Posts Tagged ‘Alex Erfan’
March 14, 2012 | 
Author With the Wig Party’s reputation for clubbing glamour sophistication & style in combination with charitable causes, thus attracting the cream of the scene & celebrity crop and proving ever more popular year on year, it was only a matter of time before the team behind this annual event would seek to score a second yearly soiree success, Disco Matt delving deep into the details on “The Masked Ball” which hits the ground running this coming Sunday with a spectacular showcase.
Dancing In Disguise
We are fabulously fortunate to find ourselves within a sparkling scene that, like the biggest & brightest of rainbows, superbly shines & shows off the full colourful spectrum of clubbing concepts, whether it be internationally renowned brands such as WE, Matinee & Salvation, or home-grown gatherings such as Beyond, Orange & Trade, London very much proving a fruitful partying playing field that encompasses one of the most diverse clubbing communities & cultures in the world. And that also goes for the venues that house all these happenings, from former theatres to abundant arches and from state of the art super structures to bijou basements, the capitals clubbing circuit pretty much having it all. Then add to this a plethora of promoters propelling their productions on a plentiful partying public and the picture is certainly as prolific as you will find anywhere, an insatiable desire from a catalogue of creators to cater for every type of taste making for one of the richest tapestries of tantalising turns that we know. But when it comes to combining both clubbing & charitable causes, it seems that one particular outfit have got it down to a tee, having built on a firm foundation that has seen its annual events grow in both popularity & stature to the degree that it was simply a matter of when as opposed to if it would extend its offering into a second showcase to score a success with the scene.
Brawn At The Ball
The Wig Party has certainly captured the imagination, one that started as a pretty small & select slice on the clubbing & social scene four years ago, has now grown into a massive annual event each October, drawing in the cream of scene along celebrities a-plenty, notable attendees including Leona Lewis & Danni Minogue, while a host of other have made discreet & cameo appearances, often attracting the national newspaper paparazzi, all which has propelled The Wig Party to a position of prominence within the clubbing circuit calendar, as a consequence the October event making headline news in pulications across the land. And it seems that the scene, year on year, has responded resplendently, not just donning wigs for a charitable cause, but going all out with some of the most extravagant & opulent costumes & apparel to match the sumptuous surroundings which, for the first three years were within the wonderful walls of Cafe De Paris, although the 2011, due to that huge demand & popularity, moved across to Mayfair, further enhancing this prolific party’s prominence on the scene schedule. So having become the amazing annual attraction that it has, demand for the October event far outstripping its capable supply, the team being The Wig Party have been under considerable pressure to pander to its adoring public, the product of this process being “The Masked Ball” which, like its bigger sister, looks like storming the scene and making more of those heavenly headlines.
Masks At the Ready
So, with the scene set, what is “The Masked Ball” all about? Well, the format is similar to The Wig party itself, although with one intrinsic difference, the emphasis being on masks rather than wigs, although we highly suspect that veteran “wig-ers” will be wearing their handsome head pieces with pride, of course along with the mandatory mask. But as we have said, wigs are not necessarily part of the makeup of this event, rather, in the words of the Wig Party promotions team, “…the dress code is very relaxed but wearing a mask is compulsory, think simple but chic, think sexy and fun..” they adding “…our famous pageant is taking a back seat on this event making “The Masked Ball” a different yet equally fabulous charity event where dancing and seduction is the main aim, so wear footwear to keep on moving and clothing (or lack of) in which to sweat…”. But the central theme of raising funds for charitable causes that is at the core of The Wig Party is very much part of “The Masked Ball’s” aims & achievements too, the main benefactor being The National Aids Trust, an incredible organisation noted as the UK’s leading HIV/AIDS charity and one which is dedicated to transforming society’s response to HIV, NAT provides fresh thinking expertise and practical resources for those living with the virus, while they also campaign for change in a whole series of ways. As a result, support to allow NAT to continue its wonderful work is vital and both the Wig Party & “The Masked Ball” are proud to be giving a helping hand in this quest, further information on NAT & how you too can contribute, is available to going direct to the NAT website at http://nat.org.uk
Sophistication & Style
But back to “The Masked Ball” itself which takes place this coming Sunday (18th March), the team choosing to return to the captivating Cafe De Paris, a place that has not only played host to The Wig party itself, but is the historical home of one of the best known & loved Sunday t-dance parties, Salvation. Indeed the man behind the original Salvation parities, prolific promoter Alex Erfan, is very much connected & involved with both The Wig party & this event, while Joshua Rafter, the man behind Outlet, one of the best known gay property companies in the UK, heads up a team that reads a bit like a scene who’s who, notable names including Ben Kaye, Alan X, Jon Dennis, Rob Sykes, Chris Jepson, Jerry Boston, Mark Barrett, Kevin Arpino, Mark Mackenzie & Matthew Arnold, while the promotions team have superb scene starlets Naomi Ruiz, Suzana Quentin & Katy Lawrence on board, joining a host of other names that make for one of the most gorgeous & glitterati gatherings of magnificent minds anywhere. And it seems that The Wig party team are pulling out plenty of stops for “The Masked Ball”, as along with a confimed D.J. line up & prolific P.A., they are promising excellent entertainment that includes “…the charming sounds of a string quartet as our guests arrive…” plus an amazing aerialist show to kick off proceedings, other attractions including walk-about magicians, a caricature artist, trot card readers, fortune tellers & the like, very much making this a colourful pageant to satisfy all the senses. Plus, having been reliably informed that everyone involved from the venue through to the D.J.’s, the dancers, the designers, the performers & the organisers have donated their valuable time & input for free for this event, we give thanks to them, along with all the supporters, sponsors and prospective attendees (that’s you!!) for making this possible & for making a difference, all in the name of charity.
Impressive Italian
That said, having a great time is also what “The Masked Ball” is also about and the team have lined up a superb set of D.J.’s to stimulate your musical senses, The Wig party’s resident Rob Sykes the first to get our mini focus and a star that has been stepping out on the scene for many a moon, clubs such as Factor 25, Action & Juicy part of his considerable C.V, of achievements, while most recently he played for the massive Matinee “The Return” party which stormed back onto the scene in January, Rob’s main room performance showing that he hasn’t lost his touch for turning out a terrific tune and a set showing well worth a listen by checking out his devoted podcast at http://djrobsykes.podomatic.com/entry/2012-01-18T14_44_50-08_00. But joining Rob will be D’Johnny, this Berlin based boy having made significant strides on the scene in recent years, playing regularly for brands that include Beyond, Orange, Later & Gravity, while showings across Soho extend to Barcode, Lo-Profile & Rupert St, big name international brands also craving for his terrific talents, WE Party one of particular note, Johnny having played at a handful of the London events, while he was in the thick of the Madrid action on NYD, his devotion to the brand through his compilation from October of last year, still available at http://djohnny.podomatic.com/entry/2011-10-13T08_05_02-07_00 giving more than a hint of what to expect on Sunday. Then there is a name that is making his mark on the scene here in London, although has a reputation in the industry that has its roots in the recording studio, Marco Gee having been behind productions that include “Sun Rising Up” & “Bodyswerve”, while appearances for brands Lovechild & Deviate have got this impressive Italian noticed here in the capital, his uplifting & euphoric house sure to go down a storm, his “Gold Vol 9” at http://marcogee.podomatic.com/entry/2012-01-02T12_00_00-08_00 probably the best representation & clue of what his performance at “The Masked Ball” will encompass.
Fabulous Nu-Funkster
But the music and the performances don’t stop there, as the team have extended to offer to a second dancing space, Tony English joining the party and bringing with him a wealth of talent that extends to brands such as SuperMartXe, Puscha & Lovechild, while he has hosted his own radio show and now takes the helm of Gaydar Radio’s Club Nation show every Saturday night, Tony being in touch with some of the biggest names in the business & showcasing some of the newest & freshest sounds coming out of Europe & Spain in particular, a country that he remains incredibly passionate about. And his own series of podcasts at http://tonyenglish.podomatic.com/ represent his style of European sound, that come Sunday will surely also include plenty of huge house hits that he also brings to the fore when pressing podcasts for the Logan Presents brand, these also featuring other D.J.’s producers, the February release including Brazilian clubbing brand The Week’s resident, Pacheco, so well worth a listen at http://loganpresentspodcast.podomatic.com/entry/2012-02-06T16_42_30-08_00. And joining Tony is another Lovechild star although a man with a repertoire that extends to pretty much every major party in the capital, let’s see, Action, Beyond, Crash, Hard On!, Industri, Matinee, PSP & Salvation, while a score of years & more still see antipodean Brent Nicholls cutting a stride on the scene, Lo-Profile’s “Playtime” just one of many parties that draw on his exceptional experience & towering talent. Playing genres that extend to disco to funky house & having inspired a new style of genre which he labelled as nu-funk, Brent always seems to trend set with his sounds selections, his latest podcast devoted to that “Playtime” party, indeed lifted from his live set for the outing in February at http://djbrentnicholls.com/web/2012/03/04/podcastplaytime/, symptomatic of the sound selections that should see him score a success with his set on Sunday.
Masked & Ready To Go
But no spectacle like this would be complete without a prolific P.A. performance and the team have certainly picked a big hitter to headline the party, Peyton being one of the best in the business and a towering talent that has been in considerable demand right across the globe in recent years. Indeed, he will arrive at The Masked Ball fresh from his tour of Australia, having featured large in Sydney’s Mardi Gras festival, while other destinations recently have included Brazil, Spain, Israel and, naturally, his home country of The USA. Having been born there, in North Carolina to be exact, like all good American boys, he often travels home to catch up with family & friends, although being a son of a travelling evangelist, Peyton (christened Christopher Peyton) was encouraged to develop his vocal skills from an early age within the church environment that he used to frequent with his father, he being noted as saying “…it’s not uncommon to find me singing the old time spirituals and hymns that gave my voice its starting place, and consequently its strength…”. And it is this power & strength in Peyton’s voice that has seen him score significant successes in a singing career that has spanned close on twenty years, a whole list of track releases littering his discography, although the stand-out one surely has to be “A Higher Place” which was featured in a handful of Hed Kandi album releases, one sample at http://youtube.com/watch?v=8USNazREcos a resounding reminder of just what a huge hit it was, Peyton’s connections with Hed Kandi & the then top cheese, Mark Doyle, really putting his name on the vocal and dance/clubbing scene map. But more recently Peyton has been associated with the latest international clubbing brand phenomenon that is WE, having collaborated with the clubs resident D.J./producer Carlos Gallardo on a couple of projects, “Let It Go” their latest production, this video clip at http://youtube.com/watch?v=D1rbIngNOZA, a great insight into the bond the two have formed in the studio, while we will never forget Peyton’s performance of “WE (Eloise)” at the “Attacks” party on NYD 2011, which, for us, propelled him in our books as the best in the business. So, we are expecting something quite special from him on Sunday and also hope to bring you an exclusive interview on the back of the review of “The Masked Ball”.
Don't Forget Your Mask!
Having gone into dynamic detail on the D.J.’s the music, the performers & the plans, lets now run down the detail you all will need to know about the event itself, The Wig Party’s “The Masked Ball” taking place this Sunday (18th March) at Cafe De Paris in Piccadilly, doors opening for this t-dance affair at 6.30 p.m., the party running through to a planned 1 a.m. finish. Advance tickets are still on sale online at http://wigparty.org/tickets, currently priced at £12, all the early bird £8 & £10 ones having been gobbled up a while ago, while if you fancy treating yourselves, then the VIP option at £25 will get you priority entrance, access to the upstairs VIP balcony, a welcoming complimentary drink, a dedicated bar, cloakroom & washroom facilities & exclusive access to the roaming magicians. Plus, if you want to grab a ticket in person, then you can head either to Outlet on Old Compton St, Soho or to Q Men on Earlham St, WC2, while you will be able to pay on the door but do expect to pay more, while it is worth remembering that all tickets sale proceeds will be going direct to the charity benefactor, NAT, so by simply buying a ticket, you are already making a difference to those affected by HIV/AIDS. But it doesn’t stop there, as Room Service are hosting a pre-party tomorrow night (Thurs 15th March), details at http://clubroomservice.com, while The Orange Group will be holding the “official” afterparty, details of which we will bring you in our Weekend newsletter, further information on this event available through http://wigparty.org.
So, it definitely looks like “dancing in disguise” is the way to go this Sunday and we will hopefully be donning our mask & heading down to Cafe De Paris, so if you see us no doubt nibble size review tweeting our way through the party, (you can follow the live action at http://twitter.com/discomatt), do come & say hi, while it just leaves us to remind you that to “Be There!” you need to “Go There”. (DISCO MATT)
Disco Matt Supporting The Masked Ball
Posted in Recommends | 
Tags: Alex Erfan, Brent Nicholls, Cafe De Paris, D'Johnny, Joshua Rafter, Marco Gee, NAT, National AIDS Trust, Outlet, Rob Sykes, Room Service, The Masked Ball, The Orange Group, The Wig Party, Tony English | 
1 Comment »
With the last week or so laid to waste for a number of reasons, our latest brush with ravages of London’s roads leaving us pre-occupied with our personal health, we have once again missed the boat with our weekend recommends newsletter, although with a trio of treats presenting themselves tonight (Saturday 12th November), we couldn’t resist giving you our take on what would, in normal circumstances, be a most tricky choice of where we should be & be seen, the draw of Shoreditch, Southwark & Vauxhall also looking like dividing the capitals clubbing crowd eager for some extra special entertainment. And given just how good all three parties are, the choice will prove a difficult one, yet as each deserve a bite at the proverbial cherry, we given them equal(ish) exposure, state the case for their collective captivation and then leave it to you to decide.
Main Meathead Man
So to our first of the three and to Shoreditch we head, as the magnificence of Meat rolls out another of its monthly meets, that cherry bite reference most appropriate as will become apparent when we delve into the detail. However, before we do, let’s give you a taste of just what Meat is about, this charismatic club being the brainchild of legendary D.J./Producer Tom Stephan along with his occasional recording studio partner, Shoreditch son (so called by us) Kris Di Angelis, this dynamic duo certainly knowing how to pitch a party with over 30 years experience of the capitals clubbing scene under their collective belts. And in Meat they have produced a party that combines elements of old & new, host venue East Bloc on City Rd supplying the underground feel & vibe that Tom was very much part of in the early days of his clubbing career, not least at Crash in Vauxhall. But more than that, with two distinctly different spaces to choose from, the duo also pitch the music to cater for the rich variety of clubbers Meat now attracts, whether they be the East End trendy socialites, the West End whizz kids or even the smatter of scene faces that grace its doors, Meat serves up a pretty unique mix that is difficult to match let alone beat, so one of many reasons why you should give it a go.
Love At First Bite
Convinced that Meat is for you? Well, this month would be as good a choice as any, as the boys are throwing a “Love At First Bite” themed event, which, given the bawdiness of last month’s “Hanky Panky” meet, looks like re-emulating the raunchiness in every way, both Tom & Kris taking up D.J. duty in the “Meathead” main room alongside fellow resident James Pople, serving up the best in electro twisted beats & underground grooves, while over in the “Mincemeat” second space, gender bender Munroe Bergdorf is joined this month by Tom Washington, the duo delighting with more soul tainted funk & pop. Add to that go-go’s Fer & Claudio performing throughout the night and both stretching the imagination among other things, while plenty of Meat mania gets going in & around the nooks & cranny’s of this East Bloc base, hosts Melvin, Jonathan Bestley & Alex Collins making sure fun will be had by all. As for the entry detail on this “Love At First Bite” Meat meet, doors open at East Bloc at 10.30 p.m. the club running through until a planned 6 a.m. finish and all for just £5 before midnight or £10 thereafter, further details out at http://eastbloc.co.uk.
Muscle Meet
Onwards and to Southwark now, the new base for Alex Erfan’s loveable clubbing brand, Lovechild, which throws its second party of the month tonight. Having established a long run of events across in Vauxhall at Fire, Lovechild has proved one of the most popular & sustainable Saturday night sortie’s in recent times, a whole succession of superb showings firmly establishing its premier position on the capitals clubbing circuit. Plus, having expanded into Europe, Lovechild’s presence has been felt right across the continent, from Amsterdam to Istanbul & Berlin to Barcelona, the marriage of minds seeing associations with clubs like Red & Blue, Delice, & Muccassassina, while back home links with Brighton’s Wild Fruit & London’s As One & Lo-Profile rank among its many achievements in the close on three years of its operation here in the capital. Add to that a dynamic D.J. residency team that includes the likes of London based stars Tony English, Brent Nicholls, Phil Hewson, & Mattias, international names extending to Javier Medina, Guy Scheiman, Johan Khoury & Leomeo, and the musical credentials of Lovechild pretty much speak for themselves. Yet, while having disappeared off our radar during the summer, our loveable brand is back pushing the boundaries at new home Pulse, very much finding its feet in this new environment, but loving every minute of it along with its new found associations with the venue’s owners, & links with the Logan presents promotions machine who also hold their SuperMartXe London events there. And with off-shoot “Superlovers” gathering steam, there is much to shout about in the Lovechild camp, so a club definitely worth a visit or more.
Inspiration Italiano
So what’s on offer tonight (Sat 13th Nov)? Well the team are going all Italiano on us with their “Roma” event, a devotion to all things Dolce Vita come Gladiators as it will be the Italian stallions that will be taking over Pulse and racing those pulses with all their rippling olive skin soaked muscles, amazing accents & looks, as well as Latino charm personified, Nik Ripley & his performers definitely meeting & probably exceeding all expectations on the eye candy front. But while our own & original Italian stallion D.J. Pagano will not be present, Alex has called on the services of his remaining Roman residents, Gabriele Cutrano, Micky Galliano, Alessandro Londra & Tony Bruno, all joined by relative newcomer to the Lovechild fold, Marco Gee, each one injecting plenty of Italian passion into their performances, whether it be Sicilian slants, Naples nuances or Piacenza progressions, the musical matches between these dynamic D.J.’s should work like a dream. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, Alex has tempted in this month’s Lovechild cover hunk, Eric De Chavez, who will be hosting & roaming the crowd to add yet more Italian pepperoni to proceedings in what is sure to be a saucy showing to stimulate & seduce. So, no more reasons required to head down to Pulse and while Soho’s ticket outlets doors may be closed, you can still grab an advance ticket for just £12 at http://clubtickets.com/gb/2011-11/12/love-child-brings-you-roma, while entry is also available on the doors which open at 11 p.m., the club running through till a planned 6 a.m. finish, more info, should you need it, out at http://alexerfan.com.
Biggest & Best
So to the third in our trio and what a third it is, as Beyond extends its arms to all its adoring fans with yet another extended offering marking the beginning of its winter season. Now, what we have said about this brilliant brand goes without saying, it having ridden a crest wave on the capitals clubbing circuit for most, if not all of its ten year tenure. Having pretty much transformed the afterhours clubbing market, bringing a barnstorming blend of beats from upfront house, to tech, deep, classic & progressive, along with everything in-between, in Beyond there is always something for everyone and everything for someone, while the amazing atmosphere in host venue Area’s main room is truly unbeatable, for us, anywhere in the globe. And talking of the globe, Beyond’s aspirations to become one of the planets biggest players has taken a major leap forward this year, showings in Paris, Mykonos, Ibiza & Sao Paulo , four highlights among a list of others, while back home, offerings in both “Belief” & “Supersize” format have cemented it as the single biggest & best brand on the capitals clubbing circuit. But more than that, Beyond draws on some of the best D.J. talent London has on offer, when you consider the likes of Steve Pitron, Mikey D, Jamie Head, The Sharp Boys, Fat Tony & Gonzalo Rivas among a host of others, you know the music & the magic of this monumentally magnificent meet will always be top draw delight from start to finish and reason why we cannot recommend it enough.
Winter Season Starter
So to this latest exceptional event in the chapter filled catalogue of Beyond bashes, tonight (Saturday 12th Nov) seeing the return of “Ice” the themed event that, as we have said, marks the beginning of the clubs winter season and should re-emulate the impressive outing of the same name twelve months ago. And in the “Midnight” format, this event runs for a full twelve hours, welcoming many of its resident D.J.’s to play in front of a packed out Area of three arena’s of sound, The Chapel space sorted by Hifi Sean, Paul Christian, D’Johnny & special guest Guy Williams, while The Terrace bar remains the domain of Jamie Head, The Oli & Fat Tony, although it is to the main room we look for the best action as “Ice” marks the welcome return of Beyond original & its most resplendent resident, Steve Pitron, who we know is hugely excited about his first set in close on a month, Steve taking up pole position from 8 till 10 a.m., he flanked by The Sharp Boys & Alan K. Then, add in the enticing ingredients of the famed effects & lighting, plus podium showings from Elektra Paris & her crew, “Ice” should have it all this Sunday morning, doors opening at zero o’clock & running through until midday, advance ticket purchases recommended by going to direct link http://orangenation.clubtickets.com/gb/2011-11/13/beyond-afterhours, while if you want to get in quick & for free, get your detail in now at http://tinyurl.com/beyondice. Those options aside, you can always pay on the door, but expect to pay more, although whatever the price to get in, you won’t want to get out anytime soon as you will no doubt absorb the awesome atmosphere that Beyond creates week in week out & should do again this time round.
So there it is, the most tricky choice presenting itself for many a moon, a trio of treats that doesn’t get any better in our books, we happy to lay our hat on any one of the three, although with a certain D.J. (wonder who that could be?!?!) tugging our heart strings & twisting our arms, we will be attempting to brave the dancefloor with our ravaged wrist, although whichever of the trio you choose, maybe all three, just make sure you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Alan K, Alessandro Londra, Alex Erfan, Area, Beyond, Christian, Cutrano, D'Johnny, East Bloc, Elektra Paris, Fat Tony, Gabriele, Guy Williams, Hifi Sean, James Pople, Jamie Head, Kris Di Angelis, Lovechild, Marco Gee, Meat, Micky Galiiano, Munroe Bergdorf, Nik Ripley, Paul, Pulse, Steve Pitron, The Oli, The Sharp Boys, Tom Stephan | No Comments »
If we thought that June was a pretty rocky ride, having landed ourselves in hospital & so out of action for a handful of weeks, even the personal trauma we went through then, kind of pails into insignificance compared with the sequence of setbacks that has besieged our September & October activity across the capitals clubbing scene, as well as the productivity coming out of our website. So, with not one or two, but three serious accidents laying us low, we can’t wait to turn over a new month’s leaf and shake off the effects of our broken bones, torn ligaments & superficial scars, by stepping back out onto the scene & ramping up our reviewing, recommending, reporting & all other aspects of our website writing.
Indian Summer Setbacks
However, before we do that, we thought we would lay our “Indian Summer Setbacks” to rest, by re-capping on what we managed to fit in during September & October, sharing parties we made & missed, as well as picking on the highlights (or otherwise) of our Reviews, Previews, Recommends, Reports, Music & other posts. Then, more importantly, we will be pointing forward to more positive November & December to come, digging up some delectable dates for your dance diary, as well as our own planned partying which should carry us intact into the coming Christmas season.
Heavenly Highlight
REVIEWS – With a pretty poor picture of productivity during October, it was September that saw the lions share of club reviews, SuperMartXe’s “Blackout” event getting our Bite Size attention, while full-on devotions to Casa Latina’s “Sugar Daddy” & Beyond’s “10th Birthday” marked our most active weekend of the period. But, having missed out on Trade’s 21st birthday, three forthcoming anniversary’s will definitely be dance diary hits in Nov & Dec, Salvation, WE & SuperMartXe the trio of turns among a sea of other activity kicking off from this weekend (5th Nov).
PREVIEWS – Having been pretty lack-lustre throughout much of the year, we stepped up our activity a little, looking at SuperMartXe’s return to the scene, Beyond’s 10th birthday & Trade’s 21st, the theme looking to continue in this vein into November & December with those three anniversaries, as well as one for the forthcoming Christmas season.
Finding A Pulse
RECOMMENDS – Like a spluttering engine, our weekend newsletters were too infrequent, while more attention was paid to our Focus posts, this section of or website still the most productive of any. So, with the determination to return to producing weekly recommends newsletters on top of those focuses, as well as Extra Bites inclusions, both November & December should see posts a-plenty.
REPORTS – With not one report to reflect upon during September & October, we simply have to look forward rather than back, November beginning with a close look at the events surrounding the temporary closure of Fire, as well as a revamp of our weekly round-up report, now called “That Was The Weekend That Was”. Plus, with plenty of other scene news to cover, including Gigolo’s disappearance, there should be plenty to watch out for.
MUSIC – Having posted just one newsletter during September & October, we are hoping to make it two a month from now on, while the special feature, “Protégé Players & Producers” marked a return to the focuses we used to do weekly in our BlogSpot days & these will be back with a bang.
COMING UP – Apart from the increased activity we have already mentioned, the promises of archive D.J. biog’s, along with that special music feature on Javier Medina will herald a re-enthusiasm for all things music, while Disco Matters will be back with a bang too, an interview with Lovechild’s Alex Erfan due in November, with others lined up too. Plus, our “Lists” section will come to fruition, meaning we have our work cut out. Moreover, we aim to post to our website daily at a minimum, meaning no less than 30 inclusions during November alone, while our daily banner updates will continue unabated (more on that in a mo).
Nibble Size Review Tweets
KEEP UP – While our review activity has dipped during October, meaning our “Nibble Size” review tweets have too, these will be one of the best ways to track our activity out on the scene during November & December. Plus, Twitter is a great way to keep up with our other posts too, our notifications hitting our page as soon as the posts go out on our website, all of which you can follow at http://twitter.com/discomatt. Twitter aside, we continue to use Facebook as a major broadcast medium, so why not check our walls via our page at http://facebook.com/pages/Disco-Matt/112730602119746, or our profile at http://facebook.com/discomattlondon, where we post ALL our activity, while we have opened up our group, thus allowing you to post onto our wall by going to http://www.facebook.com/groups/96540615424/. Over & above that, you can head here and watch the home page for the latest postings.
Marketing Medium
SUPPORTING THE SCENE – Having established the “Supporting” section as an integral part of our website back in the summer, we consider this as a vital part of our activity, the advertising banners giving us an opportunity to we visually support e bars, clubs, events & businesses both in London & internationally. Now updated daily, should you wish your favourite bar, club or event to be included, just drop us an e-mail to us (details follow) and we will do our best to include it.
CONTACT US – Very simply, just drop us an e-mail at matt@discomatt.com , or fill in a contact form which you can find at the bottom of our website, a hint of which can now be found in the main body of our website. That aside, you can send us a message via Facebook, or even more simply, just plaster our walls or send us a tweet.
Dynamic Draw
DISCO DIARY DATES – Now just before we go, some promised dates for your diary in November & December, the first big date being Salvation’s 13th Anniversary which is Sunday 13th Nov, while WE Party London’s 1st Anniversary event, “Disco” is on Saturday 3rd December. Then, looking further forward, SuperMartXe celebrate 3 years in London on Saturday 17th December, special guest George Michael an irresistible draw. These aside, watch this space as Fire’s temporary closure raises some interesting developments, while Lovechild is back during November & Meat looks like a must too.
So, while we may have been off the boil in September & October, the coming two months should see a return to the Disco Matt of old, our best foot now firmly forward and pointing us towards an exemplary end to 2011. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reports | Tags: Alex Erfan, Beyond, Casa Latina, Fire, Javier Medina, Lovechild, Salvation, SuperMartXe, Trade, WE Party London | No Comments »
Finding A Pulse
Over the years we have grown particularly fond of certain brands that have braved the capitals clubbing scene, the reasons for our attractions as varied as the clubs themselves, although certain common denominators kind of tie them together, the music & the music makers two perfect examples, although with certain clubs, it can also be said that the promoters are just as important. Indeed, looking at those brands that have achieved a special place in our hearts and those individuals at the helm, the prolific part that promoters play pretty much go without saying, Crash & Wayne Shires, FIST & Suzie Krueger, Trade & Laurence Malice, they all go hand in hand. And whist these three examples made have faded from the scene, they still fill us with misty eyed memories and ones that we miss dearly. And there is another brand that we have missed dearly, one that, like our three other examples, has gained a special place in our hearts, a club that has sported magnificent music players & music of the highest quality, its promoter synonymous with its existence, so seeing it disappear off our radar, having played such an important part in our lives, was a bitter pill to swallow.
We Love Lovechild
Lovechild has, without doubt, been a brand we have followed right from day one, when it launched itself as a Sunday t-dance style soiree, something in the order of Salvation, this being no real surprise as the promoter who had always been the big driving force behind this mega club brand, Alex Erfan, was keen to offer fervent followers of all things Salvation, something similar but different. However, it was clear from the first set of Sunday parties at Pacha, that the bottom had fallen out of t-dance style clubbing, on a Sunday at least, a short break seeing Lovechild reappear as a Saturday offering and at new home Fire, a venue which proved a worthy home for Alex & the club for close on 18 months. Plus, the switch from Sunday’s to Saturday’s allowed the Lovechild team to expand & experiment with the brand, a whole succession of successful parties, including alliances with other clubs such as Delice & Wild Fruit, cemented it as one of the capitals clubbing scene’s big hitters. Notable parties included “Wet”, “Makin Hay” & “Tropicana” (among many more), Alex also drawing on international D.J. talent to boost the appeal, while the creation of the infamous “Contact Room”, the introduction of saucy shows & the distinctly different arena’s of music, all added to the clubs appeal.
Turning Up The Pulse
However, times they do change and it was becoming all the more clearer that the onetime harmonious working relationship between Lovechild & Fire, Alex Erfan & the Orange group, was beginning to sour, the “1st Anniversary” back in November last year being the first catalyst, Lovechild pretty much shunted into the sidelines while Fire’s main room was given away to a breeder bash. And, from then, it was pretty much a slippery slope for our loveable brand, the final full-on Fire fling being when Lovechild joined forces with Israeli splendour FFF in May, relationships between The Orange Group top brass & Alex straining to breaking point, all meaning something had to give and the withdraw of Lovechild from the Saturday clubbing schedule was the saddening consequence. But, as the saying goes, “you can’t keep a good dog down” and, after a summer break which has seen the brand pick itself up & dust itself off, Lovechild is now ready to start all over again, a new venue, a new look & a new direction the inspiration for its return.
Beefy Blake In Blue
So, what’s the big change?, and what can we expect from the new look Lovechild? Well, first & foremost Alex has forged a new association with Pulse, the state of the art venue that plays host to SuperMartXe, the break away from Vauxhall definitely a new & daring direction which, we hope, will pay dividends, the flexibility with Pulse’s space allowing Alex to manage & manipulate his events to match the crowd & the entertainment. And there is definitely lots of promise for this first event “The Big Blue”, Alex kicking off by saying that “…This incredibly exciting space will allow Lovechild to grow and present the biggest shows and parties to date. New features are being added to the Pulse in the run-up to the party and Lovechild will by then feature the biggest dance floor on the London scene as well as some of the most ‘state of the art’ lights and lasers going in especially for the night…”, while the joining of forces with porn star legend Blue Blake is the inspiration behind the title of the event, the accent very much sex & seduction, a whole host of stars beefing up this branded bash, Alex going on to explain that , “…Lovechild goes blue this Saturday when it celebrates the launch of porn legend Blue Blake?s filthy new film “A Policeman Fucked My Son” andhis new website blueblake.com. There?s not just 1 or 2 super hot pornstars (as seems to be the norm these days) but a veritable “pornucopia” of sensational Blue Blake stars from past and present. Leading the pack is the UK?s most popular porn star Paddy O?Brian, along with French superstar Issac Jones, British internationals Ben Brown, Bruno Knight and Jake Reed. There?s also some American beef jetting in from the USA, the buff and beautiful Cody Miller. And that?s not all, Pulse will be packed with porn stars and purveyors of filth. So the hot studs dancing next to you could be the guys you?d been watching fuck the night before…”
International Israeli
Well, that certainly sets the scene for this “Big Blue” event, the porn element plain for all to see, but what about the music?, Well, with a pretty impressive list of resident D.J.’s both from here in the capital & internationally, Alex has a lot to choose from, Tony English the first major inclusion in an all London line-up, this main man having been with Lovechild from its beginnings and very much the lynch pin in Alex’s armoury, having toured with the brand internationally to destinations that have included Amsterdam, Antwerp, Istanbul & Israel, while he was with Lovechild for their two excursions to Edinburgh over the summer. Moreover , he is the man behind the “Lovechild” single, which gets full release early next year, although Tony has posted the radio edit to his Soundcloud page, check it out at http://soundcloud.com/djtonyenglish/tony-english-feat-kaysee-1, the vivacious vocals of Kaysee looking like this should be a 2012 smash and will no doubt be within Tony’s set on Saturday. Then, there is Alessandro Londra, another dynamic D.J. that has been flying the flag for Lovechild both here in London & across Europe, he never failing to ignite the dancefloor with his full blown tech & progressive house, our Italian bello having laid down a podcast to mark Lovechild’s first party at Pulse, a 62 minute marvel which is as good an indication of what to expect from him on Saturday as anything and a compilation well worth adding to your collection by going to http://soundcloud.com/djalessandrolondra/lovechild-pulse-club-london. But Alessandro is not the only one to mark this “Big Blue” event with a podcast release, impressive Israeli Guy Scheiman (one of Alex’s international residents) also jumping on the compilation bandwagon with his own devotion, perhaps off all the mixes, our favourite & one which you can grab at http://djguyscheiman.podomatic.com/entry/2011-10-05T15_47_54-07_00 although unlike the text on his podcast page, sadly we won’t be seeing Guy at Pulse this time round, although we know Alex has him lined up for a gig real soon. Then London based Aussie Brent Nicholls has also released a compilation dedicated to the party and we can confirm he will be there, although scheduled to play a late set, although surely worth hanging around for, especially given the quality of this podcast, which is worthy of at least a listen by going to http://djbrentnicholls.com/web/2011/09/21/podcast-lovepulse/.
Get It On Mr Gee
But all that is only part of the music picture, as Alex will also be drawing on the talents of two more Italian’s, Tony Bruno & Gabriele Cutrano, while a second Aussie in the form of Terry Vietheer will also feature, as will both Mattias & Phil Hewson, an impressive notch up of eight stars who will all get a bite at the “Big Blue” main room cherry, while Marco Gee is the final entrant onto the list of prolific players, Marco the latest addition to the residency team, having hugely impressed us at Lovechild’s “Muscle” event back in March and is very much a staple part of this latest outing. Why?, well Marco is responsible for the production of what looks like being a char topping smash, the truly tremendous “Get It On” by Shockalady, a brilliant re-take of the rock classic by T-Rex, this new version very much more disco than rock, camp than vamp, this promotional video giving you a good idea of exactly what we mean, http://youtube.com/watch?v=4VJFzzIMH6M. And, the hot off the press news is that Shockalady will be performing the track live on Saturday, this shaping up to be one of the most entertaining shows we have seen at Lovechild yet and one you definitely won’t want to miss. Plus, with Marco taking charge of the opening set, you can certainly expect a rousing start to this “Big Blue” event, a taste of whats to come available from Mr Gee’s latest podcast, which was lifted direct from another opening set, this time for Lovechild’s “Superlovers”, an gathering held for Soho’s Pink Sunday, Marco playing out to a considerable audience at Lo-Profile, so one worth catching at http://marcogee.podomatic.com/.
Blue Is The Word
So to the all important detail and this Lovechild “The Big Blue” spectacular takes place this coming Saturday (15th October) at Pulse (full address, 1 Invicta Plaza, Off Southwark St, Blackfriars, London, SE1) from 11 p.m. and running through until an advertised 6 a.m. finish, although a little birdie tells us that, subject to numbers, it could run a fair bit later (whoopee!!). Advance tickets have been on sale for a while, the £10 early bird ones having been gobbled up quite quickly, while standard £15 tickets are still available by going online to http://clubtickets.com/gb/2011-10/15/lovechild-pulse, while a drop into Prowler, Clone Zone &/or 50 is also an option, tickets also available on the door at the same price. With sponsorship support from Gaydar and live video recor4dings coming from Mirrorballs.tv, the launch of Blueblake.com will also be a feature, more information on the event out at http://alexerfan.com, while new website http://blueblake.com is also worth a sneak preview.
Now, despite a run of SuperMartXe’s at Pulse, due a a range of circumstances, we have yet to see the new venue, so we are just crossing fingers that come Saturday nothing will be in our way, meaning we hope to be there to report on it all, so if you see us, please come say hi, but make sure you don’t miss out on this Lovechild return by ensuring you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Alessandro Londra, Alex Erfan, Blue Blake, Brent Nicholls, Gabriele Cutrano, Guy Scheiman, Lovechild, Marco Gee, Mattias, Phil Hewson, Pulse, Shockalady, Tony Bruno, Tony English | No Comments »
A Purple Shade Of Pink
We look back to the days of Soho Pride with incredible fondness, the concept which started back in the mid noughties as a result of the de-scaling of London’s main pride event and quickly established itself as the capitals premier gay festival, outstripping the former in terms of both numbers & appeal, although quickly switching from a Saturday to a Sunday which seemed to fit better with all parties concerned. However, with a change in the city’s mayor, came a change in heart & funding, in effect cutting Soho pride off in its prime and leaving the capital without its own fabulous street festival as well as a gaping hole in its outdoor event schedule. However, out of the ashes of Soho Pride came Soho Pink Sunday, a reasonable sedate affair compared to its inspiration and at a glance looking more like a money spinning project for the bars involved rather than an all out celebration of community, charity, music, song & dance, although it certainly pulled out the punters, the streets & the bars packed all afternoon & evening.
So, Soho Pink Sunday is back and whilst plans hitting our desks have been quite sketchy, we expect most of the bars to be involved and the day to look much more like a Soho Pride affair, albeit that the stages will be confined to the Compton St end of this gregarious gay village. However, what we do know is that there is on hell of a party happening at Profile & Lo-Profile, as the might of Gaydar are calling on the services of Lovechild & Logan Presents to bring you a Soho Pink Sunday special entitled “Superlovers”, a party spread across both Profile & Lo-Profile in what looks like a truly fitting end to a dynamic day. And the combination of these big brand players along with a heavenly headline act looks like a sure-fire winner, the terrific team of D.J.’s including an amorous Aussie, flying in from Sydney to star alongside some of Lovechild’s favourite residents, while there will be no shortage of drop dead gorgeous go-go’s across the two floors, many pulled from the awesome armoury that exists within the Logan presents camp.
Amazing Aussie
Well that’s the bones of this exceptional event, so what about the meat?, Well, apart from those delicious dancers courtesy of Logan & his schmitzels (more on that in a mo), there will be plenty of muscle-bound meat to feast yours eyes on in the form of the Lovechild D.J.’s, not least special guest Johan Khoury who makes a more than welcome return to the capital, marking his third outing for promoter Alex Erfan’s loveable brand, Johan having made a considerable impact on the capital’s clubbers on both previous occasions. Hailing from Sydney, he is very much active on the city’s scene, having played out at all the big events including Mardi Gras & The Harbour Party, while he is inextricably linked to the brand Day Wash, as well as the down under version of Love Muscle along with a handful of others residencies under his belt. That said, Johan has also made an impression abroad, having played out in parties across The America’s & Europe, stop off’s including Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Ibiza, San Francisco, Paris & Rome, while he rates his appearances in London high amongst his list of landings, his uplifting, energetic & euphoric house music style of sound making him a popular pull. And if you haven’t managed to catch him in action behind the decks as yet, then you can always grab a slice of this handsome down under dudes dance music mastery by checking out his podcast page at http://djjohankhoury.podomatic.com/, “Pandemia” a brilliant intro to an atypical Johan set, while “Dreaming” is full of that energetic house we were talking about and what he will surely be selecting come Sunday.
Brilliant Brent
But Mr Khoury won’t be the only Aussie influence at “Superlovers” as Alex draws on the talents of one of his longest serving residents, Brent Nicholls having played out at the very first Lovechild in London and has been a feature at virtually every party since. And it is fair to say that this attractive Aussie continues to attract an audience wherever he plays, Mr Nicholls being no stranger to both Profile & Lo-Profile, having played out for the brands regularly, he being the inspiration behind the launch of Friday night sensation “Society”, a compilation dedicated to the club at http://djbrentnicholls.com/web/2011/04/14/minipodcast-society/, a good hint towards his nu-funk & disco groove style that will be likely to feature at “Superlovers”, while he remains as popular a pick for Mr Erfan now as he did back in the days of Salvation & PSP. Add to Brent, the musical magnificence of two of Lovechild’s mainstay residents, Tony English & Alessandro Londra, both who have represented the brand across Europe as well as here in London, while recent recruit Marco Gee will no doubt add even more dimension to this already dynamic D.J. team.
Luscious Lizzie
So that’s the music, what about the entertainment?, Well in true Lovechild & Logan Presents fashion, it will be right up there with any club offering around, not least that the services of two prolific P.A.’s have been called on for this “Superlovers” event, Lizzie France the first and a foxy female that has a voice to match her substantial stature together with a list of vocal hits that includes recent smash “The Answer”, while we are sure that at least one of her new track releases, produced in collaboration with Nick Tcherniak & Tom Marchant will get an airing on Sunday. But Alex & Logan have also managed to secure the one & only Alexis Houston and, yes, she is the sister of her more famous sister Whitney and looking at Alexis you can see the resemblance too, we being told her voice is every bit as good, while having been delighting audiences from an the tender age of six, she has been both performing and producing music, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Justin Timberlake & Christina Aquilera, while her phenomenal voice embodies the soul of Aretha Franklin, so is sure to go down a treat at “Superlovers” and will no doubt be a heavenly highlight of the happening.
Add to that the injection of those drop dead gorgeous dancers we deluded to and in the very capable hands of Logan Schmitz, you can pretty much guarantee the crème de la crème, not least as the man’s own dance pedigree & resultant contacts within the field pretty much speaks for itself. Having spent a fair amount of the summer travelling, Ibiza & mainland Spain featuring in his tours, Logan has touted some really gorgeous muscle hunks to add to his already considerable stable of London based boys & girls and if you happened to be at SuperMartXe’s “Blackout” event last Saturday (shame on you if you weren’t) then you would have seen some of them in audacious action. So, come Sunday, you can expect only the best in terms of beauty & brawn, the dancers topping the Lo-Profile podiums from the off and surely mingling with the masses upstairs in Profile too. Plus a quick mention has to go to Gaydar, who are throwing their sponsorship weight behind Logan & his terrific team, we are told supplying plenty of giveaways for the night, so best you get up close & personal with one of Mr Schmitz’s schmitzels to score your surprise.
Superlovers Sunday
Now to the detail and “Superlovers” takes place this coming Sunday (18th Sept) at both Profile & Lo-Profile, kicking off from 10 p.m. with tickets available on the door at a price of £10, while if you grab a flyer then it’s just £5. However, if you are around Soho for the Pink Sunday festival, then keep your eyes peeled for the “Superlovers” hunks who will be handing out discount wristbands all day, while we are told advance tickets will be available from behind the bar at Profile too, while more info on this exceptional event can be found by going to either, http://alexerfan.com or http://loganpresents.com.
Sadly however, it seems that an individual from a certain organisation (we won’t mention names) has been seeking to derail this “Superlovers” event with a surreptitious message he is spreading in which he has said “…Be careful about buying any tickets for any party’s run by Alex Erfan from Love Child as he is going bust and may keep the money and not do the party. Tell anyone who might buy one…”, one that is founded on nothing else but pure fiction & malicious intention. Having spoken with Alex personally on the issue and also speaking out in his behalf, we cannot condemn this message enough and with the whole of the “Superlovers” team also doing the same, not least major sponsors & supporters, Gaydar, we want to assure you that ANY tickets bought for this or ANY event run by Alex are sold with the upmost of integrity & honesty and that the ONY care you need to take, is not to get sucked in by this despicable message & its intentions.
So, let’s end on a high by wishing you a very happy & safe Soho Pink Sunday and cannot think of a better way of rounding off your partying by joining Alex Erfan, Logan Schmitz, Gaydar and the whole of the Profile & Lo-Profile team for “Superlovers”. We will be there to live nibble size review tweet & report on it all, so if you see us come say hi, but make sure you “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Alessandro Londra, Alex Erfan, Alexis Houston, Brent Nicholls, Gaydar, Johan Khoury, Lizzie France, Lo-Profile, Logan Presents, Logan Schmitz, Lovechild, Marco Gee, Profile, Superlovers, Tony English | No Comments »
Park Party Pitched Perfectly
Casting our minds back some ten to fifteen years and looking at a London clubbing landscape that was littered with special events both indoors & out, the likes of Famous Five & Universe attracting huge numbers on Bank Holidays and this marking a time when outdoor Pride parties were never more prolific, happy happenings at a host of alfresco areas, Clapham Common, Victoria, Kennington & Finsbury parks, all significant, while memorable Brockwell Park meets particularly stuck in the mind, a string of outstanding outings culminating there with Purple In The Park in 2002. But by this time, the penchant for a park party had pretty much fallen out of favour, not least due to a succession of soaking sessions, London’s premier Pride party in Hyde Park proving a wash-out two years in a row, even Purple suffering a similar fate. Yet, despite the weather, there is nothing quite like a park party and while Brighton seems to have survived & indeed thrived, whereas London has lost out, but when news hit our desks of the re-launch of an exceptional alfresco event that well & truly rocked Brockwell Park and was best of the bunch, we simply had to give it the support it deserved.
Summer Rites was, without doubt, the best alfresco outing we have attended, the launch event some twelve years ago making its mark pretty much instantaneously with the most prolific party we can remember, an outing that saw us accompanied by our then close companion, Chris Reardon, when the likes of Ultra Nate were headlining the massive main stage, while a pack of peripheral parties within this massive festival very much hit the mark, not least Monday morning madcap meet, Warriors, which took over the lido, creating a water park style splash that we will never forget. But like so many of it park party bedfellows, Summer Rites became a victim of that tide change we talked about, outdoors being swapped for in, leaving the whole creative concept pretty much dead in the water. However, with the vision of its original organisers spotting a new gap in the festival market, no doubt spurned by the success of Lovebox, along with the marriage of minds of brands like Salvation, XXL & Popstarz, combined with the more cutting edge east end events, Gutterslut & meat, very much gave this boutique festival credence to the clubbing circuit crowd, meaning, on paper at least, there was nothing stopping Summer Rites “Remixed” from being a resounding success. The question was, how did it actually fare? And what were the real highlights for us?
Shoreditch Park Splendour
Having succumbed to a totally unplanned trip to Beyond on the Sunday morning, initially agreeing to leave after just one hour, it was The Oli that stalled our departure, the rest pretty much history, although we blame a storming set my Mikey D that really did the damage., So, with plans to arrive at Summer Rites bright & early laid to waste, it was Lovechild’s promoter Alex Erfan that came to our rescue a very welcome chauffeur style ride to Shoreditch Park by Queer Nation’s (and many more) Patrick Lilley, transporting us from SW4 to E1 in an instant, although a little later than planned, we hitting the ground running (well nearly the ground actually) a just after 5 p.m.. However, with the distinctly rain filled clouds having cleared by this time, we couldn’t have timed our arrival more perfectly, the sun suddenly shining and a glorious greeting on the gate by the ever smiling Stewart, just the started we needed, particularly in our fragile state, but then there was no one else to blame for our Beyond bawdiness that had caused us to feel this way, a pick me up very much in order, although right from the off we seemed to be left a bit begging.
Finding out feet momentarily, we gazed upon this Shoreditch Park splendour of a Summer Rites “Remixed” alfresco audacity, the mix of tents & stages pitched perfectly, although some were finding favour over others, our first stop being the Bootylicious bus, which had a faithful following of its usual mix of colours & creeds, Messrs Lilley & Forbes in their element. Then it was a case of slowly (thank heavens!) making our way around the park, our next port of call the XXL tent, Christian M in charge of the tunes, a brief stop soon finding us across that the main stage, in the hands of international clubbing brand Salvation, Elliot J Brown taking centre stage with a myriad of magical music mixes that had us on a monetary upsurge of energy, the considerable crowd also lapping up his dance delectations with real gusto. But we were keen to spot out the East Bloc tent, not least as both awesome alternatives, Gutterslut & Meat were sowing their hands, the likes of Per Q.X. & Tom Stephan masterminding the music. And, we weren’t to be disappointed, as not only was the atmosphere amazing inside, but it was packed with familiar faces, Ross Paterson & pal, fresh from their Madrid Pride exploits, as well as the Brazilian bunch including Sophie & Giuseppe, all throwing themselves into the Gutterslut slice of this alfresco antics afternoon.
Booty Bus
However, our tour of the park was not yet over, with the VIP area still to investigate, but not before circling the park to take in the Popstarz tent, although being caught in our tracks by fab photographer Chris Jepson who instantly snapped us together with our “mature boy band” partners before heading off to click his camera at more unsuspecting targets. With the Popstarz tent pretty empty, save for a handful of pop pickers, Max Sanna included, we waved farewell to both Patrick & Alex had had seen what they wanted to see, the VIP area our next port of call and that much needed “pick me up” that our Beyond bedraggled body had been crying out for. Mind you, with the scene glitterati floating around, The QX top brass, the Boyz boys, a smattering of D.J.’s & other scene faces, we soon fell into captivating conversation with Tony Tansley who seemed grateful he was the right side of the organisational side of the fence, having been part of the original Summer Rites team, but now enjoying this “Remixed” festival as a patron. But it was then the amiable Antoine 909 who engaged us fully, we talking D.J.’ing, pride partying, festivals & all sorts of other topics, we realising just what a tremendous guy & talent he is and one that the London scene sorely misses (a comeback pleaaase!!).
With our VIP socialising over and the evening sunshine peeping through, we were main stage bound, the lion’s share of the remaining festival frolickers glued to a spectacular set by our very own foxy lady, Miswhite, who was clearly revelling in her big stage appearance, further familiar faces within the crowd, including Phil Marriott & Russell, both camera clicking, a quick pop backstage seeing a chance meet with the adorable Paul Vlad who was in fine fettle. However, we were waiting for prolific P.A. Peyton to hit the stage, so back front we went finding more captivating company, this time in the form of vivacious vocalist Lizzie France, who like us, was praying for a prolific Peyton performance. And we weren’t to be disappointed, as he pretty much stole the Summer Rites “remixed” show, with a clutch of towering tunes including “Trapped” leaving us once again breathless in admiration of his scintillating stage showing & powerful presence. So with our Shoreditch park festival box well & truly ticked, we pointed out now flagging body towards the exit & a saunter home to reflect on one of the best gay outdoor gatherings in a long while.
Peyton Packed The Park
So what was our verdict on this return of Summer Rites? Well, there was absolutely no doubt that it had all the right ingredients that make for a successful park outing and we were particularly impressed with the marvellous mix of club tent & entertainment offerings, bringing in all colourful corners of this superb scene that we are so lucky to be involved in. And, while the park was never packed, the turnout was impressive enough, although we suspect that the entry price may have been a distraction for some, while the weather was always going to play its part, that fateful British summer not letting us down, with a shower & sunshine parade that was probably a deterrent for others. Yet, with the choice of clubs represented balanced well, the inclusion of the mandatory fare rides, market stalls & food stands, along with the all important drinks outlets, Summer Rites had it all, was a park party pitched perfectly and ended up be a very enjoyable excursion, so well worth the trip across town. Highlights have to have been Peyton’s prolific performance & that awesome atmosphere in the East Bloc tent, while the amiable Antoine made our day pretty much complete, meaning that we sincerely hope Summer Rites & all its terrific trappings will be back, bigger & even better next year as it certainly gets our vote. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reviews | Tags: Alex Erfan, Antoine 909, East Bloc, Gutterslut, Lizzie France, Meat, Patrick Lilley, Per QX, Peyton, Popstarz, Salvation, Summer Rites, Tom Stephan, Wayne Shires, XXL | No Comments »
Lay All Your Love On Me
In the many years that we have been clubbing on a Saturday (and there have been a lot of them!) we have seen so many brands come & go, some last a little longer than others, some make a huge splash then fade without trace. However, at its height, the Saturday clubbing scene sported some of the best clubs around, think Heaven, Love Muscle, Crash, Action, Juicy, Saturdays were certainly something to behold, But when the Spanish armada in the form of Matinee & then SuperMartXe arrived, it seemed clubbing was being taken to a new level both brands pretty much transforming the capitals clubbing landscape, the flamboyance of their parties leaving many slower burners floundering in their wake, the only one to emerge & take their place being WE Party which is very much the darling of the scene at the moment. That said, there is still very much a need for variety, clubbers all too often craving for something a little different
Lovechild is one such club, a brand that started out as a Sunday evening soiree to emulate those halcyon days when the likes of Salvation & DTPM ruled the waves & very much sent Saturday’s into the shade. However, as we have so often seen, times change like the wind & clubbers attitudes also change and v very soon into its existence, it was clear to promoter Alex Erfan, that Saturday’s was the way to go, the switch seeing a whole succession of prolific parties at host venue Fire, establish Lovechild as one of the leading Saturday brands. However, as good as the monthly events had become, the tide of economic misfortune hitting the world last year has had a knock on effect on the capitals clubbing circuit in 2011, many carefully picking & choosing when to be out on the scene, Lovechild’s timing of the second Saturday of the month not really fitting well with that trend choice, the brand inevitably struggling to match the numbers it had enjoyed during a resplendent run the previous twelve months. So, with our loveable brand disappearing from our radar, the last love-in we let loose being back in March, it was high time another event erupted our euphoria, “Superlovers” on such shindig that was sure to sparkle, the question however being, did it blow in winds into our out of our sails last Saturday?
Illuminating Image
Arriving at Fire just after midnight, we were expecting to meet up with inbound Spanish D.J. guest Javier Medina, although being greeted first by Tom Fuller who had been called up for an unscheduled management shift, much of the rest of the team up in Leeds letting their hair down, Mr Fuller nevertheless in fine fettle & eager to catch up on the last few days doings, comings & goings, although it was promoter Alex Erfan who was catching our eyes & ears as he had news on Javier who had decided on a hotel rest before his set a little later. So, safe in the knowledge that we were free to go & investigate, we headed into Fire in an instant, although with no queue at the coatcheck or indeed at the bar, it was clear this was going to be a slow burner of a Superlovers start, the main room dancefloor barely bearing a soul, indulgent Italiano Micky Galliano behind the D.J. decks, serving up stacks of supercharged sounds that were very much in the Lovechild style, but clearly not suiting the disco bunnies boys & girls that had headed into love lounge next door. So, having said our hello’s to Micky & paused for a monetary boogie, it was into the lounge we headed too, the space pretty packed in the hands of DJ Savin, this terrific talent more used to opening the main room, but still loving his Lovechild inclusion, playing a perfectly pitched set to a pack of party people that were definitely craving is uplifting, vocally infused dance delectations.
Moving back into the main room and bumping into more & more familiar faces as Fire slowly began to fill, Marco Gee & boyfriend Tim the first two, followed in quick succession by the delectable Dorin, the Polish boys, Mariusz & Norbert, a beaming & boisterous Alessandro Londra, arriving for his D.J.’ing duties much earlier than expected, soon followed by a Barca beatmaster Javier, who had decided against laying in at his hotel, rather choosing some pre-set clubbing & socialising which very much found with our favour. So, with a party posse around us and Micky having handed over the deck duty reigns to headlining international D.J. guest Saeed Ali, who had flown in from Moscow especially for this “Superlovers” party, this bearded beaut more used to SuperMartXe, having played for the brand across Europe as well as in his home city. And, within an instant, we could see why he carries so much clout with his countrymen, a set of superb uplifting & vocal infused beats, lifting the rather lacklustre Lovechild atmosphere a few notches, the crowded love lounge thinning somewhat as the echoes of his superb sounds reverberated through the tight corridor between the two spaces, seemingly sucking the “Superlovers” supporters into the main arena. Then when the delectable dancers trouped out onto the scant stage & the more proportional podiums, the place was suddenly set alight, the lighting illuminating the saucy & seductive shows superbly, even the LED displays behind the D.J. booth going into Lovechild overdrive.
Strike A Pose
With the earlier flat as a pancake feel of this latest Lovechild event now firmly behind us, Javier taking position behind the main room D.J. booth to start his set, we ventured back into the lounge where Brent Nicholls was now in charge of the tunes, choosing one terrific track after the next that soon had us in a spin on what is without doubt our favourite Fire spot, just left of the dinky D.J. booth. And it was a rapturous remix of the Abba classic tune “Lay All Your Love On Me” that proved one of many appropriate picks of his, the towering track & one of our favourites of now “You’ve Got The Love” really hitting its mark, invoking a “Doing The Disco matt” stint that lasted deep into his three hour set. However, with a decision to leave the contact room space closed and its D.J.’s Marco Gee & Alessandro Londra out of commission, an inspired three way set soon transpired, Brent bowing out first to Alessandro & Marco, who mixed in their own take on this purple patch part of proceedings, giving us a chance for a Brent boogie that kept us from the main room for much of the remainder of this now enjoyable event.
That said, we did our best to dive into the main room for small slices of Javier’s set, he having not only held but swelled the crowd with a captivating collection of tougher edged tech & tribal sounds, more akin to those that go down a storm across Europe & elsewhere, the London crowd usual difficult to please with these genre choices, actually lapping up his superb sounds with gusto. And it was clear Javier was enjoying the main room action, picking on a brilliant blend of beats that was to see the main room magnificence continue unabated right through till the 6 a.m. finish, the atmosphere now electric & the party people in majestic mood. Even the love lounge was having its say, Marco having played his part and now Brent & Alessandro going back-to-back with every record, this partnership whist impromptu in its invocation, actually looking as natural as it has been perfectly planned, we continuing to lap up Brent’s beats with exuberant energy which invoked a couple of tricky moments with our iron lung, Mr Nicholls diving for the oxygen but realising it was CO2 (oops!), while when he played the latest remix version of the Pitron/DM anthem “Stronger”, which had got an original mix airing by Micky earlier, we had to once again check our erupting emotions, only the curtain call closure stopping us in our tearful tracks.
Hanging In the Balance
So, what was our verdict on this Lovechild “Superlovers” event? And were our sail winds blowing in the breeze or collapsed in the calm? Well, there was little doubt that the numbers through the door were lack-lustre in comparison to previous parties and the slow burning effect seemed to last a lot longer than expected. However, that said, Saeed Ali’s performance was particularly stand-out and it seemed he did his bit to change the fortunes of this faltering foray, although the major hats have to go off to Savin for a scorching start, then Javier Medina who very much proved to us & many that his time with Matinee has grown both his stature & his music, his performance here very much chalk & cheese when compared with his last London outing, the Spanish clubbing brand having fallen on their feet picking him as their main resident man, Mr Medina having made plenty more friends & fans with his superb “Superlovers” set. However, the star/stars of the show for us were Brent & Ali, their inspired & impromptu stint stealing much of the spotlight and sending us satisfyingly skyward with each sound selection, leaving our sails definitely inflated rather than deflated.
Yet as good as it ended up, there remain some serious question marks over Lovechild’s standing in the Saturday market, not least that having marketed the event as a post pride party & offering reduced priced entry not reflecting in the response by the revellers. Plus, looking at the crowd, it was certainly missing many of the usual Lovechild lot, perhaps many having partied hard the previous weekend, whether in London, Cologne or Madrid, deciding to sit out this, but with no contact room, the stage shows a shadow of their former self and the whole feel of this latest Lovechild much flatter than former forays, hinting towards the need for a change, a re-vamp a new direction or a new offering. It is true to say that the Saturday circuit is not what it used to be and maybe clubbers have got tired of what’s on offer, rather choosing special events to devote their dancing to, yet if Lovechild is to set its stool in this style, it has some way to go to match the might of WE party. But like its alter ego, maybe less often will mean more and with the next Lovechild event not planned until September at the earliest, Alex concentrating on his European exploits, only time while tell whether it has the legs to last in London. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reviews | Tags: Alessandro Londra, Alex Erfan, Brent Nicholls, DJ Savin, Javier Medina, Lovechild, Marco Gee, Micky Galliano, Saeed Ali, Tom Fuller | 1 Comment »
Lovechild Is Back
Having been out of action ourselves for a few weeks, it seems the scene has also been missing one of its favourite brands & promoters, both Lovechild & Alex Erfan having very much dipped under the radar. In fact, searching through our archives it was back in May that this lovable brand showed its hand at Fire on a Saturday, yet despite it also having shown its hand at As One at the last bank Holiday, it has now been well over a month since the scene has savoured this colourful club in the capital. However, while London may have been missing out, Alex & his team have been bevering away across in the continent, parties in Antwerp & Lyon, added to a host of others that have combined record it’s most successful year yet. Then, when we thought all things Alex had gone quiet on the western front, not only will this coming Saturday (9th July) see one of our favourite clubbing brands consume the capital, but the following weekend it heads north of the border to Edinburgh to help celebrate the start of the cities fringe festival.
Super Lovers & Super Heroes
So, let’s take a look at London first and to the “Super Lovers” event that should surely see Lovechild reclaim its stake on the Saturday scene, its promoter very much playing on the brands strength, the word “Love” no less, he explaining to us that, “…, Lovechild has always been, first and foremost, about the love, love of life, love of self, love of the music, love of mankind…” , quite a substantive claim, but if you have been to any Lovechild event, you will know exactly what Alex means, as no club can claim to have a more friendly crowd, while the club itself gives gives & gives, love oozing out of its pours. Indeed, looking back across the score of events across the last twelve months, the Lovechild team have always pushed the envelope, entertaining us with some of the most prolific P.A.’s, an incredible list of international D.J. guests and a resident list that puts virtually every club in the capital to shame. But come this Saturday, whilst much of the fabulous formula remains the same, Lovechild is certainly taking the club to a higher level, Mr Erfan adding that “…Lovechild returns to Fire, with an incredible international line-up of DJs and performers in celebration of those who take love to the next level, so called the SUPERLOVERS…”
And he isn’t wrong as not one, not two, but three international D.J. stars will be centre staging this “Supper Lovers” come super heroes event as we have been reliably informed that new Lovechild dance director Nik Ripley has drawn on his previous experience working closely with Matinee in London to gather together some of the best looking go-go’s in town, while Alex’s right hand man Nhamo has drawn on the services of Invincible Rubber to create a whole host of super hero costumes that look like putting those sported by Spanish counterpart WE Party this last weekend, very much into the shade. And whilst you may think that this is a case of copy cat (possibly Cat Woman!), Alex informs us that this super heroes theme to his “Super Lovers” party has been in the making for quite a while, probably accounting for Lovechild’s absence from the capitals scene. But, while Nik has some gorgeous go-go’s to pop out our eyes, Mr Erfan will be pulling his drag queen contact strings, a very special star flying in from Tel Aviv that will simply take your breath away, especially when she does her Wonder Woman twirl.
Main Man Medina
So, with the eye candy entertainment deal sealed, what can we expect from the music? Well, as we hinted, three international D.J.’s for a start, Matinee’s newest resident & a feature among our short(ish) list of firm favourites (are we allowed?…yes), Javier medina making a welcome return to London, having featured both for Lovechild & As One last year, but having really grown into his international status following that matinee appointment in December. Having made a name for himself stateside, with gigs in Miami, New York, Javier’s year has slowly been accelerating, especially in recent weeks as the build up to Barcelona’s Circuit Festival takes him right across Europe & even as far as Canada & South America. And naturally he will feature large in the twelve day festival in his home city in August, so landing him in London in the middle of his heavy schedule is a coup for the Lovechild team & one we cannot wait for. Plus, his current style of deep tech & tribal house will definitely be taking Lovechild to a new level, we reckoning you will dig his superb sounds which we suspect will be very much akin to those of his “Happy Tech House” mix which is well worth a listen at http://soundcloud.com/javier-medina/happytechhouse2011.
Masterful Mikey
As for the other two stars?, well one is really well known to us, having looked after us amazingly during our recent visit to Muccassassina in Rome, Micky Galliano being a resident of the truly awesome club, while his D.J.’ing C.V. reads impeccably, clubs he has played including Ministry Of Sound, Vertigo and Azuli, not to mention Gay Village & SuperMartXe, while bulky brand Bear Necessity is part of his repertoire as it club & record label Deviate, along with London’s Barcode, Queer Nation, Tonker & now Lovechild. And whilst we were hoping he would lay down a compilation marking his inclusion in this “Super Lovers” event, it was Bear Necessity’s Pride event last weekend that benefitted from a Micky mix, one like Javier’s, giving you a good idea of what to expect from Mr Galliano come Saturday, so a listen must by going to http://soundcloud.com/micky-galliano/bear-necessity-london-pride. As for the other international star, what we can tell you is that he comes from Russia, Moscow in fact, although has played as far afield as Greece, Holland & Spain, although it is his home city where he has made his mark, having been at the top of the scene game there since 2006. Representing SuperMartXe in the Russian capital, he has also played for SMX in Amsterdam, while he has recently also swapped ship to play for WE Party internationally. And his name? Well it’s Saeed Ali, not quite the Russian influence you would expect, he having a distinct Mediterranean come Middle Eastern look & charm, his latest claim to fame being the driving force behind new club brand “Alimania”, he having dedicated two compilations to the club, both which are out at http://soundcloud.com/dj-saeed-ali.
With the international trio taking up the main room mantle, Lovechild “Super Lovers” will be extending across two other rooms, Fire’s mirrorarch space, known in Lovechild terms at The Contact Room, will sport resident original Alessandro Londra, with recent entrant Marco Gee, while in the Love Lounge, its Brent Nicholls following on from D.J. Savin, while in terms of the all important detail, this Lovechild “Supper Lovers” party takes place this coming Saturday (9th July) at Fire in Vauxhall, Mr Erfan mentioning that, “…After all the Pride Parties, we know you need to give your wallet a little rest so we are giving you the opportunity to enjoy this incredible party for as little as £5. Yes, you read that right – just £5!…”, the team having released 250 £5 tickets online at http://alexerfan.com as a thank you to faithful Lovechild supporters and fans, meaning its online you go to grab this special offer, tickets also available on the door, which opens at 11 p.m., the club running through until 6 a.m., while free wrist band entries to beyond will be up for grabs for the first 100 through Lovechild’s doors.
From Fire To Fever
Fast forwarding a week & Lovechild makes that move north, teaming up with Edinburgh’s finest Fever at The Liquid Rooms in the Scottish capital, the marriage of minds looking like one made in heaven, plus promising to form an on-going partnership that should spurn regular residencies for Alex & his team over the border (or is that Hadrian’s wall?!). And for this first foray next Saturday (16th July), Mr Efra will be taking the cream of his team with him, Lovechild resident D.J Tony English travelling north, as will by superb P.A. & vocalist Lizzie France, not to mention nee Lovechild dance director Nick Ripley & his troupe of go-go’s. They will be joined by Fever D.J. residents Brian Fisher & Mark Price, across Liquid Rooms hi-tech main space, that sports the latest sound equipment, lighting & visual effects that will dazzle & delight, while there will be a distinct festival feel with lots of magic & miracles from a host of entertainers to top off the dancing & music. With further details available at http://alexerfan.com, advance tickets priced at just £10 are already on sale online at http://clubtickets.com/gb/2011-07/16/fever-meets-lovechild-edinburgh-liquid-room.
Liquid Lovechild
Now here’s a bit of details on Fever’s past to give you a feel of just how much of an iconic club it has become in Edinburgh. Fever was launched at Club Ego in March 2004, the night having been created by the people behind the legendary Sunday night clubbing institution, Taste, which ran in Edinburgh for just over 16 years. Fever was very much developed to satisfy the demands of Taste members who could no longer make it to their former favourite on Sunday nighter, this new monthly Saturday night club quickly becoming an immediate success and from day one filling to capacity. The Fever philosophy of open minded and attitude free clubbing coupled with a very tight door policy ensured that only the best of Edinburgh’s party people would be allowed to enter the event which made for one of the friendliest atmospheres of any club in the city .Fever’s D.J. resident team know how to keep their crowd happy and the clubs success was undoubtedly due terrific talents & Edinburgh favourites Brian Fisher & Mark Prince, both famed for playing uplifting & accessible house in the main arena, while Jon Pleased Wimmin and Kaupuss sported an anything goes music policy in the basement. Fever remained an integral part of the Edinburgh club scene until January 2010 when host club Ego was forced to close its doors due to severe fire damage, although such has been the demand for its return, Fever was, in the nature of its name, feverishly organising a return, The Liquid Rooms refurbishment the opening it need & now the joining of forces with Lovechild, the icing on the club nights cake. More info on The Liquid Rooms can be found at http://liquidroom.com.
So, two Lovechild love in’s “From Fire To Fever” to fulfil your clubbing desires and whilst we won’t be heading north, as commitments here in the capital will stop us travelling with the Lovechild team, we will be down at Fire this Saturday, so if you see us out, come say hi, but regardless, make Lovechild “Super Lovers” a date & ensure you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Alessandro Londra, Alex Erfan, Brent Nicholls, DJ Savin, Fever, Fire, Javier Medina, Lizzie France, Lovechild, Marco Gee, Micky Galliano, Nik Ripley, Saeed Ali, The Liquid Rooms, Tony English | 1 Comment »
Brazilian Boy Beatmasters
There is little or no doubt that Spain has had its fair share of say on the music of the capitals clubbing scene in recent years, brands Matinee SuperMartXe, Space & now WE Party, very much the overseas invasion of London that has, along the way, sported some real stars, while also serving up plenty of also rans. However, when Brazilian brand, The Week, landed in London last September, there seemed to be a slight tide change, a few figures popping over the parapet & showing the new way & wave of Latin American beats that have also inspired new club Casa Latina, which has its second coming in two weekends time. However, before all that, two of its shining bright new stars will be playing out at Profile & Lo-Profile and tonight (Friday 1st July) no less, this cool clubbing combo hosting a night of Brazilian boy beats, including a “Carioca” themed Society party that should see plenty of Latino’s & their admirers wend their way to Wardour St to savour stacks of superb sounds. So, we thought we would take a look at the two stars, dipping a little into their past & then linking into their latest music creations to give you a flavour of what to expect both tonight & at Casa Latina later this month.
Delectable Doug
First up is the delectable D.J. DouGuim, full name Doug Guimaraes, a native of Brazil of course, having grown up in his home city of Sao Paulo, his early steps into D.J.’ing very much being influenced by the city’s sensation The Week, the likes of Leandro Becker & Renato Cecin inspirations for Doug’s decision to pursue a career behind the decks, he making the bold decision to head for the even brighter lights of London. And not having long landed in the capital he was talent spotted in a D.J. competition held at Ku Bar which pretty much launched him onto the gay bar circuit, earning him a regular residency at their Monday nighter “Citric”, although his big break came when Lovechild’s Alex Erfan teamed up with The Week and in so doing so, gave floor space to Doug at the launch party at Fire, he very much proving his worth with an outstanding opening set which was very much the opening he was after.
Now it seemed the floodgates to his career had opened, spots at clubs within the Orange Group quickly following, not least a regular weekly slot at Beyond no less, Doug’s uplifting & funky yet tech & tribal infused sounds suiting his slot at this awesome afterhours superbly. Since then, DouGuim has consolidated his position within the scene, a break back in Brazil & then gigs across Europe including Paris, Rome & Madrid seeing him drop below the radar for a while, although now back in London, his future is looking very bright indeed, as not only has he gained a new residency for Thursday night social “Soho Chic” at Green Carnation, but it seems, with his debut for Lo-Profile tonight (Friday 1st July), more doors will be opening for the delectable Doug, he having also turned his hand to promoting with Tuesday morning outfit “Open”, while Casa Latina will be another opportunity for him to excel with his Latin infused style of sounds and in front of many of his country folk to boot.
Rythmn Revolution
And in terms of those sound styles, Doug has been no real slouch in the studio, at least compared to some of his peers, having produced ten podcasts in the last twelve months alone, each one showcasing the broad spectrum of sounds & genres Doug dips into, two out of the ten devoted to his appearances for both the Week & for Beyond. However, it was his Casa Latina inspired compilation that really caught our attention, serving up plenty of those Latin funky tones & tribal beats that underpins Doug’s roots & inspirations, but with sufficient amounts of uplifting & accessible tunes that rank it as one of our favourite works of his. However, in his latest release “Revolution”, we see a DouGuim that has grown further into his art, careful selections of tracks taking us on a magical mystery tour, from funky, through progressive, tech & tribal, with enough accessible tunes to keep us glued from minute one to seventy three, he even dropping in “Offshore” in the middle to leave us truly delighted. Yet, whilst we hold our hat on “Revolution”, you can do no wrong by added all the other nine to your collection, by going now to http://douguim.podomatic.com/ and make sure to come see him in action at Society or at future events across the capital & beyond, as this is one Brazilian boy that is really going places.
Junior aka Celso
Now to our second terrific talent, yet one that came as a tad of a surprise when we heard he was turning his hand to D.J.’ing, although Junior Moura finds himself in distinguished company, as his significant other is none other than superstar Steve Pitron, who has without a shadow of a doubt had a tremendous influence on Mr Moura’s decision to dive behind the decks. Indeed, it was a young Celso who saw his future partner in action for The Week in Brazil, a chance meeting bringing them together & forming a relationship that has seen us observe Steve at his happiest in all the years we have known him. But the road to exposure on the bar & clubbing circuit in the capital has been a slightly trickier one for Junior Moura than his compatriot DouGuim, although with the expert guidance from Steve, as well as a couple of brilliant breaks supported by Doug, the spurning talent that Celso as D.J. Junior, has seen him play at Ku-Bar, at Casa Latina’s launch and just this coming weekend sees him play at two gigs in two days, no mean feat for this fledgling disc spinning star.
Away from the bars, clubs & scene, Mr Moura is a very hard working individual, very much earning his keep & stay in his adopted home, while this engaging & handsome young man is also a sporty individual, having played volleyball to a national level for his country, this coming as no surprise when you stand against him, Celso towering over even our lofty height. So, with a seemingly much work & little play schedule, we are surprised he has found time to not only hone his skills of blending beats, but has also laid down two podcasts in the short three/four months that he has turned his hands to D.J.’ing, his first mix very much inspired by Brazilian beats as well as a handful of his favourite tracks, some out of the Steve stable. And listening to his second offering, Junior (we keep wanting to call him Celso) follows a similar trail of tracks, although with much more of a Latin flavour, lots of drum beats, lots of vocals & tribal influences, while a couple of crowd pleasers are thrown in for good measure, a remix of “Sweet Dreams” one example of a few across the seventy minutes of marvellous music on this “Casa Latina” compilation, which you can grab, along “Episode 1”, at http://djjuniorspodcast.podomatic.com/.
Junior Does Casa
As for this weekend, Junior will be playing for the very first time at Profile Bar tonight (Friday 1st July) from 8 p.m., the team very excited about his first inclusion, having been quoted as saying, “…another of Brazil’s best exports will be making his Profile debut, he’s an amazing D.J. & he is ridiculously hot too!!…”, (say no more), Profile having proved a terrific testing ground for fellow D.J., Zach Burns, his exposure there having created opportunities much further afield, while Mr Moura will also be playing tomorrow night (Saturday 2nd July) at Barcode Vauxhall, among a Gay Pride party line up that will certainly get him noticed by peers & a captive audience alike. Then, of course, there is Casa Latina for Junior on Saturday 16th July, meaning that in just these short few months, he is making good headway with surely bigger & better things to come, meaning that we both wish him well with his endeavours & hope to be close by to see him develop behind the decks. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Music | Tags: Alex Erfan, Beyond, Casa Latina, Celso Moura, DouGuim, Junior Moura, Ku Bar, Leandro Becker, Lo-Profile, Porfile Bar, Renato Cecin, Society, Soho Chic, Steve Pitron, The Week | No Comments »
Captivating Clubbing In Calella
Now we do like a good party and when the opportunity to sink into a full on festival presents itself, we tend to take to it with gusto, although here in the capital, full length festivals, (i.e. days long) are few & far between, especially those aimed at the gay market, although we did have fun at the London Global Dance Festival last year, albeit that it was quite on the scale of massive events like Circuit in Barcelona, LGDF concentrating more on the clubbing rather than all the extracurricular activity that Circuit offers. However, with our wings well and truly spread into Europe and beyond, when we heard of plans for a spring festival organised by Delice, in Barcelona no less, we kind of jumped at the opportunity, our arm being further twisted by Delice head poncho Anthony Areal & the drop dead gorgeous Mourad, when they visited London for the love-in with Alex Erfan’s Lovechild, literally days before we headed off to South Africa.
So, with our homage home over with, yet with the tug of travel still running through our veins, it didn’t take long for us to affirm our associations with this Delice Dream of a draw, the enticement of meeting up with a whole host of friends & familiar faces from across Europe pretty much sealing the deal on this exceptional expedition. Indeed, having landed in Barcelona literally four hours before the start of this full-on festival, an expedition it turned out to be, the realisation that the host hotel & resort in Barcelona’s Callela, was in fact a jaunt of a journey, the hour or so train journey made much more palatable with the presence of La Demence’s resident pintsized player, Andrei Stan, who, like us, was staying for a sizable chunk of this five day anglo-French foray. So, with our travelling companion linking up with us in central Barcelona, we made our unsure & unsteady way to Callela, eventually arriving at our temporary home with only a few minutes to spare before the first event at host club Zillion, just a hop skip & jump away from our hotel home for this fantabulous frolic with all things Delice.
Dream Of An Opener
With the festival theme “No Time To Sleep” very much our feeling too, having been on the go for well over 14 hours already, it was nevertheless all steam ahead for the opulent opener “1001 Nights”, so having slipped into smoothing more appropriate for this first of many parties, we arrived at the club’s doors not long before 1 a.m., being greeted by the ever smiling Delice head honcho Anthony Aureal, who greeted us at the club like a long lost friend, the substantive stresses & strains of masterminding this huge festival undertaking hardly showing on his face, this warming welcome setting us on our way into the sumptuous venue feeling considerably content with our lot. And as we descended into this Calella club, we were very much impressed by the look & feel of the place, the opulent feel reminding us a little of Cafe De Paris back in London, although without the huge sweeping staircase & the bright chandelier lighting. However, with regal seating around, balcony’s encasing the dancefloor below & a stage area at one end, the multi levelled spaces all accessible to the eye, whilst offering select spots from which to soak up the splendour of this delightful Delice Dream opener and the venue was very much shaping up to be the perfect place to hold this first of five main parties.
So it was down onto the dancefloor we went, the space already heaving with handsome hunks, some dressed down to their torso’s, others already aloft of the two podiums gyrating to the brilliant beats, Enrico Arghentini kicking off the musical proceedings with pumping euphoric & vocal house hits that had Zillion alight with audacious action. But the first curtain raiser in a series of stage showings by the drop dead gorgeous Delice Boys, not least the majestic Mourad, all dressed in Arabian costumes & exuding masses of middle eastern mystique & magic, as they flexed their taught muscles & moved to the music magnificently, we were soon completely immersed into the delight of this “1001 nights” naughtiness. And with our camera clicking both pictures & videos, while our supposed relative anonymity having been broken by a handful of familiar faces, a couple from London, one based in Barcelona, by Belgian boy Andrei Stan, but also from a very forward & obliging Diego Lombardi of Muccassassina, our night definitely ended up being a Delice Dream of a four hour frolic, second D.J. Luiggi performing a spectacular set, a good 1001 times better than the last showing we had seen at Red & Blue in Antwerp.
So, with the first event now under our belt, we arose relatively early to take in what daytime delights this Delice Dream festival had to offer, the hotel a little basic for our liking, although taking the whole package into consideration, good value was certainly to be enjoyed if you immersed into all the activities & hospitalities. And that’s what we did, savouring the second of the, as we called them, “before parties” come Sunday evening, we were to pole position to lap up the loveliness of La Demence resident Andrei Stan, who’s set well & truly shone, getting the gorgeous & not so gorgeous looking Delice Dream lot in the mood for more. With rousing renditions that left us & others spinning on our spots, but with disappointment that the planned AussieBum fashion show was postponed for the following afternoon, it was down to a drag queen duo & other WE party enthusiasts to provide the additional entertainment on Andrei’s, this cavorting collective warming us up for the incumbent “Attacks” event which followed in the club.
The Carlos & Peyton Show
So, with us well into our Delice Dream “No Time To Sleep” stride, the next instalment in the five strong main party procession beckoned, Spanish smash WE Party taking its turn in the limelight and one we were very much looking forward to, not least as this brand that had pretty much stolen the SuperMartXe show, capturing the imagination right across it’s homeland & beyond, the recent tour of their sequence of parties “Attacks” having hit the shores of London, Paris, Rome, & Miami to mention just a few. And now it was Delice Dream’s turn to feel the WE wonderment in warp speed, the brilliant billing including Madrid based Carlos Gallardo, whose course was set for Calella along with prolific PA Peyton, French fancy D.J. Mister Mola and, naturally, those drop dead gorgeous Delice dancers, although with expectations high, there was much to live up to. That said, with a slow start and the feeling that more than a few festivalers were feeling a tad jaded just two days in (surely not?!), it was a good two hours into this WE inspired second main party leg that we found ourselves still awaiting the much anticipated action on the stage to spellbind host venue Zillion, Mola’s music good but not great, the party lacking the oomph that it so desperately needed.
But all that was set to change when a selection of Delice boys along with WE party dancers hit the stage and the expected octane fuelled audacity commenced, the crowd also suddenly coming to life, getting into the “Attacks” mood, as were we, alongside Antwerp’s Red & Blue finest, D.J. Elof De Neve & close companion J.d. Cerronez adding that all important ingredient of fun & frivolity that very much set our experience alight. And to then add to this now audacious action, incumbent D.J. Carlos Gallardo began to steal the Delice Dream show, taking the initiative, along with prolific P.A. Peyton, who focussed the cavorting crowds attention away from the stage & towards the side of the lofty D.J. booth, from where he performed two tracks, including the tremendous “Trapped” that evoked memories of his magnificent & most magical mastery at the London event on NYD. With the atmosphere now amazing, in the hands of Carlos, the party hit top gear terrifically, track after track wowing the captivating clubbers & seeing us go into “Doing The Disco Matt” overdrive, even the drop dead gorgeous Delice cover boy Mourad dancing in very close quarters, sending our senses skyward, while the night was Mr Gallardo’s who gave the performance of the festival so far, the whole WE party under his steership attacking the minds bodies & souls from start to finish of his simply scintillating set.
So, that night was going to be a task & a half to top, especially given the captivating company we had kept with both Elof & J.d., both in pumping party mode, their energy (especially J.d’s) making the whole experience magnificently memorable. And this same vein would carry through to the Monday evening, when it was Elof’s turn to play at “the before party”, he proving just what a tremendous talent he is, packing in piles of pumping & heavenly house hits that wowed the warm up wonderfully, he probably more deserving of a slot in one of the main parties, but content enough with his lot, partner to crime J.d. entertaining enormously with his audacious antics. But the night was still young and despite feeling a tad jaded, there was definitely no time to sleep as we made a date with Alex Erfan’s loveable London based brand, Lovechild, taking centre stage at host venue Zillion with their “White” themed party, the place decked out to delight with branded banners & balloons, all in white of course, the considerate crowd also entering into the spirit of the theme fantastically.
Praying To Pagano
Arriving with irresistible Israeli D.J. Guy Scheiman in tow, having met him earlier in central Barcelona, then negotiating that long haul of a train journey back to Calella, meant we were definitely back in partying mood, especially with other partners in partying crime, Elof & J.d. in close quarters. And this Lovechild leg of the five day Delice Dream festival wasn’t going to disappoint, although having joined forces with Berlin based club GMF, their resident jock Chris Becker kicked off proceedings, his set very much in the style of that club, a tough tech fuelled set that sat well with some, not with others, we at pains to remind a few that Chris was playing to the GMF music policy, rather than to the style or taste of the Delice Dream crowd, his set finding favour with plenty party heads who filled out Zillion’s dancefloor. However, with our sagging energy levels requiring a more inspired boost, we were to find it in our own Italian Stallion Pagano, who made is prolific presence felt, belting out bag loads of classics including “Loca”, “Digital Generation” & “Back To The Future” mixed in with this Sicilian star’s new style of sounds, techno treats blended with progressive pumps fitting the feel of this third frolic fabulously. Indeed such was his prolific performance, he had the core crowd in awe of his aaamazing set, they eventually swamping the stage & even bowing at his feet as he departed following more than one encore. Added into the mix were the muscular Delice men, mighty in their magnificence, proving the extra lift the party needed, dishing up dollops of drama & drooling on the dancefloor, in delightful decadence.
So, Tuesday dawned with us very much looking forward to another Italian’s arrival, this time Milano man Danny Verde, who we caught briefly as he arrived and we headed into our final “before” bash in advance of returning to London. And we were very much in the mood to let our hair down with our posse of pals, J.d. particularly providing enough satisfying fun & distraction from D.J. Amine’s dour dance deliveries which proved pretty disastrous. while much of the focus was on the Delice boys, who had gathered out in the foyer for a photo shoot, our man Mourad lapping up much of the limelight. But with the hotel party coming to a rather abrupt end, it was now all about Muccassassina, as we headed down to Zillion for the last time, the expectation of Diego’s dream of a team topping off our week in a wonderful way. And we were not be to disappointed in any respect, the right royal send off we had been hoping for very much delivered from the off, resident D.J. back in Rome, Danny Verde, kicking off the night at Zillion in scintillating style, gloriously gathering an ever increasing crowd with a solid string of superb sounds, some Verde classics, others new tough tech & progressive beats that won him even more fans than he already had.
Mourad The Magnificent
But then enter from stage left the Mucca dancers, dressed provocatively in erotic black tight pants, g-strings & the like, immediately pushing the mercury off the scale with the best stage show of the week, Danny’s musical mastery matching the men’s movements magnificently. With the atmosphere elevated beyond expectation, Mr Verde’s performance, like Mucca’s show, proved to be the set of the festival, very much like they stole the show at The London Global Dance Festival some ten months previously, Diego waving his choreographic wand, casting his spell of style on the whole occasion and Mr Verde’s soundtrack simply spectacular. But, with Mucca gracing their exit & Danny’s superb showing over, the party was far from it, as Mister Mola, representing Paris club Panic Room, took up the mantle majestically, keeping the party pumping well past the 5 a.m. finish, cries & clamours for more from a packed out stage & dancefloor the ultimate crescendo on a truly captivating clubbing night. Having thought Mr Lombardi would pull of something quite special, we were right on the money with our estimation of this euphoric event, the company of Guy Scheiman, Elof De Neve, J.d. Cerronez & co a delight, while the drop dead gorgeous Mourad was at his breathtaking & brilliant best, making our ecstatic evening complete.
With the morning after the night before signalling our final day in the hands of Delice, with a London early evening flight precluding us from soaking up the splendour of the final event down at Zillion, all that was left to do now was to pack up our belongings and head back into central Barcelona for a lunch liaison with our good friend & D.J./producer Javier Medina, making that final lengthy train journey from Calella in the charismatic company of three people that, like so many others, had made this Delice Dream festival an absolute delight, Guy, Elof & especially J.d. making all the difference and leaving us with memories that will last forever. But apart from these fabulous three, we cannot finish this special look at Delice Dream without role calling mentions for all the following, that made us welcome & made us feel special, first to Delice’s head honcho Anthony Aureal, then to promoters Alex Erfan, Diego Longobardi for pulling out perfection personified,, to La Demence’s Thierry for his unforgettable antics, to the D.J.’s Carlos Gallardo, Pagano, & Danny Verde who really tipped our scales, to all the gorge Delice dancers, especially Mourad whom we will never forget, and to everyone else that made this week wonderful, who came & said hi & partied with us with no time to sleep,
Festival Fantastique
In summing up this Delice Dream festival, we can say that, given the magnitude of the organising & the marriage of minds, we walked away really impressed with the whole affair. Yes Calella ended up being a little divorced from Barcelona itself & a tad short of gay life, the hotel accommodation & facilities also a little basic, but when you consider the package value, we had no complaints at all. Bringing together so many people, such a pool of talent & a clubs from across France, Germany, Belgium, Spain & England, Delice Dream offered pretty much everything we could have expected. Naturally some made the comparison with Barcelona’s own circuit festival, but in reality this was something very different, a clubbing vacation rather than a clubbing cacophony, it may have lacked some of the outright flair of its rival, but this Dream festival ticked as many boxes as it could, achieving what it set out to do, capturing over 25 performers, 16 D.J.’s and over 70 hours of clubbing & cavorting in scintillating style, meaning you can’t say fairer than that. So major up & thanks to Anthony & his merry men for this magnificence and here’s to next year, we are told probably in southern Spain, yippee!! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reviews | Tags: Alex Erfan, Andrei Stan, Anthony Aureal, Carlos Gallardo, Chris Bekker, Danny Verde, Delice, Delice Dream, Diego Longobardi, Elof De Neve, Enrico Arghentini, GMF, La Demence, Lovechild, Mister Mola, Mourad Back, Muccassassina, Pagano, Panic Room, Peyton, Victor Pallas, WE Party | No Comments »
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14 Mar 2012 | 1 Comment
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12 Oct 2011 | 0 Comments
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19 Jul 2011 | 0 Comments
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Casting our minds back some ten to fifteen years and looking at a London clubbing landscape that was littered with special events both indoors & out, the likes of Famous Five & Universe attracting huge numbers on Bank Holidays and this marking a time when outdoor Pride parties were never ...
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16 Jul 2011 | 1 Comment
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6 Jul 2011 | 1 Comment
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Having been out of action ourselves for a few weeks, it seems the scene has also been missing one of its favourite brands & promoters, both Lovechild & Alex Erfan having very much dipped under the radar. In fact, searching through our archives it was back in May that this ...
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9 Jun 2011 | 0 Comments
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