“POOLSIDE PLUNGING IN PARIS”
SUPERSIZE POOL PARTY – SATURDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER
EVENT REVIEW
Whilst our first steps into a club and onto the dancefloor were deep down in the southern hemisphere in South Africa, the real roots of our clubbing devotions are planted firmly here in London, although having been accustomed to plenty of travelling in our youth, the penchant to take combine two incredible passions in our life has been an ambition for some time now, the thought of us becoming ever so slightly European or international an exciting prospect. Yet, such is the daily demands on our life & the continual draws of the prolific scene that we find ourselves within, that we have struggled to break free from the capital, only this August seeing our first venture outside the boundaries of London, well in the collaborative clubbing, travelling & writing perspective at least, our first real escapade being back in August for the Gay Dance Weekend down in Brighton, which was to give us the incentive we needed, more the renewed desire to seek out new territories beyond our usual comfort zone.
And with this new found enthusiasm came our first opportunity as the massive Spirit Of Star event was popping over the horizon, as The Supersize Pool Party was once again returning to France’s capital for another huge splash in Europe’s biggest indoor waterpark, The Aquaboulevard in Paris, promoters Michel Mau & Aurel Devil joining forces with Brazil’s best, The Week, which had, just seven days before, taken London by storm at the hugely successful event down Vauxhall way. But as much as The Supersize Pool party was the major draw, news in a D.J. pal being in town at the same time made our first clubbing trip over the channel as Disco Matt all the more enticing. By the very nature of its name, The Supersize Pool party had very much painted lots of pictures in our mind, of masses of muscled men plunging in the pools then dancing themselves dry, the images these thoughts were creating, combined with the eye catching advertising, very much evoking everything that seemed splendid with marrying poolside antics with dancing dervishness, then add in the element of the romance of gaaay Paris and our expectations were high for a supersize experience to match the stats of this event, so did Spirit Of Star’s crowning glory deliver? And what were the highlights of our aquatic inspired antics?
Being in unfamiliar territory, we were certainly glad to have D.J. & friend Javier Medina to guide us around Paris on our arrival, although it was clear that The Supersize Pool party was not really his bag, meaning we would be venturing across to Aquabouelvard on out tod, although as is the case back here in the capital, this tends to be the norm for us, but in this case we would likely to be far more anonymous. So, with directions in hand and deciding to brave the perils of an unknown Paris road & Metro system (why didn’t we just take a taxi?!?), our journey of exploration & excitement to reach our aquatic destination began at just turned 10.30 p.m. Now to say that the journey was a mere 3 or 4 kilometres from our start point was the extent of our trip, but when we finally reached the splendour that was The Supersize’s host venue and glanced at our clock, we couldn’t believe that it had taken us over an hour to make it, which say’s enough about our directional abilities in the dark of an unknown territory.
However, we were here and have paid our way into this special aquatic party, we were then directed into the first of two massive changing areas, where we stripped down from our regular clubbing attire into an unflattering pair of knee length swimming shorts, the extent of our footwear, a simple pair of Kappa flip-flops, yet not quite brave enough to strip ourselves of the skimpy club t-shirt we had packed for the occasion, although looking around at the myriad of others also preparing for the party ahead, we seemed a trice over dressed. However, undaunted, we left our belongings with the utterly charming French coatcheck ladies and then meandered back through the entrance, past the second & more extensive changing area and into the Aquaboelvard waterpark proper. By now, we had missed much of the pool antics that had started back at 9 p.m., with Spirit Of Star’s Little Nemo (very apt name) in charge of the tunes, although it was never really our intention to indulge in that part of the outing, our interest much more in how the clubbing & dancing party of this massive event much more the reason for our visit.
However, despite our fevered anticipation, acclimatising ourselves to strange clubbing surroundings of this waterpark took some time, the climatic temperature soon making us strip off that skimpy clubbing t-shirt, joining virtually everyone else in the 1500 or so throng of Supersizer’s that were sinking into the sounds of resident jock Aurel devil, playing aloft from a D.J. booth that looked out across one of the few expanses of dry land. And this space had certainly been dressed to give the feel of a dancefloor, plenty of laser & flashing lights adding to the atmosphere, a huge stage to one side with a massive video screen enticing the eye to visuals of the various sponsors of the event, as well as tasty pictures to compliment the actual eye candy in front of us, while further screens sandwiching the D.J. booth completed the scene.
Now, it would be fair to say that we were relatively unfamiliar with Aurel Devil’s music style, although having seen him perform back in May at the London Global Dance Festival, we were certainly expecting a slightly tougher more tech fuelled set compared with the, we have to say it, G.A.Y. like string of sounds he was putting together, but despite our disliking to the music, it was clear the majority were very much into this lighter more accessible collection of tunes he was playing, the Aquaboulevard a light with dancing delirium from a hot bed of lovely Latino’s through muscled European’s & everything in between, very much combining the mixes of crowds we were used to seeing at SuperMartXe, Beyond & Matinee all into one, yet pleasantly attitude free & welcomingly friendly. Music aside, we were slowly beginning to accustom our mind to this very different clubbing experience, helped along by the stage shows that has sprung into action, a collection of drop dead gorgeous go-go dancers ascending the podiums by the D.J. booth and the stage itself alight with action, plumes of smoke from a huge cannon held my a muscled hunk adding to the exceptional effects that were making the most of The Supersize pool party’s home.
Pausing momentarily for refreshments back at the bar, set away from the dance area, we were somewhat taken a-back by the 10 euro charge for a drink, opting for a energy re-fuelling liquid with a kick as our relief from the shock to our wallet, but then quickly resigning ourselves to the fact that this Supersize experience was a special excursion, so well worth the price. So, back to the dancing we found ourselves and having mastered the art of moving & grooving in flip-flops, the arrival of The Week resident Leandro Bekker lifting our spirits considerably, the music taking on much more of a familiar & favoured ring to it, plenty of electro, funky & tech tracks intermixed with octane fuelled beats that included the record that never ceases to get us dancing deliriously, Zoe Baldwin’s “Release Me”, which somehow injected extra vitality into our legs and energy in our veins, Leandro very much stepping up to the mark & hitting our musical sweet spots with every track choice he made.
Indeed, after the more camp & frivolous set of Aurel Devil, this much more forthright & fulsome performance by Leandro had transformed our experience from one of relative boredom to outright enjoyment, verging on the ecstatic, even our relative anonymity at this event being broken, first by Leandro himself, who spotted us dancing next to the booth, waving across in acknowledgement, then by Sprit Of Star’s own Michel Mau, both whom we had met at The Week party back in London the previous weekend. But it didn’t stop there as we were spotted by a whole crowd of Londoner’s back at the bar, very much consigning our obscurity to the rubbish heap, all this adding to the outstanding outing we were now savouring, Mr Bekker’s beats saving our musical day & the exceptional shows together with the eye candy filled crowd topping off this pool party in Paris with pure panache, we seeing it through close to the 6 a.m. finish with ease, only a rendezvous at the afterparty with our liege, Javier, tugging us away from seeing out the end of this exceptional event.
To try and give this Supersize Pool Party the justice it deserves in just several paragraphs is difficult and in some ways, you had to be there to experience the full extent of just what made this prolific Paris brilliance of a bash special. Yes, it was totally different to any clubbing event we had witnessed or enjoyed, but enjoy it we did, the interesting yet enchanting setting only adding to the amazing atmosphere that the Aquaboulevard brought to this Spirit Of Star spectacle. Yes, we missed out on the pool antics and it took us time to get used to the feel of the vent, Aurel Devil’s music not quite hitting the mark for us, but Leandro Bekker & the influence of The Week on proceedings was a definite plus, making for an altogether spectacular end to a thrilling aquatic influenced clubbing trip that will certainly remain in our memories for a long time to come.
Having very much been enchanted by Paris as a charming city during our whistle-stop tour of France’s finest, we can also say that, in the Supersize Pool Party, we found our own clubbing fatal attraction, that this reflection & review has only served to heighten and in the imitable words of that Debbie Harry song, Paris was definitely calling & this Supersize spectacle was doing plenty of French kissing on our mind spirit & soul. Would we do it again? Well, we would most definitely consider it and maybe next time take the pool plunge we missed out on during this visit and having gotten used to the experience of dancing in swimwear & not much more, would definitely recommend the feeling of frolicking freedom it gives and with a clubbing crowd that has to have been one of the friendliest we have come across, not to mention the best looking, what more could you ask from a party. Isn’t it just a shame that Supersize is only a twice yearly event? (DISCO MATT)
SUPERSIZE POOL PARTY – SATURDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER
EVENT REVIEW
Whilst our first steps into a club and onto the dancefloor were deep down in the southern hemisphere in South Africa, the real roots of our clubbing devotions are planted firmly here in London, although having been accustomed to plenty of travelling in our youth, the penchant to take combine two incredible passions in our life has been an ambition for some time now, the thought of us becoming ever so slightly European or international an exciting prospect. Yet, such is the daily demands on our life & the continual draws of the prolific scene that we find ourselves within, that we have struggled to break free from the capital, only this August seeing our first venture outside the boundaries of London, well in the collaborative clubbing, travelling & writing perspective at least, our first real escapade being back in August for the Gay Dance Weekend down in Brighton, which was to give us the incentive we needed, more the renewed desire to seek out new territories beyond our usual comfort zone.
And with this new found enthusiasm came our first opportunity as the massive Spirit Of Star event was popping over the horizon, as The Supersize Pool Party was once again returning to France’s capital for another huge splash in Europe’s biggest indoor waterpark, The Aquaboulevard in Paris, promoters Michel Mau & Aurel Devil joining forces with Brazil’s best, The Week, which had, just seven days before, taken London by storm at the hugely successful event down Vauxhall way. But as much as The Supersize Pool party was the major draw, news in a D.J. pal being in town at the same time made our first clubbing trip over the channel as Disco Matt all the more enticing. By the very nature of its name, The Supersize Pool party had very much painted lots of pictures in our mind, of masses of muscled men plunging in the pools then dancing themselves dry, the images these thoughts were creating, combined with the eye catching advertising, very much evoking everything that seemed splendid with marrying poolside antics with dancing dervishness, then add in the element of the romance of gaaay Paris and our expectations were high for a supersize experience to match the stats of this event, so did Spirit Of Star’s crowning glory deliver? And what were the highlights of our aquatic inspired antics?
Being in unfamiliar territory, we were certainly glad to have D.J. & friend Javier Medina to guide us around Paris on our arrival, although it was clear that The Supersize Pool party was not really his bag, meaning we would be venturing across to Aquabouelvard on out tod, although as is the case back here in the capital, this tends to be the norm for us, but in this case we would likely to be far more anonymous. So, with directions in hand and deciding to brave the perils of an unknown Paris road & Metro system (why didn’t we just take a taxi?!?), our journey of exploration & excitement to reach our aquatic destination began at just turned 10.30 p.m. Now to say that the journey was a mere 3 or 4 kilometres from our start point was the extent of our trip, but when we finally reached the splendour that was The Supersize’s host venue and glanced at our clock, we couldn’t believe that it had taken us over an hour to make it, which say’s enough about our directional abilities in the dark of an unknown territory.
However, we were here and have paid our way into this special aquatic party, we were then directed into the first of two massive changing areas, where we stripped down from our regular clubbing attire into an unflattering pair of knee length swimming shorts, the extent of our footwear, a simple pair of Kappa flip-flops, yet not quite brave enough to strip ourselves of the skimpy club t-shirt we had packed for the occasion, although looking around at the myriad of others also preparing for the party ahead, we seemed a trice over dressed. However, undaunted, we left our belongings with the utterly charming French coatcheck ladies and then meandered back through the entrance, past the second & more extensive changing area and into the Aquaboelvard waterpark proper. By now, we had missed much of the pool antics that had started back at 9 p.m., with Spirit Of Star’s Little Nemo (very apt name) in charge of the tunes, although it was never really our intention to indulge in that part of the outing, our interest much more in how the clubbing & dancing party of this massive event much more the reason for our visit.
However, despite our fevered anticipation, acclimatising ourselves to strange clubbing surroundings of this waterpark took some time, the climatic temperature soon making us strip off that skimpy clubbing t-shirt, joining virtually everyone else in the 1500 or so throng of Supersizer’s that were sinking into the sounds of resident jock Aurel devil, playing aloft from a D.J. booth that looked out across one of the few expanses of dry land. And this space had certainly been dressed to give the feel of a dancefloor, plenty of laser & flashing lights adding to the atmosphere, a huge stage to one side with a massive video screen enticing the eye to visuals of the various sponsors of the event, as well as tasty pictures to compliment the actual eye candy in front of us, while further screens sandwiching the D.J. booth completed the scene.
Now, it would be fair to say that we were relatively unfamiliar with Aurel Devil’s music style, although having seen him perform back in May at the London Global Dance Festival, we were certainly expecting a slightly tougher more tech fuelled set compared with the, we have to say it, G.A.Y. like string of sounds he was putting together, but despite our disliking to the music, it was clear the majority were very much into this lighter more accessible collection of tunes he was playing, the Aquaboulevard a light with dancing delirium from a hot bed of lovely Latino’s through muscled European’s & everything in between, very much combining the mixes of crowds we were used to seeing at SuperMartXe, Beyond & Matinee all into one, yet pleasantly attitude free & welcomingly friendly. Music aside, we were slowly beginning to accustom our mind to this very different clubbing experience, helped along by the stage shows that has sprung into action, a collection of drop dead gorgeous go-go dancers ascending the podiums by the D.J. booth and the stage itself alight with action, plumes of smoke from a huge cannon held my a muscled hunk adding to the exceptional effects that were making the most of The Supersize pool party’s home.
Pausing momentarily for refreshments back at the bar, set away from the dance area, we were somewhat taken a-back by the 10 euro charge for a drink, opting for a energy re-fuelling liquid with a kick as our relief from the shock to our wallet, but then quickly resigning ourselves to the fact that this Supersize experience was a special excursion, so well worth the price. So, back to the dancing we found ourselves and having mastered the art of moving & grooving in flip-flops, the arrival of The Week resident Leandro Bekker lifting our spirits considerably, the music taking on much more of a familiar & favoured ring to it, plenty of electro, funky & tech tracks intermixed with octane fuelled beats that included the record that never ceases to get us dancing deliriously, Zoe Baldwin’s “Release Me”, which somehow injected extra vitality into our legs and energy in our veins, Leandro very much stepping up to the mark & hitting our musical sweet spots with every track choice he made.
Indeed, after the more camp & frivolous set of Aurel Devil, this much more forthright & fulsome performance by Leandro had transformed our experience from one of relative boredom to outright enjoyment, verging on the ecstatic, even our relative anonymity at this event being broken, first by Leandro himself, who spotted us dancing next to the booth, waving across in acknowledgement, then by Sprit Of Star’s own Michel Mau, both whom we had met at The Week party back in London the previous weekend. But it didn’t stop there as we were spotted by a whole crowd of Londoner’s back at the bar, very much consigning our obscurity to the rubbish heap, all this adding to the outstanding outing we were now savouring, Mr Bekker’s beats saving our musical day & the exceptional shows together with the eye candy filled crowd topping off this pool party in Paris with pure panache, we seeing it through close to the 6 a.m. finish with ease, only a rendezvous at the afterparty with our liege, Javier, tugging us away from seeing out the end of this exceptional event.
To try and give this Supersize Pool Party the justice it deserves in just several paragraphs is difficult and in some ways, you had to be there to experience the full extent of just what made this prolific Paris brilliance of a bash special. Yes, it was totally different to any clubbing event we had witnessed or enjoyed, but enjoy it we did, the interesting yet enchanting setting only adding to the amazing atmosphere that the Aquaboulevard brought to this Spirit Of Star spectacle. Yes, we missed out on the pool antics and it took us time to get used to the feel of the vent, Aurel Devil’s music not quite hitting the mark for us, but Leandro Bekker & the influence of The Week on proceedings was a definite plus, making for an altogether spectacular end to a thrilling aquatic influenced clubbing trip that will certainly remain in our memories for a long time to come.
Having very much been enchanted by Paris as a charming city during our whistle-stop tour of France’s finest, we can also say that, in the Supersize Pool Party, we found our own clubbing fatal attraction, that this reflection & review has only served to heighten and in the imitable words of that Debbie Harry song, Paris was definitely calling & this Supersize spectacle was doing plenty of French kissing on our mind spirit & soul. Would we do it again? Well, we would most definitely consider it and maybe next time take the pool plunge we missed out on during this visit and having gotten used to the experience of dancing in swimwear & not much more, would definitely recommend the feeling of frolicking freedom it gives and with a clubbing crowd that has to have been one of the friendliest we have come across, not to mention the best looking, what more could you ask from a party. Isn’t it just a shame that Supersize is only a twice yearly event? (DISCO MATT)
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