has been dropped from the line up.

Now, let’s move onto the venue itself and time to address some possible concerns. Firstly, with a capacity of 5000, the O2 Academy is well versed in dealing with large numbers, so the efficient “fast track scanning” system employed on the main door should impress, as will the coatcheck facilities, with no less than four separate areas, including a special one dedicated to just bags. Then there is the dancefloor, which, for those of you that have visited the venue will realise, it tilts considerably, although this will be levelled out especially for “Alice”. And, getting to The Academy couldn’t be easier, as it is served by the nearby Victoria Line tube & a whole host buses & other transportation links, plus being probably the best known venue in South London, no taxi driver worth his salt will get lost!!

Now, we said we would cover the VIP options and for just £40, not only do you get a “super speed” specialised entrance at the rear of the venue, but there is then a free coatcheck and reserved VIP tables, positioned along the side of the main arena, where you will have the best view of the shows & the spectacle that will be “Alice In Wonderland”.

So, Friday 1st January looks like being one very special day in the continuing life of SuperMartXe in London and surely one party you won’t want to miss. Plus, “Logan Presents” supports the mega party As One, which is the official “Alice” after party, with special £3 per person taxi’s laid on from the Academy to whisk you to Fire (see our New years “weekend recommendations” post for details on this)..

All, that remains to say, is, in the inimitable words of the promoter....”follow the white rabbit & head for the O2 Academy on NYD”.

xDM

Festive Season Special Preview - "Wave Goodbye to 09, Say Hello to 10"

2009-12-17T19:34:00.005Z

WAVE GOODBYE TO 09, SAY HELLO TO 10 – WHERE WILL YOU BE CLUBBING THIS FESTIVE SEASON?
SPECIAL EXTENDED “PREVIEW”

Well, it has undoubtedly been an interesting year in gaylist/clubland London, with the downturn in the economic climate taking the brunt of the blame for the problems many clubs have encountered in 2009, but is fair to say that, despite money being tighter than we have known in a long time, many have still managed to satisfy their clubbing desires, with special weekends & most of big events proving the popular choices. Yes there have been some flops, but equally there have been some amazing parties, so as we the year draws to a close, how will 2009 bow out and what’s in store for the dawn of 2010?

There is definitely not shortage of options to dust off your clubbing shoes, celebrate the coming Christmas festivities, them wear off all the excesses caused by just one day (mad aren’t we?!) & hail the coming of what everybody hopes is a much better year ahead of us. Mind you, for some, Christmas started early, with two of gAylist London’s biggest clubs already throwing their festive parties, Matinee’s “La Nocha Rocha”, which was held on 5th Dec being more of a regular affair, although being covered in red coloured production, Matinee definitely was seasonal in look, even if the party didn’t feel that Christmassy. But then Beyond’s “Ice” party was definitely a winter wonderland and we were still dusting off the snow, hours afterwards, having had a brilliant time in the hands of Mikey D, Steve Pitron, D’Johnny & Alan K.

However, it seems the majority of parties are kicking off from this week, so what’s on offer to tempt you out? Well, hold on, as we give you the best of the bunch in our definitive run down.

First out of the blocks, tomorrow no less (Wed 16th) is “Gay City Rollers”, as Alex Erfan’s crew throw a special Christmas themed party, promising that the Renaissance rooms will be glammed up with OTT decor, outrageous costumes & festive go go’s, with plenty of surprises, free gifts & seasonal cheer spread around by Chris Geary’s hunks. And the exciting news is that two real D.J. icon’s will be spinning the tunes, as Tasty Tim & Fat Tony join regular Stewart Who? on the decks, to provide the scintillating sounds. Entrance is just £7, which includes a free drink & hire of the skates, which is probably the best value night out we can think of. Doors at the Renaissance Rooms open at 7 p.m. with the club running through until midnight. More details can be found at http://alexerfan.com

Thursday 17th sees Industri perform for the last time in 2009, with Minty hosting as only she can do, outrageously, and Paul Heron on the D.J. decks from 10.p.m. until 2 a.m. Industri has proven to be THE social soiree of the scene and with an extra special birthday twist this week, it should be a blast. Barcode Vauxhall is the host venue as always and proceedings usually start from 9 p.m., running through it 2 a.m. entrance being free all night!! Check http://bar-code.co.uk for more info.

Then the next Christmas themed party , also on Thurs night (17th), is Gravity at Fire, which plays host to The Oli & Alan K on the decks, with superstar Steve Pitron guesting for the night. The team promise plenty of festive frivolity, with the club being given that special Christmassy feel in the hands of Jay Sharp Vokins’ magical mastery. Plus the fabulous Naomi hosts “Jiggy’s Christmas Sack” with plenty of presents to give away. It all kicks off at midnight, with the club running through until a heady 8 a.m. (books the day off work!) & entrance at anything for £5 to £10, dependant on what time you get there (grab a flyer!). Check out http://firelondon.co.uk for more details.

Friday 18th is definitely an “Onyx” day, as the club that has transformed Friday nights is back with its Christmas “White Spectacular”, with the club being totally transformed but with all the usual ingredients that make Area super amazing, lasers, pyro’s & sexy stage shows and for sure this is one Onyx outing you won’t want to miss. Music comes courtesy of residents Phil Marriot & Steven Gellar in the main room, Jamie Hammond, Tuomo Fox, James St James & Jason Prince lauding it up in black room, with Lisa German taking hold of the terrace bar accompanied by Donald on vocals. However, the big news is that mega international superstar D.J. Paul Heron will be guesting for the night, taking the main room by storm & that is going to be something really special. The team dare you to dress all in white & offer special cocktails & free entry to the VIP bar if you do. What’s more there will be plenty of drinks offers on all night, on top of the amazing free entry before midnight offer. Onyx opens its doors at 10 p.m. & runs through until 5 p.m., with entry charges at just £6 after midnight (bargain!) & advance tickets selling online at http://clubtickets.com.

Saturday 19th sees the Christmas parties continue, the highlight being “Juicy”, as promoter Andrew Harris & his boys come over all festive, throwing a special “Juicy Yule Ball”, offering a bold bundle of fun with super X rated go-go boys to delight & extra special Christmas production, visuals & lighting. Music is provided by resident D.J’s Rob Sykes,
Hi-Fi Sean, Steve Artis, Gonzalo Rivas & David Jiminez, but joining them will be none other than the Italian Stallion, Pagano, who will be playing an extra special progressive & tech infused set in the main room to eclipse all others and we expect his popularity will ensure there is very little “room in the stable”. Juicy takes place at Fire in Vauxhall, doors opening at 11 p.m. & the club running through until 8 a.m. Entrance is £12, but if you grab an advance ticket from your fave Soho outlets, it’s just £10, or online from http://clubtickets.com, with more details of the event at http://myspace.com.firelondon.

Then the all out “Xmas partying” takes a breather until Christmas Day (yes there is clubbing on the day itself...365 days a year darling!!) so as to let you all get your shopping in..and we do like to shop, don’t we?!?!

So, on Christmas day, the mother of all clubs, “Trade”, teams up with “Orange”, to bring you a blowout incredebleu entitled “Orange/Trade – The Magic Of Christmas”, at Fire in Vauxhall. If you have never been to a Trade Christmas day party, you really don’t know what you are missing, as there is no feeling that can be more decadent than clubbing while the rest of society are sleeping off their excesses. To well & truly help proceedings on, the Trade collective, in conjunction with Orange, have lined up a spectacular D.J. list, across three rooms, with the “Tinsel Trade Rudolf Room” playing host to Lisa German, Pagano.Nick Tcherniak & Lady Bianca, while over in the “Orange Claus Chamber”, Gonzalo Rivas, The Sharp Boys, Terry Bryan & The Oli take charge, with a yet undisclosed special guest joining them (could it be Steve Pitron?!). Then there is the “Lap Land Lightbox”, where the dream team of Fat Tony & Tonnic take you on a funky Xmas night journey, with Dave Cross assisting, but as if that wasn’t enough, there will be a fab chillout area, named simply “The Xmas Lounge”, where Steven Sharp’s super Xmas soundtrack will offer you an escape from the frenetic activity. Fire is set to look like a magical Christmas wonderland with all the ingredients we expect from this amazingly equipped venue, with the promise of complimentary mince pies & mulled wine for early arrivals, plus lots of extra surprises! (woo hoo). Trade/Orange (as we prefer it) kicks off at 10 p.m., finishing off at a premature 8 a.m. (must be the licensing). Tickets are on sale now at http://clubtickets.com for £12, as well as at Clone Zone, Prowler, DV8 & The Box, plus from Fire, Area & even from Steven Sharp in person (can’t be bad). Check out http://tradeuk.net for the full news.

Boxing Day sees no let down in the partying, as some of will be dreaming of being miles away in South Africa, as the Salvation Tour kicks off in Johannesburg, but back in good old London Town, uber sexy fetish club Hard On! throws its party to shake off all that turkey, Christmas pud, mince pies, & allows you to indulge in some stuffing of a different kind. So, putting aside the extra large jumper your granny sent you and slipping into leather, rubber, skinhead gear, uniform & the like, its time to get all pumped & funked up, with sexy sounds from resident D.J.’s Brent Nicholls, Hugos’land & Halo Is, as well as indulging in all the happenings across in the massive playroom (gonna do our best to hold onto our T-shirt this time!). And, to add to the fun & frivolity, there is a special two for one drinks offer on Vodka before midnight to really get you in the mood. Hard On! at Hidden in Vauxhall kicks off at 10 p.m., running through until 5 a.m. & remember folks, it is a members only club, details of which you can find at http://hardonclub.co.uk or, if you prefer, grab your membership at RoB or Expectations.

For the less pervy of you, there is always Fire, which hosts its monthly Tabloid outing, this time for a special Boxing Day bender, featuring none other than Boy George on the decks, who will be spinning a special set to befit the occasion, now if that doesn’t grab the front page headlines, what will?!?! Other broadsheet entertainers will include residents, The Oli, David Jiminez & The Sharp Boys, joined by Daz Saund & Nick Tcherniak with the return of the fabulous “Poporazzi Lounge”, hosted by “Jiggy” with D.J’s Jonny M, The very Miss Dusty O & James Saint James on the decks. Expect all the usual extrovert news grabbing production including the “Tabloid Wall Projection” which needs to be seen to be believed, as well as superb lighting, pyro’s & more. Doors open at 11 p.m. with the club running through until 8 a.m., with tickets available at just £10 in advance at http://clubtickets.com with special entrance charges with flyers in hand, otherwise £15 on the door.

We kind of then take a hop skip & jump across the short gap to New Years, with the world & his wife serving up their own form of partying on New Year’s Eve, but it seems that the mother of all of them will be “Kinky Trade” which will combine the forces of three clubs in one at The Renaissance rooms in Vauxhall. So, with promoters Laurence Malice, Andrew Harris & Alex Erfan laying down the gauntlet, the worlds of Trade, Juicy & Lovechild will join together for one spectacular gathering, with some of the biggest D.J. names in the business, including Trade’s Pete Wardman, Steve Thomas, Malcolm Duffy, Nick Tcherniak & Gonzalo Rivas, Juicy’s Steve Pitron, Hi-Fi Sean, Rob Sykes, D’Johnny & Steven Artis and Lovechild’s Mattias, Phil Hewson & Stewart Who?, will be the focus of the musical entertainment, although as of going to press there are more D.J’s to be confirmed. Topping off this amazing gathering, will be some extra special stage shows across the three spaces, with super hot kinky go-go’s, plenty of pyrotechnics, live V.J’s , laser shows, as well as some of the best club production & decor you have seen anywhere. Early bird tickets have sold out, but advance tickets at £20 are still available at Soho outlets Prowler, Aware, Clone Zone, DV8 & The Box, or online at http://clubtickets.com. There are also VIP packages available, which includes express entrance & coatcheck facilities, an exclusive VIP area & separate toilets, with a glass of bubbly thrown in. Kinky Trade’s doors open at 10 p.m. running superlate till 8 a.m. NYD.

But, if like us, NYE is not your thing, then there is plenty to save yourselves for on New Year’s Day, which kicks off in amazing Espaniol style at the mega Matinee goes all afterhours on us, presenting their “Supersized” event , returning to their state of the art home Cable in London Bridge. The Evolved Events all star D.J’s will be present to provide the scintillating sounds, including Guy Williams, Paul Heron, Pier Morrocco, Fat Tony, Jonny M, Alessandro, Jon Dennis & Saki, all joined by Spanish superstar Matinee resident G-Martin. Mark M Forns & Nik Ripley’s Fierce Intl crew will be out in force, supplying chunk loads of hot & sexy dancers, but will also be joined by the infamous “Stress” performers, noted for their outrageous & scary club shows across the world, who will be flown in especially for the event from Barcelona & Ibiza. Now, if last year is anything to go by, this is going to be an absolute “roadblock” and with early bird tickets already sold out, we suggest you grab your advance tickets in person, which are available for £20 at the usual Soho outlets or if you prefer, go online to http://evolvedevents.co.uk., but be quick as the latest news is that these are the fastest moving tickets in town!! Matinee’s NYD afterhours opens its doors at 5 a.m., with the club running through until 2 p.m. (wow!).

Then, drawing a short breath, it’s over to the O2 Academy in Brixton, as Logan presents SuperMartXe’s “Alice In Wonderland” party, which promises to be the biggest spectacle this super Spanish club’s London arm has produced yet. As always, Mr Schmitz is keeping most of the plans very close to his big chest, but we can guarantee that the D.J. line up will consist of residents Steve Pitron, Marlon K Jones & Tony English, who will be joined for this special event by Gaydar’s own Phil Marriot, D.J. Aron, Nathan 6 & flying in from Spain, will be Juanjo Martin, who is resident for SuperMartXe over there. P.A.’s confirmed for this magical experience are Aimee, Belle & extra special guest, X Factor’s Danyl Johnson (that should be interesting). Now, judging from recent events, we are expecting a truly incredible stage show, with production to match & having grilled Logan for more, all he will tell us that he has plenty of surprises up his sleeve, so we suspect that entering the wonderland will be a superb experience indeed. Advance tickets are on sale now both online at http://ticketweb.co.uk & at outlets, Prowler, Clone Zone, DV8, Solar Station, The Box & Profile Bar. And, a special pre-party has been planned at Lo-Profile on Boxing Day (more details of that to come). Check out the new web link http://loganpresents.com for this & all of Logan’s club events.

Then later on New Year’s Day, two clubs go head to head to entice you out to party well past dawn. First up is the return of DTPM and it seems that the rumour machine worked well, as the confirmed venue for this NYD party is The Roof Gardens in Kensington (not quite the central London venue expected), but having been given a complete refurb should definitely be a stylish affair. The D.J. line up is certainly interesting to say the least, as just two original DT residents survive the changes, Steve Thomas & Fat Tony playing, with the big name of Boy George taking centre stage, as well as The House Husbands joining the, if very “un” DTPM, line up. Mind you, the wonderful & talented Nick Tcherniak joins the team & may (if you’re lucky) do a bit of b2b’ing (in the musical sense..steady!!) with Steve, which should, if it happens, be a delight. Such has been the demand following the hugely successful “The Bitch is Back” party, yet again ALL the advance tickets sold out over three weeks ago, but Lee Freeman tells us a very limited amount will be available on the door. For more details, go to http://dtpmevents.co.uk.

But it looks like the second collaboration of the New Year will be club event “As One”, when clubs Beyond, Lovechild, Megawoof, Trannyshack & Lo-Profile join together to bring you a huge event spread across 6 rooms in the arches of Fire in Vauxhall. The confirmed D.J. line up is Steve Pitron, Mikey D, Gonzalo Rivas & Alan K in the Beyond/Logan Presents main room, Gabriele Cutrano, Mattias, Pagano, & Paul Heron representing Lovechild in the mirror arch, Megawoof residents Daz Saund, Diddy & Tim Mclone, will spin in the Lightbox, while, Craig Daniels, Stewart Who? Terry Vietheers & Phil Hewson will fly the flag for Lo-Profile, with the final space, “The Red Room” will be the home for Trannyshack, where Tasty Tim & Miss Dusty O will play out the sounds. There will be a special VIP space, sponsored by fab gay retail outlet DV8, as well as the infamous “contact room, hosted by Chris Geary’s hunks and you can expect some amazing production, lighting, & spectacular sexy dancers, in the form of Logan’s schmitzels. Doors for this mega event open at Fire at 11 p.m., with the club running through until 8 a.m. All early bird tickets have sold out, but advance ones at £15 are still available at the usual Soho outlets & at http://clubtickets.com. More info on “As One” can be found at http://firelondon.co.uk &/or http://alexerfan.com

Then, as if that wasn’t enough, Onyx returns for a “one off” afterhours event at Area, on Saturday 2nd January, to really kick you into 2010 with a bang. Returning will be fave resident D.J’s Phil Marriot & & Steve Gellar in the main room, with Jamie Hammond, Tuomo Fox, Jason Prince & James Saint James playing out in the black box, while out in the terrace bar, Lisa German will be mashing it up yet again. This is definitely going to have the feel of a Beyond party and we suspect many will spill out from “As One” where special entrance stamps to Onyx will be available. If not, you can get in for just £6, with the addition of credit crunch busting drinks promotions on offer (after all the previous partying, wallets will be crying out for that for sure!). Area opens its doors for Onyx “Afterhours” from 7 a.m., running superlate and details should be online at http://firelondon.co.uk.

Now, what other events are on offer that deserve a brief mention. Well draw more breath and here goes.....Barcode Soho plays host to “The Cave” for their Christmas party this Friday (18th Dec), then Rupert St Bar hosts two birthdays, Vlad’s on 19th & Disco Matt’s (who is that!?!) on 20th, while Horse Meat Disco’s Christmas Ho-down is also on Sun 20th & Orange squeeze the last of their citrus juice before Christmas on the same day. “Naked Zoo” returns to London at Egg for a Christmas special on Sun 27th Dec and “Royal House” also makes a welcome return to Heaven on Mon 28th Dec. With so much happening on New Year’s Eve, we will be issuing an extra post, but quick mentions go to Gutterslut, who hold their “Superslut” NYE party at The Dalston Superstore & Shadow Lounge’s “Showgirls & Showponnies” NYE bash. Check the popular press (excepting Vlad’s & Disco Matt’s b/day parties) for more details of these and watch for our “watered down” weekend recommendations posts, coming up over the festive period.

As for us, well it looks like a non-stop period of activity, with reviews a plenty and we have already chalked the following events in our diary

Industri – Thurs 17th Dec - from 9 p.m.
Gravity – Thurs 17th/Fri 18th – from 1 a.m. (review)
Onyx – Fri 18th – from 11 p.m. (review)
Profile/Lo-Profile – Sat 19th – from 9 p.m. (review)
Discomatt.com weekend birthday soiree @ Rupert St – Sun 20th – from 6 p.m.
Trade/Orange – Xmas Day – from 11 p.m. (review)
Hard On! – Boxing Day – from 11.30 p.m. (review)
Rupert St – NYE – from 8 p.m.
Matinee “Afterhours” – New Year’s Day – from 5 a.m.
SuperMartXe “Alice In Wonderland” – New Year’s Day – from 5 p.m. (review)
As One – New Year’s Day – from 11.30 p.m. (review)

Now, don’t forget to visit http://seenqueen.com, which has a special feature section, covering the best gAylisting events for the Christmas season & more. Plus, why not let people know where you are going, by entering the “fun poll”, as well as voting for your fave club, event, bar, etc, of the year, in the “seenqueen 2009 poll”.

So, if you see us out over the festive period, come say hi and as we always say.....Go There! Be There!

xDM

Slient Candle Lit Vigil Or Hate Crime Vigil, Which Is It? - Special Review

2009-10-30T07:32:00.006Z

SILENT CANDLE LIT VIGIL – OR
HATE CRIME VIGIL
WHICH IS IT??
SPECIAL PREVIEW

On the eve of what could prove to be a massive gathering of likeminded people, but could also draw in a fair amount of extremists from many camps in this very cosmopolitan city of ours, we reflect on what was supposedly originally intended to be a celebration of a life taken oh too soon, but looks like exploding into so much more. So, we ask the question, is this a celebration & reflection of a life lost? Or is it becoming a mass gathering & protest against an abhorrent act that we cannot allow to be brushed under the carpet? Then, is it an opportunity for extremists to platform their radical views? And will it lead to a polarisation of opinions across the whole community? Or will it focus people’s minds on the despicable things that happen to gay people in London?

To answer these questions & to also allow you to make up our own minds about the event tomorrow night (Friday 30th Oct) in Trafalgar Square, we firstly reflect on our emergence within the gay scene in London and then try to balance the views across the spectrum in an attempt to come to a conclusion as to what this event is going to achieve and how we would like the message to come across to the masses. We then consider, with the bandwagon style coverage over the last few days, how should the night be viewed in our eyes. We must say that these views are personal to us, they may provoke reaction, but we genuinely feel the night is going to do just that, so we feel it is only fair for all the views to be pulled together. The ultimate aim is to allow you to make up your own minds about attending or not, but in the end it will be your choice & yours alone.

Well, as they always say, “let’s start at the beginning, because it’s a very good place to start” Is it relevant? we think so & also think you will too, as finding out you are gay & other finding out can be a harrowing experience & can cause all sorts of reactions. So, in all the years that we have known to be gay and all that comes with that, from the early days of our realisation back in our teens, when that first encounter, which seemed quite innocent at the time, but in reflection many years later turned out to be a much older man taking advantage of an adolescent boy with all his innocence, it would be fair to say that in living the dream of a gay man in one of the world’s most prolific gay cities, comes with a surmountable (but not an insurmountable) level of risk, which we have come to accept as the norm, such risks that have often found us in tricky situations, but you take your chances don’t you?! Ws that the case with Ian?

Back in (can we call them) the dark ages, being gay was construed & treated as a disease, but times have definitely changed and our acceptance into general society, if we were an adolescent now, is much better than it was in our day (we sound so old). Looking back for a moment, we reflect in terror, the thought of our heterosexual working colleagues finding out about our disposition, but as times moved on, such acceptance became more open & free and we can say, that in the vast majority of cases our orientation was widely accepted, so allowing us to live our lives as we wished, whether it be in the privacy of our own home, or lauding it out in the raptures of a vibrant scene in and around the West End & beyond.

So, what relevance to the planned vigil does this have? Well, quite a lot actually. Firstly, we would say that for an act of gross abhorrence that results in a death, as did with Ian Banyham (the man that sparked all of this) cannot possibly be simply a case of someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time, moreover a single minded & nasty exploitation of a minority in our community. But, here comes the controversy, there is never smoke without fire, so why, in such a public place, did such a dreadful incident occur? Then, without the facts to hand, to rally the cry of & provoke the reaction of many that would otherwise say nothing is interesting to say the least, especially that the vigil was created through the infamous networking site which has been surely responsible for creating hype beyond reasonableness (controversy over!)

Of course it is a tragedy to lose a life, but who in the caucus of this gathering actually knows all the facts? We don’t (maybe we should, but who does?) Surely, when reading this, you have pushed the boundaries in search of fun, sexual or not, and maybe that action has gone too far. Some of us live life on the edge, looking for that extra thrill and when doing so, all it needs is an extremist psychopath to take advantage. Maybe that was the case with Ian, but we don’t know. If we do, it hasn’t been made clear. What we can say though, is that whoever committed this heinous crime, taking Ian’s life, is sick & nasty to the extreme.

Now, hate crime & discrimination has no room in our existence, it is unacceptable to anyone that has rational thoughts & treats people as real human beings. But whatever the crime and whoever has committed it, is the answer to protest?, to create excessive attention to the issue? or will, in doing what we do tomorrow night merely focus on a tiny segment of our society who actually couldn’t care less? Those people wishing to pay respects to a life lost should be respected for doing so, but we fear, they may be consumed by the rest who want to shout about how maltreated they feel they are and want to use the night as political & social self gain. But, think for a minute, we are no different to any other cross section of people in this great capital of ours, so why should our plight be treated any differently?

Losing a life is a very sad thing indeed, but it seems a little strange that so many prominent people across the scene, who probably didn’t know Ian, are prepared to be vocal & some put their money where the mouth is are only doing it now, with over three weeks passed since Ian’s death, although such support has to be commended, even if the word “bandwagon” comes to mind.. However, what was originally intended to be a silent & reflective vigil for a life lost, has, in our view, become a crusade by the gay community, speaking out way beyond where they need to make their voices heard. In doing so, surely the ultimate parody of the situation will be that opinions will be polarised and that the so called “hate crime” will continue unabated, with the minority that cause such anguish & upset remaining unmoved by any attempt to convince otherwise.

There is no doubt that in an increasingly dramatic society within which we live, people will fall victim to viscous attacks, but lets not fool ourselves that this is restricted to gay society. In the tough economic times we live in, people are becoming increasingly desperate and through no fault of innocent people, those such innocents are singled out as potential targets for the small band of people that feel they need to go to such unlawful steps as to kill to find a way to support themselves, this exploiting those that look better off than others. We cannot say this was true of Ian, but there is no doubt that gay people are just such victims (we have been there ourselves!)

However, as a gay community we need to stand strong, but what we don’t want to do is provoke bad feeling, rather to have love & respect for everyone around us. It does sound so simple, but hatred breeds hatred and when you talk about “hate” crime, just the use of the word can enrage, upset or insight people into doing things they would otherwise never consider. Surely living tolerantly with those around us is the answer, rather than fighting or arguing over everything. We except that sometimes differences of opinions exist and this is part of the world in which we live, but surely if we agreed to live in harmony, life would be so much better.

So what are we saying? Well, with tomorrow night’s event, we really hope that people will be in Trafalgar Square to pay respect to Ian Banyham’s life, pay respect to his family, who must be going through hell, but moreover pay respect to the 10’s, the 100’s & maybe the 1000’s of gay people that have been victims of brutal & nasty encounters, simply because they are gay. However it is our hope that tomorrow will not become a crusade, will not become a political rally, will not push the boundaries too far & most importantly will not polarise opinion across the diverse society that we live within. Tomorrow should be about stamping out prejudice, but through peaceful means. Ian’s death was probably violent enough, let’s not reprolcate that.

So, should it be a silent candle-lit vigil rather than a hate crime vigil? Yes it should, that is for sure, not least for Ian’s family more than anything else. Should you be in Trafalgar Square tomorrow night? most definitely so, by showing solidarity against a minority of exploiters of life & to highlight disgust in what is becoming a more violent place we live in. However, in saying that, you should be there only if your intentions for love & respect for all good law abiding citizens are genuine.

A special report can be found at http://homovision.tv & for full details of the event tomorrow night in Trafalgar Square, go to either http://bit.ly/HateCrimeVigil or http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=152586453159&ref=ts

Will we be there,? of course we will, for all the reasons we have said & much more, so make sure you are there too. (DISCO MATT)

Konekted at Cable

2009-10-17T19:52:00.004+01:00

KONEKTED AT CABLE - LAUNCH SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER
SPECIAL PREVIEW

It is rare that we take the opportunity to devote a whole post to just one club, but in these tough competitive times when the scene seems to be dominated by the big hitting brands, consigning many new ventures to an early grave or sidelining others, when we spot a venture that could make a real difference, injecting a whole load of excitement, backed up by some superb D.J. talents, many big hitting names not just in London, but across the globe, all taking place in of the capital’s newest, swishiest & cutting edge venues, we feel it serves some special attention. Add into the mix, one of the scene’s most experienced promoter, responsible for launching a legendary club in an area of London that quickly established itself as the coolest place to be and remains a mecca for gay clubbing, it then becomes apparent that this new venture has all the credentials worthy of success.

So, Who? What? When? & Where? are we talking about? Well, as for the Where, it is of course Cable, the uber new venue making a real name for itself so soon into its infancy and if you have been privileged to experience the wonderful Matinee parties held there since July, not to mention the special coverage we gave this new London Bridge clubbing destination in our first preview slot, you will realise that this is one very special space, designed & set up to specifically cater for the demands of modern clubbing, within surroundings that have cleverly blended the qualities of other venues to create a real wow, combining sumptuous materials to brilliant effect. As testament to this, check out the superb videos of Matinee in its new home at http://evolvedevents.co.uk and for the full low down on the venue, go to http://cable-london.com and we are sure you will be as amazed as we were when we first got to see the place.

Now, as to the next “W”, Who?, it could be nobody else but the genius that is for us, one of the most iconic & dynamic promoters of any across, not just gAylist London, but an individual that has been responsible for a whole host of clubs, events & ventures, being right in the thick of the scene for well over 20 years and in the clubbing business for two decades. Yes, its Wayne Shires, the man behind some of the biggest club names to hit the scene, remember Kinky Gerlinky? we certainly do, you cannot ever forget Crash, for us a club that, without exception, transformed Saturday night/Sunday morning underground clubbing, ctting edge & revolutionary in it style introducing some amazing D.J. talents that still grace our dancefloors to this day. Then there was Beyond, which made a massive impact on the afterhours clubbing phenomenon, the early days being driven by Wayne, who can only be tanked for bringing to us a club brand which is now firmly established as one of the best afterhours clubs, not just in London but in the U.K. Add to that his intrinsic involvement in the massive festival, Summer Rites, with more recent ventures Guru, Guru & Beartronic making real waves and there is no doubting this man’s talents & influence, especially considering that he really was THE face of an emerging gay village that has become the Vauxhall of today and is now part of yet another spurning area of London, Shoreditch.

So how about the What?, Well, it is a new club launch called “Konekted” (more of that in a moment) and with the concept firmly based on the need for a high quality Sunday night experience that fulfils the gap left by the massive brand DTPM. Now, we can probably hear you say that DTPM is on its way back, but bear in mind the format of the new DTPM is very much different to the old, whereas Konekted is planting itself firmly in that old territory with its timing, the aim also being to attract the “Sunday” crowd that has really developed across Hoxton & Shoreditch, with Cable being ideally placed to take advantage of that. And there is no doubt that there is a latent market across London that just needs that little bit of encouragement to bring Sunday clubbing back to the fore, perhaps the time being now to do so. We have, in saying so, answered the When in a way, but the plan with Konekted is to run the club from 10 p.m. on Sundays weekly, running through to the early hours of Monday morning, in some ways returning to those days when we either took Monday’s off or were well & truly decadent if not.

So, with the initial questions answered, now let us look at the detail. First and foremost is the club name, which its creator chose to do exactly what it says on the box, to connect people and music from the variety & spectrum that is out there these days, which is something we can be proud of in London, with probably one of the most diverse scenes of any in the world. And why not bring people together in this way? We certainly think there should be a club that does, with Sunday being the one day that has done just that in the past. So, what about the music? Well, there will be three separate rooms for the launch, each having its own unique feel & vibe, yet with some of the biggest names in the business gracing the decks, along with a host of rising stars that will make appearances as the week’s go by.

The main room has three names that evoke the Matinee style and are (funnily enough) residents there, the threesome of Pagano, Paul Heron & Oliver M set to pack a real punch with tough euro-style tech & electro house. Then looking across to the second space (which is room one at Cable), for Konekted it will be called the “Pop Up Club”, as the plan is to have various clubs take charge of this room for the night. The launch sees maestro’s Tom Stephan & Antoine 909 take to the decks, joined by upcoming star Terry Veitheer, with a real “Guru Guru” theme to proceedings here, but for us the combo of Tom & Antoine evoke those heady days of the early Crash years, so we are hopeful of that unique underground style that these two are renowned for. The middle Lounge Bar will see some great names from the days of Crash appear, as Tasty Tim & Ben Jamin will headline, Jon Sizzle & Feral adding to the vibe of this atmospheric room. So, there is no doubt about the depth of talent on offer and the music should be top class & just the ticket to end the weekend on a real high.

Well, that’s all the detail & in reflection we think an event which should make a real mark for itself. It therefore just remains to say that doors for Konekted open at Cable from 10 p.m. with the club running through to v-late (we suspect 6 or 7 a.m.). Entrance on the door is just £5 before midnight (bargain we say!) with various prices beyond that but no higher than £10. More info on the whole event, including V.I.P. ticket requests, can be found at their fabulous website http://konekted.co.uk.

We certainly think that Sunday clubbing is set to take a real step forward in the hands of Konekted and with such a star studied line up, in one of London’s most pioneering venues, the night masterminded & steered by one of the best promoters in the business, who can’t do more wrong than getting down to Cable in London Bridge for what will hopefully become the weekly Sunday nighter that others will become very envious of. So as we always say....Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)

Soho Live 09 - Special Preview

2009-09-08T10:45:00.003+01:00

SOHO LIVE 09 - SUNDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
SPECIAL PREVIEW

With Soho having made a real impact on the countries Pride season with some fantastic events over the years, from an impromptu start back in 2002 to the massive party it became last year, the main stage in Soho Square featuring a star studded D.J. line up, but with plenty of activity right across the area including the ever popular Q.X. stage in Rupert Street, all followed by after parties that kept the action going right into Monday morning, we were eagerly anticipating a repeat this year. So, it was a huge shock when news hit that Soho Pride would not be going ahead, the finger of blame being pointed in many directions, not least at London's Mayor for withdrawing financial support, but also over Crossrail's construction (a weak excuse is you ask us). However, what was more likely was that some key players in previous events not willing to bridge the financial gap and put their money where there mouth was, coupled with the amazement that so many venues across the Soho expanse, who have made huge profits from previous events, were also unprepared to put their hands in their pockets. However, from the minute that the news broke, furied discussions & negotiations began to reprieve Soho Pride and two protagonists stepped into the breach, both who have been "linch pin" supporters right from the early days and Soho Live became a reality.

And who were the two responsible? Well The Edge Group and Gaydar ofcourse, both who thought it would have been a crying shame if the now traditional yearly Soho event wouldn't go ahead, although were immediately facing an uphill battle to get everything organised and in place in time for the regular July/August timing, therefore deciding that a Sunday in September would be more appropriate & realistic. It was then a case of not only building up sponsorship support but forming the plans and implementation of the whole event infrastructure, lining up the artists playing on the various proposed stages and thinking about the addtional elements to make Soho Live an all encompassing day of celebration for the whole community, which had been given the important endorsment by Westminster council. With the news out, a whole host of sponsors came forward to give their support, including big corporates Carslberg Tetleys, Diagio and Mitchells & Butler as well as all your favourite independant gay/gay friendly outlets & business in and around Soho, but also The Wandsworth Palais which has invested alot into creating the perfect afterhours party (more of that later).

So, it has a slightly different name, a different date, but in essence the feel of the set up of Live 09 is very much the same as Soho Pride, or is it? Well, all the elements that made last year the huge sucess it was are there, the Gaydar Radio main stage & dance area is still in Soho Square, the Q.X. dance stage is back and will dominate proceedings in & around Rupert Street, even the Girls dance stage makes a welcome return, this year sponsored by Gaydar Girls & London's newest girl bar G Spot, but in a different setting on Romilly Street and naturally all your favourite Soho bars will be adding their own style to the event. However, there are some new elements that will set Soho Live aside from its predecesor as the organisers have agreement to use St Anne's Garden as a community stage & area, transforming the space into the style of a mini village fete, with market stalls, street artists, a bouncy castle and a small performance stage, very much more of a "Family Fun Area" which will also extend into the lower part of Dean Street with fun rides, magic shows & even some fairground games. There will be a variety of acts featuring on the community stage, including this years Drag Idol winner, Kevin Cruise as well as "A Stage Kindly", a theatre group that will be performing a fabulous homage to musicials. The host of market stalls will be back, spread across Greek, Frith and the northern side of Dean Street as well as the north side of Soho Square, but with a slant towards the designer in you, with specialist selections of arts, crafts, fashion & jewellery on offer, but with the usual influence of charities & support groups intrinsict to the gay society.

But, the real draws will remain the dance stages, so whats on offer? Well Soho Square's Camp Gaydar from last year will be transformed into a glitzy and glamourous Vegas style & theme with the addition of "The Fashion Catwalk" which will showcase the great collections and unique work of designers from Soho's various stores and boutiques. The music will be the main focus however, with a truly great D.J. line up playing live throughout the afternoon, headlined by The Freemasons who take to the stage at 4.30 p.m, the duo that are responsible for so many great dance hits, including "Love on My Mind", "Watchin", Rain Down Love", "Nothing But a Heartache" & "Uninvited" all of which we are sure will be in their playlist, with Gaydar Radio's Phil Marriot warming things up, followed by Matinee's & Evolved Events Oliver M, at 3.30 p.m., who will lead up to the duo. Juicy, Beyond & Lo-Profile resident & legendary D.J. Steve Pitron will then take over from the Freemason at 6 p.m. and international superstar Paul Heron rounds things off from 7p.m. till close at 8 and the whole afternoon of music in Soho Square will be broadcast live on GaydarRadio as the space will simply rock.

Over on the Q.X. stage in Rupert Street there will be plenty of activity with a plethroa of performers & P.A.'s adding glamour to the line up of D.J.'s which include Barcode resident Kris De Angelis, fab D.J/Producer & Gutterslut resident Per Q.X. , Matinee, Hard On!, Industri & Lo Profile resident Brent Nicholls, and the duo that played a superb b2b set at the recent Trade/Orance party and are regulars at Beyond & Juicy, Jamie Head & Mickey D, who will perform separately throughout the afternoon. We mentioned P.A.'s and the Q.X. stage have some biggies, with Work's legendary performance artist Scottee presenting a couple of dance numbers produced by Kris De Angelis, MC Crystal will be around to spruce up proceedings with her freestyle vocals and energy, but the great news is that the London gay clubbing scene's first lady, Therese will take centre stage with an exclusive debut of new material to compliment her classic hits. So with funky & chuky disco dancing turning into dirtier, sexier & huge house hits as day turns to night, we are sure this area will be as popular as ever.

And for you gals, Romilly Street's theme of "here come the girls" will be very much in evidence, with girl bar G Spot's very own D.J. Caz getting things going from 1.30 p.m. followed by Sandra D, resident at Ruby Tuesdays, carrying on from 4 p.m. and Miss Bailey taking over at 6 p.m. to see the music through till the 8 p.m. finish. And with the added spice of vocalist extraordinnaire Tonnic, who we are sure will rock Romily Street to its foundations with her awsome vocal chords, there will be loads to keep the girls very happy indeed. Mind you if you prefer to hang out in the bars, there will be plenty of music on offer, Rupert Street resident D.J. Alessandro playing out right across the afternoon with a pure mix of disco, dance, funky & hard hitting house, while over at Barcode, the team have lined up a host of D.J.'s that we are told will include Paul Coles, Hi-Fi Sean, Saki & Mattias. Heidi Liscious takes over the main bar at Village & The very Miss Dusty O plays out in Ku Bar frith Street, so plenty on offer.

But when Soho Live 09's curtain falls at 8 p.m., the partying will continue at the official after party "Paparazzi" which takes over at super new club venue the Wandsworth Palais, yes you heard it Wandsworth. But fear not at there will be free, yes free transport direct from Soho as you will be swept away from the centre of town on the buses leaving from Shaftesbury Ave and Tottenham Ct Rd from 8pm when "Paparazzi opens, with the free transport running until 12.30 am. As for the event itself, be prepared to be bathed in the warmth of a thousand flashes, shine like a star in a sea of cameras, and dance alongside some of the scene's hottest men as the venue will be transformed in the glamorous T’dance style but with circuit like production, massive inspiring stage shows and some of the world’s most eye-pleasing dancers & performers provided by Mark M Forn's Fierce Intl. D.J's grabbing the camera clicking action will include Paul Heron, Pier Morrocco, Brent Nicholls & Alessandro, with the club running right through till 6 a.m.

Back in Soho, new club "Scandal" launches at the swish Shadow Lounge, brought to you by one of the scene's most experienced promoters, Steve Elliot, the man behind Salvation. In a scandal ridden interview he told us that he promises a night of scandalous proportions right in the heart of the West-end with plenty to talk about. It has also been scandaleously reported that it will be hosted by the unscrupulous Madam Alekssandra Ceciliato and our sources also reveal that DJ’s Miswhite, Paul Coals & Nathan 6, will be creating the musical scandal with live vocalist Tonnic providing the vocal gossip at this shameful event, accompanied by the mistress of disgrace, Juliana de Primo, with "Scandal running from 9 p.m. through till 3 a.m.

So, next Sunday looks not only like being a day and night to remember but we suspect that Soho Live 09 will eclipse all previous events and will be heralded as THE outside party of the year. With the weather forecast looking very promissing, expect Soho's streets to be brimming with a amazing mix of people who want to dance, party, have fun, shop and eventually drop but will take away some lasting memories of a truly fantastic time. A big thanks & thumbs up to the team at the Edge and Gaydar for making Soho Live 09 a reality, yes, we are sure they will come across some teething problems, but with the superb support of so many business across Soho, we are confident that Live's 10, 11 & 12 will follow for sure and eventing in Soho will form a permanent spot in our yearly calendar. As for us, well, we are on duty at Rupert Street throughout the day, but will have team "Disco Matt" out & about, so expect a full review for sure. (DISCO MATT)

August Bank Holiday - To be a Sucess or Not to be a Sucess, That is THE Question? - Special Preview

2009-08-25T01:29:00.005+01:00

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY
TO BE A SUCESS OR NOT TO BE A SUCESS...THAT IS THE QUESTION?

With 2009 proving to be a tough year in gAylist/land London for a number of reasons, the previous Bank Holidays have been tricky to say the least, with plenty of events struggling to attract the sort of numbers that would have been a given in years gone by. Many of the expectated launch of new ventures over Easter & then the May Day breaks, fell victim to the ravages of the economic climate, as the big guns stole the lions share of a a declining captive audience. Yes there were some real sucesses, but with the three holidays being so close together, it was always going to be a difficult climate for club promoters and venues alike.

Then, with a predicted hot British Summer season of weather falling flat on its face, the London scene seemed to come to a bit of a halt with no real big club ventures hitting town, all seemingly taking breath as the masses were torn away to the Circuit Festival in Barcelona & mecca's Ibiza, Mykonos and more, to soak up some proper hot action, or maybe, countig their hard earnt pennies, simply stayed at home. But with the tug of September drawing people back & out, will the last Bank Holiday before Christmas prove to be different to the the previous three? Well, there are plenty of reasons to suspect that it will and here is our take on exactly why we think so, with our choice pick of events across the weekend.

For us and many, it all kicks off on the "new Friday", yes Thursday 27th, with both Barcode's enticing you to start off a party weekend as you mean to go on. Industri opens it's doors as usual in Vauxhall, with the magnificient Minty (are we doing "sassy bitches?") hosting as always and Paul Heron on the decks, this being a social soiree spectacular attracting a whole buch of regulars as well as plenty of off-duty scene faces & the like. Over in Soho the Barcode crew are launching a new night "Ursus Cave", aimed at bears, cubs, musclebears & their friends with a rotation of D.J.'s including Hi-Fi Sean & Paul Coles, while back over the river Gravity opens its doors at Fire on the back of its sucessful "Dirty Cash" night of pure scandal drawing in those that either don't need to or decide against work the following day, The Oli, Terry Bryan & guests providing the musical entertainment.

Friday 28th sees the action step up a pace as two of clubland London's heavyweights roll out pre-parties. Matinee takes hold of The Box in Covent Garden, which has a reputation for attracting a beautiful & sophisticated crowd, which will no doubt add to the host of Matinee visuals, concession ticket offers & ofcourse attendance of Mark M Forns Fierce Intl boys & gals to add glamour & glitz to proceedings. Over at Rupert Street, fellow Spanish club icon SuperMartXe takes over the venue for the night to promote their "Circus" party, with non other than D.J. supremo Nick Tcherniak (fab) on the decks, warming us up for his appearance at The Cornet for the main event. Following the last pre-party, we trust that Logan & his team will be pulling out all the stops to show how it should be done and we expect that the imfamous SuperMartXe beachball will take centre stage again. In Vauxhall, Onyx swings into action having cemented itself into the weekly calendar, a welcome gay/metrosexual club at Area, with a star studded D.J. line up across three rooms of fun, including Phil Marriot, Steven Geller, Ariel, Lisa German & Jason Prince, not to mention the amazing Area production, lighting & pyrotechnics as well as drinks offers a plenty.

Saturday 29th is when things really hot up with plenty of events on offer to tempt out all sorts. XXL roll out their leather party although they will have tough competition in the form of Hard On! which swings into action at Hidden in Vauxhall, headed up as usual by the queen of kink, Suzi Kruger, with discounted entry on offer to those wishing to bear all and a pervy performance by Hellfire who will be joined to two porn stars to beef up the action Resident D.J's in action will include Halo-Is, Hugosland & ofcourse Brent Nicholls. For the the slightly fainter hearted folk, G.A.Y. accomodates the camp & Juicy at Fire tempts in the disco dancefloor disciples, with the likes of Steve Pitron, Hi-Fi Sean, Rob Sykes, Gonzalo & David Jiminez spinning the sounds. However, there is little doubt that Matinee is going to draw a massive crowd on the back of its launch over at London Bridge's Cable in July, rolling out an August bak Holiday spectacular with an incredible line up of Matinee group all-star G-Martin & fresh from his stunning set at the Circuit Festival together with a host of eurpoean appearances, D.J./producer Danny Verde (can't wait). They join resident D.J's Guy Williams, Alessandro, Fat Tony & Brent Nicholls, with the addition of Jonny M & Moussa to the line up. The P.A. performance has yet to be confirmed, but Fierce Intl will be providing stunning shows across the three rooms, with the added temptation of a CD giveaway of Pagano's rare Matinee compilation to the first 300 through the door and based on the last party the most gorgeous crowd you could ever want, what more could you ask for?

Sunday 30th kicks off in earnest with Beyond as usual at Area in Vauxhall, which will no doubt be rammed with a colloision of clubbers, although some may decide to rest and re-charge in time for SuperMartXe, which moves from its usual Saturday slot to Sunday evening at the Coronet in Elephant & Castle. The party themed "Circus" should have all the usual ingredients that make this clubbing event really popular and with Pablo Kopanos headlining the D.J. team for the night, sandwiched by D'Johnny & Nick Tcherniak, a P.A. performance by spanish songstress cum diva, Nalaya, as well as aerial performers & fire breathers to add to the atmosphere. Plus, we are told that the stage show will blow your mind with some spectacular circus surprises, so a good reason not to be late. But if thats not your thang, then there is always XXL's Fusion "sunset to sunrise" party, with (surprise, surprise) The Freemasons among the D.J. line up. For those that fancy a quick cocktail (a drink silly) before hitting what will be Sunday's main event, SuperMartXe, you could do worse than popping into Barcode Vauzhall, which is going from strength to strength on Sunday nights and with Hi-Fi Sean on the decks, you won't be dissapointed.

As if that wasn't enough, then the mother of all clubs, Trade, swings into action once againin the early hours of Monday morning 31st August, teaming up with Orange at Fire to bring the second instalment of one of the years most talked about parties. Once again there will be a Trade room with D.J.'s including Pete Wardman, Pagano, Gonzalo (extactly where he belongs) Lady Bianca & Kamisshake, with the added ingredient of a back-to-back set by Steve Thomas & Nick Tcherniak, as well as Fat Tony playing out, accompanied by the voice on Tonnic (maybe with a touch of Laurence Malice thrown in for good measure). The Orange room will feature Steve Pitron, David Jiminez, The Sharp Boys, Jamie Head, Mikey D (sounds like Beyond classic Colosseum days of old!) as well as Paul Martin, Rob Sykes, D'Johnny & more, not to mention sexy go-go dancers along with stunning production. This is likely to be pure clubbing hedonism seeing out Bank Holiday Monday in superb style, or more likely downright debauchery.

So, why do we think August Bank Holiday will be different to the last three? Well, for a start, there is no real clash of the Titans as the big guns have decided to spread out their parties sensibly for a change (or was that pure chance!?!). It seems that lessons may have been learnt and whilst we doubt that promoters are actually working & co-operating with each other, there appears a sense that they have realised that people may have become wise to their stupid games & tactics. We think they may now realise that its more about having a good time, throwing a good party, rather than fiercly competing, which only serves to detriment their own sucess, by alienating the people that line their pockets, the clubbing public, afterall it is and should be "one big disco". Are we being naive in our views? Well we hope not, although this is one question we will only be able to answer, post September 1st. However, what we can say now, is that there are plenty of good nay great reasons to come out to play this August Bank Holiday and we will definately be out to play as well as review it for sure. (DISCO MATT)

Matinee & Cable "A Match Made In Heaven" - Club Preview

2009-07-18T11:50:00.002+01:00

MATINEE & CABLE – “A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN”
CLUB PREVIEW

Well, 2009 has already proven tough for the scene, gAylisting events also feeling the pinch, with numbers dwindling in more than a handful of outings. Easter & the two subsequent Bank Holiday weekends were testament to this fact, where there were some winners, but sadly many more losers, with some new ventures not even getting off the ground, or at least failing to attract the sort of numbers that, in previous years, would have been very much guaranteed. So, as a result, club promoters are now needing to think on their feet, so as to maintain interest in their events, maybe offer something new, but definitely provide value for money & secure sufficient following.

So, it comes as no surprise that one of the capital’s biggest clubbing brands is doing just that. Not only is it looking to inject some much needed adrenaline into its events, but has taken the very bold decision to move from its current home in Vauxhall to a brand new purpose built venue in London Bridge, which the team believe has every ingredient on offer to not only recapture lost interest, but to entice new faithful's to core, in a space where they can develop a unique and amazing clubbing experience not seen yet. So what club are we talking about? Well Matinee of course, and the venue? Well it’s Cable.

Ever since its London launch, Matinee has been renowned for making every effort to keep things fresh, listening to its customers and aiming to put on the best parties in town, with quality being the name of the game. Previous homes at Area, Fabric & most recently Colosseum, have delivered in their own way, but in reality have never given us the full package, the truly gAylist experience we expect from such a massive club brand. With Cable however, we believe the team have all the resources at their hands to achieve this in bucket loads, not least as the whole design of the venue has demands of clubber very much in mind, literally from when you enter right through to all the facilities, the spaces & the mechanisms, which look set to provide the best base for Matinee yet.

So, what sets this new venue apart from any other? Well, in designing and constructing the space, the overriding aim was to consider all the needs of a busy 21st century night club, then applying them to superb effect. First there is the spacious entrance lobby, then the myriad of wide walkways & openings, with the aim of creating easy flow around the various rooms, thereby coping with the kind of numbers Matinee draws, so no bottlenecks, no uncomfortable crowding, but free movement between the dancefloors, bars & beyond. Then there is the high tech coatcheck system, which has the ability to use fingerprint imaging to identify the owner’s belongings, so no nightmares when losing tickets and having to wait until the end to reclaim your bags, coats etc! (we have all been there!). And for those of you concerned, the photographic images cannot be used by the club or any enforcing agents, so there should be no fear in this fingerprinting system, which is in actual fact quite revolutionary.

With three dance spaces, each with their own bar facilities, a superb balcony area above one of the dancefloors, and plenty of areas to kick back & relax between the hectic goings on, not to mention the added advantage of a enclosed and secluded outside space for the smokers in us as well as those seeking a little alfresco break. We are sure, therefore, that Cable’s high tech sound systems, state of the art coatcheck, glamorous bar areas & chillout zones are definitely going to be a hit with Matinee’s demanding & well educated clubbers, but, like us, we expect they will be taken a back by the understated yet stylish combination of brick, metal, leather & wood, that remind us a little of Fabric, but are designed to amazing effect creating a unique combination of space & intimacy that sets Cable it aside from its rival. Then there are the toilets, the most spacious & stylish we have seen, so expect little or no queuing here.

Questions have been raised about the venues policy on identity requirement, which we know has been a concern for many clubbers attending places like Pacha. With current inconsistent legislation on this issue, disparities between councils across the capital exist, however we can reassure that Cable will not be refusing entry through lack of I.D., indeed they are very sensitive to both the imposition and use of an identity system that has the possibility of discouraging & alienating its customers. So what are we saying? Well, you have nothing to worry about and you do not need to have identity with you to gain access, it’s as simple as that.

Then there is the location of Cable itself. Well, London Bridge is not only a major overground railway terminus, but has three tube lines serving it, a whole host of bus routes and is a well known area to all taxi cabs & firms. Being based on Bermondsey Street, there is plenty of activity going on pretty much around the clock, so no real fear of problems or troubles here. The venues owners have confirmed that they have superb relationships with a number of local taxi firms, so there should be no issues about arriving or leaving Cable safely. Indeed we understand that there may be Matinee boys & girls to direct & guide you into the club, but the teams website has a clear directional map for those of you not sure as to the venues exact location.

So, that’s the venue covered, now what can we expect from Matinee? Well, the team have revised every element of the experience to blend in with their new surroundings. The first major change is the monthly position of the event, which will now be on the last Saturday each month, fitting in much better with activities across gAylist London. Then there is the D.J. line up’s which have been tweaked, room one now sporting tore de force Brent Nicholls, joining regulars Guy Williams Paul Heron & Pagano along with monthly changes to the Spanish resident D.J. as well as guests, playing out the classic Spanish style Matinee sound. It’s the second (parlour) room that sees the biggest change as Matinee welcomes two major scene legends to the fold,, Stevie B & Fat Tony, the music style much lighter & more akin to funky house for which these two are probably the best in that field. The third room’s music attention will be much more “London” with tech house being the name of the game, so in the hands of Pier Morrocco, Alessandra & Saki, this should prove just as popular as all the other spaces. However, unlike before, the roster will not be set in stone, rather the D.J. talents used to their strengths in whichever room befits the occasion.

Mind you, it’s not all about the music, as the production is set to gain considerable momentum, so it will be simply unmistakable that this is a Matinee party. The emphasis will be on quality as well as quantity, the smoking area for example getting a special makeover for the event, huge screens imported in for the two main rooms & Matinee branding pretty much everywhere. Another big change will be in the style of dancing entertainment, Mark M Form’s Fierce crew really ringing the changes & concentrating on performances throughout the whole evening rather than one massive stage show. We are told that there will be dancers atop podiums, on specially prepared bar spaces and spread across all the rooms so as not to restrict the entertainment & eye candy in one particular area. You can definitely expect some stunning costumes and equally stunning looking dancers that’s for sure. Add to that the inclusion of P.A.’s to further compliment all the entertainment on offer with a special appearance already up their sleeve for August Bank Holiday and an equally great one lined up for the opening party.

So, with gAylist/land London still feeling the pinch of the recession, there is absolutely no doubt that Matinee looks set to inject a whole heap of freshness, value for money and an altogether exciting new experience that the scene is very much crying out for. We will of course be releasing more details on the launch event in our up-coming posts, so watch out for those. However, we can say now that Saturday 25th July will most definitely signal evolution & revolution the for capitals clubbers, in the hands of Matinee. (DISCO MATT)