New Times Two

We never cease to be amazed by the wealth of new ideas, new projects & moreover new club nights that continually spring up across the capitals clubbing circuit, some ideas really capturing the imagination, others sinking without trace within weeks of launching. While Soho has clearly been getting much of the attention lately, successes Gigolo & Room Service two clear winners, not least as their marketing machines and social networking has been the key to their success, something that G&T was either lacking or failed to deliver, it seems that the spotlight over the next two weekends will move back onto Vauxhall, which continues to strive to serve the clubbing community with a wealth of events. And while Casa Latina was one of this south of the river scenes new(ish) success, all eyes will be once again on The Orange Group as they launch two new nights, one aimed at the male market and another at the Sunday evening (so called t-dance) scene that continues to bubble on the surface of success.

Be Blessed

So, it is to “Blessed” that we first devote our attention to, this new Sunday evening club launching this weekend (Sun 31^st July), taking up the slot at Area that used to be held by Romain Lopez’s creation Booster, that club having started life in Union but came across to The Orange Group when the prospect of better marketing & promotions support presented itself, very much the key elements of a successful club. And whilst Booster very much found its niche, attracting a clubbing crowd that simply didn’t want to stop as well as a core following that made it one of the more colourful events on the weekly clubbing calendar, it was always seen by many as a stop gap between Later & Orange, being fed & then feeding its two peer parties. But by this very virtue, Booster has proven a success and will continue cut its own stride, whether seen as a feeder or a niche offering, but perhaps doing both as it moves from a Sunday to a Thursday at Area, the timings shifting slightly as it will run from 9 p.m. through till 3 a.m. each week

Blessed With Doug

However, we digress somewhat, “Blessed” being the first focus here and in creating this new brand the team are looking to strike a new identity for Sunday evening’s, attracting a new & discerning audience that like to know what they are going to get, the music makers coming from a stable of residents whose names & reputations speak for themselves, while in the brand, the connection with Sunday’s was a clear marketing move that will hopefully see this new outing being blessed with success from the off. And in the launch, the magnificent music for which the club bases itself on looks pretty much assured, as Fat Tony, Mikey D & DouGuim head up a residency list that also panders a little to Booster fans, as Ferno & Matt King will feature.  Spread across two rooms, in the promotion teams own words, “…The Chapel is our sacred place to celebrate & dance your holy Sunday away whilst the Area Terrace room becomes the garden of Eden, with table service, wine selections & shisha’s for the perfect summery Sunday…”. And if that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, then news is that a surprise guest P.A. will be centre staging the event too, although with details still under wraps, like us, you will just have to make it down to Area to see who.

So, it is clear from that statement that Blessed aims to be offer something much more akin to a Sunday t-dance, a room specifically set aside for music, while the other will be a place where clubbers can relax, take a breather, yet be pampered with table service, good quality drinks & all in an ambient area, the venue also benefitting from an outside space directly linked to this so called Garden Of Eden room. With us very much liking the sound of this new launch already, we will be sure to be heading for Area in Vauxhall, this new launch kicking off from 7 p.m. this Sunday (31^st July) and running through until midnight. Now, if you are setting sail with Later this Sunday (check our Extra Bites post at ) then your “good ship Fire boarding pass” will gain you free entry to “Blessed”, while if you have been to the regular Later which takes place at Fire terra firmer as usual, then a stamp from there will get you in for just £5, otherwise tickets are on sale online at http://clubtickets.com, entry on the door available but for more.

Le Man

Now to Le Boy, a concept born out of the desire for something a bit more macho but without the usual dirty, sleazy feel of some clubs that have run at Fire in the past, this new venture very much a men only club, but one where sex is not the predominant feature, more a club where men can booze, cruise & dance. And when we look across the scene & then cast our minds back, this kind of club has very much being missing & wanted for quite a while, too many offerings falling into the trap that all gay men just want to get their dicks out, watch porn or watch others up to it (yes we know there are lots of you that do, but there are as many who don’t!). In fact Vauxhall has filled itself with clubs like that for too long now, Le Boy marking a refreshing change and in many ways, harping back to those halcyon & pioneer days of Crash, the club more than any other, responsible for putting Vauxhall on the clubbing map. Moreover, le Boy is aiming to bridge the gap between the vanilla style of Onyx & the sleaze that clubs like Rudeboiz were labelled, get our drift?!

Man & Boy Both

While, undoubtedly, this new venture will have a sexually charged & underground feel (we would be naive to think otherwise), it will be the music that will do most of the talking, the launch seeing three internationally renowned D.J.’s take to the decks, Paul Heron, Gonzalo Rivas & Hifi Sean, between them having covered every single continent of the globe three times over at least, added to which Paul Heron can claim to have been one of the residents from Crash (well he was a mere babe in those days), while Gonzalo’s clubbing pedigree stretches back even further, Trade being a major stomping ground of his before Crash was even thought of. As for Hifi Sean, well he is a bit of a Fire veteran, having made a name for himself at Juicy, since when he has featured in a whole host of parties there, not least Orange, where he is part of the RAW team alongside Mr Rivas & others.

Add to this, the prospect of a special superstar guest D.J. for the launch night & a regular guest slot for future parties, while no men only club would be without sexy, muscular & drop dead gorgeous go-go dancers, Le Boy being no exception, it will be more a case of sexual seduction rather than all out porn. That said, the team will be lining up a top London stripper, while they have also set aside a “Seduction Lounge” space, which has been described as somewhere where “… you can get hypnotised by the super sensual go-go boys & pole dancers captivating the room with suggestive moves and lots of flesh on show, a spot where you can also chill & relax with a drink with friends and take advantage of our titillating waiter service in an arousing and inviting surrounding..”. And this air of slight sophistication looks like it is in good hands, as co promoter Mauricio Ortiz has good experience in this field, plus given the excellent job he has done with Casa Latina, we have big hopes this new men only club in his hands.

So to the all important detail and Le Boy launches next Friday (5^th August) at Fire in Vauxhall, door opening at 11 p.m. & the club running straight into A:M at 4 a.m., so ALL customers to Le Boy can stay on for A:M for free (bargain!). Advance tickets priced at £10 are on sale both online at http://clubtickets.com and at the usual Soho outlets, while entrance on the door is £6 with a flyer or ad before 12.30 & £8 with the same before 2 a.m. and if you haven’t seen them around as yet, the Le Boy promo guys will be offering discount entrance passes over the coming weekend at all the Orange Group events & around Soho, so keep your eyes peeled for them. And once in the club you can expect the big room experience every with live shows from our sexy go-go boys every hour from 1 a.m., as well stunning visuals from the massive LED wall, as well as video & plasma screens, pyrotechnics and big production that has become a byword for Fire. More information on this party launch can be found at http://fireclub.co.uk/gayparties.

So, two new nights on the clubbing scene within a week that will definitely switch the focus from Soho to Vauxhall, both very much on our reporting radar meaning that if you see us out then please come & say hi, remembering that if you want to be & be seen on the scene, either at Blessed or at le Boy, you need to “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)