“ALFRESCO ANITDOTE AT AUDIO”
WILD FRUIT TERRACE PARTY –
AS PART OF GAY BRIGHTON DANCE WEEKEND –
SATURDAY 7TH AUGUST
SPECIAL REVIEW
We have been hankering to step out from under the massive shadow that is the London clubbing scene for a while now, even though it been a good friend to us for the years we have been partying (too many to mention) and the much shorter time that we have been reporting on its delights & diversity. An attempt to break away and report on Brighton Pride last year fell at the final hurdle, although we were determined to not let anything get in our way this year. Then enter the Brighton Pride committee, who not only close on completely compromised the whole Brighton Pride event, which the city’s LGBT community had steadfastly supported & nurtured over the years, but through a series of financial & other blunders, disenfranchised its biggest support, Aeon Events, thus creating the kind of backlash never seen before within this tight knit community.
But the company behind the massive club brand, Wild Fruit, turned a setback into an opportunity and Gay Brighton Dance Weekend was born, its creator, one Paul Kemp, not only stealing much of the thunder of Brighton Pride itself, but developed a calendar of clubbing events stretching from the Thursday through to the Monday, totally eclipsing the drastically reduced Pride programme. Moreover, Paul’s stature & standing with community field meant that he managed to pull together 15 of the city’s best known dance bars & clubs and his reputation in the larger club promotions circuit attracted brands from back here in the capital to become involved in what turned out to be the outstanding success of Brighton’s Pride weekend, not so much a Pride weekend but a dance weekend extraordinaire. So, where did it all start for us? And why did it turn out to be an “alfresco antidote”?
With all the controversy & calamity surround Brighton Pride's park proceedings, even though we were determined to make it down to our version of London by the sea (yes we know about Southend! no letters please), the park was never really on the agenda, so a leisurely mid-afternoon train journey was the order of play. Meeting up with travelling partner and companion for this short weekend of clubbing merriment, Alex, the journey was over in a trice and a stroll down this seaside city’s (that’s Brighton of course) streets culminated in a rendezvous with other friends Roni & Danny who had travelled ahead to set up shop and prepare for the partying ahead. With the pride parade already over, many had headed for the park, although our body compass was pointing us in the direction of the seafront and the fabulous Wild Fruit Terrace party which had kicked off in earnest at 3 p.m. and was earmarked as the first leg in our trio of prolific parties as part of the Gay Brighton Dance Weekend.
Having not been to Brighton for some time and never having set foot in Audio, we were doing our level best to visualise what to expect and exactly where the venue was, although upon arrival with Alex, Danny, Roni & co, we were pleasantly surprised by both its convenient location (sandwiched between popular Charles Street & Amsterdam venues on Marine Parade) as well as the expansive space both inside & out, this multi levelled deco styled building certainly making an impressive seafront statement. Entering directly onto the smartly decked terrace, we were immediately taken by the superb setting, even if the sun was struggling to break through the rolling clouds, but looking around, it was clear the team had gone to extra effort to give this outside area a special feel, a massive mirror ball (and we are talking huge) dominating our view seaward, so big in fact, that it was seemingly being held up by this scaffolding affair that wouldn’t have looked out of place on one of the pop concert stages in Hyde Park or somewhere, while Inside and the laser lighting was already going full steam, a carpet of green dots filling the air, bouncing off the walls and illuminating the interior beautifully.
With refreshments in hand, we headed back out onto the terrace, where a select crowd had gathered to warm up their dance weekend proceedings, although our eyes were now fixed on the huge American style motor home parked outside Audio which was displaying Wild Fruit, Dance Nation & Gaydar posters and therefore clearly having a connection with this dance weekend festival. Having spotted heads bopping up & down on the upper open deck and with Danny & Roni deciding to head off to check out the Pride park proceedings, Alex led us round into the motor home where we got the chance to meet both Chrissy Darling (the face of Onyx & Lovechild), this time out of character & colourful costume, as well as superb PA singing star, Krysten Cummings. Both of them were mingling with a crowd of locals & Londoners including scene faces Gary Jordon & Quentin Neild, all very much in party mood and ready for the audacious alfresco action that lay ahead and we sank into their company & this entertaining experience with consummate ease, sinking yet more refreshments that were flowing freely.
However, as good as the mini party on Chrissy’s temporary home was, it was Audio and the Terrace party that required our devotion, so it was back onto the decking where a considerable crowd had now developed, dancing away delightfully to the banging beats of local chick Kate Wildblood, this minx of a mistress serving up a cocktail of hip swaying & wholesome house that not only had this outdoor area pumping & bumping to her spectacle of sounds, but had a whole band of admirers spying in from the elevated area next door on Amsterdam bar’s own terrace, looks of envy & jealously written all over their faces as they gazed in amazement down on this elite collection of invitees to Wild Fruit’s select soiree. With Danny & Roni back from the park and lambasting lyrically about the inferior quality of the crowd & proceedings in the park, we were soon joined by Lovechild resident D.J. Leroy Taylor with his partner Pascual, both intent on kick-starting their night with shots of tequila, while we spotted London pal Tony Tansley and took the opportunity for a laugh & catch up with this charismatic chap who was already headlong into his weekend, having landed in Brighton the previous night for the Wild Fruit weekend welcoming party.
With the sun sinking in the skies and the breeze dropping a little, this select & sophisticated soiree was in full flow, the terrace now completely packed with party heads intent on rocking Audio to its foundations, incumbent D.J. Neil Duffie picking up the pace with a superb string of hypnotically funky & chunk house, including what turned out to be the tune of the weekend, Crazibiza’s “Spinning Around” (nothing like Kyle before you ask!) which had the place pumping in motion to Neil’s magnificent music choices, the ever present pride whistles blowing (can they be annoying or what!) although both South African’s Leroy & Pascual concurring with us that even the whistles were better that the vuvuzela’s, a trumpet style instrument that has made many headlines recently. But whistles or not, we were well into our stride by now and savouring every magical minute of this alfresco antidote to Brighton Pride, this second Wild Fruit bash certainly being the place to be and attracting the lion’s share of local LGBT celebrities & stars and leaving its competitor, Sundance, with a mere handful of followers.
However, the star of this soiree was about to take charge, as the legend that is Seamus Haji took to the D.J. decks and immediately set about raising the already terrific tempo even higher with a tremendous truck load of tunes, very much in his Hed Kandi hat style of old, but with new funky & fulsome tones that had the terrace gripped by his performance, the numbers having now also spilled inside, such was his following & the popular of this Paul Kemp party. As good as both Kate & Neil had been (and they were so refreshingly good), Seamus took the party to a new level and certainly proved his worth & reputation, short of stealing the show for us and rounding off a truly fabulous Wild Fruit Terrace party in scintillating style, very much paving the way for the DTPM party that was to follow, while we headed with Alex, Roni & the rest across to our next Gay Brighton Dance weekend instalment, Dance Nation, still delighting ourselves on the thoughts & feelings from this impeccable start to our weekend by the sea.
Having both sampled Audio and taken a bite of the Wild Fruit cherry for the first time, we were not only impressed with the set up of the venue and the vibe of the Terrace, but can now see exactly why this clubbing brand of Paul Kemp’s is so popular down here in Brighton. Whilst Mr Haji was clearly the star of the show, the local D.J.’s more than held their own and showed a refreshingly different side to the house music that we so love & adore in our homeland back in the capital. The blend of locals & Londoners at this terrific terrace gathering worked like a dream and the air of relative exclusivity also found fervent favour. Yes, we cannot escape the fact that Brighton Pride tends to be all about the park, although in recent years it has been the street party on the Sunday that has been stealing more of the limelight, yet for us, it was Audio & Wild Fruit that had the spotlight well & truly shone on them, this party playing out perfectly as a result and proving, not least with the terrace space, the alfresco antidote to the park that we expected it to be. A trip to Sunday Sundae soon must surely be beckoning. (DISCO MATT)
WILD FRUIT TERRACE PARTY –
AS PART OF GAY BRIGHTON DANCE WEEKEND –
SATURDAY 7TH AUGUST
SPECIAL REVIEW
We have been hankering to step out from under the massive shadow that is the London clubbing scene for a while now, even though it been a good friend to us for the years we have been partying (too many to mention) and the much shorter time that we have been reporting on its delights & diversity. An attempt to break away and report on Brighton Pride last year fell at the final hurdle, although we were determined to not let anything get in our way this year. Then enter the Brighton Pride committee, who not only close on completely compromised the whole Brighton Pride event, which the city’s LGBT community had steadfastly supported & nurtured over the years, but through a series of financial & other blunders, disenfranchised its biggest support, Aeon Events, thus creating the kind of backlash never seen before within this tight knit community.
But the company behind the massive club brand, Wild Fruit, turned a setback into an opportunity and Gay Brighton Dance Weekend was born, its creator, one Paul Kemp, not only stealing much of the thunder of Brighton Pride itself, but developed a calendar of clubbing events stretching from the Thursday through to the Monday, totally eclipsing the drastically reduced Pride programme. Moreover, Paul’s stature & standing with community field meant that he managed to pull together 15 of the city’s best known dance bars & clubs and his reputation in the larger club promotions circuit attracted brands from back here in the capital to become involved in what turned out to be the outstanding success of Brighton’s Pride weekend, not so much a Pride weekend but a dance weekend extraordinaire. So, where did it all start for us? And why did it turn out to be an “alfresco antidote”?
With all the controversy & calamity surround Brighton Pride's park proceedings, even though we were determined to make it down to our version of London by the sea (yes we know about Southend! no letters please), the park was never really on the agenda, so a leisurely mid-afternoon train journey was the order of play. Meeting up with travelling partner and companion for this short weekend of clubbing merriment, Alex, the journey was over in a trice and a stroll down this seaside city’s (that’s Brighton of course) streets culminated in a rendezvous with other friends Roni & Danny who had travelled ahead to set up shop and prepare for the partying ahead. With the pride parade already over, many had headed for the park, although our body compass was pointing us in the direction of the seafront and the fabulous Wild Fruit Terrace party which had kicked off in earnest at 3 p.m. and was earmarked as the first leg in our trio of prolific parties as part of the Gay Brighton Dance Weekend.
Having not been to Brighton for some time and never having set foot in Audio, we were doing our level best to visualise what to expect and exactly where the venue was, although upon arrival with Alex, Danny, Roni & co, we were pleasantly surprised by both its convenient location (sandwiched between popular Charles Street & Amsterdam venues on Marine Parade) as well as the expansive space both inside & out, this multi levelled deco styled building certainly making an impressive seafront statement. Entering directly onto the smartly decked terrace, we were immediately taken by the superb setting, even if the sun was struggling to break through the rolling clouds, but looking around, it was clear the team had gone to extra effort to give this outside area a special feel, a massive mirror ball (and we are talking huge) dominating our view seaward, so big in fact, that it was seemingly being held up by this scaffolding affair that wouldn’t have looked out of place on one of the pop concert stages in Hyde Park or somewhere, while Inside and the laser lighting was already going full steam, a carpet of green dots filling the air, bouncing off the walls and illuminating the interior beautifully.
With refreshments in hand, we headed back out onto the terrace, where a select crowd had gathered to warm up their dance weekend proceedings, although our eyes were now fixed on the huge American style motor home parked outside Audio which was displaying Wild Fruit, Dance Nation & Gaydar posters and therefore clearly having a connection with this dance weekend festival. Having spotted heads bopping up & down on the upper open deck and with Danny & Roni deciding to head off to check out the Pride park proceedings, Alex led us round into the motor home where we got the chance to meet both Chrissy Darling (the face of Onyx & Lovechild), this time out of character & colourful costume, as well as superb PA singing star, Krysten Cummings. Both of them were mingling with a crowd of locals & Londoners including scene faces Gary Jordon & Quentin Neild, all very much in party mood and ready for the audacious alfresco action that lay ahead and we sank into their company & this entertaining experience with consummate ease, sinking yet more refreshments that were flowing freely.
However, as good as the mini party on Chrissy’s temporary home was, it was Audio and the Terrace party that required our devotion, so it was back onto the decking where a considerable crowd had now developed, dancing away delightfully to the banging beats of local chick Kate Wildblood, this minx of a mistress serving up a cocktail of hip swaying & wholesome house that not only had this outdoor area pumping & bumping to her spectacle of sounds, but had a whole band of admirers spying in from the elevated area next door on Amsterdam bar’s own terrace, looks of envy & jealously written all over their faces as they gazed in amazement down on this elite collection of invitees to Wild Fruit’s select soiree. With Danny & Roni back from the park and lambasting lyrically about the inferior quality of the crowd & proceedings in the park, we were soon joined by Lovechild resident D.J. Leroy Taylor with his partner Pascual, both intent on kick-starting their night with shots of tequila, while we spotted London pal Tony Tansley and took the opportunity for a laugh & catch up with this charismatic chap who was already headlong into his weekend, having landed in Brighton the previous night for the Wild Fruit weekend welcoming party.
With the sun sinking in the skies and the breeze dropping a little, this select & sophisticated soiree was in full flow, the terrace now completely packed with party heads intent on rocking Audio to its foundations, incumbent D.J. Neil Duffie picking up the pace with a superb string of hypnotically funky & chunk house, including what turned out to be the tune of the weekend, Crazibiza’s “Spinning Around” (nothing like Kyle before you ask!) which had the place pumping in motion to Neil’s magnificent music choices, the ever present pride whistles blowing (can they be annoying or what!) although both South African’s Leroy & Pascual concurring with us that even the whistles were better that the vuvuzela’s, a trumpet style instrument that has made many headlines recently. But whistles or not, we were well into our stride by now and savouring every magical minute of this alfresco antidote to Brighton Pride, this second Wild Fruit bash certainly being the place to be and attracting the lion’s share of local LGBT celebrities & stars and leaving its competitor, Sundance, with a mere handful of followers.
However, the star of this soiree was about to take charge, as the legend that is Seamus Haji took to the D.J. decks and immediately set about raising the already terrific tempo even higher with a tremendous truck load of tunes, very much in his Hed Kandi hat style of old, but with new funky & fulsome tones that had the terrace gripped by his performance, the numbers having now also spilled inside, such was his following & the popular of this Paul Kemp party. As good as both Kate & Neil had been (and they were so refreshingly good), Seamus took the party to a new level and certainly proved his worth & reputation, short of stealing the show for us and rounding off a truly fabulous Wild Fruit Terrace party in scintillating style, very much paving the way for the DTPM party that was to follow, while we headed with Alex, Roni & the rest across to our next Gay Brighton Dance weekend instalment, Dance Nation, still delighting ourselves on the thoughts & feelings from this impeccable start to our weekend by the sea.
Having both sampled Audio and taken a bite of the Wild Fruit cherry for the first time, we were not only impressed with the set up of the venue and the vibe of the Terrace, but can now see exactly why this clubbing brand of Paul Kemp’s is so popular down here in Brighton. Whilst Mr Haji was clearly the star of the show, the local D.J.’s more than held their own and showed a refreshingly different side to the house music that we so love & adore in our homeland back in the capital. The blend of locals & Londoners at this terrific terrace gathering worked like a dream and the air of relative exclusivity also found fervent favour. Yes, we cannot escape the fact that Brighton Pride tends to be all about the park, although in recent years it has been the street party on the Sunday that has been stealing more of the limelight, yet for us, it was Audio & Wild Fruit that had the spotlight well & truly shone on them, this party playing out perfectly as a result and proving, not least with the terrace space, the alfresco antidote to the park that we expected it to be. A trip to Sunday Sundae soon must surely be beckoning. (DISCO MATT)
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