club – and so she thinks

Bright eyed clubbing with Morning Gloryville

admin — Sun, 20 Dec 2015 21:15:08 +0000

I’ve heard Morning Gloryville described in numerous ways. ‘A social movement.’ ‘Mental – in a good way.’ ‘The. Best. Thing. Ever.’
Or: ‘Not for me.’ ‘F*cking weird.’ ‘Ooooo…kaaaaeyyy.’
People who haven’t been to an event (and plenty have – now in twenty one cities around the world the enthusiasm has been spreading since its beginnings in May 2013) tend to raise their eyebrows, either also sneering at the idea of hippies giving one another hugs and proselytizing about the evils of alcohol (why else dance without it?), or in alarm at the idea of not only being awake and active so early in the morning but being so without any kind of stimulants – who does that?! Those who have grin widely at the same time as their eyes flash, fizzing with the delight of their memories. They know something, and they want you to as well.

Whether it’s social pressures or cultural conventions there’s a feeling that dancing in the morning, without alcohol, sometimes alone, and especially freely rather than to a routine, is something we just can’t do as adults. It’s weird to operate outside of convention and without inhibitions – and jumping around with strangers in a club at 6.30am challenges those quite strongly.
The weekend editions begin slightly later – everyone deserves a lay in after all – and on my way there at 9am on the last Saturday before Christmas I look like I’ve been on a rather zealous party night out, still coated in glitter. (I come out even more sparkly.) By the time I reach MODE in West London my outfit pales in comparison to the cacophony of shimmer, tassles, neon and dazzle that my fellow clubbers are donning, dancing like an explosion of unicorns on a sugar high.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noMEPz9qPxc&feature=youtu.be
A rainbow of positivity seems to fill the room, but not in any kind of pretentious or smug way – this is just people having a really bloody good time, as well they might when the sun is shining, the holidays here, and we have nerves that feel the pounding beats, eyes to take in the visual spectacular, ears that hear shaking music, legs to move and arms to wave, and a heart and soul that is alive.
Play, love, creativity, growth, consciousness, harmony, joy, innovation and purpose are all words that the founders of Morning Gloryville use to describe their mission, and all are pretty descriptive of the experience itself. We place so many demands and limits on ourselves that sometimes it’s good to let go – and dance the way through it. It’s hard not to veer into considering the events as something of a commentary or lens on the way we live our everyday lives – but it’s not necessary either. The thing I’ve heard most often said about Morning Gloryville is that it’s just damn good fun. And fun for a mix of people – yogis, music fans, Ibiza clubbers, business professionals, families all dance together on the floor, gather together for massages and bend over in a downward dog.
In many ways it is not difficult to imagine Morning Gloryville – it is a normal club event. Raving, dancing, hands in the air, moving with abandon and joy. It’s only the time of day and the beverages on offer that make the experience different. Different – but not at all lacking. In fact, there’s something else that seems to become apparent. Strangers dance together, or individuals alone. There’s no jostling for the best positions on the dance floor. People pass around drinks without fearing any spike, and due to a full cloakroom we leave our bags on the side, something we would never consider were it 10pm rather than 10am.
It’s the final Morning Gloryville in London of 2015, and whilst there’s no Christmas songs, only a few smatterings of tinsel, and nothing mulled on offer, the sense of friendship, love, warmth and gratitude for life is the closest to the ‘true meaning’ of this season that I’ve found in a long time.

Yoga Gets Social

admin — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 08:55:00 +0000

No pain, no gain. Force yourself. Train mean eat clean. Once exercise was all about the aggressive approach, pushing your body hard, and to hell with your mind, others, or the rest of your life. It was punishment to be endured. And yoga, that was about clearing your mind. Focus. Get on the mat. And tune out from everyone else.

But things are changing, and there seems to be a liberation from this convention. Physical and mental, exercise and fun, solo and social, fun and healthy, zen and zing – this is the era of yoga socials.
http://www.trueyogacollective.com/#/yoga-gets-social/

The Cribs @ 100 Club

admin — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:39:40 +0000

With Drenge, April 17th 2013, as part of Converse – Get Dirty
The Cribs are a pretty suitable band to be headlining a show as part of a series of gigs that fall under the title ‘Get Dirty.’ Raucous, rampant, energetic and entertaining, their shows are always a celebration of rock in its most pure form – a sweaty explosion of endorphins and angst. Kicking off with MTV, the hour long set dived headfirst into live favourites Hey Scenesters, I’m A Realist, and Men’s Needs, as well as less often played tracks Jaded Youth and Tri’elle. As always Ryan Jarman was on top form, his banter goading people to crowd surf and stag dive, until the number of people on stage was at least quadruple that which it should be. ‘Messy like the old days’ in Ryan words, the gig proved that The Cribs have still got it, pummelling their way through their intelligent and intense rock with infectious exhilaration. After eleven years of consistently brilliant and biting guitar music, they show no signs of diminishing that northern grit that serves them so well.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkkgr0_DCks?list=PLa9Eb6jzg5gw2453J454ps26ZDkzOQrdv]
They didn’t play Be Safe though…what was that about?
A few lucky members of the crowd were given disposable cameras by Converse, in order to capture the carnage. Here is some of the evidence…

Scared To Dance Pulp Special

admin — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 18:07:43 +0000

Look for Scared To Dance and you’ll find a twice monthly club night, fanzine, and podcasts, all of which are packed with the kind of music we like to hear – indiepop, new wave, sixties pop, post-punk, punk, synthpop, C86, lo-fi and DIY music. Home is London, but they’ve taken the night to New York, Oslo, Edinburgh, Bergen and the Indietracks Festival.
We thought that they pretty much had it nailed.
Then, inspired by a little fireside reading of Jarvis Cocker’s Mother, Brother, Lover, they decided to make this Saturday’s Scared To Dance a Pulp special! Whether or not you remember the first time, it would be madness to not get your razzamatazz on this Saturday, 29^th October, at Kings Cross Social Club, 2 Britannia Street. Very little in life is better than dancing to Common People, Disco 2000 or Babies and the like, so why would you go out anywhere else?
Check out the facebook event here, and be sure to follow the instructions to get membership and cheaplist!

Opera. Silent. In a tunnel?

admin — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 10:38:42 +0000

Silent Opera.

Vault Festival.

Directed by Daisy Evans, recipient of the Sky Arts Futures Fund

Produced in association with Old Vic New Voices

As my first experience of opera, this was not so much akin as being dangled upside down by the ankles into a whirlpool of creative interpretations. It wasn’t to everyone’s taste, evident by the distaste from some older (not to stereotype) members of the audience who were adamant that this was NOT opera. With Puccini’s La Boheme being transmitted through (Sennheiser donated) headphones, the audience is wrapped in the music, whist the actors sing there and then (of course I couldn’t resist a cheeky listen san headphones) and the apparent close proximity to such a number of powerful instruments, albeit ones that are not actually there, makes for an intense experience. The opera setting is a bedroom, a flat, a club, and being sat on cushions, leaning against walls of the tunnel, whilst not so much the grandiose and sumptuous reputation that opera has, was a great way to be submerged into the feeling. The beauty of this piece came from the ravaging of emotion and gritty glory of real life and tumbling lush orchestras with slang and swear words, uncomfortable seating with rushing and jarring emotions, this is an excellent modern twist on a traditional story and format that retains both beauty and power.

Faith, Hope & Charity

admin — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:00:38 +0000

Music, and doing good for the world. Sounds like a perfect way to spend a Wednesday evening in January, particularly when the brilliant We Aeronauts were one of the bands soundtracking. To raise money for Macmillan, Subterraneans, The Cellar Family, We Aeronauts and Juliana Meyer all delighted the audience, whilst in between acts comedian Kim Hope kept the 12 Bar Club in London amused. Here is the special edition ‘zine It’s All Happening produced for the night.

Open publication – Free publishing – More 12 bar

If you want to keep giving, head to Just Giving, and if you’re interested in a special edition zine for your event, band, festival, whatever, get in touch.