Picture the ethos and electric energy of NYC’s Paradise Garage mashed up with Studio 54’s penchant for glitter and glam, then fast forward into the 21st Century and voila we present La Discothèque. An experience in every sense, a place where you can dance like no one’s watching, dress to impress and get down and disco.
Over the past 5 years, we have had Disco legends grace our stages, including Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, Candi Staton and Jocelyn Brown. In addition to an epic line-up of DJ’s, from Todd Terje to Cassius, and homegrown talents Artwork and Crazy P, amongst many more. La Discothèque fuses together the best of disco’s past and future, bringing beats that are guaranteed to make the dancefloor go off.
Here’s a look at our top ten fave moments…
#10 – THE NAKED MAN…
We’ll set the scene for you… it’s deep into the early hours of Sunday morning on our launch night back in 2016. The boys from Horse Meat Disco are pumping out a blend of deep house, disco and early electro funk, and the dancefloor is filled with sweaty bodies, singing their hearts out and groovin’ till their hearts content. All eyes dart to the stage as a hairy, naked man dodges past security to land onto the stage, in all his naked glory. The man enjoyed his moment for a good few minutes before security realised he was not part of the fanatical entertainment programme!
#9 – JOE SPENCER: OUR EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMER
The ginger bouncy ball of fun that is Joe Spencer, our resident vibe provider, gets a lot of our La Discothèque highlights started. Whether it’s gyrating on the stage floor, snogging someone in the crowd, or strutting his stuff in one of his countless outrageous outfits, he represents everything the night stands for and we adore him.
#8 – ‘Love Comes Down’
Anyone who knows La Discothèque, knows we love a live PA. It’s only fitting we celebrated our 1st birthday back in 2017 with one of Disco’s most renowned vocalists, Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King. Singing us into the early hours with back to back classics including ‘Love Comes Down’, ‘Shame’ & ‘i’m In Love’.
#7 – EASTER WEEKEND LIVESTREAM
We proved that not even the pandemic can stop the Disco, with a 12-hour Easter weekend livestream. Streaming live and direct from Escape to Freight Island, straight to your living room. Emotions were running at full force as our family reunited (socially distanced of course) and we virtually partied amongst incredible artists such as Crazy P, PBR Streetgang, Disco Classical, Mix-stress, Bad Fun and more.
#6 – NICKY SIANO’S ‘HALLELUJAH DISCO’ WITH LIVE GOSPEL CHOIR
In 2018 Studio 54 stalwart, Nicky Siano, joined us for the premiere of his ‘Hallelujah Disco’, bringing together gospel and dance in the best way. A live gospel choir performing the likes of ‘Stand of the World’ by Joubert Singers and ‘Love Sensation’ by Loleatta Holloway – it was truly sensational.
#5 – LA PISCOTHÈQUE
Our infamous toilet raves have hosted many secret main stage guests over the years. Fresh off the back of his La Disco debut, hard-hitting one man Disco army, Purple Disco Machine, blew the roof of the women’s bogs.
#4 – NILE ROGERS & CHIC
This September we took over Warehouse Projects room 2, The Concourse, in full flamingo style for the huge Nile Rogers and Chic party. What a way to welcome back the party post pandemic.
#3 – CLOSING BLUEDOT FESTIVAL
For our second festival appearance Derrick Carter’s Cosmic Disco blew the canvas roof off Blue Dot’s Orbit Stage. We closed the festival in our truest form: a hazy pink blur of confetti showers, clouds of glitter and electric tunes with an atmosphere to match.
#2 – WE GOT THE LOVE
”Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air…”
When the clock struck midnight on New Years Eve 2016, as thousands of balloons dropped from the rafters, Candi Staton began her set with probably the most famous line in dance music history, and kicked off the New Year in true La Discothèque style. With over 2,000 people singing along and beaming smiles at each other, this is a goose-bump-inducing moment we’ll cherish forever.
#1 – LA DISCO LONDON
We took the Disco train down to the UK’s number one venue Printworks London for our biggest party to date. The former Harmsworth Quays printing plant hosted 5000 La Discothèquers across 3 shows with a line up including Artwork, Mr Scruff, Prins Thomas, The 2 bears + more.
