Posts Tagged ‘Jamie Head’
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)
Posted in Recommends | 
Tags: BakeBox, Borja Pena, Chris Brogan, D'Johnny, Dish, East Bloc, Fabio Luigi, Fire, Gonzalo Rivas, Green Carnation, Jamie Head, Jay Jaymen, Lydia Sanz, Massimo Paramour, Matinee, Maze & Masters, Nathan Six, Rapture, Rob Sykes, The Hoxton Pony, Tom Stephan, Tony English, Zach Burns | 
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What was a brilliant brand and a fabulous favourite of ours, is fast losing both is brilliance and its favour with the twelve hour “Midnight” mould breaker that is effectively laying this colossal club to a first four waste, we once again, yet for the last time, looking at why & how Beyond is being broken when it needs no fixing.
Of the myriad of meets, the catalogue of clubs and the bounty of brands we have come across in the close on twenty years we have been circulating the clubbing scene, not just here in the capital but across in continental Europe, as well as back home in South Africa, there are of these meets, clubs & brands, a figure that must run into the thousands, just a handful or two that we would class as truly legendary in our clubbing lifetimes. Back home it would have to be Cape Town’s Bronx, while in Europe, Muccassassina in Rome, Red & Blue in Antwerp, La Demence in Brussels & Salvation in Barcelona top our legendary continental tree. And while there are clubs further afield as yet untouched by our visiting hand, we look to the capital for a the rest, Factor 25, DTPM, Action, Fiction & FF, while of all these, there are two that sit above even this pronounced party parapet, both Sunday morning afterhours and both accounting for a seventh day of the week wondrous loss to the normality of straight minded Sunday life, each contributing to a run lasting from 1993 to 2012, with just a year or so break in 2006/7. Naturally, Trade is one of the two, Lawrence Malice’s legendary creation without doubt at its brilliant best in the Turnmills era which stretched from 1990 to 2003, while the other, one that wrestled the magnificent mantle for our mothership of clubbing as THE best club of all-time can only be Beyond, it dominating the 21st century like no other club, yet close on twelve years after its inception, is in serious danger of losing its title back to Trade.
So why this falling in favour and what is causing the brand breakage? Well, to answer those questions with qualification, we need to look back to Beyond, two, three or even four years ago, when having risen like a phoenix from the ashes of the split with former host venue, the Collosseum as well as on the back of a fall out between the then joint promoters. Finding its feet within weeks of securing its new home, the amazing Area, Beyond very much entered its most prolific purple patch period to date, a run of events spanning 2008 through 2010 securing it as not just the most popular outing on the capitals clubbing circuit, but gained a reputation overseas, even though it had yet to play out in continental Europe and further afield. And during this period, the format of Beyond hardly changed, a solid residency of stars ensuring its popularity never waned or the need to change was not an issue. Indeed, with Steve Pitron, Mkey D & Alan K masterminding the main room and David Jimenez, Hifi Sean & Paul Christian sorting the sounds in the second space, Beyond was very much at its brilliant best. However, the real magic for us was in the terrace room, where the delightfully debaucherous & decadent feel of clubbing on a Sunday morning played out the most, The Sharp Boys, The Oli, Jamie Head & Fat Tony often outstaying even the main room revellers right up to the midday finish, while that main room lighting the exceptional effects, the trademark ceiling rockets and scores of sterling sets from Mikey, Alan &, particularly an always precision perfect Mr Pitron, earned Beyond its all-time best club status.
Yet, despite all this, the then new promoter, Jonny Marsh, decided in 2010 that Beyond was destined for bigger and better times, not just in London but overseas, his aims to share the brilliance of the brand not just in other capital cities of the world, but in festivals & tours, this programme marking measured successes in Paris & Mykonos, although not that much more, The Week in Brazil playing host just once, Beyond showing its singular hand at Sydney Mardi Gras, while the La Demence cruise and the XLsior festival will go down as Beyond’s best international expeditions. However, back in London, the virtual constant tampering with the format, swapping and changing the D.J.’s at the drop of a hat, the continual desire to throw special events and the theory that by changing & shifting the show around would keep it fresh, actually put many of its earlier years fervent followers off, while this went virtually unnoticed by the promoter and his team, as for every regular they lost, another transient party goer would replace, meaning the bottom line figures didn’t look much different, but that whole fabulous feel & marvellous magic that had been Beyond, was slipping & sliding significantly. But, with Steven Sharp steering a stormy ship into calmer waters, Beyond, for a while at least, regained some of that magic it had lost, although with knee jerk axing & changing of promoters becoming the norm across the group, like Later & A:M, Beyond was an inevitable victim, a situation that has existed now for the last two years.
So that brings us pretty much up to date, although in 2012, while we continued to support our then most favourite frolic of all, our stays were merely extended to Steve Pitron set performances (which will always remain special for lots of reasons) and not much more, the charge laid at our door that it was only his house music we were interested in, but the true fact being that Beyond was not a patch of the party that it was in the years before. Indeed, another element in this equation was the decimation of the scene Saturday schedule , much of which lays at the doors of Orange Nation, meaning there was little to feed our desire to party before Beyond, even the protagonists of this sad Saturday story not replacing their crushed competition with ample or sufficient alternatives. And that brings us neatly to this “Midnight” format, one that was originally devised, like “Super Size” & “Ice”, as simply specialist & one-off events to satisfy increased clubber demand that bank holidays & the like dictated. However, more deviously, this “Midnight” format was also used as a weapon against brands such as Matinee & SuperMartXe, that competition crushing attempt to pitch this afterhours party right into the thick of the Saturday schedule, a place were Beyond in our view, simply doesn’t belong. But with no competition left and no real big parties remaining, excepting WE, Beyond is now simply being used to fill that very gap its timings switching & fixing created, 2013 already proving that as in the last eight weeks, there have been no less than five “Midnight” events, all the current promoter being able to say on the subject is “…we like to let people party for longer…”, a weak response to our critiscm of how this format is being used & abused, if ever there was one.
What we simply cannot understand with the current use of the “Midnight” muddle, is that rarely is the chapel space open before 3 a.m., while a wait till six or even seven is required before the main room swings into action, leaving just the terrace space which, in the hands of one Anna Iwinska, is tortuous tech house terror that wouldn’t be out of place in Berlin’s Berghain, while this week’s zero o’clock start sees an absolute unknown, Daniel Braggins, kick off this once spectacular show. But the favour faltering & all-time status sinking story of Beyond doesn’t rest just at the door of the now maligned “Midnight” format, but the whole atmosphere & feel of the club, the staff nowhere near as friendly as before, the security imposing & sometimes acutely invasive, while the promoter, who we would expect not only to take charge, show himself throughout and generally be the face of the club, is rarely seen after 8 a.m. And while some order has been restored with the once steady resident star line-up’s, we cannot help but feel (without mentioning names) that square pegs are being pushed into round holes, just one example being that certain D.J.’s can be seen playing in all three rooms, whereas each space always did and should have their own distinct sound, these individual’s styles actually no different from one room to the next. However if we are to believe the bullish banter of the clubs promoter when he say’s “…I’m loving the atmosphere at Beyond this year so let’s all raise the roof, take it to the next level and keep it at the top of its game…” those very words a contradiction in terms, as if Beyond really still is at the top of its game, where is that next level? Plus, while he adds of Beyond, “…not just London’s but the world’s best afterhours…” we are seriously casting doubts as to whether it can still rooftop shout that status.
So, with NYD looking like it was our last Beyond and with the winds of clubbing change about to sweep the scene, thus putting this once awesome afterhours amazement’s home in a pronounced & precarious position, we not only fear for Beyond’s future, but reckon that soon Trade will recapture that title as our top club of all-time it lost back in 2001/2, leaving us to simply lament on the magical memories Beyond brought us, both in those halcyon Colloseum days and that purple patch Area period. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reports, Reviews | Tags: Alan K, Area, Beyond, Colloseum, Fat Tony, Hifi Sean David Jimenez, Jamie Head, Mikey D, Paul Christian, Steve Pitron, The Oli, The Sharp Boys | 1 Comment »
With a surging sense of enthusiasm for 2013 in what we have called our year of positivity, we set out our plans in the first of a returning “Monthly Message”, sharing recent reviews, reports, recommends & music features, while looking forward to other reporting & reviewing returnees as well as some dates for your disco diary.
There is no shadow of a doubt that 2012 proved a rollercoaster of a ride for our reviewing, reporting & recommending, a fall in features compared to the previous year symptomatic of the challenges we faced and the distractions they caused and while there were plenty of highlights, our activity wasn’t one of them. So, with a determination to restore the status quo to where it was in 2011 and with this year very much one of “positivity”, plus with a real sense of resurgence in our fortunes, we are keen to bring back some reviews & reports that were noticeably absent in 2012, this our monthly message one, while there are others which we will be covering below. But true to our monthly message form, we will run through the sections on our website, picking up on activity for the last month, in this case December and then hinting as to what to expect from the coming month.
REVIEWS
December saw a continued return to reviews, WE’s “Formula 2” anniversary event along with two Beyond reflections posted, while towards the end of the month, we reviewed the year in general with our Annual Address, rounding off 2012 with our Clubs review, January starting virtually as we finished, with Beyond NYD getting the super sized review treatment, while our 2012 music reviews, three of them dominated the first week, our trip to Scream just over seven days ago on the cusp of completion while tomorrow’s DISH will be the next in a once a week review delivery, our highlight review from December that final Beyond fling of 2012.
RECOMMENDS/PICKS
During December we combined our Picks choices with our Extra Bites focuses, Orange’s “Christmas Day”, A:M’s “Boxing Day” Beyond “Midnight” & Splash Roma four, while pure Picks went to Room Service, PLAY>TIME, Muccassassina & ClubNation, while we posted just two Weekend Focus features, one on Beyond & the other on Orange Nation’s festive offerings. As for our newsletters, just one went public, the weekend before Christmas getting our Short Shots attention. As for January, well we have short shouted already, extra bited on WE’s “Vogue” party and focussed on both Scream & DISH, a special focus up on Orange Nations “Free January Clubbing” while our picks choices still get published via Facebook & will be up on our website from next week too, while our highlight recommends/picks post goes to Beyond from 22nd December.
MUSIC/D.J.’S
While we had plenty of plans to make our music newsletters weekly, it didn’t happen, although we started publishing our “Track of The Week” choices via Facebook, while a special music feature went up on WE “Formula 2”, we also focussing on D.J.’s Jamie Head & Mikey D. As for January, well it started with our four music reviews of 2012, covering our top 40 track chart, producers, podcasts & sets, while we plan from next weekend to bring back those D.J. focuses, the newsletters, plus our podcast & track of the week postings via our website as well as on Facebook. As for our December highlight, well it could only be that WE special feature.
REPORTS
With no postings to speak of in December, this is one area that we really want to re-propel during January, the returning “That Was The Week That Was” report come review re-commencing from next Friday, while we have already posted three reports this month already, two on Gaydar Radio & the other on Profile/Lo-Profile. But we also want to launch our “Seventh Day Sermon”, while as scene news hits, we aim to report it as we always used to, that first Gaydar report our highlight, even if it was a January rather than December publication.
PREVIEWS/DISCO MATTERS
With nothing to show for in December, we certainly want to get our previews back on stream, the first on Puscha & Matinee Pervert due up in the next week, while Deelooded’s move out east will also get our advance focus. Plus, with a Seamus Hajji interview looking like it could come our way, Disco Matters should be back too.
NIBBLE SIZE TWEETS
A really popular feature of ours which, partly due to technical difficulties, all but halted towards the end of 2012, although following a number of requests to see them back, we will be re-launching these live from the dancefloor transmissions from the beginning of February, beaming our clubbing cavorting all the way from Antwerp, direct to http://twitter.com/discomatt.
COMING UP
With January already having seen us trip across the channel to Paris, while closer to our London home, East Bloc drew us in for DISH, the next couple of weekends will see us forging ahead with our “activity acceleration” plans, before a further trip onto the continent the first weekend of February, Antwerp, Red & Blue & Propaganda calling, while South Africa comes in March & then back to Paris for Easter & Matinee “La-Leche”. But with plenty of parties in-between, we will be attempting some mid-week as well as weekend dancing dervishes, Popcorn, Gigolo, Room Service & new club Swallow on our disco diary radar
KEEP UP
Naturally you can tune into all our activity right here, while for posts like our “Pick Of The Day”, Podcast & Track Of The Week” and our “Does…” photo albums, then our Facebook page at http://facebook.com/pages/Disco-Matt/112730602119746 is the place to go, while our group at http://facebook.com/groups/discomatt/ & our personal profile at http://facebook.com/discomattlondon are worth keeping tabs on, while in “Picks” terms, why not check out & follow our Tumblr page at http://discomatt.tumblr.com.
So, with much to do and a stringent schedule set, it’s all steam ahead in 2013 with our “activity acceleration” programme to put us back where we belong, as London’s original party boy independent journalist who’s reviews, reports, recommends & music posts position us as a prominent source of scene clubs, events, music, D.J.’s, news, interviews and much much more. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reports, Reviews | Tags: A:M, Beyond, ClubNation, Dish, Gaydar Radio, Jamie Head, Mikey D, Muccassassina, Orange, Playtime, Room Service, Scream, WE | No Comments »
First there was the shock news of the closure of Gaydar Radio and now, owners QSoft Consulting, have delivered a second crushing blow to the gay scene, this time with the sudden ceasing of trading of its Bar Soho Limited business, meaning that, as of immediate effect, both Profile & Lo-Profile will be no more. So, amidst no warning & no opportunity for its staff, key players & customers to say a fond farewell, we find ourselves picking up the pieces of this pack of cards closure announcement & trying to put them together into a special report reflecting the mood of many for whom this is new news even bigger a shock than the last.
As the collation issues its mid-term report in a period of austerity that is now predicted to grip the UK for an extra four years, it seems that the tough economic times will continue to have an impact of our lives for a long while yet, although with a determination to make 2013 our year of “Positivity”, from day one, a real sense of optimism of bigger better & brighter things to come was sweeping across us, a definite new DM dawn on the near horizon, with the first weekend of 2013 encompassing Paris & PLAY>TIME. However, with the news of Gaydar Radio’s closure having shocked us, we had an inkling that this may be followed by another announcement, our report at the time saying “…this decision that will see Gaydar Radio close its door today, possibly having a knock on effect for QSoft’s bar & restaurant arm, Bar Profile Limited, which has been reported to be carrying a pre-tax loss of £2,195,581 in 2011 and so, purely in financial terms, could also be in danger of a rug pull closure..” we adding, “…however, we guess that announcement is for another day…”. But that other day has come, just four after the shocking news of Gaydar Radio, we find ourselves soaking us the not so shocking but stunningly sudden closure of Profile & Lo-Profile.
Yes you heard us right, Profile & Lo-Profile, as of today Monday 7th January, have ceased trading, the news, as it did with Gaydar Radio, filtering through on Facebook, while it wasn’t long before the official announcement was e-mailed to us, QSoft’s chairman, Henry Badenhorst, saying this, “It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Profile & Lo-Profile will be permanently closed from 7th January 2013…” he going on to explain that “…the building is undergoing major refurbishments required by the landlord and an agreement was reached for the lease to be surrendered back to the landlord after various problem areas could not be resolved…”. So, taking this on face value, we can understand that there has clearly been a dispute over the tenancy agreement, although what is not clear is whether that agreement was due for renewal, or whether the landlord had sought a review under the terms of the lease, given those extensive refurbishments that, if you have visited Profile in recent months has been all too evident given the scaffolding that has shrouded the entrance. However, that word “surrender” seems to be key here, as, if we are reading this correctly, it looks like there has been little attempt to fight these agreement complications tooth & nail in defence of a business that has not only become a cornerstone of the Soho scene, but is one over six years established, rather the towel was thrown in for that greater or lesser, whichever side of the fence you sit on, evil of life.
So, lease issues or not, it seems that, as with Gardar Radio, our beloved Wardour Street wonder, the creative combo that is (or was) Profile & Lo-Profile, has lost its fight for survival down to that evil word money, the figures speaking for themselves as that considerable debit the holding company, Bar Profile Limited, was carrying, we suspect too much to continue to bear. Plus, the raw facts are that, save for PLAY>TIME on Friday’s & a sizable chunk of Saturday’s, Lo-Profile was not a viable turnover proposition, one also under continual licensing pressures/issues, while the seven day bar come restaurant operation upstairs, Profile, was surely a real cash drain on QSoft. Indeed, the grandiose plans to push the food side of the business, the first few months seeing it open early doors & serve breakfast, the American diner style menu finding initial favour and it soon outshining many of its round the corner food serving competitors, was all relatively short lived. Indeed, with so much of the bar’s floor plan given over to dining space, must have found itself battling to cover costs, while, like its sister below, Friday’s & Saturday’s proved the singular popular nights of the week in what was always going to be an ever decreasing circle of its fight for survival. Yet, all that said, what Profile as a bar achieved during its now short 3 ¾ years on Wardour St., is something the team can be proud off, raising the Soho sophistication stakes substantially and providing a platform for some amazing D.J.’s tout their talents, who can forget the “ClubNation” Friday’s with Phil Marriott, the Zach Burns sessions & the likes of Nathan Six & Jamie Head, who always seemed to excel in this smart space.
No, it has not shocked us that Profile & Lo-Profile are no more, but what has truly shocked & stunned us is the speed & suddenness that it has both happened & been announced, our trip to PLAY>TIME last Friday now sadly proving to be our last, as with the immediate closure, there has been no opportunity to say a fond farewell to the place, in what would surely have been a much more gracefully & gracious departure from the scene than this. And, that is what has actually angered us, as surely QSoft were aware sometime in advance of today’s announcement, that this day would arrive and so, surely, for the sake of so many fervent fans, loyal customers, key players & staff members old & new, would want to have left on some sort of a, if but sadden tinged, high, a final Friday or Saturday fling surely the fitting end to a brand that has made a huge impact of the social & clubbing lives for many in Soho. Indeed, we would go as far to say that QSoft owe a debt of gratitude to the scores of stars that have helped line its pockets, bringing their wealth of talents to the fore, many of which you would associate with the big boy clubs in London & internationally, the likes of Steve Pitron, Paul Heron, Pagano, D’Johnny, Tony English, Jodie Harsh, Jamie Head, Mikey D, Brent Nicholls & Oliver M, while scores more made Lo-Profile a prolific playing ground, some developing & nurturing terrific talents, Zach Burns forever linked with the place. Then there are the clubbing connections, Gigolo having been born there, SuperMartXe, Lovechild & Salvation having used it as a pre-party platform, while it would feed others, A:M & Beyond always benefactors, although Soho was made so richer by it very presence, meaning that to bow out so ungraciously & without any kind of generous goodbye is nothing short of scandalous.
As for the reactions, well they speak the biggest volumes in terms of the magnitude of the loss that Profile & Lo-Profile’s closure has caused, Facebook having gone viral on the subject, this just a small collection of reactions, the first from one of the clubs Managers’ who spoke out first by saying “…Life is hard and most of the time I feel I’m struggling to get through every day. Today made me look back at my life and see that I have been blessed to have worked with the greatest team of people I could ever have asked for — life is hard and sometimes the happiness you were searching for was right with you the whole time I will miss you all…”, this causing a floodgate, tributes & comments pouring in, this from Zach Burns, “…Sad news, very sad to hear off Profile & Lo Profile closing today. Must thank Paul Beardshaw & Raphael Goes for giving me the chance to join the venue & team of DJs, Lo Profile was one of my favourite clubs, every time spent there has been amazing & a massive boost for me. Over the time there I met many great people from the team, It’s been truly awesome, you won’t be missed because I’ll still see you all but wish you all the best for whatever’s to come next…” while one of its biggest supporters & also a key player there, Seenqueen’s webmaster & scene D.J. Brent Nicholls saying, “…I can’t believe one of London’s best clubs and bars Profile & Lo Profile are closed. I loved djing there, it had a touch of the old school glamour clubbing and was one of the few quality crowds and venues London had. Why are all the ‘great’ places closing? Although there are other quality venues, there is also a lot of sub standard clubs and venues…this is a sad reflection of a gay scene in decline…this is also an opportunity for other venues to step up to the plate, when one door closes another one opens…but there will never be a door like Profile/LoProfile…we were a family that had a home in the heart of vibrant Soho. Goodbye Profile/LoProfile and thank you to all those that made it the fantastic place it was…”.
But with so many more like this from one of its heavenly hosts Andrea Drudikova, “…Such a shame Profile and Lo Profile closed down. Sending good vibes to all the staff. It was a fab place where we always had lots of fun…” and this from one of its most well known Manager’s, Raphael Goes, “…It’s a very very sad day, spent a big part of my time in London inside that venue, so many good moments, so many new friends, can’t believe I won’t be able to go back there to see everyone and have a tequila shot!!!! I’m so sorry guys, hope you are all well, miss you all very much and hope to be able to see you guys somewhere else now… Goodbye Lo-Profile…” sent all the way from Brazil, it is clear that this news is far reaching & affecting so many, meaning we could easily devote another post to the comments along, while what we will be commissioning, is a special review, not just capturing that last PLAY>TIME from Friday, but sharing snippets from reviews across the years in celebration of what D.J. & pal Mikey D exclaimed as “…one of the most fun and exciting places to DJ on the scene…” and one “…sorely missed in Soho…”, while, pictorially, Seenqueen have already come up trumps with their own tribute and one well worth taking a look by going to direct link. http://seenqueen.com/web/club-pix-profile-lo-profile-memories/ while watch this space for some exclusive shots taken just this afternoon, when we were given an opportunity to step inside the venue for the last time ahead of the builders bulldoze, a special few minutes that gave us the chance to say bye to team members & toast what had become our favourite Soho spot ever, a fond farewell.
So while we remain ravaged by mixed emotions over this awful announcement, anger swinging to sadness & back again, we are determined, even if QSoft aren’t, to mark the moment of Profile & Lo-Profile’s passing with that promised reflective review tribute “Final Lo-Pro Fling” which we aim to publish on Saturday, while you too can say a fond farewell to these Soho splendours, Saturday the day, 7 p.m. the time, & The Yard the place to do it, details up at http://facebook.com/events/244194319045789/, raising a glass to the future to the team, but all toasting that farewell to a brilliant bar/club brand that, just a day after meeting its maker, is so sadly & sorely missed. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reports | Tags: D'Johnny, Jamie Head, Lo-Profile, Nathan Six, Pagano, Profile, Steve Pitron, Tony English, Zach Burns | 1 Comment »
As the song goes, “…It’s called a dance floor and here’s what it’s for, so come on…”, these lyrics very appropriate for WE Party London’s “Vogue” NYD Tea-Dance event which has landed our first “Pick of The Day” for 2013, WE Spanish resident D.J. Carlos Gallardo heading a London main room team that includes Jamie Head, Gonzalo Rivas & D’Johnny, but excludes a scene star player, while Fat Tony’s club, Deelooded, hosts the second space, all the detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we orate our own opinion on this outing before delivery the dinky detail beneath.
From the “A New Formula” launch right up till last month’s 2nd Anniversary event, aptly named “Formula 2”, hardly a WE Party here in London have we missed, the only two in 2012 being “Pharaoh” and “Players”, we having fallen head over heels for this happening every since the scintillating “Safari” a year ago to the day. Indeed, WE has been part of our New Year’s Day partying picture for the last two seasons, January 1st 2011 sporting the amazing “Attacks” outing, while NYD aside, we can count ourselves both privileged & blessed to have witnessed both the “Fast Food” & “Fluro” forays from the stage, “Safari” the first time we were allowed this amazing advantage, while we marvelled on the mesmeric “Formula 2” meet from here too. But while we have been fortunate on all these occasions, WE has been & is about much more in our books, the party people, the exceptional effects, the magnificent music and the prolific players that deliver these delightful dance delectations, two real stars of the show in recent times having been WE Spanish resident Carlos Gallardo and London superstar Steve Pitron, both have played a huge part in making “Safari” & “Formula 2” the fourth best & best events in our 2012 club review round-up.
Yet, despite all of that, we sit here on our sofa on this New Year’s Day 2013 disillusioned, as we were shocked, no let’s get it right, disgusted to discover that Steve had not been booked for this WE party, the season opening soiree that, in our humble opinion, should have his name written all over it. But interestingly, when we study the poster PR, Mr Pitron is in clear print, so it seems, on the face of it at least, that is was considered when the line-up was originally agreed, after all, the posters would have gone to print a good three weeks ago at least, meaning that there has been a monumental mix up, a chronic organisational catastrophe, or, as we suspect, too many facilitating fingers in the promotional pie exacerbated by a significant shortage in communication, the phrase, “the left hand doesn’t know what the right is doing”. And before we drop the subject, given this inexcusable error, as let’s face it Steve Pitron is by far the biggest draw on the capitals clubbing circuit, there will be scores, nay hundreds of party goers heading to The Coronet tonight, expecting to see their main man play, only to be severely disappointed, as we are. But, we are confident that the team behind WE in London, will make best endeavours to put this situation right in time for the next event, as failure to do so could alienate more followers than they had bargained for.
So, safe in the knowledge that one of WE’s star players will not be playing, what can you expect from this “Vogue” inspired tea dance delectation?. Well, this is the dinky Pr come event detail…..
Strike a pose!
After the roadblock WE FORMULA 2nd Anniversary WE are raring to go and have an almighty first party of 2013 lined up, kick starting the year as we mean to go on, that is to say jam packed tight with thousands of London’s finest in the Coronet Theatre!
Ladies with an attitude let the battle commence, as WE take the action up a level with our supersized stage production to the theme of VOGUE. Legendary WE theming embraces fashion and fury with posing outfits and staging direct from Madrid, but adding a London edge bringing that realness that make WE your favourite UK party.
Already the biggest club dance production in the city, WE are set to make it even bigger and better as the super-hot gogos are joined by dance stars to create the HOUSE OF WE for the most rulin’ dance battles live on stage, and this time, we’re bringing it to the crowd! Plus pyrotechnics, co2 cannons and live visual shows in true We London style.
D.J.’s: Carlos Gallardo, Gonzalo Rivas, D’Johnny, Jamie Head
WERK! London’s coolest new clubbing brand DEELOODED takes over room 2, bringing fierceness of attitude and sound to the monumental We Party.
D.J.’s: Fat Tony / Verity Mayes & Bryony Masters
With further information, including door entry fees, opening times & venue direction available through http://orangenation.co.uk, http://wepartylondon.com & on the events page at http://www.facebook.com/events/462705037106251/, despite the notable absence, WE will always receive our resounding recommendation as it is, far & away, the biggest & busiest bash this bank holiday and while we will be missing WE too, the first on NYD, we are sure that you will want to “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Carlos Gallardo, D'Johnny, Deelooded, Fat Tony, Gonzalo Rivas, Jamie Head, Steve Pitron, WE Party, WE Party London | No Comments »
Having commenced the year with a colossal classics celebration, our first dervish dominated by a performance of prolific Pitron proportions, who would have thought that our concluding dancing day would find us soaking up a set so spectacularly similar & stunning, Steve once again at the epicentre of our excitable cavorting, the club on both occasions being Beyond, this final fling of our year proving the most emotionally enthralling epilogue to 2012 we could have wished for, but what made this the most momentous Beyond meet of the month, possibly of the year?
When it comes to traditions we have many, our lives driven by orderly actions & organised schedules, while, on particular days of the year, we follow rituals with religious zeal, Christmas Day an example where without our beloved Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang, we would never feel or be the same, our nearest & dearest sometimes painfully aware of that organisation & order we demand, alarms reminding us of activities that should be instinctive and we very much a fish out of water when attempting manage either meets or trips on a wing & a prayer. And when it comes to clubbing, we are the same, impromptu appearances very rare indeed, while those certain days & times of the year demand exacting event attendances, New Year’s Day probably our most fastidious, when a collection of constants have reigned supreme over our clubbing cavorting, one brand standing head & shoulders above the rest in this regard, having been part & parcel of our New year’s Day morning’s for the best part of the last decade. But more recently it has also been the club where we have delighted in our last December dance of the passing year, meaning we end the old & start the new as we have left of and then mean to go on.
We are, naturally, talking about Beyond, the spectacularly scintillating Sunday morning meet that has, virtually single handily, re-written the afterhours rule book, in what had, previous to its launch in 2001, had been pretty much uncharted territory, only Trade breaking the night-time clubbing norm, as colossal a club Laurence Malice’s meet was, it never amassed anywhere near the broad appeal that its Sunday successor did and has. Indeed, while Trade’s music policy never really shifted from tough tech, well apart from a little lite lounge injection here & there, Beyond has always catered from a diverse dynasty of dancing devotees, the three spaces of its former home, the Colosseum, and its brilliant base now, the amazing & atmospheric Area, serving up a superb spectrum of sounds to suit a wide range of house music tastes. And this has been the core of Beyond’s staggering success, a brand that has trodden far more international steps than its predecessor, has scooped annual press & publication awards that stretch deep into double figures, while with its “all roads leads to” reputation, the broad appeal & unrelenting popularity of this phenomenal party never ceases to amaze us.
So, while we had, just a couple of days before, announced that we would be cancelling all remaining clubbing commitments for 2012, this following an awful incident on Christmas night, a mound of messages of support, phone calls & texts, all combined to sway our steadfast stance, the phrase “…don’t let THEM ruin your plans…” ringing in our ears while the telling blows that combined to confound our cancellation choice, firstly a marvellous message that included “…they might shove you to the ground & rob you, but nothing keeps us beyond regulars from the dancefloor..” and secondly, the statement that Steve Pitron has always stood us to, that being “…only pressing family issues or if you are on your death bed are valid excuses for missing Beyond…”, meaning it was a “…what time?!…” text that invoking an excited reaction and a 5.30 pickup that delivered us to Area’s doors and into the hands of our favourite club of all time, for an emotionally enthralling epilogue come last dance of 2012. And with a warm greeting from Minty on the door, it was clear Steve was anxious to get the main room party going, he losing us in the queue, although with a somewhat unfriendly security search over, we were soon in and, like Mr Pitron, eager to get going, dispelling the dismal memories of the Christmas night incident, although painfully aware of the wave of questions & comments that would come. But with the likes of Ben Kaye, Smalls, Bel, along with an arriving & excitable Peter, we were in captivating company and what lay ahead would prove to be three hours of monumental music & masses of fun-filled frolicking to elevate this to one of the best Beyond’s of the year/
With the signal to get the main room going given, Steve speedily set about heavenly house music hat-tricks, one after the other, as a cavorting pre New Year crowd that was expected to be thin on the ground, packed out the main room as though it was a special event, bare torso muscle men up on the podiums and faces a-plenty passing us by and even joining us a bevy of Brazilians including the marvellous Mhardeen, the delectable Dudu & the fabulous Fabio. But plenty others made our morning magical included Dan Kelly, Mark Williams, James Brewer, Summer Doll Nguyen, & Dorin Andrei, all gloriously greeting us, while in greeting terms, no-one can quite top Jamie Head, we catching him while out on the terrace trying to post an Instagram shot of Steve & Smalls, this after the first of many tickling chases, although from an unexpected source, mark Williams the pranking perpetrator. However, inside was where all the emotionally enthralling & exciting eruptions were going to take place, Peter in playful mood, pinning us into our spot corner & riding our leg, much to Mr Pitron’s delight, while the man himself was masterminding some mesmeric music, a mixture of classics, classics re-hashed, 2012 big hitters & new tracks, sending us stratospheric, highlights including “Stay”, “Some Kind Of Rush”, “Got To Be Strong”, “Can’t Stop Me”, while sheer yet scintillating surprises were floor filler favourites from yesteryear, “Souk” & “Acapella” that went down an absolute storm.
Now, the awful Christmas night end that had been plaguing us was all but dissolved, rather the magical music, the prolific people and the amazing atmosphere were taking centre stage in our thoughts, stints on our spot swapped with privileged position next to our premier player (haven’t called him that for a while) Mr Pitron’s performance proving not just pitch perfect but actually nothing short of phenomenal, it clear from the expressions on his face and his body language, that is was right in the zone and enjoying every minute. And the party people down on the dancefloor were lapping up every second of his stunning set, their arm waving, whooping & whistling reactions speaking their own volumes, while we were in heaven in the D.J. booth with our mixing master & with lighting & technical genius Smalls, the times we have spent with them in this privileged position across the year, magical 2012 memories highlights, this morning being no different, while it was also clear Mr Pitron was in playful mood, the inevitable tickling frenzies leaving us squealing & squirming as both he & Smalls pinned us in the sound cupboard. But Peter was to add to all this bawdy bravado too, more leg riding lunges leaving us on the exciting edge, while others joined in on the joviality, Mhardeen, among many more chasing & attempting to tickle us (we are a sensitive soul), while it would be the terrific Tom Fuller that would temporarily rescue us, a respite in the chapel space giving us time to take stock for the final stint of Steve’s set.
And what a stint it proved to be, yet more classics intermixed with 2012 anthems amassing an awesome Area atmosphere, the lighting at fabulously full tilt and with Eleckta Paris & her dance troupe on NYD preparation duty rest, the music was the majority of the talking, news having reached us that both Hifi Sean & Jamie Head had nailed prolific & pulsating performances in the chapel & the terrace respectively. But it was the main room performance we were concentrating on and while an early showing of the towering “Timebomb” had been the only Steve selection to tumble our tears, the main protagonist pick in his armoury would leave us wonderfully weeping, the brilliant “Beautiful Lie” catching us off guard gloriously although it would be the spectacular “Symphony”, neatly followed by the simply stunning “Strange Fruit”, interestingly on its first play in a Pitron Beyond performance, that would leave us breathless in emotional eruptions, recapturing the superb spine tingling sensations we had succumbed to on hearing both of them within Steve’s WE Formula 2” podcast. “Symphony” & “Strange Fruit” stunned, the rest of our stay at this prolific party was a bonus, The Sharp Boys arrival & welcomes another filler on top of the friendly support we had received all morning, although with Steve’s set over and a final tickling frenzy done, it was time to wend our weary way home to reflect on, what was without doubt, one of the most monumental meets, not just of December, but of the year.
Well what can we say to add to all that? Well, in brief, a stunning Steve set, an awesome Area atmosphere, a flock of fantastic friends, mesmeric music and exceptional lighting effects, all combined to make this a morning that only delectable dreams are made of. Yet this is the epitome of Beyond, it never failing to deliver delightfully in all departments, it standing head & shoulders above the capital circuit clubbing competition in every wonderful way. And to attract the kind of numbers just a two days before the New Year and on the cusp of one of the biggest Beyond bashes on the calendar, is proof of the pudding in our humble pie opinion, that it is every bit as popular now, as it was this time last year, and the year before that and the years before that. What the founder of this phenomenal weekly afterhours outing, Craig Elder, has created is a club that we can safely say ranks as one of the best on the globe, our experiences of scores of others both here in London & abroad, suitably qualifying us to make this considerable claim. But while La Demence, Muccassassina & Alegria come close, Beyond in our books is the best and so to spend our last dance of 2012 in its hands, adding to the myriad of meets this year alone, very much proved the most emotionally enthralling epilogue that this review reflection title suggests, the final few words having to go to a Pitron performance of epic proportions that, like this colossal club, could, no will possibly, probably, definitely turn out to be top of our Y.E. tree. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reviews | Tags: Area, Ben Kaye, Beyond, Craig Elder, George Sharp Mitchell, Hifi Sean, Hrh Minty, Jamie Head, Smalls Lites, Steve Pitron, Steven React Sharp, The Sharp Boys | 1 Comment »
It will be starting 2013 as it means to go on and is ended 2012 as it has done for the whole of the year, at the top of the capitals clubbing circuit game, Beyond once again making it to our “Pick Of The Day” choice for today (Sun 30th Dec), all the party promo a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we edit the event info after ticking the turntable troops beats boxes beneath.
While we cannot wait to wave goodbye to 2012, ringing the New Year in with our traditional trip to what has, without question, become our favourite club of all time, given the circumstances that condemned our Christmas Day clubbing plans, we had decided to cancel all commitments until our trip to Paris for Scream on 5th January, a mound of messages of support, some positive thinking & the world wise words from a fellow clubber, all combined to chase away our down in the dumps disposition. Then when we realised we could end 2102 on a heavenly house music high, a terrific team of turntable troops barnstorming Beyond, no doubt with a bevy of brilliant beats, we quickly came to the conclusion that to stick to our cancelled clubbing schedule plans & principles were doomed to dissolve into thin air. So who has swayed us so?, the simple & honest answer to that question being the dream team of D.J.’s on duty at this latest Beyond bash, Hifi Sean sorting the superb sounds in the chapel from 1 .am., while a switch to the terrace at 3 finds Jamie Head in his preferred Beyond place, no doubt serving up another scintillating set to follow on outstanding one last week. But it will be our spot and a three hour Steve Pitron main room performance that will further lift our sagging seasonal spirits, he sure to tickle our tunes tastebuds with a ton of terrific tracks, many that will tumble those trademark tears, while we reckon come 9 a.m., there may be actual tickles to add to the showings of “the cups”, all this while The Sharp Boys steer the Beyond supporters & soundtrack through till the midday finish.
So, in the knowledge that we have put forward a convincing case for you to join us on the Area dancefloor, here is what Beyond’s promoter Ben Kaye has to say about this “Music Is All You Need” event…
“…I really hope everyone had a great Christmas, ate enough over the holidays, got all the gifts they wanted and everyone’s stockings were suitably filled – one way or another; and if by going by my own past experiences are some of you getting a little bored, contemplating going out before NYE especially if you are off work?! Well….. This Sunday Beyond is open at Midnight; regular as clockwork for our regulars; or a great excuse to burn off the calories you possibly gained over xmas…” he adding “…I personally love the atmosphere at this particular Beyond so if you are in London, come and experience the Beyond magic, we are open from 12 midnight and the lady at the door will be Hrh Minty while Elektra and her delectable dancing team are working hard preparing for our NYD superparty, so have been given way to the music on this one occasion…”
And given both Ben’s & our boosting of this Beyond bash, all that’s left to say & do is to share the events page with you, http://facebook.com/events/191006581037940/, the clubs page, http://facebook.com/beyondclub and the official website, http://orangenation.co.uk, while if we can cancel our cancelled plans, you can too, so see you on the dancefloor shortly, safe in the knowledge that you will “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Area, Ben Kaye, Beyond, George Sharp, Hifi Sean, Hrh Minty, Jamie Head, Steve Pitron, Steven React Sharp, The Sharp Boys | No Comments »
Sales shopping sorted, sporting activities accomplished and Christmas leftovers lapped up, there’s only one thing that should be on your roster radar this spiritual St Stephen’s sacrament, as A:M Ultra rolls out its “Boxing Day Blowout” tonight (Wed 26th Dec), a prolific party which wrestled our “Pick of the Day” choice from the Popcorn & Gigolo competition, all the event detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we fill out our Festive Focus Extra beneath.
Having suffered our own knockout blow following a mugging on the way to Orange “The Christmas Day Institution” event at Fire last night, while our Boxing Day may be on the back burner, there is a place that will be making the most of this final bank holiday of 2012, Area in Vauxhall entertaining A:M Ultra, which holds its “Boxing Day Blowout” bash tonight (Wed 26th Dec), moving across Vauxhall from its historical Fire home to the amazing & atmospheric Area. And with A:M’s tip top promoter, Steven Sharp, and his team pulling out all the showcase stops, this brilliant bash has all the hallmarks of the most heavenly festive happening of the season, this blowout bash having beaten off the Popcorn & Gigolo completion to make it to our premier “Pick of The Day” position. So, it simply wouldn’t do just to post a picture, but rather wax lyrically and bestow a Festive Focus Extra on this enthralling event, we sharing the slices from our special Orange Nation Christmas week focus, which serves up all the detail of his dance delight.
So, without further ado, this is what we had to say of A:M Ultra’s “Boxing Day Blowout”, our original devotion slightly edited to fit this Pick Of The Day & Festive Focus Extra, post, we kicking off by looking at the transformation of A:M, as well as sharing promoter Steven Sharp’s view on Boxing Day clubbing…..
“….Tonight (Wed 26th Dec) an afterhours institution that has gone through a significant transformation during 2012, holds its “Boxing Day Blowout”, A:M Ultra flying the Orange Nation flag, given that it’s a Wednesday and Onyx, which would normally occupy this slot, has all but disappeared from the capitals clubbing circuit, in a way a victim of its own success, like a tormented city trader having burnt itself out after a hectic three seasons at the top of the Friday tree. However, while to the naked eye, Onyx is no more, with an inside track along with informed information, Onyx has actually been absorbed by A:M, which under the superb steership of none other than prolific promoter Steven Sharp, has gone all “Ultra” on us, shifting & extending is previous afterhours status into the realms of nightime clubbing too, this traditional Saturday morning meet becoming a Friday frolic as well. And given the souped up size & substantial standing with the Orange Nation weekly clubbing/event schedule, it seems wholly appropriate that A:M “Ultra” has been granted this much prized Boxing Day slot, Mr Sharp pleased as punch that he has landed this cracking Christmas schedule stocking filler for his club, he remarking to us that “…Boxing Day has always been a traditional favourite party night to celebrate with friends and an excellent opportunity to dance and burn off any inches from Christmas Day excess!…” especially for those that didn’t make it to Orange last night…”
Then, we honed in on the detail of this “Boxing Day Blowout” bash, propelling the party PR, the D.J. & host line-up and then pointing you to the all important ticket & event info…..
“…As for the event, the first big “Blowout” piece of news is that A:M “Ultra” once again switches from his native home Fire, moving across to splendid sister (and in our opinion the much better suited) Area, Steven also revealing that the venue “…will be transformed into a snow setting, with all new decor, new visuals & loads of pyrotechnics to make the party GO BANG!…” we concurring that there is no better place than Area with its superior lighting, layout & atmosphere to push these plans to prolific prominence. And Steven is pulling out all the team stops, hostess with the mostest HRH Minty, with her little elf helpers Danny Boyce & Louise Port all on duty & handing out mince pies and Xmas sweets, while the D.J. line up oozes A:M from its main room pores, the star studded line up including Jamie Head, Gonzalo Rivas, D’Johnny and newish resident players Matt Bogard & Ania, all playing “…playing the contemporary supercharged house…”, the sounds extending to a second space where Onyx takes pop music charge in the heavenly hands of Tasty Tim & DMS. So, with a line up like that, this is sure to be the billed “Boxing Day Blowout With A Bang”, Area’s doors opening this coming Wednesday (26th Dec) at 10 p.m. and the vent running through to a planned 8 a.m. finish, advance tickets available online at https://orangenation.ticketabc.com/events/m-3-2-2-2-2-2/ priced at an early bird (still available) £10 or the standard £12, while with an ad/flyer it’s that same standard price on the door till midnight or £15 without & after, this surely an Xmas disco diary must, especially if (unlike us) you have Thursday off…”
Well, what more can we add, apart from sharing event page with you, a click on http://facebook.com/events/448638455184127/, while we leave some of the last words to Steven when he say’s “…so why not dance off those Christmas Day excesses with the team at we transform Boxing Day Night clubbing and take it to a new level and remember this special event is at Area not Fire and the doors open at 10pm…” he rounding off by saying “…see you on the Boxing Day dancefloor…”. And as this brilliant blowout bash gets our full thumbs up, we reap a recommendation reckon that you should “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: A:M, A:M "Ultra", Ania, Area, D'Johnny, Danny Boyce, DMS, Gonzalo Rivas, Hrh Minty, Jamie Head, Matt Bogard, Onyx, Steven Sharp, Tasty Tim | 1 Comment »
If there was ever an organisation to come up trumps over Christmas, it is Orange Nation, a superb selection of spectacular showings that sparkle & shine bright throughout the coming Christmas week, we focussing on Orange “The Christmas Day Institution” & A:M Ultra’s “Boxing Day Blowout”, while short shouting for no less than six other glorious gathering’s, a New Year Golden Ticket touting and an Orange Nation Christmas present of free clubbing in January mini mention.
As we find ourselves on the cusp of Christmas week 2012, we look back to the same time last year and a calendar of events that was every bit as plump as the turkeys that will no doubt be making it to dinner tables across the land come Tuesday, although with Christmas falling during the week this year rather than over the weekend like last, the 2012 festive season reality is that the lack of two additional bank holiday’s means that for some (like us) it’s just two days off from work making for leaner clubbing cavorting. Yet there will be plenty of others that will have either been granted or will be taking the whole week off, meaning there will be a penchant for partying, the clubbing circuit in the capital certainly not failing to deliver, especially if you head into the world of Orange Nation, the clubbing conglomerate that is responsible for brands such as A:M, Beyond, Gravity, Later & Orange, a host of events carrying you from Christmas Day to N.Y.E. meaning we thought it only right to propel their parties in a specially devoted festive focus which we have aptly called, “Christmas Cracker Of Continuous Clubbing”, honing in on two of the big Christmas events, but also giving a mini mention to the myriad of others. And with 2013 just over a week away, we will also take the opportunity to hint towards 1st January in what will once again prove one of the biggest clubbing days of the year, while we cannot forget the special Orange Nation Christmas present of free clubbing in January, no scrooge at large here.
So let’s crack (or is that cracker) on and head to Christmas Day (or night actually) as the institution that is Orange swings open its doors, flying in the face of conformity, dragging you away from the comedy repeats on the Beeb and giving you an outstanding opportunity to work off the excesses of the day. And while the promotions team claim “…let’s face it, you’ve been very bad this year so Santa won’t be coming anywhere near your chimney, so screw the turkey, let’s go to Fire!…” perhaps an excessive amount of clubbing during 2012 being their point, although we doubt you have been that naughty but will want to indulge in a little post dinner decadence while others fall asleep over that traditional Christmas supper. But we much prefer the promotions tack when they say “…Join together under the shining star of Orange with your London family this Christmas Day at our annual institution, and live the alternative nativity scene that didn’t make the gospel. Kings (& queens) travel far and wide to the stable of Fire where it all began, for a festive celebration like no other…” and if previous year’s experiences are anything to go by, then it will be a pumping & prolific party to plunder, Orange standing on its own two feet this year rather than previous Chrimbo combo’s with that other Christmas institution Trade.
So what’s on offer? Well citric sound splendour from start to finish as the D.J. line-up is pure Orange old school, The Sharp Boys, & Fat Tony on deck duty, while another original resident makes a special festive appearance, Gonzalo Rivas jetting in from his home & base of Valencia in what will be the first of a string of showings that include Beyond, A:M & WE Party, although he cannot contain his excitement for being back behind the Orange (potentially RAW) decks on Christmas night, so much so that he has laid down a special compilation to mark the occasion and one you should go grab without delay by clicking on http://orangenation.podomatic.com/entry/index/2012-12-20T08_37_46-08_00 while his set will definitely be one to savour. However, with the party kicking off at Fire this Tuesday (25th Dec) at 11 p.m. and the event running through till 7 a.m., plus with the potential of not just one but two rooms of fun, the D.J. set length maths dictate that the so called “…special guests…” will be required for duty, likely includee’s being Verity Mayes & playing partner Bryony Masters, while if they are in town, both The Oli & Paul Martin may be called up, the prospect of all these spinning stars sorting the Christmas night sounds surely too much to resist. So, having netted your hook, line & sinker, all we now need to say is go grab your advance tickets now, online at https://orangenation.ticketabc.com/events/orange-2-2-2-2-2-2/ still priced at just £10 or you can pay on the door although expect to pay more, further event info, should you need it, out at http://www.facebook.com/events/424553537610538/.
Then, the following night, another afterhours institution that has gone through a significant transformation during 2012, holds its “Boxing Day Blowout”, A:M Ultra flying the Orange Nation flag, given that it’s a Wednesday and Onyx, which would normally occupy this slot, has all but disappeared from the capitals clubbing circuit, in a way a victim of its own success, like a tormented city trader having burnt itself out after a hectic three seasons at the top of the Friday tree. However, while to the naked eye, Onyx is no more, with an inside track along with informed information, Onyx has actually been absorbed by A:M, which under the superb steership of none other than prolific promoter Steven Sharp, has gone all “Ultra” on us, shifting & extending is previous afterhours status into the realms of nightime clubbing too, this traditional Saturday morning meet becoming a Friday frolic aswell. And given the souped up size & substantial standing with the Orange Nation weekly clubbing/event schedule, it seems wholly appropriate that A:M “Ultra” has been granted this much prized Boxing Day slot, Mr Sharp pleased as punch that he has landed this cracking Christmas schedule stocking filler for his club, he remarking to us that “…Boxing Day has always been a traditional favourite party night to celebrate with friends and an excellent opportunity to dance and burn off any inches from Christmas Day excess!…” especially for those that didn’t make it to Orange the previous night.
As for the event, the first big “Blowout” piece of news is that A:M “Ultra” once again switches from his native home Fire, moving across to splendid sister (and in our opinion the much better suited) Area, Steven also revealing that the venue “…will be transformed into a snow setting, with all new decor, new visuals & loads of pyrotechnics to make the party GO BANG!…” we concurring that there is no better place than Area with its superior lighting, layout & atmosphere to push these plans to prolific prominence. And Steven is pulling out all the team stops, hostess with the mostest HRH Minty, with her little elf helpers Danny Boyce & Louise Port all on duty & handing out mince pies and Xmas sweets, while the D.J. line up oozes A:M from its main room pores, the star studded line up including Jamie Head, Gonzalo Rivas, D’Johnny and newish resident players Matt Bogard & Ania, all playing “…playing the contemporary supercharged house…”, the sounds extending to a second space where Onyx takes pop music charge in the heavenly hands of Tasty Tim & DMS. So, with a line up like that, this is sure to be the billed “Boxing Day Blowout With A Bag”, Area’s doors opening this coming Wednesday (26th Dec) at 10 p.m. and the vent running through to a planned 8 a.m. finish, advance tickets available online at https://orangenation.ticketabc.com/events/m-3-2-2-2-2-2/ priced at an early bird (still available) £10 or the standard £12, while with an ad/flyer it’s that same standard price on the door till midnight or £15 without & after, this surely an Xmas disco diary must, especially if (unlike us) you have Thursday off.
So those are the two Orange Nation Christmas week headline events, but what about the rest? Well on Thursday (27th Dec), the team point you in the direction of Room Service who hold a pre-party for WE “Vogue which takes place on N.Y.D., this followed by Gravity at Covert from midnight until 8.am. Then moving to Friday (28th Dec) A;M “Ultra is back and back at its home Fire, doors opening at 11 p.m. & the club running superlate (translated as post Saturday morning dawn), while just fifteen or so hours later, awesome afterhours Beyond rolls out yet another of its infamous “Midnight” meets, that is from zero o’clock on Sunday 30th Dec) running through till another superlate billing, we suspect 10 or 11 a.m. Then completing the Christmas week picture is Later, which itself is on the move for a one-off Sunday daytime disco dervish at Covert, making this a perfect hop, skip & jump from Beyond at next door Area, proceedings kicking off at 11.30 a.m. & the club running through till 7/8 p.m. details of all these events due out at http://orangenation.co.uk. Then, after a resting respite on New Year’s Eve, the “Golden Ticket” trio takes charge, Beyond NYD, WE “Vogue” & Orange “WE Afterhours” the £40 combined ticket package which is brilliant value so worth a mini mention now, this terrific ticket combo available online now at https://orangenation.ticketabc.com/events/new-years/ while details of what it offers is up at http://facebook.com/events/128980950589187/, while watch this space for special New Year Focus features on Beyond, WE & Orange, as well as an Extra Bites post on Beyond “Midnight”, all coming up later this week.
So, spending Christmas week on the Orange Nation dancfloors is truly a seven day prospect & affair for some, while work commitments look like restricting us to that institutional tradition that is Fire on Christmas night, although we wholeheartedly support all seven soiree’s as prominent places to be seen on the scene this festive season, meaning you should “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: A:M "Ultra", Ania, Area, Beyond, Covert, D'Johnny, Fat Tony, Fire, Gonzalo Rivas, Gravity, Jamie Head, Later, Matt Bogard, Orange, Room Service, Steven Sharp, The Golden Ticket, The Sharp Boys, Verity Mayes, WE Party | No Comments »
Well the now Mayan myth about the end of the world may have come & gone but Beyond is sticking with its guns and celebrating this fabled finale with their “End Of The World” party which is under way right now, we landing on it as our “Pick of The Day”, all the event detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we Extra Bite on bits from our Weekend Focus beneath.
Well what a year it has been for us and in some ways with the woes that have troubled us, we may well have been grateful to the Mayan’s if the end of the world had actually happened. However, we sit here some fifty hours after this ancient forecast failed to materialise looking at our favourite club of all time which survives this fabled finale of mother earth yet pokes in the eye of this now clear pie in the sky theory with its “End Of The World” party. And as the promotions team behind Beyond told us, “…the fun is only just getting started…”, having rolled out another of their infamous “Midnight” format frolics, the fun is actually well under way, the clubs ex promoter & also ex director of Orange Nation events, Jonny Marsh due to start his last ever U.K. set (yes he is a D.J. too), joined by some of Beyond’s all star residents, Jamie Head, Fat Tony, D’Johnny & David Jimenez, while as Mr Marsh bows out, this global apocalypse get together marks the resplendent return of one Paul Christian. So, having devoted a full Weekend Focus, our “Fabled Finale”, we thought we would pick out some best bits, tweak them a little and then put them into this special Extra Bites post and in so doing re-affirm our decision to make Beyond our “Pick of The Day today (Sun 23rd Dec).
So, here of some chunky bites from our Weekend Focus for you to chew on….
Having breathed a sigh of relief that the Maylan’s were wrong, we also having gotten in one of the best birthday’s in years, including that brilliant & best present EVER, the reality of our continued 2012 health woes has hit hard, meaning that we won’t be joining the clubbing celebration train this morning, although we know there will be plenty of you doing so within the wonderful walls of our favourite & most brilliant brand, Beyond striking a chord when it says of its “End Of The World” event today (Sun 23rd Dec) that “…the fun is just beginning…” the question they having posed “…if the world ends, where would you want to be?…” the answer surely being Beyond and to be honest, if the world had been ending, then we couldn’t think of a better place to go out with a bang.
Now, if you’re one of the lucky ones that are off until January, but even if you’re not, this is definitely the last Beyond before Christmas, so is likely to be a jam packed affair as everyone gets firmly into some festive frolicking with a dance work out to make room for all that Christmas Day chow. And having ruled the capitals clubbing circuit waves for the whole of 2012, Beyond is certainly not holding back with this final fling before Christmas, as they roll out one of their now infamous “Midnight” affairs, hence why it’s billed as a Saturday start (even though we all know it’s actually Sunday when the doors open). Plus, with the possibility that the club will run extra late being as certain as death & taxes, not least given how popular its parties have been this month alone, the “all roads lead to” reputation should play out to exceptional effect as both Soho & Shoreditch shindigs empty out and their party heads forge a path to Vauxhall.
So, with a Sunday lunchtime finish on the cards and a glittering line up of resident D.J.’s to keep you dancing way past dawn, who could resist taking in the full extent of this “End Of The World” event, Beyond’s main room sporting Jamie Head & Fat Tony, both having established a presence in this premier pitch during 2012 and should rock the main room to its fabulous finale fable foundations, while finale is very much the byword of what will be the last ever (so we are reliably informed) set from Beyond’s former promoter Jonny Marsh. Having recently spread his wings of the jet packed variety, sowing new rooting seeds in Australia, Mr Marsh will be saying bye to his old backyard Beyond, Jonny “…opening the main room personally…” performing his last set in London (and the UK) before flying back out to Oz, the whole Beyond family present to wave him a fond farewell, so is one bon voyage you won’t want to miss, whichever side of the Marsh fence you sit on.
However, the biggest and best news for us and we think for Beyond under the current premiership of Mr Kaye is the wonderfully welcome & resounding return of Paul Christian who has, in our view been sorely missed, Paul synonymous with The Chapel space and the start up D.J. to beat them all, even Hifi Sean whom we were also pleased to see back last weekend after protracted problems following a hernia operation. So there should be a real buzz about Beyond’s second space on Saturday (or is that Sunday!?!), Paul one of we hope many moves to restore our faith it what has become a brand that, despite its continued popularity, has been losing its way. So as good as Paul’s return is and as good as the inclusion of D’Johnny & David Jimenez in the Chapel this weekend are, it is our beloved Terrace room that is desperate for corrective attention, the lack of the likes of The Sharp Boys, The Oli & others that have, like us, adored the atmosphere & electricity of this special space, recent times seeing the dynamic duo of Verity Mayes & Bryony Masters (who are on deck duty this morning) having played to a mere handful of hedonists.
That said, this Beyond “End Of The World” bash gets our full recommendation (goes without saying surely), this “Midnight” event already underway as we go to press, doors having opened at midnight and the club running through to a billed late, late finish which we suspect could be midday,. advance tickets very much the way to go as always, having been a foregone conclusion, remembering that, £10 tickets are available for all Beyond events online at http://orangenation.co.uk/, while a trips to Soho outlets Prowler, Clone Zone (both stores) & 50 Dean, as well as at Comptons, Rupert St & Lo-Profile will gain you a similar priced pass. However, if you are pitching up in the next few hours, then paying on the door is your only option, but expect to pay more, while concessions are available with an ad or flyer at £12 till 7 a.m., the last words going to Beyond’s promoter Ben Kaye who takes the opportunity to send “…you all the best Xmas wishes and hope 2013 is all you want for and more. I want to personally say thank you for making 2012 such a great Beyond year for me, while to see everyone having so much fun week in week out really makes all the hard work worth it…”. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Area, Ben Kaye, Beyond, D'Johnny, David Jimenez, Fat Tony, Jamie Head, JJ Clark, Jonny Marsh, Paul Christian, Tom Fuller, Veirty Mayes | 1 Comment »
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11 Apr 2013 | 0 Comments
Recommends – “Fulsome Foursome” – Weekend Best Bites – Friday 12th to Sunday 14th April – Newsletter
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 ...
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22 Feb 2013 | 1 Comment
Reports/Reviews – “Not Another One!!” – Beyond “Midnight” – Saturday 23rd February – Special Reflective Report
What was a brilliant brand and a fabulous favourite of ours, is fast losing both is brilliance and its favour with the twelve hour “Midnight” mould breaker that is effectively laying this colossal club to a first four waste, we once again, yet for the last time, looking at why ...
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11 Jan 2013 | 0 Comments
Reviews/Reports – “Activity Acceleration” – D.M.’s Monthly Message – Friday 11th January
With a surging sense of enthusiasm for 2013 in what we have called our year of positivity, we set out our plans in the first of a returning “Monthly Message”, sharing recent reviews, reports, recommends & music features, while looking forward to other reporting & reviewing returnees as well as ...
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8 Jan 2013 | 1 Comment
Reports – “Pack Of Cards Closure” – Profile & Lo-Profile “The News & The Reactions” – Tuesday 8th January – Special Report
First there was the shock news of the closure of Gaydar Radio and now, owners QSoft Consulting, have delivered a second crushing blow to the gay scene, this time with the sudden ceasing of trading of its Bar Soho Limited business, meaning that, as of immediate effect, both Profile & ...
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1 Jan 2013 | 0 Comments
Picks/Recommends – “Don’t Just Stand There, Let’s Get To It” – WE “Vogue” NYD Tea-Dance – Tuesday 1st January – Pick Of The Day/Extra Bites Special
As the song goes, “…It’s called a dance floor and here’s what it’s for, so come on…”, these lyrics very appropriate for WE Party London’s “Vogue” NYD Tea-Dance event which has landed our first “Pick of The Day” for 2013, WE Spanish resident D.J. Carlos Gallardo heading a London main ...
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30 Dec 2012 | 1 Comment
Reviews – “Emotinally Enthralling Epilogue” – Beyond “Midnight – Music Is All You Need”- Sunday 30th December – Full Size Review
Having commenced the year with a colossal classics celebration, our first dervish dominated by a performance of prolific Pitron proportions, who would have thought that our concluding dancing day would find us soaking up a set so spectacularly similar & stunning, Steve once again at the epicentre of our excitable ...
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30 Dec 2012 | 0 Comments
Picks/Recommends – “Last December Dance” – Beyond “Midnight – Music Is All You Need” – Sunday 30th December – Pick Of The Day/Weekend Extra Bites
It will be starting 2013 as it means to go on and is ended 2012 as it has done for the whole of the year, at the top of the capitals clubbing circuit game, Beyond once again making it to our “Pick Of The Day” choice for today (Sun 30th ...
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26 Dec 2012 | 1 Comment
Picks/Recommends – “Brilliant Knockout Blow Of A Bash” – A:M Ultra’s “Boxing Day Blowout” – Wednesday 26th December – Pick Of the Day/Festive Focus Extra
Sales shopping sorted, sporting activities accomplished and Christmas leftovers lapped up, there’s only one thing that should be on your roster radar this spiritual St Stephen’s sacrament, as A:M Ultra rolls out its “Boxing Day Blowout” tonight (Wed 26th Dec), a prolific party which wrestled our “Pick of the Day” ...
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23 Dec 2012 | 0 Comments
Recommends – “Cracking Christmas Clubbing Celebration” – Orange Nation Festive Offer – Tuesday 25th to Sunday 30th December – Special Festive Focus
If there was ever an organisation to come up trumps over Christmas, it is Orange Nation, a superb selection of spectacular showings that sparkle & shine bright throughout the coming Christmas week, we focussing on Orange “The Christmas Day Institution” & A:M Ultra’s “Boxing Day Blowout”, while short shouting for ...
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23 Dec 2012 | 1 Comment
Picks/Recommends – “The End…Nah! The Fun Is Just Beginning” – Beyond “End Of The World Party” – Sunday 23rd December – Pick Of The Day/Weekend Extra Bites
Well the now Mayan myth about the end of the world may have come & gone but Beyond is sticking with its guns and celebrating this fabled finale with their “End Of The World” party which is under way right now, we landing on it as our “Pick of The ...
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