The bunch of bank holidays may have consumed the pockets of many, but as we move into June, the capitals clubbing scene shows no sign of taking a breather, this weekend already shaping up to be superb, with a new club launch, a brace of bargain bashes & a summer starter amongst many other offerings. So, naturally and having returned to our usual format, we have waded through the choices to decide on our Best Bites across Soho, Vauxhall & elsewhere, along with stacks of short shouts to make your decision on where to be & been seen all the easier.
So, to Soho first and it has to be Profile & Lo-Profile that grabs our Best Bite for this start of summer weekend, Profile proving the perfect retreat from the hectic happenings on Old Compton Street, Soho Square & surrounding areas, not least as the team draw on some of the best D.J. talent in town to spin the sounds each Friday & Saturday night from 8 p.m., this week being no exception, as tonight (Fri 3rd June) it’s the cute yet capable Zach Burns on the decks, a man very much in the zone right now, so
Soho's Sophisticated Spot
a set to savour for sure. Then tomorrow night, its playful tearaway Craig Daniels selecting the sounds, Saturday’s always spectacular in his hands. As for the rest of the Profile offer, having recently upgraded their menu, with lots of more substantial mains to compliment the “diner” style options, there isn’t a better place to get a bite, while their happy hour from 4 till 7 p.m. each day is a draw. Check out http://profilesoho.com for more info.
Now to Lo-Profile downstairs, which after the success of last Friday’s “Society” with Nathan 6 & Tony English tearing the place up with truck loads of tremendous tunes, this superb social soiree returns again tonight, Nathan back for a second bite at the sweet sounding cherry that he gobbled up with gusto seven days ago, while the terrifically talented Hugh Stevenson takes over at 1 a.m. to send you soaring into Saturday with stacks of superb sounds. Then, talking of Saturday, tomorrow (Sat 4th June) to be exact, Lo-Profile takes on a Beyond-esque feel as they welcome two of this amazing afterhours’ resident jocks, Gonzalo Rivas kicking off the night from 10 p.m. with bag loads of brilliant beats, while the jam in this Soho sound spectacle sandwich, Jamie Head, makes the magical music mix magnificently from 1 a.m., the Lo-Profile team celebrating Beyond going live on Gaydar Radio too, Gaydar being the driving force behind this Wardour St wonder. Check out http://lo-profile.com for more details on this sophisticated Soho spot.
Now to some short shouts & first mention goes to Ku-Bar on Lisle St, who have a full-on week as usual, which includes “O Zone” tonight (Fri 3rd)with The Very Miss Dusty O of course, while Sunday is a “Hit Factory” night with lady Lloyd, Monday sees the delectable DouGuim return for all things “Citrus”, while “Shinky Shonky” sakes tour Wednesdays. Go to http://ku-bar.co.uk for more details.
To Rupert St (the bar that is), who look like raking them in this weekend, our favourite foxy lady, D.J. Minx in the mix on the decks tonight, while tomorrow its, the superb Severino selecting the sounds, while on Sunday our Bello Italiano Alessandro Londra glides you into the new working week, more info available at http://rupertstreet.com.
Looking further into next week & both Gigolo & Room Service are back for more next week, both having reported healthy turnouts this (we were there), David & L.a. Hart’s newbie beginning to find its feet fabulously, the look of Lo-Profile last night simply superb, plus with Zach Burns headlining the event on Thurs (9th June), it should be a corker. Catch more details at http://gigolodisco,com
Room Service across the other side of Soho at Diu continues to pull in the party heads, a 25 minute wait in the queue last night, evident of that & it was pumping in there too. Jodie Harsh & her crew definitely know how to press those brilliant buttons & this coming Thursday looks no different with Horse meat Disco’s Jim Stanton starting while international playboy D.J. Paul heron follows, both turning up the tune-tastic volume. For more info on this most hip of happenings, go to http://clubroomservice.com.
Free Fire Fabulousness
Right onwards to Vauxhall and after a momentous last few days that have seen severed ties healed & fixed back together, we are delighted to return the Orange Group to its rightful Best Bites position in this club mecca of gay London. And it looks like a pretty busy one for them this weekend, tonight (Fr 3rd June), seeing Onyx in “Recovery Party” mode, this having become a bit of a post bank holiday institution, with lots of free things being thrown around, like free entry to Fire’s party tomorrow & free entry to Beyond on Sunday (more in that in a Focus post coming up), while its free to get in before midnight as long as you’re on the guest list (go to http://gayguestlists.com/onyx) D.J’s Lee Harris, Jc Christopher, Ariel, Tasty Tim, Lisa German & more masterminding the magical music. Plus with a special £5 joint ticket entry to both Onyx & A:M afterhours after, which sees Guy Williams headlining a strong line-up, available at http://clubtickets.com/gb/2011-06/03/onyx you can’t say fairer than all that. Then, to that party at Fire tomorrow (Sat 4th June), when the team open the doors free from 11 p.m. till 1 a.m., very much as a thank you for the amazing bank holiday weekend just gone, with the likes of Mikey D, Jamie Head, D’Johnny & Leandro Kloppel on D.J. duty, while the drinks are dropping (yes dropping!) in price with shots of Sambuca & Tequila at just £1 and beers plus spirit & mixers at a mere £2.90 (now that’s what we call a thank you!), the back to basics feel of this party looking like a winner from where we are standing. Of course, other stable mates Later, Booster & Orange complete the weekend wonderment with more details on all these parties available at http://fireclub.co.uk/gayparties.
To some short shouts & first a new club launch at Factory, Gaydar radio’s Phil Marriot plunging into the club promotions game with his venture “Club I”, which aims to be an inspirational, independent & iconic invent, with indie/alternative music come electro disco spread across to rooms, a live Pa & plenty more. Now, we will be bringing you a full focus on Phil’s new night very soon, but with the likes of “Hard On!, “Bodyshakers” & “Desire” all moving to this Vauxhall venue, Factory is very much up & coming, more details available at http://clubfactory.co.uk.
Venerable institution The Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT) is next & has another full-on weekend into week, with “Speedwagon” tonight, “Duckie” tomorrow night, “S.LA.G.S./Chill-out on Sunday, “Bingo Pub Night” on Monday, & new night “Burger Queen” on Wednesday, the latter hosted by Scottee who say’s of the night, “…it’s time for us fatties to fight back& exercise our right to be big, bold & beautiful…” so you get the drift. With burger & chips the order onf the day (or is that night) & four sizable shows, this looks like joining the iconic ranks of The RVT’s other nights , more info out at http://thervt.org.uk.
Then the Vauxhall scene is complimented by The Eagle, who also have their weekly say, “Tonker” tonight welcoming special guest jock Chris Brogan, while their “Saturday’s” cruise & booze night gives way to “Carpet Burn” this week, while it’s the iconic “Horse Meat Disco” on Sunday and Ashley Ryder’s “Strip Academy” on Tuesday. Plus with probably THE best beer garden in town, The Eagle is a great place to soak up the start to the summer sun, more info out at http://theeaglelondon.com.
East Bloc Excellence
So to some alternatives, Shoreditch certainly spearheading what looks like being a scorching summer in the capital, not least as “Summer Rites” returns to the scene, this year honing in on Shoreditch Park as the place (watch this space for a full preview), while it is promoter Wayne Shires’ hip & happening hangout East Bloc that grabs our Best Bite slot this week, the plu popular “Disco Fag Bar” kicking off their weekend tonight (Fri 3rd June) with residents Laurent C, James Phillips & yes, Wayne Shires on the decks, doors opening at 10.30 p.m. & the club running till super Saturday late. Then, moving to Saturday and the brilliant “Men Who Fell To Earth” returns, welcoming special guest D.J’s Is Tropical to the main room madness, they in fact dominating proceedings with their so called “…bass heavy, beat driven, pop influenced & lo-fi dance music…” this unique UK appearance probably your only chance to see this sound of the summer D.J. duo in action, while the way out wording of room two “Forgive me GAYLORD For I Have Synth” pretty much sums up what will be going down here. But if you are still not sure what musical magic to expect, then it’s worth taking a peek listen at http://soundcloud.com/themenwhofell2earth, while Is Tropical’s website also tells all at http://istropical.com. Plus, with dates to look forward to including the magnificent “Meat” net Saturday (11th June), go check out more info on East Bloc at http://eastbloc.co.uk where you will find directions to this City Road smash.
To our final Short Shouts for this week and first one goes to The Dalston Superstore, who have a full-on threesome, starting with “Ecstasy, Passion & Pain” tonight (Fri 3rd), while tomorrow it’s “HomoElectrc”, with “Tutti Fruitti” completing the picture on Sunday. Add to that a fabulous food offer & other entertainment during the week & this Dalston High St hangout (it’s in the name) is well worth a visit, as is their website for further details on what’s going down, a click away at http://thedalstonsuperstore.com.
Heading across to south London, if your bag is tech house, then The Brixton Clubhouse is THE place to be on Sunday (5th June) from 2 p.m. onwards, as “Get Diverted” kicks off a much anticipated monthly residency at this swanky refurbished two tier terrace triumph. And given their launch party a few weeks ago when “Get Diverted” attracted close on 200 party goers, the team are expecting great things from this upcoming event, no less than seven D.J’s & an extra special guest sorting the sounds through till the 1 a.m. (Monday morning) finish. More info on this & other events at this smart spot up above Brixton can be found by going to http://thebrixtonclubhouse.com.
Solar Soaked Sun
With our choice picks over, if you are still undecided what to do with your weekend (how can you be?!), then you can always take the advice of London’s clubbing bible, SeenQueen, who have their own hot tips on where to be & be seen on the scene, listings and much more available at http://seenqueen.com, while if you don’t get chance to lay in the sun on either Saturday or Sunday, then you can always take the easy option by diving on a Solarstation sun bed, more info out at http://solarstation.co.uk.
Right that’s it from us, apart from wishing you all a wonderful weekend, our plans pretty much on hold while we wait by the phone for news from far away, if the going is good, we may make it to “Tonker” & Club I” in Vauxhall tonight, have no plans tomorrow, but, if we are not 35,000 ft up in the air flying home, Sunday morning will see us go stratospheric at the Beyond “Summer Season Opener” with Steve Pitron & co, so if we make it out & you see us, then please come & say hi, but whatever you do & wherever it finds you, make sure you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)