Brixton is back

When we first came to London, the only thing in Vauxhall was the RVT and the Hoist. Brixton was the place to be. The Fridge was still packing them in with Love Muscle, while just down the road at Substation South, Queer Nation was home to some of the sexiest sounds and guys of gay London. Then Vauxhall happened. We fled en masse to Action, Beyond and then Fire – whipping our tits out like Lilo Lil.

But things have changed and gay London is now getting bored of Vauxhall and it’s G epidemic. Luckily for us, The Fridge has reverted back to it’s original owners while Substation has been transformed into Nsomnia. Even better still, Queer Nation is returning to its rightful home after years in the wilderness, and Revolver – a club that aims to bring big productions back to the London scene – is setting up shop at The Fridge.

So we spoke to Revolver’s Oliver Mohns and Queer Nation’s Patrick Lilley about the re-emergence of the Brixton scene:

So, why Brixton, why now?

“Its an anomaly there haven’t been regular gay nights in Brixton for two years,” says Patrick Lilley, promoter of Queer Nation. “There’s a huge gay population there. With the Fridge coming back with Revolver and another huge London gay club, and Queer Nation Speakeasy on Fridays at Nsomnia – its back on the gay map again. There are so many gay people who live in or very near Brixton and its only a fiver in a taxi from Vauxhall. Pride had its home at Brockwell Park for many years. A lot of people think Pride lost more than Brixton did when it headed north.”

Oliver Mohns from Revolver agrees: “Brixton’s very well connected to Vauxhall and the West End and it got a massive gay community there. The Fridge was the first ever venue I went to when I came to London to visit in 1997 and there was a club night called Daisy Chain. From my first visit the club night and the venue just blew me away because it is a theatre – which I love – but still feels intimate. After the FRIDGE was taken back by Andrew and Susan I was sure that this venue was the only logical choice for REVOLVER because it has got that underground vibe of the original party at the SCALA and it’s got lots of gay history – Daisy Chain, Ciao Baby, Orange Bank Holiday’s, Love Muscle, Matinee etc. We can go bonkers there with pyros, special effects and mind blowing performances.

But will The Fridge and Nsomnia be able to bring in a new crowd to Brixton?

“Yes,” says Oliver. “We had a MATINEE party at the FRIDGE in January ‘08 and we had over 1200 MATINEE regulars in the venue. Also with Salvation being there twice in 2007 which has pulled a very horny and up for it crowd – I’m sure REVOLVER will be thE new Saturday night highlight together with MATINEE at the Colosseum.”

“I feel people are tired on going to the same club every weekend and they are now looking for more diverse club nights and venues,” says Oliver. “Unfortunately most clubs in Vauxhall are arches apart form the Colosseum which is purpose build. There is so only much you can do production wise in an railway Arch.”

Patrick adds: “Queer Nation always had a great vibe. It is hard to define or put into words. We always had a friendly attitude free crowd of sexy guys, black, latino and white all grooving to great house music. Clubs and neighbourhoods are fluid – alive! That the joy of London, as some people move out new people move in,” he adds.

“For 8 years every Saturday we rocked the old Substation… but it fell apart and closed. We moved around for a while but nowhere did we find the same magic. The venue has been bought and refurbed kind of minimalistically, renamed and reopened. Its kept that underground charm but its clean! The venue has hosted world’s most famous DJs and many told me personally they thought it was one one the best venues in the world. Thats out of the mouths of guys who have played Ministry of Sound, Queen, Studio 54 and The Roxy in New York! So when I saw it reopened a few weeks ago I was the first homo through the door… Now Queer Nation is back for good,” says Patrick.

What do you think about the Orange Group saying that they left The Fridge because of the amount of homophobia and attacks there?

“What can I say?!?!” says Oliver. “AREA is being hired out on some Saturday’s to very homophobic straight nights which is ridiculous if you consider the Vauxhall strip consists of gay businesses like Bar-code, Union and Chariots.”

“When I passed by AREA NYE there was a drunk straight guy coming out of the club throwing glass bottles at passing people – one of which nearly hit me. Now tell me BRIXTON is more dangerous then Vauxhall. I think you need to be careful anywhere in London but I wouldn’t say I feel unsafe in Brixton.”

Patrick agrees, “I can’t comment on why Orange left the Fridge but there are more homophobic attacks around Vauxhall than any place in Britain – that’s a fact the police know about.”

So why should we go?

“Queer Nation was run from 1990 to 2007. We won club of the Year at the BLGBT Awards last year, so its an ongoing success I think,” says Patrick. “The stars of a club are the people who attend week in week out. We’ve had our fair share of celebrities – Prince, Rupert Everett, Alexander McQueen, Marc Almond, David McAlmont to name a few. It’s the sort of club they can have a great time and not get hastle either. We love music – not just house – so the dance music we play has jazzy, funky disco and even a few electro influences to it. I know a world famous singer may pop in next Friday but I won’t say who.”

Meanwhile Oliver aims to kick start the Brixton revival on Revolver’s big name DJs and huge productions. “First we have DJ Luque flying in from Madrid who is playing regularly at nights like HEAVEN MADRID, SupermarXte and Souvenir in Barcelona,” he says. “Plus we will fly in Giovanna who will perform her mega popular IBIZA and UK club smash “Sundays at Heaven”. Also the production and show will blow you and London away.”

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FRIDAY 30^TH JANUARY 2009 MIDNIGHT – 6AM

PATRICK LILLEY INVITES YOU

QUEER NATION

DJS

MISS BAILEY,

JEFFREY HINTON

& MATT JAM LAMONT

QN SPEAKEASY @ NSOMNIA

(FORMERLY SUBSTATION SOUTH)

9 BRIGHTON TERRACE BRIXTON LONDON SW9

1 MIN FROM BRIXTON TUBE (BY RED RECORDS)