While it may be cold outside, the heat is certainly being turned up across the Soho, Vauxhall & Shoreditch scene this weekend, some new entrants along with old favourites filling Friday through Sunday and so having bitten into the best, it’s time to shout for the rest, Disco Matt picking out an exciting eleven of places to be & be seen on the scene.
Well, having promised to shout from the rooftops throughout January, like a few personal issues in our lives right now, the wheels came off somewhat, or as a friend aptly put it, the rollercoaster ride that we usually find ourselves on has crashed off the rails. However, like the de-railed train in Bletchley, we now find ourselves back on track and ready to run through our exciting eleven across Soho, Vauxhall & Shoreditch, a substantial sprinkling of old favourites mixed in with a couple of brave new brands that are not only contending with the weather but an armoury of outstanding others for your weekend attention. But with a nod to some week night events too, as well as a mention for the Boyz annual scene awards, along with a handful of dance diary dates, we have a lot to get through
Therapeutic Inferno
So let’s get right to it and to Soho, The Shadow Lounge getting our first shout, their very popular duo of delights in the form of “Therapy” tonight (Fri 3rd) with D.J. Sonathaq and then “Inferno” tomorrow night with Andrew Elmore are both sure to pack their usual punch. Add to these, Tuesday’s “OMFG” & Thursday’s “XXTra” and there is much going on, while Wednesday’s now means only one thing on Brewer St and that is “Gigolo”, The Hart’s back with a bang & really shaking up your midweek. So with much going on, check http://theshadowlounge.co.uk for the clubs own events, while a visit to http://gigolodisco.com or http://twitter.com/gigolodisco will keep you bang up to date with what the boys are up to.
Onward and to Rupert St who, despite the dark, cold & somewhat sparse nights of January, are looking to February with gusto and have a weekend of D.J. delights to draw you in, award winning spinner Oliver M on the decks tonight, while tomorrow (Sat 4th) its regular resident Alessandro sorting the sounds. But with our Italian bello having taken up a roving Sunday residence across at The Joiners Arms in Shoreditch, iconic D.J. Rich B assumes control each week, serving up a delightful mixture of classic, uplifting & funky house to end your weekend in the best possible way. Plus with a fab food offer to chew over and some tasty new bar boys to ogle over, there is much on offer at this hip & happening hangout, more details out at http://rupertstreet.com.
K(ute) Bar Boy
Next up is Ku Bar, or should we say bars, as both Lisle St & its little sister on Frith St have plenty to pull in the punters, many of the young & cute variety at that, the former rolling out a trio of treats with “Ozone tonight, The Very Miss Dusty O on the decks, while its a “Fabulous “ Saturday tomorrow night with DJ P, Sunday set aside for “Karaoke Cabaret” with the venerable Vicki Vivacious, while little Ku is not so little, this two floored tardis entertaining with D.J.’s on Friday & Saturday, so well worth a drop in, if only to check out the cute bar boys, more info on both Ku’s out at http://ku-bar.co.uk.
Moving up to Soho square finds The Edge which is a gem of a venue often overlooked, although with no less than five floors offering up different atmospheres in each, there is much on offer whether it’s a quit chat & drink, some soothing piano music or full on house hits you are after. And it is these house hits where we find our Friday in the hands of “Addiction” & resident jock Alabastor, while sinking into Saturday’s could be better than this, as our premier protégé player Zach Burns takes you on a “Revelation” of a journey with upfront & uplifting house, both nights clambering for your cavorting, while with so much more on offer too, a trip to http://edgesoho.co.uk.
Then, just a hop & skip across the square and we come to Circa, the compact & bijou bar perhaps one of our favourites after Profile as it’s a little gem of an oasis of calm from the hullabaloo of Compton St, yet has plenty to shout about, not least the superbly decadent “Discipline” tonight (Fri 3rd) with the marvellous Munroe Bergdorf very much laying down the hostessing & musical law, while on Saturday, the handsome Adam Turner tickles your musical taste-buds with tons of tunes as Circa has a rare 3 a.m. licence, on top of which entry is free, giving you just two reasons why we like it so much, that & the sumptuous surrounds that make this a must visit, their website at http://circasoho.com revealing more.
Time To get Blitzed
So those were the old favourites, what about the new breed? Well first up is Blitz Bar, the real mover & shaker on the Soho scene, even if it finds itself down by Charing Cross Station at the old Kudos site on Adelaide St. And with antipodean D.J. & scene stalwart Brent Nicholls involved, along with the likes of Paul Heron Doug Silva, Hrh Minty, Sylvia Rebel, Brad Frederick, Tom Spindler (to mention a few) and nights “Peepshow” & “Global Blitz” serving up early evening Friday & Saturday sessions from 8 p.m. till midnight, this is a stylish new spot you should definitely keep your eyes on as well as pay it a visit. And with the launch happening tonight, you can get the full low down by clicking on our own post direct link at http://discomatt.com/web/2012/02/recommends-brave-new-brand-on-the-block-blitz-bar-london-launch-friday-3rd-february-extra-bites-special/, while a visit to http://blitzbar.co.uk will cover off any of the rest.
To our last Soho short shout, although one that is by no means the least, as Sunday (5th) sees the launch of new night “Lush Moi” with the superb Johnny Sparkle turning his hosting hand to the club promotions game, drawing on his considerable contacts to bring the likes of Sharon O Love, Jc Christopher, & LaGosse to the decks, the night having an anglo French feel to it as well. And choosing venue The Green Carnation on Greek St to play host, gives Johnny & his team a readymade audience already, not to mention surely attracting plenty of his old Booster buddies along too, while this Soho newcomer aims itself towards a more stylish & sophisticated segment of the scene, the 7 p.m. till 1 a.m. timing sure to suit and given its appeal, we will be devoting a special Extra Bites post to the launch, due out shortly, while for more info on the venue, go to http://greencarnationsoho.co.uk.
Moreno Midnight
Right let’s head over the water and to Vauxhall, this south of the river spot having plenty on offer, although just three get our Short Shout attention, the first so close to being a Best Bite (it would normally be) had it not been for A:M. But, with the team rolling out another “Midnight” 12 hour happening, all eyes will be on Beyond this Saturday/Sunday, not least as they welcome a new member to their all-star cast of resident D.J.’s., one Paulo Moreno from Portugal, who has a striking resemblance to Alan K & Jamie Hammond, his music style not too dissimilar either. But with news looming of some refurbishment plans for host venue Area, Beyond looking to up sticks for a few weeks, our third Extra Bites report of the week will be devoted to this our favourite club & this “Midnight” with Moreno affair, details on Beyond generally available at http://jonnym.co.uk/beyond, while for details on other Orange Group events this weekend, check out http://fireclub.co.uk/gayparties.
So to our two other Vauxhall Short Shouts, the first being The Royal Vauxhall Tavern who keep things on the straight & narrow with a trio of regular treats, kicking off their weekend with the rachous “Rooster” tonight (Fri 3rd), D.J. ComeAndTurn’s barnstorming beats sure to raise a cock-a-doodle-doo or two, way-out & whacky hosts (esses) Timberlina & JonJo adding to the audacious action, while the relative calm in comparison (well not actually) “Duckie” returns for another Saturday session, the adorable Amy Lame’s antics accompanied by a musical mash-up from Readers Wifes. Then, as we have said so many times, Sunday would not be a Sunday without a “S.L.A.G.S./Chill-out” shindig, the packed out place week in week out testament to its continued popularity, The Dame Edna Experience now a legend in our lifetimes, while she is actually taking a break this Sunday, the hilarious Kandi Kane filling her spot. But with plenty more on offer right across the week, a wee visit to http://thervt.org.uk will give you all the info you need.
Chunky Chunes
And it is The Eagle that gets out other Vauxhall Short Shout, like its nemesis just up Kennington Lane, turns out a trio of old favourite treats this weekend, Tim Jones & his merry “Tonker” men beefing up your Friday night with chunky tunes a-plenty, not least as superstar spinner Alan X takes up the guest slot and will have plenty of towering tunes as well as a terrific tan to show off following his exploits in our home city of Johannesburg, while on Saturday “Carpet Burn” goes all bad on us, although of the Michael Jackson tribute variety, Carpet’s resident D.J. Johnny Kalifornia spinning everything from “Billie Jean” to “Thriller” while the aptly named P.A. Stacey Jackson will be burning up the Carpet dancefloor with her new disco drenched devotion. And with the madcap meet that is “Horse Meat Disco” serenading your Sunday’s, The Eagle has something for pretty much everyone, further details up at http://theeaglelondon.com.
Rounding off our Short Shouts run-around the scene is Shoreditch (well Dalston actually) and The Dalston Superstore (DSS) who have plenty in store this weekend, tonight seeing “Breed” take centre stage, promoter & D.J. Rex the Dog extenuating the electronic in the basement for an extended rave, while gender bender’s John Sizzle & A Man To Pet sort the 80’s & 90’s beats & bops upstairs. Then on Saturday (4th) DSS points towards Berlin with its “B(e)ast” event, welcoming both Snax & Kevinfunct to the decks downstairs, while the brilliant Borja Pena sorts the NYC style sounds on the ground floor, leaving D.J. Squeaky & guests to wrap up the weekend with their “Tutti Frutti” cocktail of cavorting that includes slices of soul & hunks of house, more info on all happenings down DSS way available just a click away at http://dalstonsuperstore.com.
Tainted Tech
Right we promised a pert pack of dates for your dance diaries, next Saturday (11th Feb) seeing Trade return for another one-off frolic, this time going large at Brixton Electric for their “A Tainted Love Affair” event, while that neatly moves onto “Ultimate” which, after the huge success on Trade’s birthday weekend in October, returns to Fire in Vauxhall next Sunday (12th Feb) both Beyond & Trade joining forces for a pulsating party not to be missed. And staying with Fire for a moment, the following Saturday (18th Feb) sees latin love-in Casa Latina return with its “Space Odyssey” affair and one sure to emulate the parties before it. But casting our net over Soho & Shoreditch, we find ourselves spoilt for choice next Saturday (11th Feb) as both serve up two new happenings, Lo-Profile hailing the launch of “ClubNation” with special guest Wayne G, while our own Shoreditch son Kris Di Angelis wages “War” at East Bloc with his new venture of the same name, with Severino & James Pople & Munroe Bergdorf among the list of residents, more details on all these events coming up over the next few days right here at http://discomatt.com.
Scene Acceptance Speeches
Now, just before we go, we thought we would squeeze in a mention for Boyz magazine and their annual scene awards, now in its 20th year and a poll that never fails to attract a huge amount of attention. With voting having opened just 48 hours ago, you can pick from a whole host of categories that reach well over double figures, while, as a 20th anniversary treat, there are special categories as well as the chance of winning a cruise (of the Med kind). So, a visit to http://boyz.co.uk will take you to the online version, while you can always pick up a copy at your favourite bar, or retailer. Plus, for a quick short cut, just move across to our banners section right here, find the gold coloured “Boyz Awards” one, click, and you will be right where you need to be, making a difference to your bar, club, event, D.J. & promoter of choice scooping this much coveted of acknowledgements.
Right that’s it for this first weekend in February and one that finds us laying a little low having caught a nasty cold, cough & sore throat, meaning that with the possible exception of a cameo appearance at “Lush Moi” on Sunday, it will be next weekend before you can come up & say hi. However, it goes without saying that we wish you a wonderful weekend wherever it takes & finds you and, with “A Lottie Going On” along with some “Brave New Brands Beckoning”, our two part newsletter has hopefully given you plenty of picks to “Go There! Be There!. (DISCO MATT)