With of first set of 2012 Best Bites done & dusted, we couldn’t let the weekend begin without giving a dozen delectable’s a shot at winning your recovery or resolution affections, meaning it’s time to run down the best of the rest in Soho, Vauxhall & Shoreditch.
We may find ourselves in the first week of the first month of 2012, one that is traditionally a quiet one for the scene as it recovers from the hectic festive season, along with the very busy New Year weekend just gone, but as one clubbing conglomerate aptly put it, “…we don’t have the January blues, rather it’s all about the good times…”. And it seems that they are not along in this philosophy as there is actually plenty going on this weekend, so, having chosen our “Best Bites”, it now time to give the rest a shot, a dozen or so that we recommend as great places to be & be seen on the scene, whether in Soho, Vauxhall or Shoreditch.
New Era, Existing Events
So to Soho first and The Shadow Lounge who are still recovering from their massive New Year’s Eve party, “Greek Gods & Gladiators”, but are back with “Therapy” tonight (Fri 6th Jan) with D.J. Sonathaq on the decks from 10 p.m. entry free until 11 & £10 thereafter, the same applying to Saturday when the ever popular Andrew Elmore sorts the SL sounds at “Inferno”, more info on these two happenings plus the whole weeks activity available a click away at http://theshadowlounge.co.uk.
Next up is Ku (well the two Ku’s actually) who also find themselves in recovery mode after a busy NY weekend, Lisle St leading the way this with “O Zone” tonight (Fri 6th Jan) with who else but The Very Miss Dusty O sorting the sounds, while its another “Fabulous Saturday session tomorrow, pop & disco the name of the game, Sunday rounding off it all with a double dose of do’s “Karaoke & Cabaret” having moved across town for an early (6 till 9) start, then Lady Lloyd’s “Hit Factory” takes you through to a 3 a.m. finish. As for “Little Ku” on Frith St, well the doors are open all weekend, with D.J.’s on duty downstairs each night, more info on both out at http://ku-bar.co.uk.
To Rupert Street and a trio of DJ treats this weekend, tonight seeing Barcode boy Saki spin the sounds, while the brilliant Brazilian Doug Silva tries to woo his own branch of The Brazilian “Biiiicha” bunch (there will be a lot in town) tomorrow night (Sat 7th Jan) meaning we may need to hop between here & Profile, while on Sunday, iconic D.J. Rich B packing a punch, while with a drinks list as long as our arm, nit least the best value for money champers in town (pass the Bolli darling!), much of the detail up at http://rupertstreet.com.
Compact Yet Captivating Circa
Our fourth Short Soho Shout goes to Circa, fast becoming one of the most popular hang-outs in town, not least due to the style & sumptuousness along with free entry all night until the wee hours of 3 a.m., tonight (Fri 6th Jan) seeing Munroe Bergdorf delight the decks while tomorrow night it’s the turn of the handsome Adam Turner turn out the tunes, the compact & bijou style of this hip & happening hangout ensuring the is always an amazing atmosphere & a glorious gathering to boot, plenty more details a click away at http://circasoho.com.
But we can’t forget The Edge in our shouts, as its less about our themes Recovery & Resolution this weekend, rather “Addiction” which centre stages tonight, Harvey Adam playing out on the ground floor, while upstairs its D.J. Neroli, although Saturday sees “Revelation” take over with our own protégé player & weekly resident Zach Burns shining in the sound spinning spotlight and is one set you won’t want to miss, especially given his recent prolific performances for Gigolo & Profile/Lo-Profile, his services very much in demand, more details on this Soho Square spot available at http://edgesoho.co.uk.
Institution Icon
So we move south to Vauxhall now and hot on the venerable institution that is The Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT) who shake off the New year blues with a barnstorming weekend, “Rooster” starting it all tonight, D.J.’s ComeAndTurn oing hostess Timberlina & artist extraordinaire JonJo, while no Saturday would be the same without “Duckie”, the irrepressible Amy Lame making sure all those partying resolutions will be met. Then, how could you miss out on another institution in the form of The dame Edna Experience on Sunday (8th Jan), the best cabaret show in town kicking off along with all the S.L.A.G.S. devotee’s from 5 p.m., while the “Chill-out” element starts from 7, more info on the whole seven day schedule out at http://thervt.org.uk.
Moving further down the Kennington Road to The Eagle and to manly meet “Tonker” which is now into its eight year of strutting on the scene, although with welcoming arms rather than attitude, the club attracts a magnificent mix of men, big, small & everything in between, not least due to the superb sounds as eclectic as its following, tonight seeing promoter & resident Tim Jones spin alongside Italian in London, D.J. Astroboy. But Saturday sees the captivating “Carpet Burn” swing into action, D.J.’s Jonny Kalifornia & Severino masterminding the 80’s & 90’s music, while the team acknowledge that the new year may have burned pocket holes so it’s what they call “…it’s madness, its half price madness…” entry from 9 p.m. just £2.50 & drinks prices hemmed to match. Plus with the infamous “Horse Meat Disco” horsing around on Sunday, the weekend is looking good, info up at http://eaglelondon.com.
Now, while we may have given our Vauxhall “Best Bite” away to The Orange Group (OG), it was just Onyx & Fire’s “Recovery” party that filled our focus, there is plenty else going on, not least beyond on Sunday morning, & Later after that, the latter getting the first if three OG Short Shouts, promoter Jay Sharp Vokins launches the clubs programme with this Sunday’s meet, aptly called “2012 – As We Continue”, residents Jamie Head, The Oli & D’Johnny proving a pumping package that is hard to beat, the infamous Later garden still popular even in the chilly winter months, while the chill-out zone also plays its part in this prolific party, doors opening this Sunday (8th Jan) at midday., the club running through till 7.30 p.m., entry a mere £6 and more details up at http://fireclub.co.uk/gayparties.
Amazing Morning
But before that it’s the turn of A: M, the new look artwork to this Saturday morning sensation deluding to the winning formula that current promoter Steven Sharp has established in his relatively short tenure. And that formula focuses on the music, with resident stars including Guy Williams, Paul Heron, Fat Tony & D’Johnny, all four playing out in the club’s main room this weekend (Sat 7th Jan), while other David Jimenez looks after room two, this “Phuture of Saturday Mornings” getting going at 3 a.m. & running through to a normality bending 10.30 a.m. free & discount stamps from previous Orange outing Onyx available, while a trip to http://fireclub.co.uk/gayparties will tell you more.
Then, rounding off the weekend & our Short Vauxhall Shouts (well almost) is Orange and our promoter of 2011 (oops we let it slip) Steven Sharp polishes off your weekend with the club that started it all in Fire at the turn of the century, while had to be the star of the Xmas/NY show in terms of both the Orange/Trade meet & that smokin’ main room at As One. But with 2012 firmly focussed now, Steven heralds the Olympic year with the package that keeps them coming, D.J.’s Fat Tony, The Oli, & the Sharp Boys main rooming it, while RAW residents David Jimenez & Hifi Sean go deep every week not just with the music, but carrying you to the 9 a.m. Monday morning finish, that 10 hours after opening at 11 p.m on Sunday, this Sunday in fact (8th Jan) at Fire. Plus, with new host Danny Boyce making a big impression, find out more about Orange at http://orangenation.co.uk.
Now, while this is a Short Shouts newsletter, before we leave Vauxhall & the Orange Group, we have just two tantilising teasers in the form of two of the biggest brands in global clubbing, Matinee & Trade. But all we will be divulging right now are the dates you need to note, Saturday 28th January belonging to Matinee & Saturday 11th February to Trade. So note your diaries now & watch this space for more news & detail in this dynamic duo of dancing delectations.
Bloc Brilliance
So to Shoreditch and East Bloc is our sole Short Shout, although what a one it is, as Friday’s now sees exceptional event “Super Electro Party Machine” go weekly, D.J. Larry Tee turning out the tunes along with the freshest new talent around, while sandwiching the weekend is new outing “Sunday Service”, the everything goes policy extending to electro, techno, disco & pure house. But it is Saturday that has a roving commission, this week (7th Jan) seeing “Songs Of Praise” attract a captive congregation as it’s all about pop music in the aptly named “Altar” room, while the cockabilly chapel space has rockabilly 50’s & 60’s sounds (interesting), very much the alternative yet amazing antics we have come to expect from East Bloc, more info out at http://eastbloc.co.uk, while watch this space for a full focus on Tom Stephan’s new night “Dish” which launches next Saturday (14th Jan).
Right that’s it for another weekend and one which will be quite a quiet one for us as we catch up on reviews, reviews & more reviews, although may be escaping the keyboard for a short while tomorrow night to pop into Profile & possibly then Lo-Profile, so if you do see us come say hi. But with plenty of reasons & paces for you yourselves to be seen on the scene, wherever the weekend finds you, have a terrific time, of course making sure that you “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)