Posts Tagged ‘Borja Pena’

Recommends – “Tel Aviv Treat” – DISH – Saturday 11th May – Pick of The Day – Mini Feature

May 11, 2013 | Author

Back for its fifth outing this year, one of the capital clubbing circuit’s most popular parties, DISH, serves up a special guest D.J. Avihay Partok jetting in from Tel Aviv, making this an event not to be missed & so attaining our “Pick of The Day” choice, full line-up & other details a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we give our own take on DISH & this must visit meet beneath.

 

 

When the news hit that one of the most groundbreaking, uber chic & trendy parties the capital had seen for a long while, MEAT, was hanging up its boots after just one year of storming the capitals clubbing scene, off-shoot Downtown (combining MEAT with Room Service) also a victim of the splitting of ways between D.J./Producers turned promoters Tom Stephan & Kris Di Angelis, we wondered whether this marvellous meet could ever be replaced. But within a month of MEAT’s demise, Tom along with new co-promoter Borja Peña came right back at us with a brave new brand called DISH, the formula very similar to the former, the venue home the same, but what has been proved some fifteen months in, the legs & the popularity is even stronger than what came before, East Bloc’s Wayne Shires & his terrific team proud to have DISH within their monthly schedule of soiree’s. And while we say that the DISH formula is very similar, for the initiated to both parties, they have realised that Tom & Borja, along with their resident D.J.’s, have established a brand identity for DISH  that is quite unique, evoking its name in much of the set up, with a “mains dish” first room, a “side dish” second space and a neatly named “tapas” third room, all that fits into the cavernous & tardis like underground space that is East Bloc, which also fits DISH like a glove.

 

 

Brand identity aside, DISH is very much about the music, each room offering delightfully different vibes, Tom & Borja usually in charge of the main room, both complimenting each other with a mix of funky, NYC style house with classic & nu choices thrown into the mix, while the second space, steered by Mark-Ashley Dupé, Scott Webster, is very much more hip-hop, disco & RnB, while in the heavenly hands of Cathal & Franx De Crystal, as the “tapas” label suggests, it’s anything goes in the third room. And it this diverse music genre choice that makes DISH so popular, the club usually full to the brim by midnight, meaning an early arrival is always recommended, while the whole club evokes memories of when clubbing was debaucherous & decadent & people came together to dance, socialise & have a great time with no hang-up’s or pushy attitude’s that often plague the bigger clubs these days. So, all in all, it is no surprise that DISH has not just survived, but thrived tonight’s (Sat 11th May) event sure to cement that reputation, as Tom & Borja are thrilled to welcome a special guest D.J. into the usual mix, Avihay Partok jetting in from Tel Aviv for this event, bringing his trademark sound of hot and spicy beats. Avihay is one of the resident’s at the infamous PAG parties that have been running for ten years in Tel Aviv, so brings both experience & a special set of sounds to DISH that will really spice up the “mains dish” room, so makes this an event not to be missed, further & full coverage, including running times & door prices, within our weekend newsletter (direct link http://discomatt.com/web/?p=7533), DISH not just our “Pick of The Day” but probably our party of the whole weekend, so carrying our unbridled recommendation as THE place to be & be seen tonight.

 

So, while we still find ourselves in hospital, so sadly cannot make it, you have no excuse not to head over to Shoreditch & to the delights of DISH, hosts La Pequeña, Andrew Moore & Kane Luke sure to add to a warm welcome from Laurent & Benoit on the door, Wayne, Diego, Tom & Borja never far away, making this not just one of the most popular but one of the friendliest on the capitals clubbing circuit, meaning, you should really “Go There! Be There!”. (DISCO MATT)

 


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Recommends – “Fulsome Foursome” – Weekend Best Bites – Friday 12th to Sunday 14th April – Newsletter

April 11, 2013 | Author

With spring having finally sprung, it seems the scene is also springing into action this weekend, a champion choice of a marvellous set of Saturday meets seeing us extend our Best Bites from three to four, we offering ample alternatives to what will no doubt be the most dynamic draw & most popular party of the day.

 

Having been plagued with a serious viral illness along with other health complications, we have been pretty much out of action for a good few weeks, but with a determination to do what we do best, we thought we would kick start our return with our Weekend Recommends newsletter, picking out our Best Bites of where to be & be seen on the scene this weekend, we acknowledging that one party looks like being the most dynamic draw, while the other three offer ample alternatives for those looking for something a little different.

 

 

So let’s get to it and to our first Best Bite, which goes to DISH, which returns this Saturday (13th Sept) at East Bloc for its fourth outing of the year, this brilliant brand having celebrated its birthday back in January and has continued to ride a wave crest that has seen both the February & March events packed to the rafters. Indeed part of the draw of DISH is that amazing atmosphere that host venue East Bloc engenders, the underground & cavernous nature of the club harping back to the decadent feel of the nineties, yet with an up to date & modern twist, many party goers of that era making comparisons with Crash. AS for DISH itself, in the twelve of so months that it has been running, promoters Tom Stephan & Borja Pena have benefitted from a loyal following while also attracting one of the most stylishly mixed crowds we have seen in a long while, DISH’s forefather, MEAT, also having cemented the latter as one of the hip, hot & happening events on the capitals clubbing calendar. AS for this month’s event, well the team seem to be sticking with that winning formula, which thirty neatly explain by saying “…Here at DISH we follow a very simple recipe,  quality beats served by London’s finest chefs…” the chefs clearly the D.J.’s, no less than six serving up scores of scintillating sounds across three rooms of fun, the aptly named “Main Dish” room brimming with “…hearty beats to satisfy!…” from both Tom & Borja, while the “Side Dish” second space sees Mark-Ashley Dupé & Daniel Delay will keep the room jumping & pumping with “…familiar favourites we all know and love!…”. But it doesn’t stop there as the compact & bijou “Tapas” third room where Cathal & Franx De Crystal will “…tease your appetite with a bit of spice!…” translating to tons of terrific tunes, proceedings helped along by hosts La Pequeña, Andrew Moore & Tomino, doors opening at East Bloc this Saturday (14th Apr) from 10.30 p.m., with DISH running to a planned 6 a.m. finish, entry £7 before midnight, £10 thereafter, the team urging you to arrive early to guarantee entry, more detail should you need it out at https://facebook.com/DISHLONDON &/or https://facebook.com/events/553122601387843/.

 

 

So onto our second Best Bite and we stick with Shoreditch, moving slightly further round to Hoxton in fact and to The Hoxton Pony, a venue that was very much at the forefront of the explosion of this area as the new hip, happening & trendsetting spot in London a small handful of years ago and while Hoxton may have been absorbed into the expanse that we known as Shoreditch, it remains at the epicentre of metrosexual clubbing activity. Indeed, The Hoxton Pony, having firmly established its niche yet stylish clubbing & socialising set following its launch in 2009, can also be proud as being part of the expansion of the Shoreditch scene which today sees one of the biggest concentration of club venues in the whole of London. Famed for its decadence and a smidgen of anarchy, The Hoxton Pony is particularly popular with locals on a Friday night, a whole host of D.J.’s from across the capital landing on this jewel in the Hoxton clubbing crown, names such as Zach Burns & Tony English adding their own brand of upfront house music to the more electro tech beats of the Pony’s resident D.J.’s. However, it is Saturday’s and particularly the venue’s new night, Rapture, that is turning heads & drawing the crowds, the promoters saying of this night, “…Rapture delivers the ultimate night of mayhem and despicable party antics with a mixed crowd…”, this Saturday (13th April) seeing one The Hoxton Pony’s favourite D.J.’s hit the decks for a specially extended 6 hour set and one that will surely showcase Tony’s diverse genre styles which range from electro through upfront vocal house to more eurostyle beats that belie his indistinct links with Spain & Ibiza. Indeed, having played out to capacity crowds for  polysexual clubbing brand Puscha, for whom he has been a resident for close on 10 years, his repertoire also extends to familiar gay territory parties including Lovechild, Hustlaball, Popcorn at Heaven and the recent launched club collaboration, This Is Prohibition, while Spanish clubbing brand SuperMartXe is among a number of other mainland & Ibiza based clubs he has played for, while he was the creator of Gaydar Radio’s very popular Saturday night show, Club Nation & has hosted a number of other radio shows in his time. As for Rapture itself, well it takes place at The Hoxton Pony this coming Saturday (13th April) from an early start of 8 p.m., running through till 2.a.m,  the team hinting that you should “…dress to impress, we’re the most glamorous and best night out in Shoreditch. No other night will offer you the opportunity to mix fashion, hedonism and exhibitionism…”, entry £8 while its £6 for guestlist entrants before 10 p.m., further info including dresscode policy out at https://www.facebook.com/events/145455472299619/.

 

 

To our third Best Bite now and we head into Soho for monthly meet BakeBox which plays out for the third time at the Green Carnation this Saturday (13th April), no doubt building on the success of the launch back in February when it was known as Baked. However, a shift in the name change has only served to attract even more attention and last month’s meet was every bit as popular, the blend of house classics & anthems with more upfront & current house tunes, with a dollop of disco for good measure, really hitting the mark with followers of the BakeBox beats recipe. And promoters Chris Brogan & Jay Jaymen have very much created a brand that offers something delightfully different to the norm, the light & fluffy music policy setting it aside for its clubbing compatriots, both boys say of BakeBox, “…this is our Box. It’s not just any Box. It’s a Box full of YOUR favourites. And by favourites, we mean all those tracks that get your feet tapping, hands clapping, divas singing and men jigging…” adding “…we are bringing back more fun, more frolics and more floor fillers for those who love their classic, vocal and disco house and a whole lot of anthems. BakeBox has been mixed and prepared by the very best DJs, bringing Soho something fresh and new!…”, guest D.J. Nathan Six fitting in with the formula really well. Indeed, having seen more than a handful of prolific performances from the talent individual, Nathan having played for the likes of Beyond, Matinee & SuperMartXe, while he was a staple resident ingredient for the sadly demised Profile & Lo-Profile where his sounds selections showed just why the BakeBox team have chosen him for this next party, his sets nothing short of spectacular on all the occasions we have seen him play. As for the BakeBox event detail, well its takes place this Saturday (13th April) at The Green Carnation from 9 p.m., entry on the door just £8 with a special concessions price of £5 before midnight, while once inside there are a number of drinks deals exclusive to “BakeBoxers”, which include £10 bottles of house red/white wine, £3.50 on Becks & Corona and £4.50 house double spirits & mixers, further info out & available at https://facebook.com/events/456356457765905/ &/or https://facebook.com/bakeboxsoho.

 

 

So, we reach our fourth Best Bite and, surprisingly for some, land on Matinee which returns to London this Saturday (13th April) with its “Starship” party, surely set to see host venue Fire a complete roadblock and, potentially, uncomfortable with it. Indeed, we have stated our case against the venue as the right place for this Spanish superclub & global brand giant, not least that Matinee is famed for its flamboyant & huge production, the arched nature of Fire just not right. But it seems that the London promotions team are intent on continuing the matinee story here and one thing that we cannot deny is its sheer popularity, hence that we felt it should be included here. And, true to form with the matinee top brass, they are flying across one of their main resident super star D.J.’s to headline this London event, Lydia Sanz very much part of a team that has recently expanded, Lydia having become more popular across Europe in recent months, hence why she is being used more & more often as part of the touring team. But the list of D.J.’s extend much further, Matinee London landing some of its top residents for this “Starship” event, D’Johnny, Gonzalo Rivas and Jamie Head joining Lydia in the Fire main room, while Massimo Paramour and Maze & Masters sort he sounds in the second Mirrorarch space, while across in the third, lounge room, its Rob Sykes, Zach Burns & Fabio Luigi that offer something delightfully different to the full-on main room. As for the production/, well expect the usual Matinee thrills & spills, even if the stage has nowhere near that impact “Starship” deserves, while we are sure the dancers with be dressed to the high nines in space themed costumes to make up for the lack of stage space. In terms of the event detail, Matinee “Starship” takes place this coming Saturday (13th April) at Fire in Vauxhall, doors opening at 11 p.m. and the party running through to a planned 7 a.m. finish, although with Beyond (the official “Starship” afterparty) opening its doors at the early time of 3.am., we reckon it may drain Fire earlier than the Matinee team would like. In terms of tickets, you can grab yours online at http://orangenation.co.uk priced at a hefty £15, while Soho outlets Prowler & Clone Zone are also selling, the advance way the best way to go, as queues to get in are likely to be lengthy & slow, while keep your eyes peeled once in for special entry passes to Beyond, further info & the latest news on Matinee “Starship” up at https://facebook.com/matineelondon.

 

Well, that’s just about it for this our first Best Bites newsletter in a number of weeks and while we remain too unwell to step out, we hope we have given you a diverse enough choice of where to lay your hat this Saturday particularly. But whatever you do and wherever it finds you, have a great weekend and remember, to “Be There!” you need to Go There!”. (DISCO MATT) 


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Reviews – “Brilliant Birthday Bash Banquet” – DISH “The First Birthday” – Saturday 12th January – Full Size Review

March 19, 2013 | Author

We hadn’t eaten for a while, so we were hungry, hungry for a banquet of bountiful beats and what better place to satisfy our appetite than the delicious DISH, this magnificent mover & shaker on the scene celebrating its first birthday. But did we have our cake & eat it? Or were we left with an irritable bout of overeating indigestion?

 

 

Having trodden many clubbing boards during our times back home in South Africa, across in continental Europe and right here in London, we can count ourselves extremely fortunate to have encountered some of the best brands, the most prolific parties & exceptional events over the years, a collection that would take up a whole paragraph if we were to list them chronologically or otherwise, some sticking out in our minds more than others. Yet while Antwerp, Brussels, Cape Town, Paris & Rome would feature large, it is here in the capital where we would find the lion’s share of that lengthy list, such has been the diversity of the scene, club owners & promoters seeming to cater for every taste, sometimes all too often leaving us spoilt for choice in where to hang our hat or left with the difficult decision who to favour & who we would disappoint. But while we have gravitated towards the more popular places, in recent months driven by certain D.J.’s & clubbing characters, we have always attempted to spread our support right across the scene, sometimes stepping outside of our clubbing comfort zone to sample the true diversity that the capitals clubbing circuit has boasted, Shoreditch one such example of the out of the box expedition, our strange psyche saying that, in distance terms, it is a step too far, yet with a melting pot of magnificent meets, not least a delicious monthly delectation, tempting us to take the trip, this situ having left smiling & satisfied when we have made the rare effort venture forth.

 

So, spreading our clubbing wings in the direction of Shoreditch for the first time this year, fulfilled a promise that we would put our money where our mouth was and pay a visit to something different to the same old, same old, the likes of what has become boring Beyond, monotonous Matinee & waning WE, all falling from our favour, not that the latter two brands were offering anything in January, while in terms of what was our favourite afterhours, was leaving a bitter taste in our mouth with its maddening “Midnight” meets. And having reengaged on previous promises and with its first birthday looming, we were determined to delight in DISH, the clubbing creation of Tom Stephan & Borja Pena, this monthly meet a product of the demise of the former & fabulous MEAT, Tom particularly keen to maintain the momentum but give DISH a delightful format twist, the home of East Bloc on Shoreditch retained, but the D.J. line-up and music much more in the mix. Indeed, building on the success of the former, DISH has, during its first year in operation, attracted one of the most diverse & up for it crowds the east end has seen, many people, like us, used to Vauxhall, switching to Shoreditch to support Tom, Borja & the whole team, not least that the atmosphere, the music & the overall experience delivered delightful difference in bucket loads, while evoking clubbing times of past, references made to the days of Crash common place n comments & feedback finding its way to us.

 

With this convincing case cast, we headed out into the cold, but glad in warm clothing, the journey which we were convinced was a long one, actually only took thirty minutes, door to door, the destination door being East Bloc on City Rd and a welcome from the venue promoter & top cheese Wayne Shires, while a quick check in the list saw us down into DISH in a trice, a considerable crowd having already gathered, hinting towards a heaving happening in the cavernous club. So, we were pleased we had made it in before midnight, quickly grabbing some refreshments at the bar & finding our spot by the edge of the main room dancefloor, this proving a perfect vantage point to peer at proceedings without plunging into the pack of party people that were joyously jiving to the brilliant beats of Borja, his collection of tunes that were clearly captivating the clubbing collective in front of him, the mix of music on the lighter side of funky & tech house, with dollops of nu & retro disco an absolute delight. Indeed such was his scintillating style, we were quickly smiling like a Cheshire cat, not least that this was the first formal & exemplary evidence that DISH had a delightful difference to MEAT, he music make-up much more up our sounds street, while the whole feel of the club was already so much more friendly than those same old, same old outings we mentioned earlier.

 

Now we were set fair to sink into the full splendour of the three roomed course of cavorting DISH was serving up, although our initial tour around the club was momentarily yet marvellously halted by Tom Stephan who was clearly pleased as punch we had finally made it down, we returning his warming welcome with a flood of compliments on his clubbing concept that has & remains the talk of the town, as well as proving a resounding success. And as we then headed off to the second space, it was clear that virtually every nook & cranny of East Bloc was filling out with fervent followers, our arrival finding the room wall to wall with revellers soaking up the side dish of sounds from the dynamic duo of Mark Ashley Dupe & Scott Webster, while we had a particular penchant for the compact & aptly called “Pudding” third room, Cathal’s characterful collection of tunes keeping us away from the main room longer than planned. But with the call of review duty, we were soon back on our spot, although within a room that was packed out even more than before, familiar faces beginning to appear by the lorry load, giving the party a even more friendlier feel with every passing minute, Tom now in charge of the tunes and treating us to his trademark underground style of sound, part of the package that was seeing DISH evoke days of old but with a modern & new twist, the inevitable comparisons with Crash both in terms of amazing atmosphere & decadent delight.

 

So, it was now time to take up our spot by the D.J. booth we squeezing into the one remaining space where we found yet more familiar faces, not least Cliff from Q.X., birthday girl Andrea Drudikova and here bevy of boys, while it would be the arrival of Nick Tcherniak that would transform our evening ecstatically, it being such a long time since we had caught up with this charming chap, we quickly taking the opportunity for a boogie with this brilliant bloke before retreating to the bar for the first of a round of refreshments and a proper catch up on club meeting opportunities missed. However, having found a much sought after & in demand quite spot to sit & chat, it wasn’t long before we were back by the D.J. booth, Nick keen to help Andrea celebrate her birthday in style and we also wanting to engulf ourselves his her enigmatic energy, our enjoyment slightly impaired by the arrival of our once clubbing companion, Stephen, although we were not going to let him spoil proceedings, Tom’s terrific tunes seeing to that in an instant, while with Borja in close call, this DISH first birthday bash was going from strength to strength. And with thoughts far away from our usual scene stomping ground, we were smarting in the splendour of this Shoreditch spot & the scintillating sounds of this marvellous meet’s prolific players, all proving that there is clubbing life beyond those borders of Albert embankment & South Lambeth road. With our stay extending well past three, we were tempted to stay right till the 6 a.m. finish, although the comfort call of home drawing us away from the amazing main room action, we made a final quick tour of DISH’s other two spaces, just like the room we had vacated, both still packed & pumping, we satisfied with our lot, so gracing our exit from this enthralling event.

 

So, what made DISH so delightful?, did we have our cake & eat it? or were we left with an irritable bout of overeating indigestion? Well, to answer the first of our three questions, while the inevitable comparison with Tom Stephan’s previous party MEAT was in our mind for the first few moments following our arrival, it became quickly clear that this brilliant brand of Borja’s & Tom joint creation had its our captivating character, proved every bit as popular as one the it replaced and is , without doubt, a real gem in the East Bloc clubbing crown calendar, Wayne Shires surely more than satisfied with the outcome of this prolific party & its first birthday bash particularly. As for having our cake and eating it, you bet we did, the captivating three roomed course superb sound servings making this a stand-out shindig that is proof of the pudding of its popularity, its alternative label cast by certain quarters of the press unfounded in each & every respect, especially given the east meets west crowd & everyone between, we sinking into each & every slice of this scene splendour superbly. Indeed, with DISH being so delightful we would have been more than happen to act like Oliver and ask for more, not overeating of this outing quite possible, so no bout of irritable indigestion, rather an ample appetite for this amazing & audacious action, filling us with a fabulous feeling that only a very small handful of clubs have achieved. So, if you haven’t yet delved into the delight of DISH, we cannot recommend enough that you make next month’s meet a massive mark in your dance diaries, while, given just what a tremendous time we had, it won’t be long before we are back too. (DISCO MATT)

 


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Recommends – “Fabulous Three Course Frolic” – DISH – Saturday 9th March – Pick of The Day

March 9, 2013 | Author

Back in the driving seat, we kick off our new phase of features with the first in a series of “Pick of The Day” posts, our choice for today (Sat 9th March) going to DISH, which takes place at East Bloc in Shoreditch, event details a “Pick of The Day” banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we prelude this party beneath.

 

 

Now well into its first full year of frolicking, DISH has certainly served up some sumptuous soiree’s since it started out last January, co-promoters Tom Stephan (aka Superchumbo) & Borja Pena having created an uncomplicated clubbing concept that draws in the stylish Shoreditch set along with east end girls, west end boys and pretty much a marvellous mixture between, even the cream of the Vauxhall clubbers, all who have & continue to crave for something much more delightfully debaucherous to in monotony norm. And DISH delivers, not just in this department, but has enthrallingly re-emulated the feel of London clubbing from the halcyon underground days of Crash, yet has a terrifically modern twist to it, served through the sounds of its three course room menu of marvellousness that is the enigmatic East Bloc, a compactly cavernous yet characterful club that has spearheaded a movement from south to east.

 

So, it pretty much goes without saying that DISH gets our vote not just today, but any day, while QX magazine has been quoted as saying of “…the best thing to happen to the gay scene since Freddy Mercury cruised at the Colherene…” and Tom & Borja concur, saying  “…we couldn’t have put it better ourselves!…”, adding “…this month we offer you a brand new side dish consisting of the tantalizing Tamer Wilde and the delectable Daniel Delay. Mmm Mmm Good! Head chef Tom Stephan is back in the booth with his partner Borja Peña cooking up the finest beats in town!…” and finishing off my roll calling the revellers when they shout out “…Get yourself on down to DISH and grab a bite!!…”. And, as much as we hear their cry and would love to be there, we are still convalescing from a period of still unexplained & diagnosed illness that stretch back to our Antwerp trip, so will have to graciously sit this one out. However, we reckon that DISH  is THE place to be & be seen on the scene this Saturday night, so get your dancing shoes on, dress to dare and head to East Bloc for this fabulous three course frolic, further event details, including D.J. line up’s, hosts, opening times & door taxes, a click away at https://facebook.com/events/428252740589797/, remembering that, to “Be There!” you need to “Go There!” (DISCO MATT)

 


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Picks/Recommends – “Three Course Cavorting” – DISH “The First Birthday” – Saturday 12th January – Pick Of The Day/Extra Bites

January 12, 2013 | Author

Striding into Saturday, we are in “Pick Of The Day” mode, landing our top of the tree choice on  the delicious DISH, which celebrates its 1st birthday at East Bloc tonight (Sat 12th Jan), a mains meal of music from Tom Stephan & Borja Peña, , while Mark-Ashley Dupé & Scott Webster serve the sounds sides in the second space, & Cathal & co pop it up in the pudding room, all the event detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we re-serve slices of our Weekend Focus as Extra Bites bits beneath.

 

 

Having lauded our full Weekend Focus attention on the delectable DISH earlier this week, some of you may have missed the feature, so we thought we would re-serve some slices relevant to tonight’s event, while also summarising the event info in Extra Bite bits, pretty much like this…

 

“…First there was MEAT and then came DISH, both the brainchild of Superchumbo, better known in London as Tom Stephan, the D.J./Producer who has successfully turned his hand to club promoting too…”

 

“…so it would be MEAT that would propel Tom in the club promotions spotlight, at the time he running the club alongside former studio partner, a fellow D.J./Producer & club promoter, our Shoreditch son, Kris Di Angelis, the off-shoot special, Downtown, pulling in Jodie Harsh…”

 

“… Yet while MEAT was hugely successful, it barely ran past its first anniversary, Tom & Kris going their separate ways, Mr Stephan sticking with the winning formula that made MEAT so successful, but switching the name to DISH,  a club & concept that has been running since January last year and so, naturally, this coming Saturday (11th Jan), celebrates its 1st birthday…”

 

“…as we have already hinted, it’s the clubs first birthday, so we highly suspect an extra cake course to add to the other three, the starters very much looked after by Maitre d’s, Laurent & Benoit who will be masterminding your safe & smooth passage through East Bloc’s doors & to your tables of fun, your servers come hosts, La Pequeña, Kane Luke, Melvin & Andrew Moore pandering to your every whim..”.

 

“…But DISH’s main course of music is what you will want to tuck into and what a course it is, as the mighty Superchmbo will be serving up an underground house heaven of a set to savour, he joined by Borja Pena’s who’s electro twisted & tech toned house makes for a perfect accompaniment to Tom’s brilliant beats, very much making a delightful DISH of main room music to marvel at…”

 

“…However, no main dish is complete without a couple of portions of sides and so across in East Bloc’s second space the team do just that with Mark-Ashley Dupé & Scott Webster sorting the sounds with two scrumptious sets, while the team tell us to expect a few surprises too…”

 

Introducing our Menu of signature dishes (and a few surprises on the night!)

Main Dish
Tom Stephan
Borja Peña

Side Dish
Mark-Ashley Dupé
Scott Webster

Pudding
Franx de Crystal
Cathal

Served by
La Pequeña
Kane Luke
Melvin
Andrew Moore

Maitre d’s
Laurent
Benoit

East Bloc, 217 City Rd, London, EC1
10:30pm-6am

 

“…So, with DISH serving from 10.30 p.m. this Saturday (12th Jan) & running till 6 a.m., its just £7 on the door before midnight & then £10 after, while an early arrival is advised to guarantee entry to your table, while wearing a DISH t-shirt will get you in free before 12…”

 

 

Well, after all that we are feeling pretty hungry, hungry for some heavenly house music & fun filled frolicking, DISH definitely the place we will be heading to satisfy our taste-buds,  so if you see us, come say hi, of course making sure that you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)

 

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Recommends – “Tasty Turn Turns One” – DISH “The First Birthday” – Saturday 12th January – Weekend Focus

January 9, 2013 | Author

First there was MEAT and then came DISH, both the brainchild of Superchumbo, better known in London as Tom Stephan, the D.J./Producer who has successfully turned his hand to club promoting too. And as DISH turns one this Saturday (12th Jan), we thought it just & proper to parcel up our own birthday present in the form of a focus fanfare, looking at the club, some of its key players & what main’s sides & dessert to expect on Saturday.

When we look back across our times clubbing here in the capital, there are a few familiar faces that were around when we first made it big, we are talking the nineties darling, a period when Trade reigned supreme on a Sunday, Love Muscle still scored highly on a Saturday & Soho was a hot bed of activity, Substation one of THE places to be & be seen (or sometimes not depending on where in the club you were) on the scene. But the big clubbing news back then was the launch of the now legendary club Crash which was, justifiably so, the forefather of the scene that we see today down in Vauxhall, this brilliant brand’s promoter, Wayne Shires, bringing many notable names to the eyes & ears of clubbers, Steve Pitron, Jamie Head, Tasty Tim, Brent Nicholls & many more emerging stars of that time, while from day one, this underground giant sported the towering talents of one Tom Stephan, the two forming a friendship which has remained as strong some fifteen years down the line as it was around the time of Crash’s opening. And while our beloved club is no more, much other water having flown under the proverbial bridge that saw Wayne & Tom up Vauxhall sticks & head east, what they have managed to retain from those halcyon Crash days, is the sense of clubbing intrigue, excitement & anticipation, along with a cutting edge style that was the prolific package we called “Underground” back then.

 

So while Vauxhall under the auspices of Orange Nation has taken clubbing to a different level, heading out east to the Old Street area of Shoreditch and what you will find is a slice of south of the river nostalgia, not quite the Crash that we knew then and still look back on with fabulous fondness now, but a set up pretty similar, nowhere near the size or scale of its predecessor, but with all the enthralling elements that made Crash loved & adored by so many. And this slice of nostalgia?, Well its East Bloc of course, the compact, bijou & uber trendy underground venue on City Road which, from the outside looks pretty unassuming, yet, once down the stairs, opens out into a labyrinth of rooms & passageways that transport you from the stark city life outside, into a seductive set of spaces that intrigue & excite, the off the wall decor speaking its own statement and echoing those memories of Crash old but now very much East Bloc new. And with a family of club brands having made the place their home, despite its small size, Wayne Shires has created a club venue that had made a big impact, one very much at the core of the Shoreditch movement which gathered steams a couple of years ago and now pulls in crowds not too far removed from Room Service, Circus, & Lo-Profile (as was), while even elements of the Vauxhall crowd now make it across, the likes of Gutterslut, SOS, Songs Of Praise, & Super Electro Party Machine attracting them over.

 

And within all this has been the endured friendship & working relationship between Wayne & Tom Stephan, the first real step in a clubbing brand concept being Disco Fag Bar, which kind of started the whole East Bloc movement off, although it would be MEAT that would propel Tom in the club promotions spotlight, at the time he running the club alongside former studio partner, a fellow D.J./Producer & club promoter, our Shoreditch son, Kris Di Angelis, the off-shoot special, Downtown, pulling in Jodie Harsh. Yet while MEAT was hugely successful, it barely ran past its first anniversary, Tom & Kris going their separate ways, Mr Stephan sticking with the winning formula that made MEAT so successful, but switching the name to DISH,  a club & concept that has been running since January last year and so, naturally, this coming Saturday (11th Jan), celebrates its 1st birthday. Indeed, we know Tom & fellow DISH promoter, Borja Pena, are excitedly expectant of an even hotter looking crowd than usual, the club having gained a ravenous reputation for pulling in stunning looking lads who are up for more than just one course of cavorting, rather taking in DISH’s scrumptious starters, marvellous mains & delicious desserts, aka the three rooms of fun that the club serves in on a prolific party platter each & every month. Plus, with the stylish west end set mixing with the east end trendies, DISH is a magnificent melting pot of a meet that marries men & music in a menu of madcap melays that has much much more, while don’t be put off with our play with words as this is not a men only club, not at all, plenty of gorge girls diving into DISH too.

 

So that’s DISH in a dinner plate size delectation, but what about this Saturday’s shindig? Well, as we have already hinted, it’s the clubs first birthday, so we highly suspect an extra cake course to add to the other three, the starters very much looked after by Maitre d’s, Laurent & Benoit who will be masterminding your safe & smooth passage through East Bloc’s doors & to your tables of fun, your servers come hosts, La Pequeña, Kane Luke, Melvin & Andrew Moore pandering to your every whim. But DISH’s main course of music is what you will want to tuck into and what a course it is, as the mighty Superchmbo will be serving up an underground house heaven of a set to savour, he joined by Borja Pena’s who’s electro twisted & tech toned house makes for a perfect accompaniment to Tom’s brilliant beats, very much making a delightful DISH of main room music to marvel at. However, no main dish is complete without a couple of portions of sides and so across in East Bloc’s second space the team do just that with Mark-Ashley Dupé & Scott Webster sorting the sounds with two scrumptious sets, while the team tell us to expect a few surprises too, having lamented on DISH, “…we have served you some of the tastiest parties in 2012. One roadblock after another, just stuffing our faces with the hottest boys and the most sweet ass beats London has to offer…” adding that “…on 12th January we celebrate our first birthday and our gift to you is what we’ve all been asking for- MORE!…” in what will surely prove an “…all-you-can-eat feast for your senses!…”. So, with DISH serving from 10.30 p.m. this Saturday (12th Jan) & running till 6 a.m., its just £7 on the door before midnight & then £10 after, while an early arrival is advised to guarantee entry to your table, while wearing a DISH t-shirt will get you in free before 12, further info, should you need it, out on events page http://facebook.com/events/128493743978850/.

 

Well, we certainly need no further convincing to head across to East Bloc & dive into DISH,  meaning this Oliver will be definitely be asking for more, more & more on Saturday, so if you see us, come say hi, of course making sure you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)



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Picks/Recommends – DISH @ East Bloc – Saturday 12th May – Pick Of The Day

May 12, 2012 | Author

There was MEAT & now there is DISH , this superb Stephan serving shindig across in Shoreditch, which takes place tonight (Sat 12th May) at East Bloc, making it to DM’s pick of day, all the detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while DM dissects his DISH Weekend Focus devotion “Tasty Tom Treats” (out via direct link (http://discomatt.com/web/?p=5356) beneath.

 

 

DM dissects his DISH devotion…

 

“…one such key player being Tom Stephan & his latest club brand incarnation, DISH, the product of the scintillating success that was MEAT,  a clubbing event that heralded this new era that East Bloc has been the centre off & linked up with the likes of Room Service to shake the foundations of some of their Vauxhall counterparts, or at least make them wake up & smell the roses of their complacency. And while MEAT, as popular as it was, may have been laid to rest in what was a relatively short existence, Tom’s penchant for promoting a prolific party has not waned and DISH, which was launched back at the beginning of the year, has quickly followed in the footsteps of the former, its recipe of success being that umber underground & edgy feel, intermixed with a marvellous mixture of music genres, in surroundings & a scenery that break the boundaries or normality & head you in to bawdry, decadence & debauchery, harping a little back to those pioneering days of Crash, days that Mr Stephan was very much a part of, along with his promoter pal & close friend Wayne Shires, while this video clip is as good an intro the brand & this upcoming event as any…”

 

YouTube Preview Image

 

“… now all that’s left to do is delight on the DISHY detail of his magnificent meal of a meet, Saturday (12th May) the day, or is that the night, as host venue East Bloc’s doors open for the event at 10.30 p.m., entry a mere £7 before midnight, while it rises to £10 thereafter, this getting you in for the full six/seven hours as the clubs runs through to a planned 6 a.m. finish., the DISH door in the capable hands of fabulous French’s Laurent & Benoit, while inside your hosts La Pequeña, Melvin and Kane Luke, will help inject heaps of horse-play as well as serving up suitable tasty treats to keep you on top form from start to finish, that along with Tom’s now trademark art installations to keep your eyes on, while resident DISH go-go’s  Fer & Claudio will certainly be turning & even popping out an eye or two (well many more we think) in a series of deliciously debaucherous dance delectations to delight.  And with more info up at http://facebook.com/DISHLONDON, it’s also worth paying a visit to the clubs Tumblr page at http://dishlondon.tumblr.com/, where you can get to see some of the unedited images for this latest event, along with video & podcast links a-plenty…”

 

 

So, as we forge a path for East Bloc tonight, very much in review mode, you can keep up with the live action by following our nibble size tweets at http://twitter.com/discomatt, we sure to be making the most of all three courses of musical mayhem at this place to be & be seen on the scene on Saturday, leaving us to simply say, make sure you “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)

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Recommends – “Tasty Tom Treat” – DISH @ East Bloc – Saturday 12th May – Weekend Focus Special

May 10, 2012 | Author

There was MEAT & now there is DISH this tasty Tom Stephan treat of an event having taken over from the former & about to serve up another sensational shindig across in Shoreditch on Saturday, DM lauding his focus attention in a starts to mains to dessert devotion that will leave you in no doubt that a expedition to East Bloc is definitely on your clubbing cards this weekend.

 

 

When we look back through the sands of time that we have been circulating the capitals clubs & events, we have been fortunate to sample & savour the most brilliantly broad spectrum of shindigs, from small scale to super size, from cavernous to colossal & pretty much everything in between. We have partied in state of the art clubs, to run down relics, thrilling theatre venues to worn out warehouses and our audacious activity has seen us trip the clubbing light fanstatic in virtually every part of this captivating city, often traversing & trekking from one end to the other in search of that special soiree. And it has seen us take in full on festivals alongside boutique bashes, multi-roomed raves to single space splendours, while there have also been exceptional era’s in our year’s of exploits, the Trade at Turnmills days, the Beyond at Colosseum days, even the DTPM at Fabric days, while more recent times have recorded equally exceptional era’s most notably Beyond again, this time at Area, Lovechild at Fire & even WE Party at The Coronet.

 

 

However, if there is on era that pretty much changed our clubbing pretty much overnight, it was Crash, the place & the people leaving an indelible impression on our mind, body & soul, the underground movement it engendered having continued in one form or another ever since and while it was Vauxhall that started it all, it is now Shoreditch that is showing the way, the man who was at the centre of that Crash clubbing revolution back then, once again spearheading not just a revival of that underground ethos, but a whole new sector of the scene that has grown from an afterthought alternative to considerable contributor to a scene & set of scenesters that now continue to crave for something delightfully different to the same old, same old. So who is the man behind this movement & where are we talking about? Well the man is Wayne Shires & the place is East Bloc, this prolific promoter having spotted an opportunity to, yet again, become part of in a new breed to clubbing that has since seen Shoreditch (& his gaff East Bloc) rise as a major player on the scene.

 

And bringing some key players along with him, while encouraging others, has reared a healthy set of club brands that are certainly offering a fresh feel to offers filling our clubbing calendar, one such key player being Tom Stephan & his latest club brand incarnation, DISH, the product of the scintillating success that was MEAT,  a clubbing event that heralded this new era that East Bloc has been the centre off & linked up with the likes of Room Service to shake the foundations of some of their Vauxhall counterparts, or at least make them wake up & smell the roses of their complacency. And while MEAT, as popular as it was, may have been laid to rest in what was a relatively short existence, Tom’s penchant for promoting a prolific party has not waned and DISH, which was launched back at the beginning of the year, has quickly followed in the footsteps of the former, its recipe of success being that umber underground & edgy feel, intermixed with a marvellous mixture of music genres, in surroundings & a scenery that break the boundaries or normality & head you in to bawdry, decadence & debauchery, harping a little back to those pioneering days of Crash, days that Mr Stephan was very much a part of, along with his promoter pal & close friend Wayne Shires, while this video clip is as good an intro the brand & this upcoming event as any.

 

YouTube Preview Image

 

So that’s the basis of DISH, but what will it be serving up in its latest & next instalment this coming Saturday? Well the music is pretty central to this clubbing creation, the team managing to use East Bloc’s relatively tight knit spaces to extend the offer to not just two, but three rooms of rave, the “main course” space serving up sounds from DISH’s main men, Tom Stephan & Borja Peña, Mr Stephan sure to pull out all the underground & tech house stops in a set that we are very much looking forward to, as much as our first attendance to DISH itself. And having been lucky enough to witness some stunning showings over the years, scores of sets at Crash from those brilliant bygone years real highlights, while more recent appearances ago clubs like Revolver, A:M, & even just last Saturday when he pitched a perfect performance at Deelooded, showcase Mr Stephan as still being at the top of his game, while The States is a continuing playground feature of this world renowned D.J./Producer, many of his works having been released under the Superchumbo name & label. However, our fondest recent memory will be that mesmeric music master class at MEAT, we closing our eyes in the first part of his set & finding ourselves back in Crash, while brand new beat dominated the second half, very much vindicating that “top of the game” claim we have made. But don’t take our take Tom’s towering talents on face value, go select his Souncloud site at http://soundcloud.com/tomstephan, his latest DISH devotion the best way to slide into Saturday.

 

But in Borja Peña we have a delightful D.J. too, this Spaniard now very much at home here in London & having made a name for himself in The Shoreditch scene, alternative antics across at The Dalston Superstore & The Joiners Arms, club night B(e)ast a huge highlight in his happenings & showings, while he was part & parcel of the MEAT offering, hence why he now stands side by side with Tom at DISH. And with a blend of tech, progressive & electronic house very much Borja’s bag, we are very much looking forward to his set showing too, although if like us, you cannot wait for Saturday to savour some of his superb sounds, then a trip to http://soundcloud.com/borja-32 should satisfy your appetite in advance of his set serving at East Bloc. But while Tom & Borja will be your main course music DISH deliverers, the second space will be well worth a look in two, as side DISH’ers Scot Webster & Kartel Brown will be injecting their youth & enthusiasm into the event, that & their electro funk, while we will have more than an eye on the pudding lounge where special guests Julian J Smith & Jonbenet Blonde will be banging out bountiful beats to bop to, both in a delightfully different way & style that will be a sight to behold.

 

So that’s DISH & its music, now all that’s left to do is delight on the detail of his magnificent meal of a meet, Saturday (12th May) the day, or is that the night, as host venue East Bloc’s doors open for the event at 10.30 p.m., entry a mere £7 before midnight, while it rises to £10 thereafter, this getting you in for the full six/seven hours as the clubs runs through to a planned 6 a.m. finish., the DISH door in the capable hands of fabulous French’s Laurent & Benoit, while inside your hosts La Pequeña, Melvin and Kane Luke, will help inject heaps of horse-play as well as serving up suitable tasty treats to keep you on top form from start to finish, that along with Tom’s now trademark art installations to keep your eyes on, while resident DISH go-go’s  Fer & Claudio will certainly be turning & even popping out an eye or two (well many more we think) in a series of deliciously debaucherous dance delectations to delight.  And with more info up at http://facebook.com/DISHLONDON, it’s also worth paying a visit to the clubs Tumblr page at http://dishlondon.tumblr.com/, where you can get to see some of the unedited images for this latest event, along with video & podcast links a-plenty. And, as we forge a path for East Bloc on Saturday, very much in review mode, you can keep up with the live action by following our nibble size tweets at http://twitter.com/discomatt, we sure to be making the most of all three courses of musical mayhem at this place to be & be seen on the scene on Saturday, leaving us to simply say, make sure you “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)

 


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Recommends – “Appetising Alternative Trio Of Treats” – Discotec, Fiction & Dish – Thurs 5th, Fri 6th & Sun 8th April – Easter Extra Bites

April 5, 2012 | Author

Having covered “The Big Easter Weekend Ticket” trio of treats, it’s time to let another appetising trio of treats take to the DM spotlight, three exceptional events that deserve to have their Easter say, as the weekend hails the return of two brilliant brands form our partying past, well as a special Sunday serving Stephan style, Disco Matt biting into the detail on Discotec, Fiction & Dish.

 

 

The strength of the capitals clubbing circuit is its diversity, while the same could be said for its familiarity, a whole host of brilliant brands & popular parties continuing to draw considerable crowds, whether they be the weekly happenings, the monthly gatherings or the infrequent, that dynamic diversity playing out right across London although, undeniably, in the rich playgrounds that are Soho, Vauxhall & Shoreditch. And while we do our best to lay out Best Bites & Short Shouts hat on all three, when it comes to special weekends like this one, it seems only fair to devote some more focussed attention to appetising alternatives that are also pushing the Easter envelope & awaiting your attention. But these are no ordinary events, as each one represents a harping back to the halcyon days of hedonistic clubbing, when underground & alternative were bywords of a scene that still had to remain pretty inconspicuous due to society’s discriminations, a time when blacked out windows, & backyard venues out of the mainstream sights & sounds engendered a surge of scene splendours such as Trade, Crash, Factor 25 & DTPM that very much paved the way for the superb & inclusive scene that we see today.

 

So to the first of and a Thursday night club of iconic proportions, plus one that was very much at the forefront of that clubbing revolution in the late 90’s nearly noughties, playing out to capacity crowds from its historic home of The den on the edge of Soho, keeping the party & its popularity going for close on fifteen years. But as times on the scene have changed & social patterns have shifted, Thursday’s began to fizzle out and Discotec began to feel the pinch, plans to demolish its home also sealing the clubs fate. But like all the best brands in the business, not least those legendary names we have mentioned above, the desire for Discotec has remained healthy in the hearts of its diehard fans, many of who couldn’t contain their excitement when the news broke of his swansong like reappearance on the scene. However, with The Den no more the clubs original promoter, Laurent Chaumet, quickly looked to his clubbing & promoting pal Wayne Shires & his connections with The Brixton Clubhouse (that is in Brixton before you ask) to secure the venue for this Discotec “Easter Special” event. And Laurent is very excited to be bringing the brand back, telling us “…I am so excited about bringing Discotec back and being at the beginning of the four day break & on a Thursday as well should hopefully prove a recipe for success…” he adding “…the Brixton Clubhouse will add an extra dimension to this dance event, combining inside & out like Dicotec-ers have never seen before…”

 

With that backdrop and knowing that this Discotec gathering is sure to be something special, let’s dive into the detail this extra special Easter event taking place tomorrow night (Thurs 5th April) at The Brixton Clubhouse (467-469 Brixton Rd), door opening at 10 p.m. with the event running through to a planned 4 a.m., entry available on the door for just £5 before midnight & then £10 thereafter (bargain!!!). And as for those two spaces, well its very much about upfront, funky & nu-disco house as Laurent & his team welcome Discotec regulars Guy Williams & Femi B to the decks, although the really exciting inclusion for us is the faaabulous Fidel, better known in his (or is it her) Discotec demure as Marron Bitch, this terrific talent having laid down a soundtrack especially for the occasion, so one well worth checking out by going to http://soundcloud.com/fidel-77/fidel-3 & sink into Marron’s magnificent music which will be flooding the so called Saint Club room on Thursday. But alfresco dancing will also be the name of the game, as the Discotec second space will be out on the BCH sundecks (well moondecks really!!), with a brace of Discotec boys on the D.J. decks, Slamma & Jeffrey Hinton sorting the sounds, while MC Brandy will be on the mic & Joy on the drums (percussion to the posh!), with Smirnoff flavours the theme of this outside space & bar, while the Manhunt men will be out in force supplying the eye candy & wearing Andre Christian underwear (yum yum), further information up at https://facebook.com/events/269188593158846/.  

 

So to the second of this appetising alternative trio of treats and another brilliant brand that was in the thick of that evolutionary come revolutionary movement in clubbing around the turn of the century, Fiction a formidable Friday force to be reckoned with, holding sway at The Cross, a bit of a backyard venue in the relative dereliction of warehouses that was part of the infamous Bagley’s collection of buildings, yet this raw & ready state of the place was an intrinsic part of its popularity, dancing on the tables, swinging from the chandeliers (well lights then!)  & just general decadent dancing delirium was all part of the prolific package. And Fiction’s creator, DTPM’s Lee Freeman, drew a wealth of D.J. talent, some from the huge success that was Trade, both Malcolm Duffy & Fat Tony regular residents of this Friday frolic, while names such as Miguel Pellitero, Cosmo, Harji & Justin Ballard were indelible inclusions, while other names such as Nick Tcheniak & Guy Williams also graced its decks regularly. Spread over three spaces including an outside terrace, Fiction was the first club that boasted alfresco shimmying and with a reputation of being mad, mixed & better for it, Fiction was the forerunner of what is now commonly known as metrosexuality. But, like Discotec, Fiction fell foul both of a change in trends plus the demolition of The Cross, as part of the substantial redevelopment of the whole Kings Cross area and so by 2007 the club was no more, its sister DTPM also facing changing trends & times.

 

But with Lee Freeman having made a respeldant return to the scene just a couple of years ago, Fiction was always on the cards to come back for a series of pop-up parties, although with Kings Cross now a major construction & re-development site, choosing a venue to re-emulate the Fiction feel was always going to be tricky, the fist reunion two years ago round the corner from The Cross a shadow of its former self, albeit that the event was a sell-out. But with Mr Freeman laying down routes in South London & engrossing himself in his own re-development project, the result being The Kennington Pub & Kitchen, it is this new sparkling scene spot that will be playing host to the second re-coming of Fiction, Lee telling us “…I have been hunting around to find the right place and have to admit that this was not the easiest of tasks. In fact, it was so difficult, that I decided to put together my own place and now it’s finished, it’s time to party…” adding about his venue “…The Kennington is just a stone’s throw from Kennington Park, 2 mins from Oval tube (Northern Line), has a great terrace on the front and has been refurbished to the highest standards. Nothing but the best for you! We have to say it’s a bit smaller than The Cross, so ticket numbers will be limited to advance purchases only! It’s a beautiful venue & all on one level too, so no need for all those stairs this time and the bonus is, that we can all get down to that Fiction vibe together…”

 

So what of the detail, well Lee has already spilled the beans on the venues location & feel, but with the team welcoming back the terrific trio of D.J. residents from days of old (sorry boys!), you couldn’t ask for a better package, as Guy Williams, Fat Tony & Justin Ballard will be mixing it up from re-union start to finish, the running order very much under wraps but likely to be a mish mash in true Fiction style, Lee stating that “… we couldn’t do this without a few of those DJs who contributed to and made Fridays so much fun for 8 years of Friday night hedonism & they’re digging out some old alongside some new tunes too…”. So with this Fiction re-union kicking off from 10.30 p.m. on Good Friday (6th April), the planned running time taking you through till 4 a.m., but with space relatively limited compared to its historical home, naturally numbers have been limited too and of going to press, it seems that there are only a few advanced tickets left, meaning you should head straight to direct link http://ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=501914&interface to grab your £15 pass, as there is no entry on the door & no guestlist, more information, should you need it, available at http://dtpm.net & http://thekennington.com.

 

To the third in our trio of alternative treats and we fast forward to Easter Sunday and look towards Shoreditch, the rich playing field of clubs such as Gutterslut, SOS, Trailer Trash & Paradise 45, to mention just a few, while venues such as The Dalston Superstore, The Joiners Arms, The Horse & Groom &, naturally, Shoreditch House, having very much transformed this area into a melting pot of activity. But with the underground splendour that is East Bloc very much heading up this trendsetting east meets west social & clubbing scene, the recent collaborations between Wayne Shires & Tom Stephan (aka Superchumbo) producing one of the true success stories of 2011, “Meat” having very much spearheaded the renaissance of clubbing that harps back to the days of Crash, probably the club that was singularly responsible for totally transforming the clubbing scene segment that we now know as Vauxhall, “Mat” taking the underground excellence of Crash & transporting it into East Bloc with considerable success. However, it didn’t stop there with this brilliant brand, as special parties down in Brixton elevated its appeal, although Tom decided he wanted to brand to grace its exit while at the top of its game, his promoter partner Kris Di Angelis heading off to new projects, leaving our Mr Stephan with the prospect of a re-branding issue, the result being “Dish”.

 

With two parties already under his belt, the launch in January & another hedonistic happening in March going down a storm, “Dish” in effect a new version of “Meat” but introducing a more dynamic team of D.J.’s, the March affair particularly served up a superb session akin to a three course meal of cavorting, East Bloc proving, once again, a prolific playing ground for this party, meaning that, having re-captured the imagination of east end boys, west end girls & everything in-between, Easter was always going to be the next prize for Tom & his “Dish” team. However, with trends swaying towards Sunday rather than Saturday as being the preferred option, this has also meant that a switch in venue has been required, although in Basing House & having spoken with Tom he tells us that “…Basing House now have an amazing Function One sound system impressive effects & a pretty impressive laser…” and coming from a man that knows the business better than most, this speaks immediate volumes, Tom adding that “…the first two Dish’s have been amazing and this should be even better…”. And to cement that statement with some substance, just take a look at the promo video at http://youtube.com/watch?v=kohSmarNCzI which should pretty much seal the deal on his “Dish” delight or at least whet your appetite for tucking into this sumptuous Sunday soiree.

 

But what about the Dish detail? Well, as we have said, it switches from Saturday to Sunday, taking place this Easter Sunday (8th April), also switching venues from East Bloc just across Shoreditch to Basing House (25 Kingsland Rd) and kicking off from 10 p.m. & running through till 4 a.m. As for the D.J.’s on duty, naturally Mr Stephan will be in the thick of the action, although he is joined by Room Service’s & east end boy Dimitry Strigun, along with Dish co-promoter Borja Peña in the main’s meal room, while appetiser servings & hosting will also come from La Pequeña, Melvin and Kane Luke, added to which the way out, whacky & totally outrageous go-go’s, Fer & Claudio will be dishing out plenty of saucy treats, those on top of the pop-up art & visuals drawn from the huge collection that Tom has amassed over the years, these very much needing to be seen to be believed. With Laurent (yes he of Discotec fame) & Benoit on the door, entry is a mere £7 before midnight & then £12 thereafter, more info up at http://facebook.com/events/401956656485367/, while to get a taste of the soundtrack to expect, then we definitely checking out Tom Stephan’s latest compilation at http://soundcloud.com/tomstephan/house-music-girlfriend-you, one packed with banging house beats shout the superb Superchumbo style of sound and one definitely for the collection as well as a tantalising temptation to head across to Basing House on Sunday.

So, that’s our appetising alternative trio of treats, all worth more than just a consideration, each one proof in the pudding of the dynamic diversity that the scene serves up, so well worth soaking up in their own right. (DISCO MATT)

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Recommends – “Dish Of Deviation” – Weekend Best Bites – Friday 13th to Sunday 15th January – Recommends Newsletter Part One

January 13, 2012 | Author

Finding ourselves on the cusp of another wonderful weekend within the capital’s clubland circuit, with the New Year now started in earnest, it seems that brilliant brands & birthday’s will be taking centre stage across Soho, Vauxhall & Shoreditch, Disco Matt picking out his choices of where to be best seen on the scene.

 Well, it seemed that a sizable section of our scene were suffering from a post NY dip in their dancing dervishes last weekend as it felt more luke warmish out there compared with the usual heavenly hot happening feeling, we ourselves only managing a nibble size visit to Beyond. But with reports that A:M was amazing, Lo-Profile pumping & East Bloc brimming, there were pockets of the scene that bucked the trend. But as we take a peek into our forthcoming weekend looking glass, we have a couple of real gems along with two usual suspects to include in our Best Bite choices of where to be & be seen on the scene.

 

Yummy Yellow

So let’s get to it and mosey on down to Soho first and to our usual yet spectacular Best Bite suspects, as in Profile & Lo-Profile we have two of our favourite hip & happening hangouts, not least for the warm welcome we receive from the second we step into their doors, both venues really pressing all our buttons when it comes to music, dance & socialising (oh & drinking on the rare occasion we indulge in a tipple), Profile impressing just as much now as it did when it opened just under three years ago. And with regular D.J. line-ups each weekend, it isn’t just food & drink they have become famed for, although with a menu that ranges from light bar snacks to full bistro brilliances, Profile is a perfect place for that lunchtime stop off, an early evening refuel or even dinner with friends. But is more the music we are talking here and tonight (Fri 13th Jan) sees the o of its favourite residents hit the decks, Zach Burns selecting plenty of uplifting disco drenched dreams to get you in playful mood, this cute yet commandingly capable chap sure to fill your Friday with towering tunes, while on Saturday, the exceptional Nick Evans sorts out the sounds to get you in magnificent mood for the audacious action ahead. Plus with the venue’s superb Sunday roast rounding off their weekend and the venue open daily until 11.30 p.m., catch details of this & all the above by going to http://profilesoho.com.

 

Playful Pitron Party

Let’s head downstairs now and to Lo-Profile, bigger brother of its bar bedfellow and one that continues to pull in the punters while others struggle, both Friday’s & Saturday’s proving particularly popular, although with home-grown brand “Society” having found its Thursday feet & Monday’s “Beartrap” also filling a niche, it is the porn-tastic & pumping “Playtime” that is this Wardour St. wonder’s biggest mover & shaker on the scene, host Jay Roberts bringing a stunning selection of stars to beef up the podium proceedings, while his back room boudoir also gives the lucky few chosen ones a private audience with the weekly porn stars. Then you add in magnificent music and it is no wonder why Lo-Profile has stolen a significant amount of steps on its close completion as well as draining dancers from Vauxhall. So tonight (Fri 13th Jan) should be no different as Mr Roberts drafts in Bruno Knight & Gio Cruz, both handsomely hunky & perfectly playful too, while playing the magnificent music is superstar Steve Pitron, who takes up the reigns from the 10 p.m. start, while the cheeky Steven Artis carries you from 1 till 4 a.m., entry a mere £3 before midnight or £8 thereafter. Then on Saturday, it’s the turn of Crash residents of old but still cutting a significant stride on the scene now, Brent Nicholls & Jamie Head to swing you into Sunday spinning to scores of superb sounds, Mr Head in a purple patch at the moment and still smarting from a trip to the mecca of tech hours & techno, Berghain in Berlin although will be tempering his tunes to fit the Lo-Profile occasion, no doubt begging you to do it all again with him at Later the following day, more info on Lo-Profile, its offers, prices & running times out at http://loprofile.com.

 

Delightful Deviation

Moving down to Vauxhall and the first of our gems which finds its own individual feet after a sequence of collaborations & parties at a handful of host venues, Deviate sets it stool at Factory this Saturday (14th Jan) in what will hopefully mark its season of solo spectacles in the heart of a venue that started the whole clubbing movement in this part of the capital. So, having headlined at Heaven, barnstormed Barcode & an alliance with Area, promoter Francesco Pagano is keen to deliver a further new dimension to his loyal Deviate disciples as well as broadening the appeal of the club as a standalone entity. Yet, having joined forces with amazing afterhours Beyond on three occasions during 2011, that marriage of musical minds along with other developments in the Vauxhall scene, has resulted in Deviate benefitting from the infrastructure & support from The Orange Group, who now manage Factory as a venue. So that’s the backdrop but what about this event? Well, the team behind this dancing deviation have told us, “…we are thrilled landing back in London with our extravaganza with the ultimate electrifying lurid party concept…” adding of their parties, “…on every occasion the Deviate team delivered a new dimension of clubbing but now we have found a perfect location for our solo spectaculars…” also being proud to state that “…we take music and hedonism very seriously when putting on a party. So we are bringing together some of the freshest talent around as we concentrate not only on the DJs, but also on bringing cutting edge visual art and performance artists to create the craziest party around…”.

 

Promoter Pagano

So we couldn’t have said it any better really, the reputation of Deviate as a club that breaks from the norm, mentions of banana bending & thrilling theatre all intermixed with hedonistic house music and you have one of the most diversely dynamic dance delectations that is a resounding representation of the superb diversity of a scene that is London. And that diverse Deviate package packs a punch in terms of talent, starting with the D.J. team headed up by Pagano who needs no real introduction, although having made it huge in The US during 2011, he is unquestionably one of the biggest names on the capitals clubbing circuit, so we are honoured to be in his presence, yet our Italian Stallion is humble enough to have deviated from his own usual norm in compiling a podcast (can we use that word?!) to mark Deviate’s new direction & one you can grab now at http://soundcloud.com/pagano/deviate-with-dj-pagano. But the team on Saturday also includes fellow Italian Marco Gee in the main room, along with Nic Fischer (of Gutterslut fame), while over in the second space, the iconic Tasty Tim joins Deviate regulars Massimo Paramour & new to the team Borja Pena, the accent here more on indie dance, nu-disco & electronic, rather than the tech come techno & deep house that marks the main room music. The add in extrovert entertainer Jonny Woo with his Prick Image lot bringing “…muscles, drag queens and dominatrix…” to the party, along with hip host Antonio Gigoltta, and you have Deviate petty much summed up, Factory’s doors opening at 11 p.m. & running through to a planned 7 a.m. finish, advance tickets at just £8 available via http://orangenation.clubtickets.com/gb/2012-01/14/deviate-factory, while entry on the door will be an option too, the party continuing at Beyond, the Deviate team arranging discount passes which will be available during their event, more details out at http://deviateuk.com, leaving the team to simply say “…get ready for a theatrically engineered hot mess with sexy music as we  DEVIATE from the norm..”. 

 

 

A La Carte Clubbing

Now to Shoreditch & our second gem of the weekend and a new clubbing concept to boot, as “Dish” steps out of the significant shadow left by the marvellous “Meat”, one of our favourite clubs of 2011 (more on that is our club review of the year coming up) and marked the first joint clubbing venture between the D.J./Producer combo that was Tom Stephan & Kris Di Angelis. But while 2012 marks both setting sail with separate parties, Kris heading off with his “Blue Jeans” & “Delirium” (there are more from our own Shoreditch son), Tom has opted to stick with Meat’s venue host, East Bloc, the hip & happening hangout on City Rd that also links Mr Stephan with his promoter pal from the days of Crash, Wayne Shires. But while the winning Meat formula will clearly be running through this new party, what is delicately different is Tom’s promoting partner, Borja Pena stepping into Kris’s shoes and lining up in the “Main Course” room with Mr Stephan where tech house is the dish of the day, while in the “Side Course” space, you can pick through the musical menu that will include old skool house and r&b served up by Scott Webster & El Moreno. Then, with Tom’s usual twist on proceedings including sexy video’s saucy cubby holes & gyrating go-go’s, added to which a tasty trio of host treats in the form of Kane Luke, Melvin & La Pequeña will make sure the service is of sliver quality, in addition to exceptional value drinks prices & a mere £5 entry all night, that being at East Bloc (217 City Rd, Shoreditch, nearest tube Old St.), doors opening at 10.30 p.m. & the club running through till 6 a.m., more details available on their event page at http://facebook.com/events/101830959937889/.

 

Well, that’s just about it for our Best Bite choices for this second weekend in January, but just time to re-introduce our mention for tip top clubbing website SeenQueen, who are in the depths of their “Your Disco Needs You” poll for 2011, more details on this & their own (as they call them) gAylist choices of where to be & be seen on the scene, along with much more, up at http://seenqueen.com. Plus, we just want to squeeze in a mention for the adorable Andrea (yaaaah!!) who rolls out her now annual “Andrea Fest” (well it started already actually), Deviate, Beyond & Later on the roster, very much marrying our own, although we add Lo-Profile tonight with Steve Pitron erupting our emotions with (no doubt) “track 3” amongst many others. So, with the traumas of the last 36 hours behind us, we will be stepping out in style, so if you see us come say hi, but whatever you do & wherever it finds you this weekend, please be safe, but remember that, to be seen on the scene you need to “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)

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This Is Disco Matt
Who Is Disco Matt?
Disco Matt is London’s original party boy and independent journalist who previews, reviews & recommends London's best gay clubs, events & businesses, links to & reviews the scene top D.J.’s and generally covers the gay scene including international gay clubs & events.
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