Entering the final month of the year with a flourish, there can be no doubt that all Sunday morning roads will be leading to Beyond, which multi tasks magnificently this Sunday, combining the official WE “Formula 2” afterparty with a World AIDS Day fundraiser, entertaining a special D.J. guest from the USA, Brett Henrichsen headlining this brilliant brand’s bash with a brimming bag of heavenly house hits, we focusing in on the finite with a extra Weekend feature.
If there was ever a club to gather more of our attention than any other it is the brilliant brand that is Beyond, no surprise when you consider that we were right there for the launch back in 2001 and have been crossing its threshold virtually weekly ever since. Indeed, while we have a certain sentimentality towards the Colosseum days, even travelling in from Essex to succumb to its splendours, it is in the amazing Area that Beyond holds the most magical memories and is, without doubt the place where our infamous “spot” surfaced, yes that position just left to the main room D.J. booth that tends to get re-emulated at other events in other venues. Yet, Beyond is about so much more, the music, the lighting, the atmosphere, the effects, the people, the promoters, the D.J.’s, the dancers, the organisers & the guests, and having traversed continental Europe, experiencing a host of club brands & venues, nothing can quite compare to the ballistic brand that is Beyond. But there is more, it also having spread its wonderful word continentally, as near as Paris, as far as Mykonos, across in Brussels & down in Barcelona, it’s even been on a Mediterranean cruise, hit the holy land in Israel and stormed the Ibiza sun terraces with its terrific treats, while back home in London, it has lifted award after award and remains the single most popular party on the capitals clubbing circuit by far.
So all this means that the Beyond ticket in any weekend is a wonderful one, indeed, despite recent constant changes to its running format, the side-lining of long time resident D.J.’s and enjoyable elements of the club having seemingly been lost forever, Beyond still remains at the top of its game. But when these WE weekends come along, Beyond makes heavenly hay, serving up special parties with equally special guests, this Sunday (2nd Dec) being no exception to the un-written rule. But this is a particularly special weekend, for us as well as many others, as World AIDS Day falls on the Saturday (1st) and so the organisation behind Beyond, Orange Nation, have decided to mark this occasion by combining the WE after-party with a WAD fundraiser, while for us this Beyond marks a run of events that will lead to our birthday, so is one we will definitely be making, this post a WE Party that starts our birth month of with a breathtaking bang. There is more however, as on top of this multi tasking theme setting, Beyond promoter Ben Kaye is pleased to present a special guest D.J. to compliment the prolific pick he has made from the strongest roving residency team in the capital, Brett Henrichsen jetting in from The US to headline this hypnotic happening.
So what do we know about Brett?, well to be honest, until now we had not come across him at all, although Ben tells us that he “…has played at almost every major circuit event in the United States, including Gay Days Orlando, New York Pride Pier Dance, San Diego Zoo Party, Cherry 8, White Party Palm Springs and White Party Miami, Masterbeat New Year’s Los Angeles, Miami New Year’s and many more. Brett has headlined international events including WE Party Madrid, Circuit Barcelona and Sydney’s Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras…” that WE Party connection providing the continuity here, while the Masterbeat link is actually much stronger than Ben makes out, as Brett is the founder of thus US music brand and continues to drive the label as their Chief Creative Officer, having stepped back as the corporations CEO in February this year, a role he held since the brand was born. This has allowed Brett to pursue his D.J.’ing career, which always played second fiddle while he was CEO, he now able to hold down regular residencies in clubs across the US, from New York to San Francisco & Los Angeles, while more international appearances are now possible too, while music making the Master beat way is still the cornerstone of his commitments, launching his own podcast series last year, the collection up to number 4 which is probably the closest to his residency clubbing style, while we suspect that number 3 will be closer to what we will experience in his set at Beyond on Sunday. But all four are worthy additions to your collection by going to http://bretthenrichsen.podomatic.com/.
Well that kind of leads us to the rest of the pack & also the detail of the party, Beyond boasting some of the residency best, as Jamie Head & Mikey D sandwich Brett in the main room, while David Jimenez,, D’Johnny & then Fat Tony keep the clubbers cavorting in The Chapel, Verity Mayes & Bryony Masters going back-to-back (again, yawn!) in The Terrace, a word in Ben’s ear possibly required as this was always the heartbeat of Beyond for us but has been sadly lacking of late. D.J.’s aside, there will be the usual delectation of delightful dancers headed up by Elektra Paris, all surely given us a feel of WE “Formula 2” bridges Beyond, while the decor will lean in a definite red direction to remind us that this is a World AIDS Day fundraiser, all donations going to the worthy cause that is The Terrence Higgins Trust. As for the detail?, well this Beyond bash takes place on Sunday (2nd Dec) at Area in Vauxhall, doors opening at 5 a.m. and the club running through till midday, advance tickets available online at https://orangenation.ticketabc.com/events/beyond-afterhours–4/ priced at £15, while Soho outlets Prowler, Clone Zone & 50 Dean have them on sale too, news in that bars Ku, Comptons & Rupert St also have stocks, while a deal has just been secured to sell them from Lo-Profile very Sunday morning from 3 a.m.. Now, advance tickets of definitely the way to go, as this looks like being another roadblock event, but if you can’t make it into Soho or can’t get online, then you can pay on the door but expect to pay more, more info on this party & other Beyond happenings out at http://facebook.com/beyondclub or, if you can work out where, on the not that impressive Orange Nation website, http://orangenation.co.uk.
As for us, well you will find us spinning on our spot as usual, intermixed with some pre & post birthday celebrations with fab friend Tom Fuller, so if you see us come say hi, but make sure you don’t miss out on this Beyond bash as its looking like being one very special shindig and in doing so, make sure you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
