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What's On - Clubs
THE SECRET IS OUT
Tue, 11 September 2012
A group of creative young Joburgers are bringing queer spaces back to the Johannesburg inner-city with an exciting new event called the Secret Circle party.
This pre-Pride event will take place the week before Pride, in Newtown’s renowned party district. Secret Circle, with an emphasis on stellar music, fashion, dance, art and club-culture, promises to offer a revolutionary approach to night-life in Johannesburg.
The Johannesburg inner-city has an exciting history of queer spaces, from the infamous Dungeon starting in 1969, the long-standing strip on Pretoria Street in 80’s Hillbrow, Champions in Braamfontien and even the resilient Factory, still trudging along in Doornfontien.
While many an old party animal will talk nostalgically about the cheesy sokkie-sokkie music at the Dungeon, or the awesome student revelry at Champions, and even the inclusive and revolutionary space of 80s Hillbrow; there hasn’t been any fresh developments in the inner city since The Heartlands Project in 2004.
As such, there has been an entertainment vacuum in the Johannesburg inner-city, especially when it comes to spaces which are inclusive of the LGBT community.
Events planner, Christopher van der Berg noticed this and called up some of his scene-smart friends Eve Rakow, Jenali Skuse, Jade Zwane and Gabriel Khan, and out of their informal meeting an idea blossomed, a secret circle. An idea of a queer space which aimed not only to be a fresh, sexy vibrant social/party space for young LGBT people, but to also reclaim queer space in the city, by taking LGBT nightlife back to its roots.
The first Secret Circle party, occurred on the 10th of August 2012, and brought together the freshest underground DJs, including Casioheart, DJ Grace Jones, The Fluffers and WWLD. These vibrant multi-talented artists were chosen not only for being outstanding artists but also as ambassadors for the beautiful, proud youth of the Joburg inner-city.
The first event was a roaring success, attracting a multi-racial, diverse crowd of artists, activists and everyone else in between. The move to the inner-city, while making some party-goers nervous, has been seen by many others as opportune (following suit with new developments on Juta Street and the Arts on Main area) as it reflects a trend of reclaiming space in the inner-city.
The Secret Circle party stands as a promising new development. It not only distinguishes itself from the mainstream and is a somewhat edgier space (being located literally on the edge of the inner city) but is also more daring (with its irresistible underground entertainment). It is also located in a place accessible to the diverse groups of LGBT people around Johannesburg.
The Secret Circle pre-Pride party promises to be bigger, badder and sexier than before. It will be held on Saturday the 29th of September at 66 Carr Street and guarantees to get everyone geared up for Joburg Pride.
The confirmed line-up includes bands Beach Party; The Dollfins; and Flourish, and DJs Rakkie; WWLD; The Fluffers; DJ Grace Jones; Casioheart; and The Bear DJ (with more to still be confirmed).
Tickets are available at the door for R40 before 10pm, and R80 after. To join the circle and get the latest news from the queer party underground go to www.facebook.com/secretcircleparties. For a chance to win VIP tickets, email Hoosain.Khan@wits.ac.za, answering this simple question: Name one band playing at the Secret Circle party?
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