Posts Tagged ‘Jonny Woo’
When it comes to music festivals there are some biggies of the annual calendar, Glastonbury very much setting the scene in June, while Radio One have their say right across the country throughout the summer, a firm favourite of Londoner’s being SW4, which for the last two years, we have found virtually on our doorstep, being a resident of Clapham. But while all these events tip the scales for many, there is one that seems to have gathered recent momentum & following since its launch back in 2004, Lovebox very much capturing the imagination and attracting some massive names in the music & entertainment industry in a three day festival that has grown into something quite special. And, whilst the Friday & Saturday are superb in their own rights, it is Sunday that has created a pretty gigantic gay following, this year seemingly bigger than ever, meaning we simply had to mark the occasion with our own look at this third of three days of prolific music making, entertainment extravaganza’s & outdoor offerings that will see the cream of the partying scene head for East London & a liaison with Lovebox.
So, what sets Sunday aside from the other two day? And what can you expect by way of star players & gay tainted treats? Well, first & foremost, Sunday has the terrific title of “Out & Fierce” the added tagline of “Not Shady Just Fierce” hinting towards the offer & not the weather, that latter looking to dominates people’s minds as the day approaches, as the famed British summer seems to be rearing its ugly head. However when you consider the fabulous line up right across this third day in Victoria Park, even torrential rain doesn’t look like deterring the faithful from flocking to see the likes of The Scissor Sisters, Robyn, Blondie, Kelis, Beth Ditto, & gay crowd favourite, Marc Almond perform on the Lovebox main stage, while a host of peripheral parties will also see a gay swarm of scene faces who will care not if they get a soaking, more wanting to soak up the shows. And with some of the best alternative brands on offer, there will be plenty of choice, Jodie Harsh’s “Circus” probably one of the best fits for this third day, co-promoter Kris Di Angelis having planned a prolific stage show performance, we suspect including a sea of extravert entertainers, headlined by a special appearance by Boy George along with Mel Blatt, while Jim Warboy, Erol Sabadosh, Filthy Dukes & Fred Falke will be charging up the Circus inspired tunes, so a stage not to miss.
However, the gay interest continues with Horse Meat Disco taking a significant slice of the action, Jim Stanton & James Hillard pulling in some of their big named D.J.’s to delight, including Severino & Luke Howard (aka filthy Luka – say no more), while they will be continuing the partying afterwards too, celebrating the conclusion of what is surely to be a fourth year of superb showings at Lovebox, with an afterparty back in Vauxhall, welcoming dynamic duo, Opitmo, to the Disco decks, the duo of JD Twitch and JG Wilkes being quoted as “…renowned and highly respected for their memorable and ecstatic sets. “…exhibiting a unique disregard for genres and musical restrictions in their craft, creating a nightclub experience that strikes out into territories far beyond the accepted boundaries of club music..” so should be a showing to see. But back to Lovebox itself and amazing alternative, Trailer Trash, will also be making an appearance, along with other East end alternative gay/metrosexual meets, Hot Boy Dancing & Disco Bloodbath, the latter taking up a spot in the VIP arena along with Dirtbox, the likes of Tom Stephan, Dan Beaumont, Hannah Holland, Mikki Most, Jonny Woo, Tensnake, & The Lovely Jonjo, flying the gay flag, while a special set D.J. from none other than Peaches, will surely be a main stage draw.
So with the tremendously tempting prospect of catching all those terrific talents in action, added to which there will be scores of stages, cabaret & entertainment arena’s, circus spots and vintage bazaar banks, together with street theatre & art installation attractions , there is much on offer at this latest Lovebox festival. So, what if you haven’t yet booked and want to head out to Victoria Park tomorrow (Sun 17th July), well, while its pretty much last minute in terms of grabbing a ticket, having just glanced at the official Lovebox website (http://lovebox.net/), there are still advanced purchases available, although, having booked, you will need to take your confirmation & relevant ID along with you, in order to pick up the tickets on the gate, while entrance on the day will be strictly limited, so we recommend booking in advance. As for further details, http://lovebox.net is the place to go, while to confirm, gates open at 12.30 p.m. with this third day of the festival running through until 10 p.m.
Now, it goes without saying that we will be there to review & report on it all and having kept a close eye on that all important weather, it looks like showers will dominate the day, so we will definitely be armed with an umbrella & maybe some sturdy boots as it is likely to be damp under foot. So, if you see us sliding or running around, no doubt screaming “…GET OFF ME!!…” as a gregarious girl chases us shouting “…I WANT MY PORDDIGE!!…” then stop us in our tracks & say hi, but moreover make sure you “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)
Now, it kind of goes without saying that we all too often fall into the trap of normality (some would say mundaness) on any given weekend, the trappings of Soho & Vauxhall plus the likes of Matinee, SuperMartXe et all, very much precluding us from venturing forth to pastures more prolific. But if we boldly went where we rarely go, our journeys would take us to the alternative antics that many fill their weekends full in hip hop hangouts that Shoreditch, Hoxton & Dalston and even (yes, we know) Hackney, club nights like Paradise 45, Caligula, Pooldisco & Disco Fag Bar (we love that name) very much up there in the cutting edge stakes. And yet, while a host of venues that have sprung up in the area, supporting this diversity, hang out’s such as The Dalston Superstore, Shoreditch House, East Bloc & Basing House, it is one club that we look to when it comes to way out wackiness at its best, very much standing head & shoulders above all the recent movers & shakers.
Since its launch back in 2007, Gutterslut has been cutting it with the best of the alternative offerings, for a while very much ruling the roost out east, its success bringing on the likes of Trailer Trash & many more, the whole essence of Gutterslut being based on an eclectic mix of gays, transsexuals & metrosexuals, all up for a wonderful time in colourful yet charismatic company, with the underpin of energetic blends electro & disco tech house by D.J.’s known for their explorative sounds & cutting edge beats. Having sampled more than a slice of Gutterslut, we can be witness to just what a fun event & experience it is, the likes of Per Q.X, Elliot J Brown, Nic Fisher & co treating us to some magnificent music, while MC Crystal & the larger than life Jonny Woo entertaining us from start to finish. And all this has very much been the success of Gutterslut as an event, which would inevitably spurn some sort of annual celebration of whacky wonderment, where likeminded people would go that extra mile to dress up in pure slutty fashion, a bit like the east end equivalent of a Mayfair dinner dance, hence, the concept to call this gathering Gutterball became a reality.
So, after a hugely successful first event last year, comes Gutterball “The Second Edition”, in what looks like being a bigger & better affair than before, the team turning out a veritable feast of musical & other entertainment to thrill. Returning to the ever popular Rhythm Factory this coming Saturday (9th October), while all the latin boys may be playing down in Elephant & Castle, anyone with a slight alternative penchant will surely be joining the scores of Hoxton & Shoreditch-ites, who will be stepping put in style in Whitechapel, ready for, as the team most appropriately put it, “…another gang-bang extravaganza of whores in heels & boys on wheels…”, sounds fun before we even start. And making sure that plenty of fun will be had, comes courtesy of the wild & wonderful Jonny Woo, who may still be in recovery mode from a said recent birthday, but will surely be on top form for the troops and if there is a dancing pole anywhere near, treating us to a truck load of twists & turns for good measure. Plus, to add to the merriment, Jonny will be overseeing the annual best, or should we say, trashiest dressed up person in the house, those beady Woo eyes presiding over the judging right through the night, which means it’s time to pull out your craziest, sluttiest & most outrageous outfit to lift that coveted Dalston gay Mafia Gutterball crown.
In terms of the music, it will be equally impressive as the cavorting crowd, with all your favourite Gutterslut residents on duty for this special annual shindig, Per Q.X. no doubt blowing a trumpet or two, Elliot J Brown trading a bit of teaching for plenty of turntable trouncing, both sure to electrify with electro, tantalise with tech & delight with some cutting edge nu-disco. But Nic Fisher will be there too, along with MC Crystal on the mic to make all your Gutterslutters at home, a sample of the style of music Nic will be serving up, available at http://samurai.fm/nic-fisher/nic-does-techno-vol-1, while they will be joined in the “Rave Ballroom” by Trailer Trash’s We’re Not Cool & D.J. Mag credited Joe Roberts, completing a superb line up that will have the superb sounds sorted, signed, sealed & delivered. But, for the slightly lighter hearted in you, there is always the opportunity to check out the “Disco Ballroom” guest D.J. from Carpet Burn, Paul Burston, will join the Discoslut D.J.’s & final Gutterslut resident (amongst many others), Jon Sizzle, both this and the “rave” room awash with live visuals from Prickstrap-On, who certainly wowed the crowd last time round and are sure to repeat their success. However, the team are pleased to announce the addition of a further act to compliment the already incredibly strong line up, the amazing, A Man To Pet, creating plenty of havoc in the “Disco” Ballroom, where we expect large glittery rather that gutterly ones will be on the ball-tastic menu.
Well, all in all, this looks like being one hell of a way-out & whacky event not to be missed for those with an eye & ear for the alternative, the slightly outrageous & the downright flamboyant. So, if this is you, making a date with Gutterball “The Second Edition” should be a given and making it down to The Rhythm Factory on Whitechapel this Saturday (9th October) a done deal. But, if you haven’t secured your advance £8 ticket (bargain) yet, then you better e quick, as the news on the ground is that sales have rocketed this week and not that many are left, meaning a visit to http://ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_london&query=detail&event=410257 should be made sooner rather than later, or failing which & if you find yourselves Dalston way, pop into The Dalston Superstore, where a limited amount will be on sale, a wise move considering the door charge will be £15, such is the demand for this event, especially given the huge turnout last year.
So, forget the black tie & the cocktail dress, as Jonny is expecting much more exuberant & extravagant attire and just to get you in the mood, why not check out the special showreel video laid down by Per Q.X. following Gutterslut’s 2nd birthday at The Rhythm Factory earlier this year (link http://youtube.com/watch?v=BWCryiQUBIY) and get a cop load of the expected action for yourselves, surely tipping the scales that this will be THE place to be for you this Saturday. (DISCO MATT)











