Posts Tagged ‘Paul Heron’
March 14, 2013 | 
Author While we should be soaking up the splendour of sun, sea & sand in South Africa, as we find ourselves rather languishing in London, we swap to snow for our International Special Focus, honing in on The European Gay Ski Week that brings together a bevy of brilliant clubbing brands in a seven day symphony of scintillating sounds.
Having lived in the Southern hemisphere for a sizable slice of our informative teenage & early adult years, we quickly acclimatised ourselves to the heat of the South African Highveld, Johannesburg our home city that, despite not having the sea & the sand on its doorstep, had sun in virtually year round abundance. And on the odd occasions when the weather was wet & inclement, we soon realised that we had an adverse affinity to the damp, the cold and the lack of sunshine, snow not even coming into the equation, we continuing to crave the heat, the sun and, with our folks now based on the natal north coast along with friends of ours in Cape Town, both the sea & the sand. Yet, as we found ourselves laying our hat in London, we have had to endure some pretty awful winters, not least this current one which is fighting off the spring, just last week we suffering snow on our streets and this is March for heaven’s sake. But while we make no secret of our hatred for the cold and everything that comes with it, when it comes to skiing, we accept that many others savour the wonderful white stuff and when on the slopes of the Alps or wherever it may be, not only report back that the sun can shine bright, but with the proper preparation & clothing, it can actually be a warming experience full of excitable enjoyment. However, the thought of spending a day, let alone a week staring at snowy slopes leaves us literally cold, although in casting this adversity aside, we find ourselves not only previewing but recommending the forthcoming European Gay Ski Week.
But before we extol the virtues of this year’s weeklong event which kicks off on the Alpe d’Huez ski resort this Saturday (16th March), marking the 5th Anniversary of the annual event, we thought we would share a slice or two of the history of The European Gay Ski Week (EGSW), the team behind it all telling us that “…founded in 2008, year one of EGSW took place in Tignes, France in March 2009 boasting a promising yet relatively small 200 attendees, artists including Andy Bell from Erasure and Soul II Soul part of proceedings. Proving a popular ski area and resort and with clubbing parties in the evenings upping the offer, guests came back in even larger numbers. Year two almost doubled in numbers to 370 and doubling again in 2010 European Gay Ski Week had become the fastest growing and most popular gay ski week in Europe. By this time its reputation was growing throughout the industry as well and the roll call of clubs and D.J.’s that were participating in the event were beginning to read like who’s who of gay clubbing from Europe and beyond. Amongst those who joined EGSW were internationally renowned D.J./Producers Steven Redant, Leomeo & Pagano, while clubbing brands Trade & La Demence were involved. In 2011, EGSW decided it wanted to treat it’s attendees to a new resort, Alpe d’Huez as this yearly event was becoming such a huge success, with its now 1000+ attendees, and the ever-increasing list of big-named artists. EGSW also knew it had found a resort that could further cater for its revellers needs. Alpe d’Huez transforming itself into a gay-town for one week every year, while in 2012, every club, restaurant, bar, and venue wanted a piece of the EGSW action….”
So that brings you pretty much up to date with EGSW which, this year, looks bigger and better than ever with a bevy of clubbing brands from across Europe getting involved, Spain’s WE Party, Amsterdam amazer Rapido, Brussels based La Demence, London’s Lovechild, Paris’s Scream & associated LAB party, Berlin based Greenkomm, Dutch beefy brand Bear Necessity & NYC founded fetish brand Hustlball all involved, making for the biggest clubbing collective yet, boosted even further by D.J./Producer Psagano’s own club brand Deviate. And the D.J. line up is equally impressive, Steven Redant flying the La Demence flag, Pagano clearly steering Deviate, while other stars of the scene heading to the snowy ski slopes include Paul Heron, Oliver M, Ben Manson, Tony English, Alessandro Londra & Steve Thomas, with plenty more on the cards but yet to be announced, while there will be a host of drag queens, performers & artists involved in this fabulous festival that is fast becoming more about the clubbing which in terms of balance is fast catching up the skiing in the scales stakes. And for those that love either aspects of entertainment, EGSW is certainly an enthralling event & festival, the numbers of attendees this year already considerably higher than last, perhaps an indication of its pluming popularity, while much of the actual detail remains under wraps, with no event pages to refer you to, while having scoured their Facebook page at https://facebook.com/EuropeanGaySkiWeek, it is clear, apart from attendees who will be privy to all the party details, we are left with the artwork jigsaw pieces to try put together the programme, although with no particular dates posted our cause is all but lost.
That said, if you are one of the 1200 heading to the Alpe d’Huez this coming Saturday (16th march), you can be guaranteed both superb skiing & captivating clubbing each day & night of this weeklong festival frolic and EGSW’s eleven strong support team & management members Kevin Millins & Simon Patrick will give you the warmest of welcomes, meaning while we won’t be swapping sun, sea & sand for the ski slopes & snow anytime soon, this 5th anniversary of all things skiing & clubbing gets our fabulous thumbs up. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | 
Tags: Alessandro Londra, Bear Necessity, Ben Manson, Deviate, GreenKomm, Hustlasball, La Demence, LAB, Lovechild, Oliver M, Pagano, Paul Heron, Rapido, Scream, Simon Patrick, Steve Thomas, Steven Redant, Tony English, WE Party | 
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Hailed as “A New Beginning” for the capitals clubbing circuit in an event that brings together like minded club owners, promoters, D.J.’s & scene figureheads, we dive into the dynamic detail of this magnificent meet with commentary & links a-plenty.
Having effectively stood back and watched the splendid scene that was London crumble before our eyes, the once dynamic diversity yet inclusivity that was its strength, like a hair shorn goliath left whimpering & weak, well in certain quarters at least, it certainly seems that the success story that was the mecca of gay clubbing in the capital, Vauxhall, has, over the course of the last two to three years, ultimately been the downfall of the majority of big brands & their bashes. Indeed, with victims extending to biggies Matinee, SuperMartXe, & Lovechild, along with a myriad of others that were quashed before even finding their feet, we remained mainly blasé as to the cruel intentions & devious domination tactics that, following our very recent expose features, made us realise just how much damage, upset, upheaval & misery Orange Nation have meated out to individuals, promoters, D.J.’s, scene workers and the like. And when this despicable behaviour, masterminded by the head of this greedy group touched the lives of close friends of ours, we felt it was high time to speak out, our initial post “Finding Our Favour Faltering” (still a worthy read at http://discomatt.com/web/?p=7152) this controversial yet fact filled feature coming right on the back of a momentous power shifting occasion that saw the supposed new(ish) jewel in the Orange Nation, clubbing crown, taken away from them by the owners & investors in this Vauxhall venue.
So, having made our feelings felt across an equally faltering scene and having received rapturous applause for our brave move to speak our mind, especially given the reputation for bullying & strong armed tactics by that greedy group, it seemed the co-owners of Covert had also had enough of the competition crushing, dominance and thoroughly rotten way that Orange Nation operated, also making a stand and, with an upper hand firmly in their grasp, set about laying down the aims & achievements for championing the much needed change the clubbing circuit had and still is craving for. And while we have gone into greater detail on this marvellous movement in our preview, “Championing Clubbing Change” (out at direct link http://discomatt.com/web/?p=7390), the intrinsic part of this change the team at Covert are championing, is to engender an atmosphere of fair play across the scene, to create a more even playing field where toes are not trod upon, where promoters don’t feel threatened & where D.J.’s can play where and when they want without fear of reprehension, something which has plagued this fine profession, and particularly in Vauxhall, for far too long. So, with this cornerstone of change gaining momentum, the first step for Covert is to celebrate what they decided to call, “A New Beginning”, a special event aimed at converting their words into action and bringing together like minded individuals that, like the driving force behind this change, one Alan Adams, were as deeply passionate about making the scene a better place for everyone involved.
And so “A New beginning” was born, the date of Saturday 18th march quickly decided upon as the appropriate time to pitch their exciting proposition, while with much negotiating with promoters & D.J.’s, the event has fast become something quite spectacular, with no less than nineteen D.J.’s playing across a party that will start from 11 p.m. and run through till a planned 9 a.m. finish. So, what are the names in the frames and what can you expect from this “A New Beginning” event. Well, first & foremost, it is very much a new beginning for Covert, the team having tirelessly worked to upgrade the venue and finish what should have been finished by the departed Orange Nation, months ago. And having been shown around just a week ago, the transformation compared to our last visit in November is pretty remarkable, new stylish furniture, fixture & fittings making the upstairs VIP area feel genuinely like one, while with new lasers, lighting, roofing & flooring, plus all the finishing touches to trimmings in the main room, Covert is very much ready to deliver on the promise we were party to ahead of its opening last year. But it is the second space that has seen the biggest transformation, the awkward positioning of the D.J. booth put right and giving it an air & atmosphere, for us akin to the iconic Crash club, but with the style & sparkle that is very much a statement Covert can shout from the rooftops now. So, rather than feeling a little let down by the venue, as we were when we dived into Deelodeed last November, then the floor in the second room ripped & ragged, doors damaged, toilets scruffy and a sense that it was being maltreated, clubbers heading to Covert for this “A New beginning” event will surely be impressed with what they see.
However, what they will also be impressed with is the vast array of D.J. talent on duty this Saturday night, a roll call of residents from Vauxhall clubs past & present, all coming together in the spirit of the marvellous movement to champion change on the clubbing circuit, Alan having secured the services of a richly diverse & dynamic pack of players that each bring their own individuality, style & substance to the show. And the nineteen names, well from Pier Morrocco, Paul Coals, Terry Bryan & Jamie Hammond holding the early main room reigns, the second space sports Ben Jamin, Gianni Morriso, & Guy Williams from midnight till 3 a.m., Lovechild’s star resident Tony English following Mr Hammond in the main room, with Covert’s own Paulo Moreno & main man Alan K carrying proceedings into the early Sunday morning hours, while from Crash days of old in a reunion which is not be to missed is Brent Nicholls & then Alan X in the second space, this space also seeing Tony Bruno, while the real thrill is the inclusion of names that are very much associated with Orange Nation of past & present, The Oli, Fat Tony & The Sharp Boys all playing out in the main room, while Tuesday morning club Desire promoter Steven Geller also hits the decks, the stop press news (although yet to be confirmed) that both Gonzalo Rivas & Paul heron will also be making an appearance. So, with a truly diverse genre of sound across these nineteen scene stars, it would be difficult to single out a particular style or indeed D.J., however, Mr Moreno has produced a podcast especially for this “A New Beginning” event, one well worth a listen & more by going to http://djmorenooctober.podomatic.com/.
As for the event detail, “A New Beginning” takes place this coming Saturday (16th march) at Club Covert in Vauxhall, doors opening at 11 p.m. and the event running through to a planned 9 a.m. finish, while for press, VIP’s and other distinguished guests there is a pre-party reception from 10 p.m.. And to mark this special event occasion, the Covert team have decided to donate all profits from the night, including the whole door and bar take to the worthy cause that is The Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital (GOSH), one very much close to Mr Adams’ heart, a planned raffle throughout the course of the evening hoping to boost the bounty they will be bestowing on GOSH. So, by either paying the flat door tax fee of £10 or by buying an advance ticket via http://clubtickets.com/gb/2013-03/16/covert-presents-a-new-beginning, you will be making a charitable contribution as well as being part of the clubbing change Covert is championing. Plus with a D.J. line up so dynamic, this looks set to be not just an exceptional event. But the real talk of the town, so one surely you cannot miss, the team echoeing our sentiments when they say “…Covert is shifting up a gear and we want you to come and celebrate this exciting new phase with us. DJ line-up is impressive enough, combine that with a few stunning surprises we have planned and you know this will be a night you would not want to miss…”. Add to all that, hosts Chrissy Darling, Sylvia Rebel & the one & only Dior on duty, you will be guaranteed a warm welcome & then heaps of hospitality that sould certainly seal the deal, more detail should you need it, out via the events page at https://facebook.com/events/431518406929706/, while, health fit or not, we will be stepping out on Saturday to soak up the starting point of this clubbing change we are equally passionate about, so if you see us please come say hi, naturally making sure you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Alan Adams, Alan K, Alan X, Ben Jamin, Brent Nicholls, Chrissy Darling, Covert, Fat Tony, Gianni Morriso, Gonzalo Rivas, Guy Williams, Jamie Hammond, Paul Coals, Paul Heron, Paulo Moreno, Pier Morrocco, Steven Geller, Terry Bryan, The Oli, The Sharp Boys, Tony Bruno, Tony English | No Comments »
Big weekends or not, there is one club that never fails to pull in the punters & deliver an enthralling experience unrivalled by anywhere else, the now legendary afterhours that is Beyond beckoning us away from our sick bed for what turned out to be a two hour fun filled full on frenzy of a foray, but what made this the most incredibly intensive wonder of a club cavorting we have had in a long while?
When we consider the rich tapestry of clubs we have experienced both on our travels, at home in South Africa and here in the capital, we have pretty much covered all the bases in terms of size, style, setting, sound & sophistication, a few among the many having a lasting effect upon us, Belgium’s La Demence, Italy’s Muccassassina & Johannesburg’s Decadence three foreign affairs that will live with us forever, while cutting the capital wheat from the chaff, we had our tremendous times at Trade, indulged in the incredible institution that was Industri and most recently, have been wooed & wowed by the wonder of WE. But while we hold all these clubs in the highest regard, there is one that outstrips them all, lock, stock & smokin barrel, Beyond standing head & shoulders above the rest in pretty much every department, from the mesmeric music, to the exceptional lighting & effects, to the palatable pack of party people and a terrific organisational team that send the clubbing competition running for the shade in comparison. And having quickly ascended to iconic status in the Colosseum days, its six seasons at Area have, without doubt, seen Beyond become legendary, the “all roads lead to” reputation playing out every single week, while with an all-star residency team of D.J.’s that read like an industry who’s who, it is no surprise that it has become both ours and many others favourite club of all time.
Indeed, never has there been any other club to which we have adorned so much attentions s we have, through filed feature focuses & resplendent reviews, the club touching our lives every day of the year, let alone every weekend of the month and while 2012 has seen our appearances at Area abseil appreciably, there remains a magic about the place that simply cannot be compared to anywhere else. Indeed, having seen Beyond play out a couple of times this year across at sister venue Fire, it pales in comparison, this awesome afterhours having amassed an amazingly indelible affinity to Area, the terrace room terrific, the chapel space captivating, but the main room monumentally magnificent and one which, without doubt, is the best in the world, visiting D.J.’s, promoters & clubbers alike remarking on the fact. But what really makes Beyond legendary for us, is the majestic music masterminded by an all-star resident team that is the strongest on the capital’s circuit by far, many an envious event or jealous jaunt left wondering how they can match up to its might. And under the influence of one of its all-stars, a resident for which the word Beyond is synonymous, regardless of our state of mind, body, soul, health or well-being, we find it oh so difficult to resist his persuasive call to attentive arms, as he has always said, “unless you are on your death bed or called away to a family crisis, you will be there”, our attendance is nothing short of mandatory, this Sunday being no exception.
So, with that call to arms having been made plain & clear in conversation and despite us still suffering from a serious chest infection, we couldn’t cry either the death bed or family crisis wolf, especially as our pot was being sweetened by his door to door car carriage, Steve Pitron had done it again, beckoning us to Beyond in what would prove to be the most incredibly intensive yet fun filled & frenzied 2 ½ foray we had experienced in a long while, no real sign of the morning madness ahead showing itself as we arrived at Beyond’s doors at not long turned 5.30 a.m. the usually charming greeting & treatment by JJ Clark seeing us whisked past a considerable queue and into the club in a jiffy. With Steve on first in the main room, we entered to find it in its raw un-glamorised state, something only a few ever get to see, although what we found outside the D.J. booth door was certainly not what we wanted to see, this object of fetish fantasy quite a shocking sight in Area, although with lighting magician Smalls on hand to explain, we quickly sped to the bar for refreshments ahead of the room opening at six. But back in the D.J. booth after a comprehensive catch up with Smalls, with our delicate chesty disposition, we were determined to take it easy, although someone had other thoughts about that, a succession of Steve ticking swoops also taken up by a a flock of firendly faces that graced the D.J. booth, fab photographer Nico, the marvellous Mauricio Ortiz, standing in for Beyond’s promoter Ben Kaye, even an arriving Paul Heron, who, like Nico, finding our squealing reactions hilarious.
But bravado aside for a moment, it was the music & another prolific Pitron performance we were here for, our man starting as he meant to go on with the impressive “I Do”, while in his determination to delightfully destroy us with his deliveries, we could see the direction this was taking, other huge hits in his awesome armoury hitting us hard, “Finally I”, “Can’t Stop Me” , “She Loves”, “Lola’s Theme 2012” & “Bitch Lady” among them, all testing our Doing The Disco Matt moves to the max, we bouncing between the D,J, booth & our spot with repeated regularity. And the flow of familiar faces kept coming throughout, Nick Evans, Verity Mayes, Aaron Elder & Jamie Head four of many more, we pleased as punch to see Mr. Head even though he wasn’t on D.J. duty, while it would be the arrival of Fabio & Peter that would further mount the morning mayhem, mount being the operative word, Peter’s amorous moves up & down our legs leaving is excitably squirming in the corner of our spot. Indeed, this very activity promoted further Steve ticking swoops, sending us fleeing into a packed main room of party heads, that along with a rain of cups & cans he kept lobbing over the booth, many hitting their mark with pin point accuracy, leaving many around us looking in shock, not least the security guard that kept clearing the debris.
However, despite all the morning’s madness, the music was doing much of the talking, this once again proving a purple patch Pitron performance and yet another brilliant Beyond, the podiums packed with party heads and Smalls’ superb work with the lighting paying incredible dividends, it accelerating what was already an amazing atmosphere, no place quite like this magnificent main room and one we feel completely & comfortably at home with, perhaps so much so that we take it a little too much for granted, as do many of Beyond’s team do of Smalls. Add to that a beats bonanza like the one Steve was serving up and the two are an indelible & unbreakable combination in our books, each pushing that extra mile and feeling that little more comforted when the other is around, the working relationship they command a pleasure to see, especially from our privileged position in the D.J. booth. But that privileged position was to also have its pitfalls this morning, Steve having employed the ticking services of his lighting lady, as well as Paul Heron who was assuming his position to take over from Steve, although not before both “Timebomb” & “Beautiful Lie” achieved that delightful destruction goal Mr Pitron had planned, we left enthralling & emotionally exhausted by the majestic music & the morning’s madcap melay’s, meaning it was an early bath for us while Beyond chalked up another successful session to add to the scores the scene has savoured this season alone.
Well it seems we have already answered our own question, the incredible intensity of this fun filled & full on frenzy of a frolic still bamboozling us with its brilliance, perhaps the most perfect part of this phenomenal party picture being short & sweet planning that gave the whole morning an air of incredible improvisation. And that could also be said for the madcap melays, Peter’s amorous approaches, Steve’s tickling swoops & everything else that made this one of the most excitable yet enthralling Beyond events this year, while despite having soaked up our own fair share of super sized & specialist events, it always seems the regular Beyond bashes are the ones that hit our mark the most and magnificently so. There can be no doubt that the people play a prominent part in proceedings, as they did today, but it is also the music that makes this club the legendary London afterhours it has become, Steve Pitron once again proving his worth through every second of his stunning set, while we could never complete our resplendent review picture portrayal without serenading Smalls, the lighting skills & expertise she brings to the party, like Steve & a handful of others, part & parcel of the brilliant Beyond package, without whom the club & the brand would be a much poorer place. As for the immediate future of our favourite club of all time, well, it looks pretty bright, the “Ice” incarnation sure to be a hit next weekend, a festive season of shindigs that should score yet more successes & no doubt more awards to cram in its trophy cabinet in 2013, meaning we will definitely be back for more very soon indeed. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reviews | Tags: Aaron Elder, Area, Ben Kaye, Beyond, Jamie Head, JJ Clark, Mauricio Ortiz, Paul Heron, Steve Pitron, Verity Mayes | No Comments »
The build up was mind boggling, the anticipation was at fever pitch and our emotions were on a knife edge, but as the reality & then enormity of WE Party London’s “Formula 2” event began to play out, we were totally amazed by this awesome anniversary, but what made this WE the best ever?!?
When it comes colossal & captivating clubbing and to staging spectacular shows, creating that wow factor, it seems the Spanish have it down to a fine art, a whole host of brands both well established & relatively new to the game, proving that no other nation can touch them in terms of size, spectacle & theatre. Yes the Brazilians have a good crack, The Week an excellent example, while Italy’s Muccassassina has a reputation for eye catching entertainment. But, for us especially, it is the likes of Matinee, SuperMartXe, La Troya, Cafe Ole & Space that have held and (in some cases) continue to hold the key when it comes to what has become an amazing addition to the clubbers experience on the capitals circuit. Indeed, who can forget the significant splash that Matinee made when it first landed in London back in 2006, a subsequent five season stint seeing it pretty much transform the style of what we would term as super size clubbing, opening a floodgate for others to follow, SuperMartXe then stepping up showtime yet another level, who can forget “Under The Sea”, “Hot Wheels” & Samurai”, each showcasing spectacular effects & props that set that standard bar higher than any other club before it.
But there was to come a new pretender to this colossus clubbing crown, a brand born out of the desire for something quite daring, dynamic & different and one that from the minute it marked its first meet on the capital’s clubbing circuit calendar, not only turned heads but got tongues wagging with it’s simple yet striking name & its first party theme, both which would set it on the road to not only succeeding SuperMartXe to the top of the London clubbing tree, but knocking into virtual oblivion as it wooed & wowed clubbers with its “New Formula” of fun. Yes, it was December 2010 and WE Party had landed in London, nothing short of pulling the rug from under SuperMartXe’s feet, leaving it floundering in the wings while WE stood smartly in the spotlight, its USB, the now infamous LED displays on a more gigantic scale than had ever seen before, while that formula of fun has exuded from every single event since that London launch, WE not scared of poking fun at itself, themed events such as “Attacks”, drawn from the Mars Attacks film & “Candy” very much a parody of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, while “Fast Food” was seen as some as quite tacky but that was exactly the point.
Yet while WE may have been born & bred in Madrid, in London and venue The Coronet, it had a set up that virtually mirrored La Riviera both in size and stature, while in the two years WE Party has been captivating clubbers in the capital, they have been fortunate to see no less than a dozen premiere’s of successive event themes, just 2012 along seeing “Safari”, “Pharaoh”, “Fast Food” & “Hi Japan” all splash their splendour in London first, while “Fluro” remains an exclusive event that has yet to be shown elsewhere. However, the wonder of WE has achieved so much more than its predecessor which, while championing cutting edge clubbing, had a serious style & uncomfortable attitude to it, while Victor Pallas & his team have been at pains to propel that fun element, not just through the themes, the stage shows & those now instinctive LED displays, but also through the music, lightening the mood with more vocal injections & less of the tough tech & tribal that had begun to dominate the euro-style clubbing sound. And with Spanish superstar Carlos Gallardo on board, they had the perfect protagonist of this new lighter & more upbeat musical movement, while the capital’s ace in the playing card pack, Steve Pitron, proved as much of a heavenly house music hand as his Balearic buddy, these two incredible individuals more than any others, making an unbeatable WE combination that would further propel London as the premier place to purvey these prolific parties. So, with the 2nd anniversary looming, it came as no surprise that the capital would once again show the way for Spain to follow, the fevered anticipation for & expectation of WE’s birthday bash “Formula 2” totally consuming us for not just hours or days, but weeks before that actual night itself.
However that night was with us, a liaison with the mini Pitron posse before arriving at The Coronet only served to heighten that fevered anticipation and, now, excitement, that what we had told ourselves would be the best WE party yet, had the feeling that it was going to be just that, beautiful Brazilian Bel’s nerves worse than ours, while our new found friend and disco babe, James, was the calming influence amidst this clatter of pre-clubbing cacophony. However, with a hop, a skip & a jump (or rather a car sprint) we found ourselves revving our valves at the doors of this “Formula 2” event, the warming welcome of both JJ Clark & Tom Fuller serving to further calm our emotional engine that was ready to roar into action. And it wasn’t long before we were in, both AAA & VIP passes in hand, heading for the stage which was to prove our primary stomping ground for the majority of this superb 2nd anniversary spectacle. And on the stage in his own pole playing position was D’Johnny, who had already set the early “Formula 2” race rhythm pace, sprinting off the sound starting line akin to Michael Schumacher, weaving in & out and up & down his tech infused track of tunes with exceptional effect, a crowd that was building before our very eyes, lapping up his twists & turns as he shot through a captivating chicane of sound choices including his ultimate WE track pick, his own bootleg of Michael Gray, Damism & Rae’s “You Will Remember”.
However, it was the VIP balcony that was our next destination, although we steering ourselves towards to front bar first to pick up our firm friend James, at the same time bumping into familiar faces aplenty, not least old Industri pal Chris Wilcox who was making his first foray to WE in a while and was keen to catch up on lost time. So, having completed our own little catch up with Chris, it was our first pit stop for refreshments that was the order of the marshalled moment, the VIP balcony already brimming with boys & girls eager to let their party hair down, Mark’s McKenzie & Williams amongst them, while Verity Mayes was in our midst too, although it would be Mr Pitron & his tickling pranks that was play out for the next part of this engrossing event, Steve chasing & goading us as well as employing the services of strangers to surprise & trap us into ticking squirms & squeals, much to the delightful hilarity of both Mark’s & many around. But while we were distracted by these Pitron pranks, The Coronet was filling out like never seen before, a glance of the dancefloor seeing wall to wall bodies, spinning & swaying to D’Johnny’s superb sounds, the stage & LED displays still to fire into full-on action, although the atmosphere was already amazing, a real buzz about the place, very much akin to an F1 circuit, shimmering as the score of racing cars circulate with stunning speed.
But the already significant sound speed of this “Formula 2” was about to substantial shot in the heavenly house music arm from scene superstar Steve Pitron who, behind our back, had sprinted across to the stage ready for his set and was waving us over, text messages calling for our company vibrating in our pocket and before we could grab our own pole position next to our premier player, Mr Pitron had swept aside his Schumacher podium player, D’Johnny heading for a race retirement, while, like Sebastian Vettel, our man hit the front with a bonanza of beats that starting with the crowd pleasing “Somebody I Used To Know”, while the enormity of this all-encompassing experience was already beginning to erupt our emotions, both Bel & Steven Galo by our side, through no fault of their own, making tear tumbling matters worse. But it was Steve Pitron’s perfectly positioned picks that would prove the trademark tears catalyst, first “Timebomb” hitting us hard, then “Can’t Stop Me” living up to its title, as our joyful tears were now on constant tap, the lengthy build up to this “Formula 2” event manifesting itself in a release never seen on this scale ever before. But the magic of the music & our privileged pole position on stage had left our disco babe James bereft on the dancefloor we checking in to make sure he was okay, before allowing ourselves to further sink into the splendour of what would prove yet another pitch perfect Pitron performance of a scintillating set.
Now we were ready for the stage shows to commence, the drop dead gorgeous dancers, all scantily dressed, passing by us within touching distance as they sought to assume their positions, although this would prove one of a couple of false starts, drive through penalties served while Steve’s sound selections continued to erupt our emotions. With Bel’s favourite tune of now, “To The Moon & Back” one, we succumbed to “Symphony”, galloped to “Gotta Be You” & dived into “I Do”. But as if all this activity wasn’t exciting & enthralling enough, a tap on our shoulder saw Balearic beatmaster Carlos Gallardo appear, this one of the huge highlights we had been looking forward to, he giving us a huge hug & then falling into an impromptu dance with us as well as catching up ahead of his own spectacular set. But with the dancers back, including Elektra Paris & Le Menor, who, just like Carlos & Steve, are intrinsic individuals without whom WE in London is never the same, while we remarking to ourselves that our vocation at this pivotal point in “Formula 2” proceedings, that our vocation doesn’t get any better, to be on stage with all these stars, now including P.A. Soraya Naoyin, while camera clickers Nico Montenegro & Chris Jepson were also on hand shoot all these stars of the simply superb show & spectacle that has already become the best WE party in London yet.
With the first of two Soraya P.A. performances over, it was back to those trademark tumbling tears for us, as further Steve selections would erupt our emotions, so much so that we needed to take our leave of the stage, having soaking up the unfolding fabulous string of “Formula 2” inspired visuals, these without doubt the best we have seen at a WE party yet, our retreat away from the stage only serving to substantiate that claim, the while chequered flag effect in front of the D.J. booth & the expanse of multi faceted formula style imagery impressive to say the least. But with a complete calamity with ordering a drink for the prolific disco spinning Steve, sending us to & fro between the main & VIP bars dampening our stratospheric spirits that had been speeding Scuderia style, a simply stupid stocking slip up leaving us lacking the lemonade for our D.J.’s drink, although all that was to be forgotten in an instant as the next Pitron pick sent us soaring again, the towering Taito Tikaro track “Not Alone” brandishing us breathless with its brilliance, this the first time it had captivated us in a club. And it seemed we weren’t alone, the sea of revellers below us on the dancefloor reacting resplendently, as they had for his whole set. However, there was still more to come, an what a track it would be, Steve’s own ultimate WE choice a recent find that had spellbound us from the moment its majesty marauded us, “Beautiful Lie” the perfect curtain call to an equally perfect performance, while the last Steve sound shout would go to “Must Be The Feeling” another towering & tear tumbling tune.
So, it was now Carlos Gallardo’s turn to try & set the “Formula 2” sound lap record that had be scored by Steve with each successive superb selection, although not before Soraya had completed her second stint on stage, her anthem, the Albert Neve classic “She Loves” a sure-fire inclusion certainty. But the spotlight was on the Fernando Alonso of the WE Party “Formula 2” package, as our Spanish superstar D.J. set about delivering a dance dream of a drive that would have made his F1 comparable proud, a brilliant blend of tech infused treats & uplifting vocal injections, a string of Adele choices playing into the capacity cavorting clubbing crowds hands, not least our disco babe James, whom we had joined down on the main floor and who was showing his dancing dexterity to dynamic effect, outstripping many of those performing on stage & certainly impressing us immensely. But with Steve in close call & hardly room to swing a cat in a space that was crammed with cavorters including Celso & plenty more of the Brazilian bunch, Mhardeen spotting us from afar, while Luis was flying, it would be the Pitron tickling pranks that would leave us cowering in the corner, even James piling in, one amusing attack after the other leaving us sunk in submission. Our antics aside, Carlos was still the centre of attention, his set showing at “Formula 2” akin to that Fernando Alonso comparable, the words brilliance, character, consistency, excellence, exuberance & flair, exemplifying what was a solid & sterling set that captivated the capacity crowd from start to finish, cementing him as a capital & Coronet clubbing crowd favourite.
With the action far from over, there was still plenty to savour as Carlos ploughed deep into his set showing, the Room Service second space having pulled in a considerable crowd of its own, Jodie Harsh’s deck turn complimented by resident regulars Fat Tony & Ariel, while hardly a space or spot was left untouched or filled throughout the venue, “Formula 2” without doubt the most popular WE event in London so far. And with the usual respite relax on the VIP balcony leaving us clambering for room to breathe, while back down on the dancefloor we were struggling to find our dancing feet due to simple lack of space, a sudden question mark hanging over whether there were too many people packed into the place to make it an enjoyable enough experience, having called time on this resplendent race, our retirement down to an agonising back, on seeing D.J. pal Pier Morrocco out front, we got the full perspective of the dreaded coatcheck issues, the lengthy lavatorial queues & the extended waits at the bar, all a product of the packed out popularity of this WE wonder. However, as we sunk into a sub zero Sunday morning to wend our way home, our overriding thoughts feelings were of appreciation into adoration, excellence to exhilaration & satisfaction to subliminity.
So what else can we say about this WE 2nd anniversary event that we haven’t already said? Well, having experienced virtually every single outing here in London since the launch back in 2010, we can say with confident qualification that this best by a long shot in comparison to the pack of parties, some of which we mentioned earlier. Yet while we acknowledge that “Formula 2” had some way to go to top “Safari” as our favourite & most fabulous WE party in London, it did so in leaps & bounds and in virtually every department, from visuals, to dance displays, from lighting effects to the magnificent music, all these indelible ingredients combining to make one enthralling event that has pushed the partying pedestal this brilliant brand already finds itself on in the capital, to new dizzy heights. And with so many people playing their part, we couldn’t conclude without sending major thanks to Victor Pallas & the whole of his Spanish crew, to Aaron Elder, Ben Kaye, Tom Fuller & the whole Orange Nation team in London, all who made both this gigantic gathering and all the others before it possible, along, of course, with the capacity crowd of clubbers, many faces familiar, others not so, that are also part of this prolific partying picture, special mentions to Bel, to, Celso, Steven Galo, Julia, Fabio, Mhardeen, and to Luis, but especially to our disco babe James who has breathed new life into this old dog in more ways than one and who proved captivating company even if we remain guilty for deserting him for our privileged position on the stage.
But with spectacular stage show performances also acknowledged, it is the D.J.’s who get the lion’s share of our plaudits, some sets we missed, while others we savoured, Paul Heron apparently playing out to a packed audience till close, while those Room Service spinners played the second space part to perfection. Indeed, such was the impression made upon us but the “Formula 2” D.J. drivers come players, we only thought it appropriate to celebrate the sounds from this stunning spectacle in a special feature and while we gave proportionate attention to each of the three, we remained reluctant to place them on that players podium, the temptation to nominate positions one, two & three tempered until now. And so, akin to their F1 comparables, for fans & followers of the 2012 season, it will come as no surprise that we find D’Johnny in third, while a superb set from Carlos Gallardo, in any other company would have made it to that premier podium position, he once again proving to us why we hold him in such high regard compared to his Spanish compatriots, not to mention his countryman Fernando Alonso. But it was Steve Pitron, the Sebastian Vettel of this “Formula 2” foray who crossed the chequered flag first, a simply stunning set that left us emotionally enthralled throughout, his choice picks hitting every heavenly house music mark we could mention, highlight ones without doubt “Not Alone” & Beautiful Lie”, while we would go as far to say that, just like this wonderful latest WE event & like his specially devoted podcast, this was the most phenomenal Pitron performance we have witnessed, no more to say. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Reviews | Tags: Aaron Elder, Ariel, Ben Kaye, Carlos Gallardo, D'Johnny, Fat Tony, JJ Clark, Jodie Harsh, Orange Nation, Paul Heron, Room Service, Steve Pitron, The Coronet, Tom Fuller, Victor Pallas, WE Party, WE Party London | 1 Comment »
As we approach one of the most momentous & meaningful weekends in our year, we thought it wholly appropriate to re-launch our weekly recommends newsletters, this “Best Bites” the first half of the posting picture, where we pick out our three top of the tree event choices of where to be & be seen on the scene in Soho, Vauxhall & Shoreditch, along with mini mentions for two other hot shots that have featured in our full on focuses.
Well, it’s been a while, not just a few weeks, but a few months, although it feels good to be back in the “Best Bites” recommendations driving seat, that last analogy pretty apt this weekend as one of the hot shot mentions has a driving format of shorts. But the weekend is also momentous & meaningful as Saturday (1st Dec) marks two occasions, first & foremost, World AIDS Day, a cause that is extremely close to our heart, it also marks the first day in our birth month. For others however, while for others, December 1st is the first day of advent, meaning Christmas is, from here on in, very much in focus. However, it is this weekend we are focussing on, picking out our three top choices, one each from Soho, Vauxhall & Shoreditch, while those two hot shots also get a little look in.
So to our first and to Soho first, as it is the wonder on Wardour Street that steals that top of the tree crown this weekend, the crowning glory for us being Friday frolic PLAY>TIME, the award winning & outstanding outing that has become a firm favourite of ours & many more, promoter jay Roberts having very much made Friday the new Saturday in Soho, even toppling the might of another award winner that was the darling of the clubbing circuit scene on Friday’s, Onyx having gone by the wayside. But PLAY>TIME forges ahead with its fabulousness, this Friday no exception, as the team welcome two terrific talents to the D.J. decks, Kris Di Angelis making his debut for this brilliant brand, while Mikey D makes a welcome return on the back of his prolific new(ish) podcast “House Music All Night Long”. But no PLAY>TIME would be the same without a that significant slice of sexy seduction, Jay introducing Daniel Dias to the PLAY>TIME podium, Mr Roberts also gyrating his booty to the beats, not least that he & Daniel have recently “shot a scene” (you know the sort we mean) together, this along adding to the allure & excitement of this enthralling event. So naturally, with all that on offer, PLAY>TIME is one hot ticket & well deserved of our top of the tree choice, proceedings kicking off this Friday (30th Nov) from 10 p.m., entry a mere £8 before midnight or £10 thereafter, the club running through to a planned 4 a.m. finish, more details available the events page at http://facebook.com/events/498999320134205/.
Now while we are on the subject of Soho & this wonder on Wardour Street, Profile/Lo-Profile’s GM Kerry Chapman & her terrific team are marking World AIDS Day on Saturday with the return of their very popular “strip-a-thon”, the bevy of beauties behind the bar getting the strip down balls (no pun intending) rolling, your donations to charities The Food Chain & National AIDS Trust part of the process, as the more you put in the pot, the more the barmen reveal, while D.J.’s Alessandro Londra, Rob Sykes & Nathan Six will be sharing deck duty, possibly entering into a topless track turn or two. And with red ribbons available along with plenty more to tempt you in from the cold, check out the events page at http://facebook.com/events/295765387202385/ while more info on Profile & its offers can be found at http://facebook.com/profilebar &/or http://profilesoho.com.
Onward to Vauxhall and there has been much change down Orange Nation way recently, a lot of news we need to fill you in on which will have to wait a while, although what cannot wait is our top of the tree choice we have picked form the multi leaved ON offering, A:M having gone “Ultra” on us recently, taking the Friday night helm vacated by a departing Onyx, this amazing afterhours having moved forward its opening time into Friday nights, but still running deep into Saturday morning. Still currently based at Fire, A:M “Ultra” is, however, on the move this weekend, switching to smaller sister venue Covert, although in our view is the smarter sister as it offers two delightful dancefloors, an accessible upstairs space, all sure to fit A:M like a glove. And for the first of a three week run here, promoter Steven Sharp introduces young blood beatmaster Matt Bogard to the D.J. decks, he joined in another A:M newbie, Ania, while the continuity is cornerstoned by A:M favourites Paul Heron & D’Johnny, while Onyx, having given away to its afterhours associate, remains in the picture, hosting the second space, D.J.’s on pop-tastic duty including Tasty Tim & Little Rob. So, while this new “Ultra” format is very much about the music, it’s also about the hosting, the terrific team of Hrh Minty, Danny Boyce & Louise Port making sure your entry & then enjoyment is expedited exceedingly well, that entrance available this coming Friday (30th Nov) from 11 p.m., the club running through till 7 a.m., advance tickets available online at http://orangenation.co.uk, while entry on the door is priced, with flyer/ad discount, a mere £3 before midnight, £6 before 3 a.m., then £8, while for others its £10 before midnight, then £12 (you know what to do!), more detail up at http://facebook.com/events/283665795070260/ while watch this space for news on the new A:M pre-parties at Rupert St coming soon.
Now for that hot shot mention and returning to the World AIDS Day cause and it is Beyond that will be flying the fundraiser flag this Sunday (2nd Dec), this “all roads lead to” audacious afterhours sure to be packed to the rafters, not least that it is the official WE “Formula 2” (more on that in a bit) afterparty. But more than that, promoter Ben Kaye is thrilled to welcome special D.J. guest Brett Henrichsen for the US, joining Beyond all-star roving residents Jamie head, Mikey D, Fat Tony, D’Johnny, David Jimenez & more, while AIDS charity The Terrence Higgins Trust is the donation benefactor, we devoting a Weekend Focus Extra “Brett’s Bag Of Beats” to this beyond event, advance tickets for this awesome afterhours outing a must by hitting on http://orangenation.co.uk , popping into Soho outlets Prowler, Clone Zone & 50 Dean, while bars Ku, Comptons & Rupert St have a stock too, more detail on Beyond & this event out at http://facebook.com/beyondclub.
So we head out to Shoreditch and it is East Bloc that covets our top of the tree choice crown this weekend, Saturday sporting a second birthday bash as TheMenWhoFell2Earth (MWF2E) mark this momentous occasion with a pulsating package that includes special guest D.J. Luke Howard (of Horse Meat Disco, Paradise 45 & Lovebox fame), he joining MWF2E regulars Amp & Deck and Hits&Mrs in the main room, while the second space is sorted by D.J. duo Push The Button, all this hinting towards wayout & alternative action with a capital W & A, this branded party very much for decernists of tech, nu disco & electro. But the bravado doesn’t end at the D.J.’s, oh no, as “…the man with the plan…” host Oly is back and my does he know how to host (to be seen to be believed) while as it’s a MWF2E birthday bash, they have the infamous act Bother Boys back, taking to the stage to serve up “…song beauty & the ridiculous…” meaning that anything could happen here and it probably will. Plus, while the focus with be on birthday, the team recognise that they share their Saturday with World AIDS day, so will be raising funds for the Terrence Higgins Trust, a slice of the door plus bucket donations going to this very worthy cause. Now talking of the door, the MWF2E one opens this Saturday (1st Dec) from 10.30 p.m., the club running through till 6 a.m. entry just £6 before midnight, £9 thereafter, East Bloc at 217/219 City Road, EC1 (nearest tube Old St), directions available at http://eastbloc.co.uk, while a visit to http://themenwhofell2earth.co.uk &/or the events page at http://facebook.com/events/524256870936413/ while fill you out in the info herein. Plus with news just in from the team, they tell us that “…As our special Birthday present to you, we’ll be exclusively screening the new Radio Soulwax / 2ManyDJ’s film ‘Dave’. It’s their usual mash up brilliance, only this time it’s all Bowie records set to a custom made film. We’ll be transforming the mirror ball lounge into Dave’s cinema for the night in conjunction with our friends at Caviar films and it won’t cost you a penny extra…” while check out the MWF2E video clip at http://facebook.com/photo.php?v=572328689207 which completes this recommendation package.
Now for that second hot shot, second an appropriate word as WE party London celebrates its 2nd Anniversary here in the capital on Saturday (1st Dec) and is very much THE place to be & be seen on the scene (unless you’re a MWF2E fanatic of course) this, fabulous “Formula 2” sprinting off the starting grid at the Coronet, D.J. drivers vying for pole position including the Fernando Alonso of WE, Carlos Gallardo, who speeds in from Spain especially for the event, he surely having a task on his hands with the Sebastian Vettel of the London scene, Steve Pitron, while other runners in the race include Paul Heron, & D’Johnny in the main room, the Room Service second space sported by Jodie Harsh, Fat Tony & Ariel. But with much more of this fabulous “Formula 2” foray out in our feature, “Chequered Flag celebration” (direct link http://discomatt.com/web/?p=6114) as well as at http://wepartylondon.com, this is one 2nd birthday you won’t want to miss.
So, that’s it for our re-launched “Best Bites” newsletter for this time, three top of the tree choices & two sure fire hot shots to tantalise your tastebuds, while we will be serving up our “Short Shouts” shortly too, a whole host of other getting a mini mention, all meaning that this weekend is one that you will definitely want to be & be seen on the scene by making sure you “Go There! Be There! (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: A:M, Alessandro Londra, Ariel, Beyond, Carlos Gallardo, Covert, David Jimenez, East Bloc, Fat Tony, Jamie Head, Jodie Harsh, Kerry Chapman, Kris Di Angelis, Lo-Profile, Matt Bogard, Mikey D, Nathan Six, Paul Heron, Playtime, Profile, Rob Sykes, Room Service, Steve Pitron, Steve Steven Sharp, TheMenWhoFell2Earth, WE Party London | No Comments »
It came & it conquered, brushing the competition aside with a new formula of fun, the whimsical wonder that is WE wowing & wooing the capitals clubbing circuit cavorters comprehensively. Now, two years down their terrifically roaring race track, this brilliant Spanish brand marks a second formula foray with a chequered flag celebration that looks set to be its best bash yet.
There was a time in the capitals clubland when it was all about home-grown brands, London promoters ruling the waves with clubs such as Trade, Crash, Salvation, Discotec & DTPM along with plenty more besides, the rich tapestry that was late twentieth century clubbing, without doubt, a prolific purple patch period when the scene effectively came out of the shady & sedate closet. Yet it would be Spain that London would turn to in order to emulate the spectacular staging shows that signify the scene across the waters, that now common place term in capital clubbing, “the Spanish Armada Invasion” dominating proceedings with bigger & brasher bashes, Matinee the first, followed by a flood of others including La Troya, Space, Cafe Ole & SuperMartXe, the latter probably the most attention grabbing & headline hitting of all. Indeed had it not been for SuperMartXe’s stunning show shows & pulsating parties, its successor to the capitals clubbing circuit crown would never be in existence, yet with that inevitable merry-go-round of brands either fading into also ran status or dropping off the clubbing calendar completely, plus with the fevered desire for something fresh & fulfilling, Spain was once again to come up trumps with a new brand & a new formula, the promoter in recognising that there is no I in team, simply decided to call this new brave brand WE.
So WE was born and that simply analogy that with far too many “I’s” in our lives, this brilliant brand immediately struck a chord with clubbers, that new formula playing out to prolific effect, virtually simultaneously from its home in Madrid, as well as on the London stage, a stage that had been the coveted crown of SuperMartXe, but under controversial circumstances, had been wrestled away by WE, The Coronet in Elephant & Castle that very stage. Indeed, with the comparisons & similarities to La Riviera muted by many, it was London that, following the fabulous “Formula” launch, would seize the initiative, staging a whole host of themed party premiere’s, virtually every WE incarnation staged fits in the capital, notable examples this year alone including “Safari”, “Pharaoh”, “Fluro” & “Fast Food”, while the last outing, “Hi Japan” was also a London first. But the WE success story stretches much further than just these two capital cities, as the brand has spread its wonderful word around the globe, touching The America’s, both north & south, Australia, Europe and even the middle east, only Asia & Africa still to be touched by this barnstorming brand, South Africa & Singapore in the sights of Victor Pallas & his team. And that winning formula that has made WE so popular?, well just one word really, fun, the brand never taking itself seriously by daring to be dashing, flouting frumpiness & championing cheekiness, while its USP has to be those huge LED displays that dominate its landscape, while having stepped away from the sometimes monotone euro-beat musical style, WE injects uplift & euphoria by the bucket load.
With those solid foundations forming the cornerstones of this clubbing colossus, WE is ready to mark its 2nd anniversary in brilliant business, all eyes on London for the first (yes another premiere) in a series of what they are calling “Formula 2” events, not necessarily a new formula, but neatly combining that first foray theme with the 2 year milestone which is marked this coming Saturday (1st Dec), virtually exactly to the date & exactly to the day, as it was on Saturday 4th December 2010 that a freezing clod London welcomed the Spanish warmth of WE, so quite appropriate that it should repeat the occasion two years down the line. So what’s in store for this “Formula 2” event at the Coronet?, Well, as the London promotions team tell us, “…Two incredible years have flown by and London’s award-winning club sensation ‘WE Party’ continues to race ahead of the competition with full on production parties…” this year alone testament to that fact, as capacity crowds have packed out this converted south London theatre on each & every occasion, they continuing, “…As we prepare to lift the trophy with another ‘1st place’ in our second year, the WE crew pulls out all the stops to give a ceremony like no other, giving the green light on show-stopping special effects, mind-blowing visuals and heart-racing gogo shows and dancers…”. And we have no doubt that they will, this video just a teasing temptation of what to expect at this must attend event
Centre stage of, of course will be the D.J.’s and while podium positions one, two & three are common place on the race track, in this formula foray, an extra main room position has been made, as there are four fabulous players lining up of the “Formula 2” grid, attempting to win you over with their scorching sounds, no doubt attempting their own lap record of renditions and in doing so, avoid a track & tunes tyre change to reach that chequered flag of celebratory clubber appreciation. But that’s enough of F1 references for now, or is it? As the Fernando Alonso of the WE pack, Carlos Gallardo fights for pole, jetting in from Spain especially for the event, no WE party at The Coronet ever quite the same without his incredible influence, although he has stiff competition from the London team of superstars in a pole position sounds shoot out that includes the Sebastian Vettel of the scene, superstar Steve Pitron who, like his F1 comparable has that winning formula in his blood, having topped the annual D.J. awards on a number of occasions and, in the first of a two part specially devoted podcast to this “Formula 2” event, topped the Podomatic download chart, a better way to get you revved up for his rip roaring set (grid timing 1 till 3 a.m.) we cannot think of, so an essential listen by going to http://stevepitronsessions.podomatic.com/entry/2012-11-19T02_05_36-08_00, we thrilled to be back in our own pole position, right next to him on stage. Others lining up on the “Formula 2” grid include D’Johnny who is looking to sprint ahead of the pack at the start (he on first), while Paul Heron will be honing on the WE party lap record, rounding off main room proceedings straight after Carlos. But, akin to this second anniversary, there will be a second formula to fulfil, boutique clubbing brilliance Room Service having been given the green light in the second space, their own podium position players, Jodie Harsh, Fat Tony & Ariel, sure to set their own prolific party pace with lap time towering tunes.
So, with the Bernie Ecclestone of WE, Victor Pallas, overseeing these “Formula 2” proceedings and our own Charlie Whiting, Orange nation’s Aaron Elder very much the race controller for this chequered flag celebration at The Coronet, it’s now down to the dynamic detail as this second anniversary audacity takes place this coming Saturday (1st Dec), need we say where?, well the Coronet in E&C, doors opening at 11 p.m. and the event running through to a planned 7 a.m. finish, advance tickets definitely the way to go if you don’t want to get stuck in the pits waiting for a safe release, meaning a visit to the direct online link at https://orangenation.ticketabc.com/events/we-party-london-form/ will get you a paddock pass priced at £18 (yes all the early bird £10 & super advance £15 options raced away weeks ago), while you can also grab one into your hand by zooming into Prowler, Clone Zone (both stores) & 50 Dean St in Soho, Solarstation also offering a super joint tan & ticket package, while if you suffer a drive through penalty by missing the advance apex on these, you can always pay on the door, but expect to pay more. And like an F1 race programme, this WE party serves up its own style of practice session in the form pre-party paraphernalia, first “practice” at Room Service this Thursday (29th Nov) with Kris Di Angelis & DMS making a clean getaway, then Rupert St entertaining Paul Heron, avoiding the waved yellows on Saturday from 9 p.m. till close, more info on the first practice session at Room Service out at http://clubroomservice.com & http://facebook.com/events/418746198197087/, while, for the race itself, go to http://facebook.com/events/371392812947551/ &.or http://wepartylondon.com.
But we haven’t quite reached our own celebration chequered flag yet, as there will be no safety car on track when special & surprise PA, Soraya Naoyin takes her own podium position at the packed Cornet playhouse, she having performed at some of the biggest parties across Spain, her appearance at the Infinita closing party a real highlight
she having been taken on board by WE following that prolific performance, appearing for the brand on its “On Tour programme across Europe & the US, while she will be better know here in the capital for her vocal collaborations with D.J./Producer Albert Neve, the most notable hit being “She Loves” which will be part of her PA performance for sure, the 2012 remix by Taito Tikaro sure to be a feature in Steve Pitron’s set, this vivacious version also included on that phenomenal “WE Formula 2 Part 1” podcast.
So, come Saturday and as the five red lights are replaced by green for go, we reckon this WE “Formula 2” event will break more than just lap records as it will definitely be THE place to be & be seen on the scene, we naturally in the thick of the terrific celebratory chicane twists & turns, live transmission as we speed through the party race broadcasting via our nibble size tweets at http://twitter.com/discomatt, while if you see us, come say hi, naturally making sure you “Go There! Be There! (DISCOMATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Aaron Elder, Carlos Gallardo, D'Johnny, Fat Tony, Jodie Harsh, Orange Nation, Paul Heron, Room Service, Steve Pitron, The Coronet, Victor Pallas, WE Party, WE Party London | 1 Comment »
From the backwater of Bermondsey to the vibrancy of Vauxhall, the scene’s longest running & surviving weekly marks fourteen years of citric clubbing splendour tonight (Sun 11th Nov) meaning that the orbicular outing that is Orange simply had to make it to our “Pick Of The Day” choice, all the event detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we mark this outstanding occasion with our own overture beneath.
What started out as an alternative to DTPM and amidst a time in the capitals clubbing history when partying outside the usual Friday or Saturday night parameters was very much vogue, the then cavorting minnow that today is not just the longest running weekly club on the scene, but is undoubtedly the recognised & symbolic starter of the clubbing organisation we now know as Orange Nation (formerly The Orange Group). And while the beginnings were very humble indeed, Bermondsey the initial backwater choice and a traditional pub at that, the switch of suburbs proved the crowning glory & catalyst for Orange and all the other club brands that were soon to follow, A:M, Beyond, Gravity & Later, like their citric commandant, surviving while many others have fallen by the wayside, the likes of Salvation, Factor 25, Sherbert & Warriors all having made their Sunday mark but have disaperead into complete capital clubbing circuit obscurity. Yet through passionate promotion, a fervent & faithful following plus an indelible list of incredible ingredients that have remained part of the clubs award winning recipe through its history, Orange has not only survived, but for a substantial slice of its existence, thrived, meaning by marking its 14th birthday, there is much cause for citric champers celebration.
So, having adopted the name for his now considerable conglomerate, the Nation’s head cheese, Craig Elder, remains as fond of the brilliant clubbing brand that is Orange as he was when it all started fourteen years ago, Craig remarking that “…Orange is very special to me, it’s where it all started, back in a small pub in Rotherhithe called the Prince of Orange…” this clearly the inspiration for the club’s name, while he continues, “…I am very proud that it is now London’s longest running weekly party and although it has evolved so much over the years Orange remains at the forefront of cutting edge house music, and even in these days of economic crisis it just amazes me how our loyal crowd just keep coming every Monday morning, proving that London is indeed a 24 hour city…”. And Craig is spot on, both with his reference to the music of Orange and that, more than any other afterhours on the capital’s circuit today, it exemplifies everything that is indulgently addictive about a club that week in week out re-writes the rules to the conformist start to the working week. Indeed, having succumbed to the club’s citric splendour on a score or more of Sunday’s, it has been Monday morning, sometimes afternoon before the routine reality has taken over, Orange still being able to achieve this fabulous feeling fourteen years down the line.
Therefore, it seems wholly appropriate for us to sing the clubs praises from the rooftops as well as make it our pick of the day, and in so doing, share some of the event detail with you here, this “14 Glorious Years” event cracking open the celebratory champagne from 11 p.m. tonight at Fire, the home that is the cornerstone of it & its owning organisation Orange Nation. And while we could go into our own oratory Orange event detail, there is surely no-one better than its most prolific promoter to date, the superb Steven Sharp, to let you in on what this captivating club means & what this exceptional event will deliver when he say’s “…Orange is an incredible thing, a perfect combination of people and house music, love and history, future, friendship and fierceness that has proved its place in people’s hearts and as a founding father of the London scene. This Sunday brings together true DJ legends that we are proud to call our residents, representing this city with that unique, forward thinking and uplifting Fire main room soundtrack that has put Vauxhall on the map. Celebrate 14 years with all of the Orange family including Tonnic on live vocals, historic hosts and promoters, and most importantly – you, the children of this fine fruit!…”
And those D.J. legends, well it’s The Sharp Boys, Fat Tony, & The Oli, George & Steven playing a classics set, special guest Paul Heron joining forces with Oli for a one-off back-to-back set, while no Orange celebration of this stature would be complete without the iconic playing & performing partnership that is Tony & Tonnic. But it doesn’t stop there, oh no, as RAW returns with one half of its founding duo, David Jimenez, he joined for another back-to-back set showing by D’Johnny, while we are sure the thoughts & well wishes of all the team, Orange customers & cavorters, as well as ourselves, reach out to Hifi Sean who was very much looking forward to being part of partying proceedings tonight, but remains laid up in hospital following operation complications, you surely joining us in wishing him a speedy recovery. While Sean will be sadly missed, other fabulous & familiar faces from within the Orange family will be there, hosts Hrh Minty, Louise Port & Danny Boyce looking after you both inside & out, while the terrific Tom Fuller masterminds the Orange operation including the door, which as we said, opens at 11 p.m., the club running through till a planned finish of 7 a.m. Monday morning, entrance on the door just £5 before 1 a.m. (£10 after). And with special birthday presents for the Orange faithful (are you one?!), drinks priced at just £2.90, shots at £1, and an exclusive membership offer that includes free entry to all Orange Nation clubs during January, all up for grabs before 1 a.m., early is definitely better than later, more info if you need it out at http://orangenation.co.uk.
So, with a resounding attendance recommendation as well as wishing Orange a very happy 14th birthday, we both concur with as well as leave some of the last words to Craig Elder who say’s “…I want to thank all the DJs and loyal fans that have supported us over the last 14 years, making Orange the Monday morning phenomenon it is. Here’s to the next 14!…”, definitely hip hip hooraying that & finishing by simply saying, miss this birthday bash and you will definitely miss out, so make sure you “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)
Postscript
In celebration of the outstanding Orange occasion, two of the clubs original resident D.J.’s Steven React Sharp & George Sharp Mitchell, better & more simply known as The Sharp Boys, have laid down a special podcast production that gives more than a hint of what to expect from their equally special “classics” set tonight, so one not just for your collection, but a wonderful way to get you into musical mood for tonight’s birthday bash, download/stream options a click away at http://orangenation.podomatic.com/entry/2012-11-07T10_18_51-08_00. Music Is The Answer! Go There!
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Craig Elder, D'Johnny, Danny Boyce, David Jimenez, Fat Tony, Fire, Hifi Sean, Hrh Minty, Orange, Orange Nation, Orange RAW, Paul Heron, Steven Sharp, The Oli, The Sharp Boys, Tom Fuller, Tonic | No Comments »
For over nine years it’s been storming Saturday mornings, pushing the mid to late A.M. boundaries, but the club of the same name is about to embark of the biggest change its history, shifting into Friday as well as Saturday, A:M going all “Ultra” on us from tonight (Fri 2nd Nov), meaning it not only makes our “Pick Of The Day” but gives us reason to “Focus Extra” on the event, all the detail a banner selection away opposite or an image click below, while we cast our own eye on this dynamic development beneath
When we look across the diverse & dynamic gay scene’s across the near continent, there are a few brands that tend to stick out, many that have been pushing the boundaries for well over ten years, there’s La Demence in Brussels, celebrating 23 years in business this weekend, , Muccassassina in Rome equally as established, finding itself into its 23rd season, while the resplendent Red & Blue in Antwerp is not that far behind, cracking open the champagne on 1st December, marking its 14th anniversary, although what all these have in common is that they are the single most outstanding brands in their respective cities.. However, here in the capital, the prolific clubbing picture is somewhat more significant, as we have a whole host of brands that have notched up that double figure in business landmark, just last weekend seeing Trade celebrate its 22nd birthday, while Orange is, in just two weeks, marking its 14th, Beyond already deep into its 11th year storming the scene, all three not only iconic come legendary here in London, but are brilliant brands both known & active right around the globe. But there is a fourth, one that sits very much in the afterhours bracket like all the other three, yet just three months ahead of its 11th birthday, this club is about to embark the most dynamic & dramatic development in his history.
So which brilliant capital clubbing brand are we talking about?, well A:M of course, the club that has, singlehandedly been responsible for changing the Saturday mornings of masses of clubbers in the 10 years it has been pushing the boundaries of normality, as while the majority of men & women in the land consider heading out for the Saturday morning shop, A:M devotees week in week out trade the supermarket aisles for the dancefloor, partying deep into the sixth day of the week to the banging beats of a bevy of A:M resident stars. And during its 10 year history, we too have been found within the captivating confines of Fire on a Saturday morning, our most recent trip taking in the special guest splendours of Lottie, while many a moon ago, we would fall into A:M from our West London base with weekly regularity, that afterhours feel that we have adored since the days of Trade & then Beyond being replicated in its own wonderful way by the amazing A:M. Yet all this is set to change (or is it?) as the brand prepares itself to shift from just being a Saturday morning event to a full blown 10/12 hour happening each & every week, A:M embracing both Friday & Saturday in what the team ate calling an “Ultra” make-over come look and in doing so, introducing some exciting additions to the A:M package.
Now, before we make our own analysis & judgement on the changes afoot with A:M, perhaps its best to share what the promotions team have to say about this dramatic development in the A:M branding, they beginning by saying “…new beginnings are always something to celebrate, and with clubbing pedigree like ‘A:M’ it means something very exciting indeed…” the first exciting change being the incorporation of another brand into the A:M fold, the Friday night award winning club Onyx captured under this new “Ultra” umbrella, the team saying of this addition and how this new clubbing combination will look, “…bringing in a hot new line up and harnessing the strength of another Friday institution ‘Onyx’, A:M Ultra will revolutionise the start of the weekend with a super-size, super-production event from Friday night into the not-so-early hours of Saturday morning…”. But hold it right there, as did we read this right, A:M will, in its new “Ultra” form be a “not-so-early hours of Saturday morning” club?!?! And what does this mean for this much beloved Saturday morning mash-up?, well we will tackle that shortly, while back to the team talk, as they let us in on some of the new D.J. stars of this clubbing combo, “…our headline resident is none other than superstar producer Pagano, joined by D.J.’s including Severino, Paul Heron, Ariel, Matt Bogard & D’Johnny, delivering turbocharged house to Fire’s main floor. In room two it’s an Onyx takeover with the all star D.J.’s pumping out dirty pop anthems including Lady Lloyd, Adam Turner, DMS & Tasty Tim…” while there is more as “…Raul Gonzalez returns to the A:M fold bringing his stunning dance troupe and injecting some Spanish glamour to the weekend, alongside the freshest hosts and special performers…” while the team are launching a “…hot new VIP space the Skylounge, hosted by JJ Clark, offering a place to sip Champagne and oversee the dancefloor of Fire’s rocking main room…” as well as promising “…regular pop up clubs, incredible drinks deals, massive smoking area, hot new décor and loads more…”.
So exciting times for A:M for sure and in the hands of a man who we easily describe as THE most capable & competent club promoters on the capitals circuit, Steven Sharp, A:M in this new “Ultra” format is sure to go from strength to strength. Indeed, since taking over the brand just under a year ago, Steven has made subtle changes to A:m that has seen it rekindle the purple patch years of its earlier times, the club very much about the music, he having brought some superb special guests, Paul Harris, Smokin Jo & (of course) Lottie just three examples, while with residents such as Jamie Head, Paul Heron, David Jimenez & D’Johnny, the music is on the tougher side of house but clearly continues to hit the mark with A:M’ers far & wide. Therefore this marvellous music policy can only get even better with the introduction of stars such as Pagano & Severino, while with a totally different poptastic feel in the newly formed Onyx second space, there should genuinely be something for everyone, whether Friday frolick’ers or Saturday shimmy’ers. That said, we have to note a caution concern as, for us, A:M was always about that decadent feel of clubbing deep into Saturday morning, pushing those normality boundaries & having a resultant feel of fabulous naughtiness, while in this new format and being a “…not-so-early hours…” club, we fear that that is a real danger that A:M will lose that exciting edge and rather become a mainstream & conformist club, although flipping the analytic coin, we have to concede that in these times of austerity, the team have reacted by not quite landing the downward spiralling Onyx on its sword, but giving it a new lease of life by combining it with a brand that has been on the up & up & bucking the trend of the former.
With our analysis not yet complete, lets pause to run through the detail of this A;M “Ultra” which takes place tonight (Fri 2nd Nov) at Fire in Vauxhall, doors opening at 11 p.m. and the club running through to the advertised “Superlate” timing which we hope means the usual 11 a.m. finish but suspect sadly that it may be a little earlier. While we are told advance tickets are available via the new Orange Nation website at http://orangenation.co.uk, entry on the door is still the best way to go with A:m, especially when you pick up a flyer or ad as the team are offering free (yes FREE!) entry before midnight, while the same flyer or ad will get you discounted £6 entry before 3a.m., otherwise it £10/£12 during these times. Plus, with the A:M promotions team out in force across Soho & Vauxhall, we reckon that some special entry offers will be up for grabs, especially if the terrific Tom Fuller is masterminding the flyer team (as we are reliably informed he is tonight), while those drinks offers mentioned earlier mean it’s never an expensive affair for your A:M trip, the added bonus of hosts Hrh Minty, Danny Boyce Louise Port & JJ Clark mean you will be in heavenly & charming clubbing hands from start to finish, more info available by visiting the Orange Nation website, by hitting promoter Steve Sharp’s page at http://facebook.com/steven.r.sharp.1 or by checking out the event page at http://facebook.com/events/296615937120263/. As for that analysis of ours, well while there is definitely loads of positives to draw on, the combo of Onyx into A:M one, the introduction of new resident D.J.’s as a result another, the potentially extended hours of the A:M ethos an exciting prospect, given that this new “Ultra” format has been labelled as a “Friday revolution”, we fear the emphasis will be taken away from Saturday meaning that A:M is we have known & loved it will be no more, meaning the DM jury is out on this new format although the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, meaning, despite this reservation, the new look A:M receives our rapturous recommendation meaning we can simply say that to eat that prolific “Ultra” pudding you need to “Go There! Be There!” (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: A:M, Adam Turner, D'Johnny, Danny Boyce, David Jimenez, Fire, Hrh Minty, Jamie Head, JJ Clark, Onyx, Pagano, Paul Heron, Severino, Steven Sharp, Tasty Tim, Tom Fuller | No Comments »
It’s been a long time coming, but as part of DM’s “rebuilding programme”, our much beloved recommendations newsletters are back this “Best Bites” edition picking out our three top of the tree choices of where to be & be seen on the scene this weekend, across Soho, Vauxhall & Shoreditch, dinky detail on each included below.
Well, well, well, hasn’t it been a while since our last recommendations newsletter, we too frightened to actually check exactly when it was, although we are talking months rather than weeks, pretty shocking really. However, with a feeling that you have missed them, we are back and as part of our “rebuilding programme” will be committing to weekly editions from here on in, leaving not much more to say apart from let’s get on with it.
So to our Soho Best Bite choice and it couldn’t really go to anything else this weekend apart from the prolific PLAY>TIME, the saucy sensation that has gone from strength to strength since we have been off newsletter air, while it has scooped no less than 12 “Pick of The Day” choices since we launched that part of our recommendations family in May. And while we will only be re-invigorating our picks from Saturday this week, PLAY>TIME is a deserved choice our Best Bite here, this Friday (5th Oct) seeing the mighty Steve Pitron take to the decks, not two weeks after his last “Gangnam” style outing which was a packed out affair, Steve a big draw & so surely to repeat with another pulsating performance this time round. Then, taking the second slot, although an equally heavyweight London based spinning. star of the scene, is international playboy D.J., Paul Heron, this a rare Friday we finding him not just in the capital, but in Soho, so a set to savour & one not to be missed, his more funky, sexy & tech style of sound contrasting to the uplifting euphoric & colossal club sounds of Steve. But there is more, as PLAY>TIME promoter Jay Roberts brings a bevy of brawn with him, a trio of tottie bearing pretty much all on the podiums, as well as in Jay’s back room boudoir, hunky porn stars Fabio Stallone, Damien Crosse & Goran out to play, while Jay will be dressing every provocatively & the friendliest of bar teams will pamper to your every liquid refreshment desire. So, what more can we say to top this all-star cast than by resoundingly recommending you make PLAY>TIME your Friday date, doors to host venue Lo-Profile on Wardour St opening from 10.30 p.m. & running through till 4 a.m., entrance just £8 before midnight & £10 thereafter, while discounted entry for Profile Bar patrons is available. Further info can be found by going to http://loprofile.com, or by checking out PLAY>TIME’s Facebook page at http://facebook.com/PlaytimeProfile.
Onward to Vauxhall and what a choice we have, The Orange group very much at the head of happenings, their family of brands allowing you to party virtually non-stop from Thursday through Monday morning. However, while we could land on A;M, or even Later, it is Beyond that gets our top of the tree best Bite choice this time, not least that it is a WE weekend which pretty much guarantees an rammo Area and an awesome atmosphere to boot. Having been to our favourite afterhours nay club of all time, two weeks in a row, we can certainly vouch for the fact that you will have one of the best times of any club or event across the weekend, this week seeing promoter Ben Kaye continue to mix it up with his sizable team of resident D.J.’s The Sharp Boys back after a few weeks absence in the terrace, while Mikey D makes it to the main room decks, Alan K & Paulo Moreno in the early slot mix, Fat Tony completing the spinning star sandwich here, while Verity Mayes & Bryony masters hot foot it down from WE, with more to be announced. And being the official afterparty for WE “Bitches On The beach” expect the influence to rub off on Beyond this Sunday morning (7th Oct), with a dance troupe swooping in on Area from The Coronet, while the lighting & effects, especially in the main room, doesn’t get any netter, anywhere in our humble opinion. Plus you can expect it to be packed & pulsating from the 5 a.m. start until the midday finish, which means advance tickets are advisable, these available online by going to http://orangenation.co.uk or by selecting the joint ticket option at http://wepartylondon.com. That said, we have it on good authority that a £10 face ticket available at Clone Zone & Comptons in Soho will also get you in, failing which you can still pay on the door, one efficiently & friendly managed by the one the only JJ Clark. Further info on Beyond & this event can be found via the clubs Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/beyondclub.
To our third Best Bite of the weekend and one which sees us heading to Shoreditch, landing on hip & happening hangout East Bloc on City Road. The brainchild of one Wayne Shires of Crash fame, East Bloc plays host to such party brands as Gutterslut, WAR, DISH, Super Electro Party Machine, SOS and, this week, the marvellous TheMenWhoFell2Earth, this electro disco drenched delight blasting back for a upper charged party this Saturday (6th Oct), the team welcoming special guest D.J. Jamie Bull whose roots are both here in London 7 up in Manchester, he renowned to serving to sleazy, twisted electro disco in a hard kind of way, which means he will go down a treat with the MWF2E fervent following, Jamie playing a specially extended set in the main space. Then across in room two Sudha stars, he better know as the percussionist from uber-legendary dance pioneers, Faithless, her set surely to prove something pretty special, not least as she is teaming up with Dick & Fanny regular Pamela Chu (aka De la Ioakim) to present a one-off “Cosmic Disco” devotion. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, in the third “Mirror-Ball” room, watch out for a girl with razorblades hidden in her hair, Sina Sparrow from hot as Stoke Newington all-girl pop, rock & indie club “Debbie” while be the late night turn, Oly your host across the event, from superb start to fabulous finish. And talking of starts, this latest TheMenWhoFell2Earth party opens its doors to an adoring audience from 10.30 p.m., the club running through till 6 a.m., the hot off the press news being that Paul Heron will be spinning a special set in the main room form 4 a.m., so a great reason to stay till the end, while entrance id just £6 before midnight or £9 thereafter (bargain!), more info out at http://themenwhofell2earth.co.uk while we leave the last line to the promoters when they say “…plug in the three phase – crank up the gigga watts – generator maxxed up – we are blasting back for another super charged party…” say no more!
Well, that was pretty painless and by golly it feels good to be back best biting, three choices here that richly deserve their top of the tree positioning so ones very much carrying our full recommendation. Will we be at all three, we suspect not, as its WE for DM on Saturday & outside commitments on Sunday, but you can bet your bottom dollar we will be at PLAY>TIME, nibble size tweeting from our spit, which you can follow at http://twitter.com/discomatt, while tomorrow (Thursday) we will be serving up our “Short Shouts” newsletter extending offers to over 10 other outings that have caught our eyes. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: Alan K, Area, Ben Kaye, Beyond, Bryony Masters, East Bloc, Fat Tony, Jay Roberts, JJ Clark, Lo-Profile, Mikey D, Paul Heron, Paulo Moreno, Playtime, Steve Pitron, The Orange Group, The Sharp Boys, TheMenWhoFell2Earth, Verity Mayes, Wayne Shires | No Comments »
From A.M. to WE, Boylesque to Beyond, Onyx to Orange, plus Gravity, Later & newbie Infamous too, there is no doubt that Orange Nation is a superb Vauxhall & Southwark clubbing torre de force this “World Pride” weekend, also holding sway in Soho with an exclusive outdoor event, Disco Matt dishing up the detail of a superb sequence of showings courtesy of this capital clubbing conglomerate.
As we sit on the scene sidelines swinging in & out of our summer sabbatical, we are quite horrified by the sound bites we are seeing over what is clearly a shocking shambles of a so called World Pride event, the latest statement from Pride London which includes this “…our sincerest apologies, Pride London deeply regrets the situation we have found ourselves in …” issued following a wave of criticism of their handling of World Pride, clear evidence that not only will this year’s London Pride festival be nothing short of a flop, but when the capital sees itself in the global spotlight, it is a damning disgrace that the both committee presiding over Pride in London & the powers that be holding the purse strings, have failed the community at such a late stage. However, with no such committee & commitment problems, it comes as a huge sigh of relief that from the ashes of cancelled dance stages & arenas comes the saviour that will be Soho, Vauxhall & Shoreditch in the hands of Orange Nation, who have no less than eight clubbing parties across the latter two districts & one huge pre-party come party planned for Soho.
So putting World Pride to one side, let’s take you through the whole Orange Nation offer, including that planned Soho party, first up being Gravity this Friday morning (6th Jul) which (quite tongue in cheek to Pride London) has been called “It’s Definitely Happening”, although we do wonder how long looking into the morning mirror that title took, although in all fairness the team do say, “…it’s Pride weekend, so start as you mean to go on…”, Gravity certainly the place to do that, especially if you want your weekend to start early on Friday morning, doors opening to this event at 2 a.m. & the club running to a “v late” timing. And with D.J.’s on duty including Fat Tony & Verity Mayes, plus with host JJ Clark zooming across from Room Service, no doubt with plenty of followers in his tracks, while Gravity’s promoter Danny Boyce will be sure to give you the warmest of welcomes, this is the best place to be at the start of your weekend, especially if its starts on Friday. Plus, with entry on offer at just £5 before 3 a.m. with a flyer or pass, these being handed out by a bevy of boys around Soho on Thursday night, as well as being available from JJ at Room Service, while its £8 thereafter or £10 on the door, more info available at http://facebook.com/gravitythursdays.
Into Friday we find ourselves and usually it would be Onyx at Area neatly followed by A:M at Fire, although as has been the trend in recent months, when it comes to the big weekends (& this is one such weekend), the clubs combine to make one huge happening stretching close on twelve hours, an equally towering team of D.J.’s flying the respective club flags. So, kicking off at 11 p.m. & Fire playing host, this “Pride Warm Up” party sees the two club D.J. camps collide, in the Onyx corner we finding Matt Bogard & Jonny M playing upfront & energetic house with plenty of vocal intentions in the main room, while is pop & dance anthems from gender benders Tasty Tim & Lady Lloyd in the lounge, while packing a powerful punch in the A:M corner are all star residents Fat Tony D’Johnny, Jamie Head, Alan K, Paulo Moreno & David Jimenez, very much cementing the character of this amazing afterhours club which promoter Steven Sharp is always clear to stress, “…it’s all about the music…”. Mind you, with the amount of hosts on duty you may be forgiven for thinking otherwise, Nick Adams Byam ability assisting the delightful Chrissy Darling (could he be a pretty young thing?!?!) while A:M wise, it’s the dynamic duo of Danny Boyce & Minty, Chrissy presiding over the door duty early on, while Minty takes over later. And talking of the door, entry packages are pretty reasonable, as a wee trip to http://gayguestlists.com/onyx could get you in gratis, while for others & those with a flyer it’s a mere £6 before 3 a.m., rising to £8 before 5 a.m. & then £10 thereafter, while if you don’t want to go foraging for a flyer, then you can rather click on http://orangenation.clubtickets.com/gb/2012-07/06/onyx-vs-a-m-fire-pride-warm-up for that £8 price tag while entry on the door is £12 after 3 a.m.
So onward to Saturday and with both the parade & the “official” World Pride after events covered in confusion, Soho will no doubt be playing host to the lion’s share of the action, Orange Nation in the thick of the action, or should we say in the middle of it, having secured Comptons who will be playing host to the WE “Players” pre-party. Now, naturally we have been digging for details and with plans to have an outside stage very much in the balance, we can nevertheless confirm that, as of going to press, this pre-party will happen, whether inside or out, D.J.’s on duty confirmed as Paul Heron, Matt Bogard & Fat Tony, while if the green light for an outside stage goes ahead, then the whole Orange Nation residency team will be rolled out in back-to-back form, so Steve Pitron & Jamie Head, Alan K & Paulo Moreno, Jonny M & The Oli, D’Johnny & David Jimenez and Verity Mayes & Bryony Masters. However, with Westminster council crying wolf on issues of policing, safety & funding, as well as having supposedly issued a licensing edict to all venues, the final decision on this outside stage will not be made until after a major meeting which takes place tomorrow, so watch this space for a “hot off the press” newsflash as the decision hits our desk. Mind you, whichever way it goes, Comptons is always the biggest & best Pride melting pot & with Orange nation plus WE Party involved, it will be even more so.
Now talking of WE, if time allows, we will be delivering a full on focus & devotion to what will undoubtedly be the biggest party of the whole Pride weekend, The Coronet in Elephant & Castle once again playing host this Saturday (7th July), while the D.J. line-up is mighty & impressive as the place, WE’s very own resident roving D.J. Carlos Gallardo back to London by popular demand & sure to thrill with tons of towering tunes neatly balanced between those benchmark euro-beats & uplifting vocal injections, while it will be an all out progressive assault from our Italian stallion, Pagano, the tones turning tech when Paul Heron & D’Johnny take to the decks. But with Room Service’s Kris Di Angelis & Matt Bogard going back-to-back in the second space, there will certainly be an alternative electro twisted trip to be made, Munroe Bergdorf playing host upstairs, while the main arena will be in the very capable hands both Ben Kaye & JJ Clark. So, let’s rattle through the rest of the detail which goes like this, doors opening at 10 p.m. & the club running through till 6.am., advance tickets available online via http://wepartylondon.com &/or http://orangenation.clubtickets.com/gb/2012-07/07/we-party-london-we-players-pride-party, at the standard £18 price tag (yes those £10 &£15 super advance ones went really quickly), while outlets Prowler, Clone Zone, 50 & Solarstation are your Soho sources, along with Comptons & Ku-Bar, entry we believe available on the door, but expect to pay more.
But for those that may be WE’d out or are in search of something a little more intimate compared to the full on theatre size experience, the Orange Nation team have come up trumps with “Boylesque”, in what has been labelled as “…the alternative pride party…” although is likely to have massive mainstream appeal, not least that international gay icon, pop star, D.J. & altogether good egg, superstar Boy George is at the centre of, not only the title of this club night, but the entertainment too. And having announced that he will be performing live for the first time in over two years, while we have been sworn to secrecy, the is one stunningly spectacular surprise up his sleeve, meaning that you will be far from disappointed if you trade your W & E for a B & G. But more than that, we are told that artists flown in especially for this event (we really cannot say, sorry) performing both D.J. sets & songs (itching to tell!!), okay just two then, Jeremy Healy & Jon Pleased, but all we will say is that it’s not to be missed. So what more can we say, well apart from George & co?, well, the “alternative” burlesque (see what they did with the title?!) theme will be extenuated by a score of sexy boys & girls on stage, while the second space will be a “Fire” room showcasing some of the clubs finest D.J.’s (naturally those not on duty elsewhere!), Fat Tony (B G’s best buddy), Jamie Head & Verity Mayes on decks duty, while the third room will be given away to Walt Utz & Madame Jojo’s who will present a show spectacle with a line up of London’s most notorious stars from the cabaret circuit. Now we really cannot say anymore (stop it!!!) apart from dipping through the detail, “Boylesque” kicking off at Fire from 11 p.m. this Saturday (7th July) & running through to a planned 6 a.m. finish, advance tickets priced at just £10 (absolute bargain!) still available at http://orangenation.clubtickets.com/gb/2012-07/07/boylesque-boy-george-s-alternative-pride-party, while you can check-in at the usual Soho outlets for handpicked passes.
Onwards we go and to Beyond and like WE, if time permits we will be devoting a special feature to it as this looks like being every bit the roadblock events that is always is come big weekends, and some we say, not least when you consider that the team have “…pulled out all the stops to bring one of the world’s best D.J.’s to London…” NYC’s Hector Fonseca bringing with him a resounding repertoire of remixes, no less than 5 having reached number one in the billboard charts last year alone, hence we are chomping at the bit to feature him is this special focus. But with Tel Aviv’s FFF Group also jetting in their own package of players in the form of D.J. Tal Cohen & international drag performer K Long, both who featured in the FFF party at Fire last year, Beyond certainly has the global feel that that only WE Party & Hustlaball can match this weekend. Add to that London all star cast including Steve Pitron, The Sharp Boys, Hifi Sean, Fat Tony, D’Johnny & Paul Christian, together with back-to-back sets from Alan K & Paulo Moreno and Verity Mayes & Bryony Masters, so if there was ever a club that was about the music for us, then it is Beyond & not least this “World Pride” spectacular. So, skipping through the detail, it’s a 3 a.m. start at Area this Sunday (8th July) with entry simply £15 in advance (the best commodore you will spend this weekend) either online at http://orangenation.clubtickets.com/gb/2012/07/08/beyond-world-pride-2012 or at those Soho outlets, while entry will be available on the door but expect to pay more & probably wait even longer, Ben Kaye & JJ Clark teaming up gain, as they did for WE, while no special Beyond would ever be the same without the tremendous Tom Fuller.
So, on the home straight (ish) and Later comes next, the team rolling out yet another fun filled frolic in the form of the now infamous “Funfair” format, the Later garden a hot bed of happy happenings with rides & games stalls, while a fortune teller will be sitting on his /her corner ready to tell you what is around your corner. Plus with the pool filled up if the weather permits & the bbq, an indelible ingredient of any Later party, stacked with sausages & brimming with burgers, that along with some other surprises in store and out will be the new clubbing in. That said, inside the musical heat will be turned right up full, resident D.J.’s Jamie Head, D’Johnny & Paul Heron cooking on tunes gas mark nine, while hostess Andrea & her boys (yes she has a bevy of them) will be causing enough madness & mayhem to make this a party to remember. And with host venue Fire’s doors opening at 11.30 a.m. this Sunday (8th July), the club running through to 8 p.m., with discount wristbands/stamps available at Beyond, standard entry is available online at http://orangenation.clubtickets.com/gb/2012-07/08/later-funfair or on the door, priced at £10, we are pretty sure you will be walking away come 8 p.m. with the biggest smile on your face, candy floss round your lips & a shiny bum from all that sliding, not to mention sore feet from dancing.
Now we would normally finish with Orange (which we will), but will quickly mention new club “Infamous” which launches at Covert on Sunday night from 6 p.m. details coming your way via our extra bites post “Princely Sum of A Soiree”, which paves the way for the “From Orange With Pride”, the organisers saying of the Pride closing event saying “…you’ve had the world, now get a true taste of London & the biggest last dance of Pride 2012…” as it is sure to be with not just the “Orange Family” of D.J.’s that include The Oli, Fat Tony & the Sharp Boys, but Hifi Sean is back too, starring in Fire’s main room alongside guest slot guy Paul heron (my he is a busy boy this weekend, we count five gigs at least!), while the event also boats the newly named RAW Future Heroes space with Lee Yeomans in charge of the tunes. But it’s Pride and so we all know what track/record that means, “A Deeper Love” among a handful of other hits performed by special PA Elliotte Williams, very much crowning this citric colossus which kick starts at 11 p.m. on Sunday (8th July) & carries you deep into Monday morning & a date with your day off diary, http://orangenation.clubtickets.com/gb/2012-07/08/from-orange-with-pride-london-s-biggest-pride-closing-party the place to go for advance tickets, priced at just £10, while its half that price with a flyer before 1 a.m., door hosts Chrissy Darling & Minty managing your efficient entry & them cheerful cavorting ala citric style.
So that’s the Orange Nation World Pride package and what an enthrallingly extensive one it is too, we finishing by reminding you that advance tickets are very much the way (especially for WE & Beyond), Solarstation not just a superb source, but also an opportunity for you to soak up some sun, of the sun-bed variety of course, as we all want to look at our best for World Pride, a quick visit to http://solarstation.co.uk revealing all you need to know before revealing yourselves to some bronzing brightness. That just leaves us to wish you a very happy World Pride, even if the event itself looks like being a bit of a wash-out, as there is always the league of Orange Nation clubs to turn & to take to. (DISCO MATT)
Posted in Recommends | Tags: A:M, Aaron Elder, Area, Beyond, Bryony Masters, Carlos Gallardo, Chrissy Darling, Craig Elder, D'Johnny, Danny Boyce, David Jimenez, Fat Tony, Fire, Gravity, Hector Fonseca, Hifi Sean, Imfamous, Jamie Head, Jonny Marsh, Kris Di Angelis, Later, Matt Bogard, Minty, Onyx, Orange, Orange Nation, Pagano, Paul Heron, Steve Pitron, Steven React Sharp, The Oli, The Sharp Boys, Tom Fuller, Verity Mayes, WE Party, WE Players | No Comments »
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14 Mar 2013 | 0 Comments
Recommends – “Swapping Sun, Sea & Sand For Snow” – Th European Gay Ski Week – 16th to 23rd March – International Focus Extra
While we should be soaking up the splendour of sun, sea & sand in South Africa, as we find ourselves rather languishing in London, we swap to snow for our International Special Focus, honing in on The European Gay Ski Week that brings together a bevy of brilliant clubbing brands ...
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13 Mar 2013 | 0 Comments
Recommends – “Charitable Clubbing Change Champions” – Covert “A New Beginning” – Saturday 16th March – Weekend Focus Special
Hailed as “A New Beginning” for the capitals clubbing circuit in an event that brings together like minded club owners, promoters, D.J.’s & scene figureheads, we dive into the dynamic detail of this magnificent meet with commentary & links a-plenty. Having effectively stood back and watched the splendid ...
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9 Dec 2012 | 0 Comments
Reviews – “Fun Filled & Full-On Frenzy” – Beyond – Sunday 9th December – Bite Size Review
Big weekends or not, there is one club that never fails to pull in the punters & deliver an enthralling experience unrivalled by anywhere else, the now legendary afterhours that is Beyond beckoning us away from our sick bed for what turned out to be a two hour fun filled ...
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8 Dec 2012 | 1 Comment
Reviews – “Grand Prix Gathering” – WE Party “Formula 2″ Second Anniversary – Saturday 1st December – Super Size Review
The build up was mind boggling, the anticipation was at fever pitch and our emotions were on a knife edge, but as the reality & then enormity of WE Party London’s “Formula 2” event began to play out, we were totally amazed by this awesome anniversary, but what made this ...
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28 Nov 2012 | 0 Comments
Recommends – “Back Where We Belong” – Weekend Best Bites Newsletter – Friday 30th Nov to Sunday 2nd Dec
As we approach one of the most momentous & meaningful weekends in our year, we thought it wholly appropriate to re-launch our weekly recommends newsletters, this “Best Bites” the first half of the posting picture, where we pick out our three top of the tree event choices of where to ...
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27 Nov 2012 | 1 Comment
Recommends – “Chequered Flag Celebration” – WE Party London “Formula 2″ – Saturday 1st December – Weekend Focus Special
It came & it conquered, brushing the competition aside with a new formula of fun, the whimsical wonder that is WE wowing & wooing the capitals clubbing circuit cavorters comprehensively. Now, two years down their terrifically roaring race track, this brilliant Spanish brand marks a second formula foray with a ...
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11 Nov 2012 | 0 Comments
Picks/Recommends – “Citric Champers Celebration” – Orange “The Birthday, 14 Glorious Years” – Sunday 11th November – Pick Of The Day/Special Focus Extra
From the backwater of Bermondsey to the vibrancy of Vauxhall, the scene’s longest running & surviving weekly marks fourteen years of citric clubbing splendour tonight (Sun 11th Nov) meaning that the orbicular outing that is Orange simply had to make it to our “Pick Of The Day” choice, all the ...
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2 Nov 2012 | 0 Comments
Recommends/Picks – “Friday Saturday Shift” – A:M “Ultra” – Friday 2nd November – Weekend Focus Extra/Pick of The Day
For over nine years it’s been storming Saturday mornings, pushing the mid to late A.M. boundaries, but the club of the same name is about to embark of the biggest change its history, shifting into Friday as well as Saturday, A:M going all “Ultra” on us from tonight (Fri 2nd ...
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3 Oct 2012 | 0 Comments
Recommends – “Biting Back” – Weekend Best Bites Newsletter – Friday 5th to Sunday 7th October
It’s been a long time coming, but as part of DM’s “rebuilding programme”, our much beloved recommendations newsletters are back this “Best Bites” edition picking out our three top of the tree choices of where to be & be seen on the scene this weekend, across Soho, Vauxhall & Shoreditch, ...
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4 Jul 2012 | 0 Comments
Recommends – “Pride As It Should Be” – Orange Nation “World Pride Programme” – Fri 6th to Mon 9th July – Special Focus Feature
From A.M. to WE, Boylesque to Beyond, Onyx to Orange, plus Gravity, Later & newbie Infamous too, there is no doubt that Orange Nation is a superb Vauxhall & Southwark clubbing torre de force this “World Pride” weekend, also holding sway in Soho with an exclusive outdoor event, Disco Matt ...
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