The nightlife edition
I have a very surreal milestone coming up.
30 years of nightclubbing (shhh I know).
So I'm bringing you a new blog post ---click here to read it.
This may sound frivolous, but I've been obsessed with communal dancing experiences since getting hooked on rave culture in my teens (and before, if Hot Gossip on the Kenny Everett show counts).
***Really fun fact*** At the tender age of ten, I helped lay on an acid house party in my Primary School for Children in Need (my '89 moment lol) and even produced and broadcast Buzz FM; a "pirate" radio station from a crap sounding amplifier during reading class. Interviews with dinner ladies provided a background narrative for Bomb the Bass, Coldcut and 808 State, much to the bemusement of my teachers!
I'm fairly sure there are a LOT of shameless ravers in my e-list, so please make yourselves known if so!
Here are my top five rave moments - what are yours?
1. Space, Ibiza
The 90s terrace in the Mediterranean sunshine, with planes being cheered overhead, along with lunchtime sessions at Bora Bora. Pure perfection and always the blueprint. Nothing will ever compare to this wonderful place.
2. DC10, Ibiza
The bastard child of Space - Monday mornings at Circoloco when it first opened (around '99-ish). The press didn't know about it, entry was free and this place was frankly terrifying (in a good way). No seating, blazing sunshine and a writhing mess of beautiful Italians.
3. Universe: Tribal Gathering, UK
Showcasing the peak of UK dance culture with multiple marquees and 50,000 dancers over 24 hours. BIG lineups, BIG budgets, ALL the notorious traveller sound systems and standards of production, still unrivalled to this day. I lived for these parties in my college days.
4. Underground Network, NYC
I'm showing off with this as it was Manhattan clubbing at the tail end of Mayor Giuliani’s fun bleaching, clean-up operation. Plus Grace Jones stopped by. It's the only time I've ever seen her live in an intimate club setting (still not over it frankly - she was outrageous).
5. Trade, Turnmills, London
London's first ever legal, after-hours license and Farringdon's mad, bad queer techno club that revolutionised rave. A temple to some and atmosphere completely unrivalled since. Cher and Axl Rose couldn't get in, Madonna (allegedly) went incognito and Sue Pollard may have been a regular.
Oh actually, can I have six please? Tough, I make the rules so...
6. NYC Downlow, Glastonbury Festival
Industry bods consistently say this pop-up space is their fave club in the world and if you know, you know. An apocalyptic, queer film set dumped in the middle of Worthy Farm for the weekend; complete with Meat Rack butcher. But shhh - don't tell anyone about it because they'll all want in!
Argh! That was fun (oops forgot Berghain - that too). Now show me yours!
There's one party however, that's not on this list: The Loft. Why you ask? Because it's not a traditional nightclub.
Which brings me on to my latest blog piece, "Five Impressions from the Loft" detailing the vague similarities (& stark differences) between modern dance culture and sacred ceremony. One for the geeks among you...
New blog post: Five impressions from The Loft.
Fred says - “Screw VIP culture as all good dance halls are socially democratic spaces.” - thanks Fred.