What goes around, comes around, and after a few tense years for London’s clubbing scene, it feels like the party revolution is finally here. Brick Lane stalwart 93 Feet East has started a new chapter and re-opening last weekend, and a new Agent of Change principle now being written into national planning laws will protect clubs and music venues from property developers for good. The scene’s finally ready for a reboot.
South London’s nightlife has raised the bar again with Ghost Notes, the new music venue within Peckham Levels. There’s a dual operation in the space here – by day it’s vegetarian haven Wildflower, at night it’s Ghost Notes, but founder Russell Porter is less bothered about how to define the venue and more about how it fits in within its community. Ghost Notes is starting slow – Sunday club nights (with Colleen Murphy) and weekly Wednesday sessions – proving it’s here for the long haul.
Village Underground acquired the abandoned Savoy cinema in Dalston last year, and before they begin turning the gargantuan space into its next incarnation (think concert hall and theatre), they’re throwing some not-so-secret parties with XL Recordings founder Richard Russell. Everything is Recorded will be in residence next month, where the audience can join live rehearsals in a rough-and-ready setting with Sampha, Ibeyi and Warren Ellis across a major site-specific installation over multiple floors. Go explore!
Printworks has just announced its Issue 003 March dates with The Hydra, and there’s more to come. It’s hard to overstate what a huge impact a disused newspaper printers has had on the scene – their capacity and daytime raves turned partying in the capital on its head – 5,000 people raving at 5pm? Sure. It’s no longer about weekly club nights or walk-ups: with Printworks, you need to do your research, and it’s about considered shows and big name draws. For this season, they’ve upgraded the sound and light – as not even the major players can afford to rest on their laurels.
For 2018, less is more – we’ll see you on the floor.
