30 years of Trade
The 30th anniversary of Trade’s upon us. The most infamous nightclub since Studio 54 is very worthy of the praise and cultural analysis that will greet its lurch into middle…
Rave
Lockdown Blues
2020 has been grim for so many reasons, but 3 friends dying in the space of a month was particularly challenging. Kent James. Lana Vanzetta. Terry Franklin. They were all…
Mark Moore
Queer roots are often overlooked in the UK history of acid house. DJ and producer Mark Moore was present at the raving dawn. He played in the clubs that influenced…
Turnmills and Trade Wave Goodbye to The Rave
Trade spawned the move to all night clubbing in the 1990s and was the first queer after hours club in Britain. Trade’s home was Turnmills, which closed in March 2008. Turnmills…
Judy
Renée Zellweger plays Judy Garland in Rupert Goold’s biopic. If you are a gay man of a certain age, her impact and relevance is almost inescapable. Like most kids who…
NYC Downlow
Created to highlight excellence in homocentric dance music – vintage house, disco, soul and funk – the NYC Downlow was born at Glastonbury Festival in 2007. It’s a temporary, counter-cultural,…
The Prodigy
Keith Flint, the iconic lead singer of The Prodigy has died aged 49. The Prodigy were formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 and are arguably the UK’s ruling dance act. …
Billie Ray Martin- The Soul Tapes
Billie Ray Martin, the ‘queen of electronic soul’ is back. If you’re unfamiliar with the unique artistry of this thrilling singer, it’s high time to catch a ride on the…
Shopping and Fucking
Mark Ravenhill’s Shopping and Fucking hit British theatre like a punch from an angry junkie. Twenty years later it’s been revived at the Hammersmith Lyric. Can it still pack a…
Hotwired
My first physical encounter with the world of leather and fetish was at the smoky circus of S&M known as The Colherne in Earl’s Court. Located at 261 Old Brompton…