SOHO PRIDE – SUNDAY 17TH AUGUST
REVIEW FOR SEENQUEEN
Still recovering from our trip to Vauxhall and the Crash Reunion party at Union, we peered out into the Sunday daylight, pleased to see that the sun was shinning and the weather seemed set fair if not that warm, for what has become the must visit Pride event of the year, held on the streets and open spaces of Soho in Central London.
With expectations high and this day likely to be more popular than London Pride held six weeks before, we gathered ourselves together and headed off from home on the relatively short trip into town, making our entrance into the massive cordoned off Soho Pride area via Barcode at just after 2.30 p.m. The streets around Barcode and then the familiar Q.X. music stage were quieter than we had seen in previous years, so we headed into Rupert Street Bar to arm ourselves with refreshments. In the short time we were there, we spotted the crowd outside beginning to swell and activity on the adjoining streets gathering pace, with the arrival of the Wig Party go-go dancers, adorned in extrovert white wigs otherwise scantly clad, heading to the Q.X. music stage to join the wonderful DJ line up including Alan X & Per QX (it’s all in the “Q.X.”).
Leaving the temptations of Rupert Street, we decided to investigate the whole Soho Pride area, not just to get our bearings on the slightly revised layout of this billed coolest UK pride event, now in its 6th year, but to see where the real hotspots were. Walking past around past bars Escape and then Village, all seemed peaceful, soon to be shattered by an amassed crowd on Old Compton Street and swelling out of Compton’s, which every year has proven to be one of the most popular gay bar/pub venue at this event. Fighting our way past the crowd and moving further down Old Compton Street, it was clear that each and every business, cafés, bars & restaurants, were taking advantage of the pink pound and the closed off roads, with tables out on the streets enabling alfresco dining and drinking, although these spots were soon to be like gold dust as these normally motor filled arteries were set to be packed with revellers.
Glancing up Dean Street, we spotted the community market, in a new spot further up from it’s previous years position on Frith Street, although we continued to head for the new stage, also sponsored by QX Magazine, wedged between famous Soho eateries Ed’s Diner and The Stockpot, pausing briefly to figure out what the advertised fresh, fruity bubbling pop sounds and PA appearances on this new entertainment stand were all about. With not too much happening, we turned tail and headed up Frith Street, arriving at Profile Bar, which was clearly almost as popular as Compton’s, but with an altogether more glamorous crowd of muscle hunks, party queens and scene faces soaking up what proved to be one of the most glorious places to be seen and to succumb to the whole Soho Pride experience. With Gaydar backing this venue and in close proximity to the main stage within Soho Square itself, we soon found ourselves wandering up to the jewel in the Soho Pride crown, “Camp Gaydar”.
In association with XXL, GaydarRadio were the major sponsors of this impromptu camp (in more ways than one) area within the confines of Soho Square and at 3 p.m., it was already brimming full with an amazing mixed crowd of passionate & outrageous folk all out for a great time. For sure, the area certainly failed to disappoint, being so popular that a huge queue had already developed, enveloping around the square and past Edge bar. It was difficult to estimate the waiting time to get into the real hotspot of the Soho Pride and with the amazing DJ line up on the GaydarRadio Stage as impressive as any we have seen, getting better and stronger as the day went on, we were determined to get in, although we hate queuing for anything, being far from British in this pursuit. Fortunately, we were rescued from this potential plight with a backstage pass, being so grateful to & appreciative towards the kind and generous scene star that bequeathed this ticket to Soho Pride heaven and movement freedom.
Finding ourselves back outside Profile Bar more and more people were gathering and as we forced our way inside to arm ourselves with more refreshments we bumped into the fabulous Johnny Hooley and door host extraordinaire Wayne, both resplendent in glamorous outfits, perfectly matched to the classy & sexy crowd around. With camera’s clicking and expectant hunky bar staff, go-go’s & drag queens craving for their photo’s to be taken, we headed back towards Soho Square bumping into our fabulously fierce partner in crime Lexi, who was buttering up the brilliant Powder Puff Girls. These entertainers love being in the limelight and before you could say cheese, they were in front of the camera’s posing magnificently.
With our backstage pass now firmly glued to our bicep, we were now into Camp Gaydar in a trice, mixing with the party crowd and slowly meandering our way towards, then round the main stage. The sponsors had spared no effort to dress the whole area just like a makeshift campsite, fabulous, but after just a short trip round, we headed swiftly backstage to get our breath. There we found a smattering of scene faces including DJ’s Wayne G & Jamie Head as well as the talented Andrew Harris, all clearly enjoying the luxury of the crowd free area, like us soaking up the fantastic atmosphere. However, we were tempted to venture back out into the crowd and leaving our camera clicking pals for a moment, headed off to the bar to find the engaging Minty, perching on a high stool behind the beavering staff, overseeing proceedings and in charge of the all important back bar logistics. Seeing her in action, we simply couldn’t resist in Tequila and poked our head round the makeshift bar toasting Soho pride with Minty, in an all too familiar habit we enjoy together.
But it was back behind the stage where we found our scene photographer pals having taken full advantage of front stage positions to click pictures of the massive crowd, the PA on stage, the gorgeously muscled dancers and the scene celeb's around to further compliment the already huge number of photo’s taken, only then taking their short leave of Camp Gaydar to rejuvenate energy levels in time for the magical DJ line up that was to come on the main stage. We too briefly took our leave, wandering slowly back down the bursting at the seams streets towards Barcode, bumping into so many familiar faces, all loving the day that was clearly Soho Pride. Eventually working our way past the QX Music stage area, which was now rammed with people, we dropped in on Barcode to find the energetic DJ Steven Geller behind the decks. This cute young talent throws everything into his sets and today was no different, with favourite electro twisted house beast, one after the other pumping out, just brilliant.
But time was drawing on and we had a date back in Camp Gaydar and the GaydarRadio stage and arrived back to catch the last part of DJ Jamie Head’s set which had clearly lifted the crowd and atmosphere considerably higher than when we had left. Jamie is one of our favourite DJ’s and it was great to see him in action again, also being a pleasure to have the opportunity of catching up with him backstage. With a short PA following it was then the turn of Brent Nicholls to assume the decks and he immediately sent the amassed audience in Soho Square into stratospheric mood with one major latest house hit after the other followed by classic hands in the air dance tunes sending all around wild. We just had to savour this fabulous feeling, so left our privileged spot behind the main stage and joined the crowd out front to benefit the full effect of what was happening. With Brent Nicholls’ time up before we knew it, it was Paul Heron’s turn to finish off proceedings, and he took up right where Brent had left off, so ensuring the atmosphere remained electric right through to the close at 8 p.m.
Leaving Camp Gaydar behind, we made a final walk around Soho before heading off to one of many aftherhours parties on offer, our choice being Glamorous at Club Sin. This was our excuse to carry on what for us ended up being THE party of the year so far.
So what of Soho Pride 2008, well what we can say is this, yes, at times the huge crowd was a little too much for us, yes the weather deteriorated as the day went on, yes drinking out of plastic and having to accept higher than usual prices for just about everything were annoying consequences, but these were far outweighed by the wonderful atmosphere, the fabulous music the constant stream of friendly & familiar faces, the gift of a backstage pass and the chance of rubbing shoulders with some of the scene’s most fabulous celeb's which well and truly made our day and will ensure that this is one Soho Pride we will never forget.
With so many businesses, sponsors and organisations involved and working so tirelessly to make Soho Pride the clear success it was again, we sincerely hope they get the praise and reward they deserve. In working hard to ensure that we as revellers, party goers, what ever you want to call us, enjoy ourselves, we cannot say thank you enough, not just for us but on behalf of everyone who had the privilege of attending. To all the artists scene faces, DJ’s & promoters, also a huge thanks to you for contributing to this spectacular event and making it so special for us. Soho Pride has once again demonstrated that London can put on a fabulous party, London pride take note and has shown the country and perhaps the world how it should be done. We will be back next year that is for sure. (DISCO MATT)
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