Sunday afternoon clubbing south of the river has never looked quite so good, as its seems that Later is proving to be one of THE clubs of the moment, the considerably capable promotional hands of Steven Sharp having taken this daytime disco in a wonderfully “Nu Direction”. And with today’s event well under way as we go to press, George Sharp, D’Johnny & Later fave The Oli on the decks, it simply had to make it to our “Pick Of The Day”, all the detail a banner click away opposite or an image click below, while we devote our deliverance on the clubs new promoter & his plans beneath
If there was ever a club that coolly, calmly & collectively has been making its mark week after week, month after month & year after year, its Later, the daytime disco that has been bridging the gap between the brilliance of Beyond & the outstanding Orange, the razzmatazz that these two often exude, tempered by the no fuss rather fabulous fun & frolicking that this afternoon delight has been delivering since it opened its doors back in 2004. And while there have been a handful of occasions when special soirees have splashed the scene, the “Funfair’s, the “Boat Partiers” & the “Birthday’s”, generally Later has just quietly gone about its barnstorming business, for a sizeable chunk in the hands of promoter Jay Sharp Vokins. However, just a handful of events ago, another Sharp assumed control of this disco delight, one Steven React Sharp to be precise, a D.J./Producer & Promoter that has a prolific pedigree behind him and one that has successfully steered a whole host of clubs & brands, let’s see, Orange, Beyond, Royal House, A:M and now Later, Steven’s whole persona & procedure in promoting the most hands on & refreshing we know, meaning that he is considered as possibly the most safest pair on hands in the Orange Nation (the group behind Later) armoury.
So what does Steven have in store for Later? Well, while it is clear he wants the club to head in a “Nu Direction”, we highly suspect that he will be drawing on many of the qualities that have made this daytime disco the delight that it has been for the eight years of its history and while there can be little doubt that Later’s fortunes have pitched & yawed in this time, we have every confidence that, like A:M has responded in his hands, Later’s fortunes will be going only one way and that is up. Indeed, there is a similarity between the two clubs in his hands, that being that Mr Sharp is profoundly passionate about letting the music do the talking, while his keen eye for detail, his unstinting energy in pushing & networking his clubs and that hands on nature he adopts during events, having paid dividends for A:M on so many levels and is sure to do the same for Later too. Plus, we know of no better man when it comes to commissioning creative & eye catching artwork to promote clubs, while his inventiveness for theme ideas, tag lines and capturing the moment is one of many strengths Steven shines, so many examples from Orange, Beyond & more latterly A:M, standing him head & shoulders above his contemporaries.
With music clearly being the focal point of immediate & intermediate plans for Later, Steven is subtly shifting the emphasis towards that, introducing some new names to the clubs residency D.J. team, La Gosse & Marco Gee just two examples, while he is also naturally relying upon individuals that have not only cut their cloth here, but have themselves proficient pedigree for party propulsion, The Oli, Jamie Head, D’Johnny & George Sharp all exceptional exponents and ones that Steven is keen to keep in place, while after the initial few weeks of the “Nu Direction” programme, we have it on pretty good authority that he has some special party events planned, not least with the upcoming festive season which is just a matter of weeks away (scary thought). But within this programme of directional dynamism is a cornerstone of consolidation as well, this week’s event being just that, as Steven welcomes three Later veterans (am sure they won’t mind being called so) to the decks, as of going to press, George Sharp having already kicked off proceedings, while D’Johnny is the filler in the superb D.J. sandwich, although not just a filler but a full on Later favourite, that also being true of The Oli who is one of the clubs originals, having played at the very first party and the vast majority of one’s since. And while the nights are drawing in, the outside temperatures are dipping, you can guarantee that the infamous Later garden will be geared up for the season slide into winter, while inside the dancing action & D.J. deliveries will be as hot, hot, hot as ever.
So, all in all its clear that Later is on that up and is very much becoming a Sunday Soiree Sharp Style and we cannot wait to not just report but get back to review this daytime disco delight with a deluge of delicious delectations. (DISCO MATT