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[title]It’s London Pride this weekend, in case you didn’t know. Our city’s nightlife offering wouldn’t be a sliver of what it is now if it wasn’t for the queer community. So even if you’re not attending the official Pride march for whatever reason, you can still celebrate the performers, artists, people and venues that make London such a vibrant, diverse and interesting place to go out. Need some inspiration? Here are the best nights out this week.
Carnival Pride 2022
A collab between QTIBPOC collectives Fagamuffin, Jungle Kitty, Queer Bruk and the Turner Prize-nominated Black Obsidian Sound System, this epic club night promises afrobeats, dancehall, reggaeton, ballroom and plenty more sounds to get you dancing. The monumental mash-up of Pride and Carnival marks both the fiftieth anniversary of London’s first Pride march and the sixtieth anniversary of Jamaican independence in August.
Line-up includes Jungle Kitty, Black Obsidian Sound System, Queer Bruk.
Village Underground, EC2A 3PQ. Jul 1, 10pm-5am. From £10.
O’Flynn
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You’d maybe recognise O’Flynn’s euphoric 2019 dancefloor banger ‘Tru Dancing’. It was played in just about every DJ set that long hot summer. The man himself is taking over Phonox for a Friday residency, and you can bet the energy will be top-notch. Expect euphoric, floor-filling builds, atmospheric drops and so much buzz you won’t know where the night went.
Line-up includes O’Flynn, Frazer Ray, Jasper Tygner, LUXE.
Phonox, SW9 7AY. Fri July 1, 9.30pm-4am. £25 remaining tickets.
Duckie: Straight Pride
It’s hard to exaggerate the impact that Duckie has had on London’s queer nightlife scene over its 27-year stint at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Now this legend is saying ‘tara!’ to its weekly Saturday night slot in usual sardonic fashion this Pride, with ‘a celebration of heterosexuality and wealth’ with muzak from the Readers Wifes, performances from Bourgeois & Maurice, Thick & Tight and a surprise guest ‘from Amerika’. Buggies are permitted, and there will be ‘strictly no cross-dressing’. You have been warned.
Line-up includes Readers Wifes.
Royal Vauxhall Tavern, SE11 5HY. Jul 2, 9pm-4am. £25 on the door (get down early).
Horse Meat Disco
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One of London’s longest-running queer parties, Horse Meat Disco returns to Camden’s Roundhouse for this big old Pride in London birthday bash. Hot Chip synth wizard Joe Goddard is the big name on the bill, while the London drag scene’s elder stateswoman Lavinia Co-op hosts, alongside a glittering roster of performers, including Prinx Silver and Tete Bang.
Line-up includes Lucy Fizz, Tete Bang, Finn Love, Kaiden.
Roundhouse, NW1 8EH. Jul 2, doors 5pm. From £22.50.
The Iconic Ball
Camden’s legendary and newly renovated venue Koko is hosting this kiki in support of London’s new Queer Britain museum and trans+ charity Not a Phase. Expect jaw-dropping drops, killer vogue moves and loquacious lyrical flows from ‘Pose’ writer and ballroom pioneer Jack Mizrahi, who MCs alongside Jonny Woo and Shon Faye.
Line-up includes Jack Mizrahi, Jonny Woo, Shon Faye, DJ Biggy C.
Koko, NW1 7JE. Jul 30, 10pm-4am. Free.