Party in the basement after Stefania Batoeva private view at Emalin gallery. £3/5
10pm - 4am
https://www.facebook.com/
Wed 1 Mar: Spoken Word London
Spoken Word London is an open-mic poetry and performance night for anyone to come and join in, whether to speak or listen. Everyone who wants to speak gets five minutes, but no one gets more than five minutes. Speak in whichever format you want, sharing your own or others' work. Doors open 7.30pm, sign up for a slot 7.30-8pm, readings begin at 8pm.
Free entry, but please buy a drink (or more) at the bar.
***
Watch a brilliant short documentary upon SWL and some of its regular readers, made by Amelia Hazlitt, here: http://vimeo.com/103176010
And a feature length film of our first anniversary of SWL 'Anti-Hate', made by Timothy Lock, here: https://www.youtube.com/
You can also read an academic dissertation written on SWL here, by William Barns-Graham, on 'Lost in the Moment: Opening Up Utopian Performance With the Lost Generation at Spoken Word London':https://www.academia.edu/
Sat 25 Feb: Straight Nasty - the finale
Come to the last EVER Straight Nasty if you know what's good for you... That's right girls - after two years of bringing the best in unapologetic pop, camp and cheese to all you party loving pricks, we're hanging up our heels and retiring to Gibraltar (this is your last chance to hear Sheila's Wheels blasting in a club, so you better get ON IT.)
C YA WUDNT WANNA B YA!
Rachel Stevens ♥ Geri Haliwell ♥ Mis-Teeq ♥ Kelly Rowland ♥ Madonna ♥ Jennifer Lopez ♥ Kylie ♥ Holly Valance ♥ Cher Lloyd ♥ Sophie Ellis Bextor ♥ Cheryl Cole ♥ Eve ♥ Rihanna ♥ Cher ♥ Sugababes ♥ S Club 7 ♥ Aly & AJ ♥ Charlotte Church ♥ Carly Rae Jepsen ♥ Steps ♥ Diana Ross ♥ Backstreet Boys ♥ Britney ♥ Nicki Minaj ♥ Cascada ♥ Gaga ♥ Little Mix ♥ Girls Aloud ♥ Loreen ♥ Atomic Kitten ♥ Ariana Grande ♥ Mel C ♥ Mel B ♥ Victoria Beckham ♥ Emma Bunton ♥ Spice Girls ♥ Amerie ♥ Lolly ♥ Beyonce ♥ Althea and Donna ♥ Iggy Azalea ♥ Ciara ♥ Nicola Roberts ♥ Cheryl Lynn ♥ Alexandra Burke ♥ Billie Piper ♥ Mini Viva ♥ Janet Jackson ♥ Kelis ♥ Missy Elliott ♥ RuPaul ♥ The Corrs ♥ Katy Perry ♥ Shakira ♥ tATu ♥ Charli XCX ♥ Venga Boys ♥ Timbaland ♥ Scissor Sisters ♥ Lil’ Kim ♥ Lady Sovereign ♥ The First Wives Club Soundtrack ♥ Lily Allen ♥ Kevin Lyttle ♥ Selena Gomez ♥ B*Witched ♥ Khia ♥ Gloria Gaynor ♥ Christina Milian ♥ ♥ Olivia Newton John ♥ Gareth Gates B Sides (jokes) ♥ Alesha Dixon ♥ Aqua ♥ Fergie ♥ Gwen Stefani ♥ Christina Aguilera ♥ Destiny’s Child ♥ M.I.A ♥ Taylor Swift ♥ Shania Twain ♥ Dolly Parton + MORE
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'The kweens of kitsch are giving you an unapologetic pop party ... set to revolutionise your weekend.' - QX Magazine
'Straight Nasty provides a safe space for you to workthrough that repressed Cat Deeley fantasy' - DIVA Magazine
'Straight Nasty is hand on heart the best night out I’ve had in my whole life EVER' - Pigeons and Peacocks
♥ SAT 25 FEB, 10PM-3AM, £5 ALL NIGHT
With resident DJs TR!NNY & $U$ANNAH (Debbie) JE M'APPELLE ROCHELLE & GG BEAR (Dalston Superstore) SHY CHARLES (Clit Rock)
For updates and event photos be sure to 'like' STRAIGHT NASTY here: facebook.com/
Fri 24 Feb: Scism: 'Dalston Bump' release Party
'Dalston Bump' is an ode to the gentrification of London and the pockets of authenticity that remain. Written during a recent artistic residency, SCISM, at VFD, AV artist Matthew Glamorre gifted the track as a mark of respect for the venue's history and continuing support of local underground and creative communities. Against all the odds and mounting commercial pressures VFD holds out as one of London’s last, truly alternative and experimental spaces. Expect: a selection of artists from SCISM's Gender Agenda series with the riotous Glamorre at the helm.
Doors 10pm - late :: £5
Watch Glamorre and co doing the Bump here
https://youtu.be/
Glamorre has been at the forefront of British underground movements since 1987, his clubs like 2XS, Smashing, HARDERFASTERLOUDER, The Siren Suite & Kash Point were instrumental to the development of the music, art and fashion of the times. He is also an award winning short film director & audio-visual artist.
In 1991 Glamorre pulled the band Minty together around legendary performance icon Leigh Bowery and went on to front the band after Leigh's death. Banned from performing in London and many UK cities Minty were labelled ‘The sickest band in the land’ by the tabloids and caused controversy at TOTP over whether the BBC should ‘endorse’ such people. As support on Pulp’s ‘Common People’ tour Minty traumatised a generation of indie kids many of whom are still scared to this day.
Glamorre also founded & directed The Offset, an amorphous live art collective featuring artists such as Grayson Perry, Ron Athey, Add N to X and David Hoyle. Most recently he completed a world tour of 'Albion Voice', an immersive audio-visual collaboration with the singer Bishi. He conceived, co-wrote and produced her album and created all the visual elements.
Q&A: Contessa 'CUNTMAFIA' Stuto
2017 launched with VFD welcoming an array of the the hottest queer talent from across the pond. Mister Wallace and Elliot Reed came, slayed, and eloquently reminded us that all is not completely f*cked in the USA. Now, get ready to get LIT… it’s time for the return of Contessa CUNTMAFIA Stuto. Contessa last played the basement here in 2015, and tore it a new back entrance. We’ve yet to see what’s she’s packing this time but you can rest assured she’ll leave us all in shreds. Musician / performer / record label / fashion innovator / gang leader - she is an unapologetic powerhouse of queer creativity and she’s coming for us… We grabbed 5 mins with the Mother of NYC’s underground to discuss her work, and her forthcoming takeover of VFD on Sat 11 Feb.
Q: Contessa, your music has been evolving sonically over the years from 2013’s raging banger ‘Reign in Ratchet’ - tell us a bit more about your latest cut, ‘Anarchy 4 U & Me’, and how you and Nani Castle ended up working together.
A: Yes, since my first track in 2013 Reign in Ratchet produced by Proper Villains my music has evolved in a more personal and emotional journey. As I gained confidence and experience in life my music has turned into a vivid story and since I write it, direct it and curate it, it is the definition of High Art. I hope the fans understand the difference with what I do, and take the journey with me. Reign in Ratchet - still one of the best turn up songs - paved the way for what is current around the world right now. Honestly I'm just the one who does things first, and well... it's a lonely road but somebody's gotta do it!
Anarchy 4 U & ME was something that happened at an important time for woman, due to being in an election year, and in a time of a hostile political climate, plus the media's war via controlling the minds of many. We do not like people speaking for us, or telling us how to think and both come from an old school background. Nani & I's mentalities are very similar due to our upbringing in NY, we both found solace in art and music. As independent thinkers we just freestyle'd through the song with our emotions (with a loose idea for chorus) and came out with a banger produced by a great guy and artist Udachi titled 'Anarchy 4 U & ME'. It was made in a basement studio in Staten Island that has had people from Wu Tang etc. bless the mic. It was great vibes. Felt as if I was right in the battle lines.
Q: A few of your recent tweets have espoused your preference for fans over friends, why is that?
A: Friends don't take you seriously. As a musician, and performance artist at times they cannot separate human flaws from the artist and always take from the mother figure. When you're nobody, you're "too much," and when you're somebody "it's lit!." This is me objectively observing that reality is always to be distorted and a lot of people will distort it to benefit themselves. Real friends always hold each other down, which is a big reason why men in music make it bigger in groups. These are things I am learning now; they all for the most part have self interest in NYC. I put so many people on and gave them the confidence and platform to showcase their talents. With the fans, nothing beats making the children happy and making art and music that kids will take seriously. The future of Cuntmafia and my legacy and inspiration will grow into something very special to look back upon. I am working so hard to keep the love alive! It's hard being a nurturer, it can turn pessimistic at times!
Q: How does it feel living and working in the USA right now?
A: Having one of the most viral political videos in the world right now, there is no escape from this hyper cyberreality we live in. It is pretty horrific. it's a rabbit hole you can't escape. I live in NY and was born and raised so of course I already have this liberated mentality that is all-inclusive, plus it's a city controlled by media, technology and Hollywood, so you have vested interests on all sides. I think because I've been always struggling out here and doing what is right and speaking my mind that nothing has changed for me personally. Just being imperfect is what needs to be embraced more in America. These days being a philosopher on social media so that I can use my platform to open people's minds and be a mother figure to the underdogs I consider my children. My integrity has always been there. It's just now embracing the good, the bad and the ugly and navigating through all the social media imperialism and deciphering what is your own truth. When I venture sometimes through middle America, I have no clue with what I am seeing but I do feel America needs jobs and something to believe in, which Obama mentioned similarly to the word "hope" in his exit speech. America is stupid, can't expect much out of someone who is dumb enough to believe a billionaire is going to fight Wall Street, LOL. As someone who lives and works in NYC that can freely be herself and make sustainable income and live "the (American) dream", every day I live taking the risks and know how to come back from failure. Failure is a privilege in itself. In Middle America failure means death. So they will attach to what may feel will save them - this stems from westernized religion of course. America should save themselves.
Q: You’ve conquered music, fashion, nightlife… is there anything you’ve not done yet that you have in your sights? Mayor of New York maybe? A: Yes that sounds perfect. Along with finishing my album, and creating a real underground movement involving a lot of ideas I have and gathering the children for the Church of CUNTMAFIA. Q: You’ve got quite a coterie of talent lined-up for next weekend. What can we expect from your night here on Sat 11 Feb? A: A FUCKING SHIT SHOW!!!!!!
Sat 11 Feb, CUNTMAFIA in London Doors 10pm, arrive early - it's going to be chaos Full event details here
Tue 21 Feb: Extra Second London: Drugs
Extra Second London returns to VFD on the 21st February to discuss drugs. We'll have performances from our featured poets, an open mic and an audience discussion. All are welcome to have their say on politics, addiction, or that time you met god in your living room. Doors open at 7.30pm and open mic sign up is first come first served at the door. Entry is free.
Our featured performers this month are Jason Pilley, Jai Andrews, Joe Caplin, Lex Sciore and Charlie de Courcy.
BE THERE
Sat 18 Feb: Madonna Party
"True blue, baby I love you"It's the post-Valentine's weekend, and even if you're in love or heartbroken, Madonna is the perfect sound track to party to! With 58 singles (almost all of them) in the Top 10 of the charts, Madonna is the unchallengeable queen of pop, from the 80s until today! So it's time for a MADONNA PARTY Saturday 18/2/17 From 10pm till 3am
We will play tons lots of Madonna all night long, but you might also hear some of our Atomic! 80's night tunes like Blondie / Wham! / Yello / David Bowie / The Smiths / Talking Heads / Depeche Mode / New Order / Chaka Khan / Tears For Fears / The Cure / Eurothmics / Iggy Pop / Kylie Minogue / Fine Young Cannibals / Roxy Music / Visage / Erasure / Kate Bush / Sandra / Bronski Beat / Heaven 17 / Bananarama / Duran Duran / Prince / Culture Club / Men Without Hats / Salt n Pepa / Soft Cell / OMD / Suzanne Vega / Johnny Hates Jazz / The Communards / Level 42 / Yazz / Madness / Belinda Carlisle / Grace Jones / Tiffany / Human League / Pet Shop Boys / Rick Astley!! & More...
Early Bird Tickets - SOLD OUT
Advance tickets £4
https://billetto.co.uk/en/
**************************
Fri 17 Feb: Towards Collapse
Towards Collapse returns to new home, VFD, on 17th February 2017 for the third instalment of our club night series. Your collateralized debt obligations this month will be:
SWARM INTELLIGENCE (Invisible Agent, Stasis, Acroplane, Acre, Ad Noiseam, Voitax Records) Swarm Intelligence is quickly building up a name for habitually reducing darkened basements to ruins. Blending ambient, rhythmic noise and industrial sounds with broken rhythms, he has captured the attention of techno and noise fiends alike. From droned-out ambience and densely layered field recordings, right through to distorted beats and industrial-edged basslines, Swarm Intelligence has honed his sound over releases on Invisible Agent, Stasis, Acroplane, Acre, Ad Noiseam, and most recently Voitax Records, where he just released his latest 12" called “The Lighthouse”. His live set is a fearsome mix of clattering drums, snarling, abrasive distortion and dissonant textures and has seen him perform at a wide variety of events - from the infamous Maschinenfest to Boiler Room.
http://
DEADFADER (3by3, Small But Hard Records, Robotic Elephant) As Dead Fader, UK-born, Berlin-based John Cohen draws on ambient, noise and techno to create panoramic and hard-hitting electronic music which packs an emotional punch.
https://
Nolan Dialta (Cutting Room Records)
https://soundcloud.com/
& more TBC
Ticket info coming soon.
Wed 15 Feb: Spoken Word London
Spoken Word London is an open-mic poetry and performance night for anyone to come and join in, whether to speak or listen. Everyone who wants to speak gets five minutes, but no one gets more than five minutes. Speak in whichever format you want, sharing your own or others' work. Doors open 7.30pm, sign up for a slot 7.30-8pm, readings begin at 8pm.
Free entry, but please buy a drink (or more) at the bar.
***
Watch a brilliant short documentary upon SWL and some of its regular readers, made by Amelia Hazlitt, here: http://vimeo.com/103176010
And a feature length film of our first anniversary of SWL 'Anti-Hate', made by Timothy Lock, here: https://www.youtube.com/
You can also read an academic dissertation written on SWL here, by William Barns-Graham, on 'Lost in the Moment: Opening Up Utopian Performance With the Lost Generation at Spoken Word London':https://www.academia.edu/
Sun 12 Feb: Sunday Funday Queer Love Rave
If you thought the only Valentine's options are to either be in a relationship or single and sad then think again! SUNDAY~FUNDAY are here to hi-jack this normative, Clinton Cards-fest and to reclaim it with colourful, queer expression and love love love!
����������
The first outing in 2017 for the SUNDAY~FUNDAY gang, there'll be enough love to blow the lid off VFD!
�QUEER�LOVE�RAVE�
Let's be romantic OUR WAY by loving whoever we want! Let's love our friends, let's love strangers, let's love our differences and what bring us together! A passionate playlist of love-songs, diva-anthems and hi-energy bangers! A late~night~drag~show all about OTHER LOVERS and games to steal or break your heart!!!
So tell all your lovers, brothers, sisters and others that our door is open to everyone!!!
•Doors open at 7pm• • £5 all night•
Sat 11 Feb: CUNTMAFIA IN LONDON
Contessa Stuto // CUNTMAFIA in London! ♥Febuary 11th, 2017 10PM-3AM at VFD. 5 Before 11PM 10 After
Live Performance:
* - Contessa "CUNTMAFIA" Stuto - *
https://soundcloud.com/
* - Nani Castle - * (BDAY!)
https://soundcloud.com/
* - PW - *
https://www.youtube.com/
MUSIC:
* - SHYGIRL - *
https://soundcloud.com/
* - Englesia - *
https://soundcloud.com/
* - Frankie Stien - * Francesca Tocker *
https://www.instagram.com/
* - Nadine Artois - *
https://www.instagram.com/
* - HOSTED BY - * Jada Simone Harri Perillo Bait Kush
Fri 10 Feb: Sassitude - Valentine's Special
Cupid searches for love like the rest of the world. Whether she's seeking it out in the form of a love of the dancefloor or a quick snog in the smoking area, her passions and desires take over her. She is the embodiment of sass; a strong powerful being who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to get it. Join us Friday eve before Valentine's and let your inner cupid out. Who knows, your midnight kiss could be waiting.
♥ DJS ♥ Angelic siren Hannah Diamond Resident cupid Emily Rose England
+ more to be announced
Fri 3 Feb: Deviate pt.1
Party People! Time flies these days... soon January will be over and you can finally forget about detoxing or being broke and start to wipe away those blues. So get your glad rags, your glitter and your dancing shoes back on and let the Deviate DJs take you on a beat excursion!
DJs will be playing the best in Funk, Soul, Disco, Afrobeat, House, Techno and more. Glitter stations and vibrant decor will provide further indulgences, and all of this in one of Dalston's most revered basements, VFD.
Entry is £3 before 11pm and £5 thereafter. Tickets on the door only.
There's no agenda, no boundaries, so invite your friends, your friends of friends, you ma, your pa and even your weird uncle.
The time has come to Deviate!
We'll see you later...
Wed 1 Feb: Spoken Word London
Spoken Word London is an open-mic poetry and performance night for anyone to come and join in, whether to speak or listen. Everyone who wants to speak gets five minutes, but no one gets more than five minutes. Speak in whichever format you want, sharing your own or others' work. Doors open 7.30pm, sign up for a slot 7.30-8pm, readings begin at 8pm.
Free entry, but please buy a drink (or more) at the bar.
Sat 28 Jan: Mammory Tapes
Bringing your mammories out of the closet and onto the dancefloor. DON'T STAY IN. COME OUT.
Because we all know the best part of a night is hang times with the gals (or guys) at home, but what if you could bring your bedroom beats (it's cool, we're still listening to Britney when we get ready too) to the big speakers?!
Requests at the ready, come and make mammories with us at Mammory Tapes #2
£3 ADV here / £5 DOOR 10pm-3am
Fri 27 Jan: Rad Festa
...details coming soon...
Wed 25 Jan: Video Screening - Revolution [Josh Caffe and The Subs]
Filmed by Alexander ShawEdited by Martijn Ravesloot Starring Lucy Fizz & Alex Clow
REVOLUTION // JOSH CAFFE & THE SUBS Hannah Holland's iconic BATTY BASS RECORDS makes a welcome return back on wax with main man Josh Caffe joining forces with the Belgian production don's THE SUBS (Lektroluv) delivering a slice of deep underground electro techno brilliance.
Join us for a special video premiere for friends and family at VFD
Revolution EP is available to buy on vinyl and digital download here. Featuring remixes from Posthuman and Aerea Negrot.
* http://www.juno.co.uk/
DJ SET BY Josh Caffe
ENTRY: FREE
Wed 25 Jan: Running the Gauntlet: Section V - Elliot Reed
Elliot Reed a Los Angeles based performing artist and musician. He will perform 'Running The Gauntlet: Section V' from an ongoing work of his. Sections I-III were performed as a single work in 2015, Section IV debuted last year at The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and Section V will now debut in London. This work is a hybrid reading / performance piece.
Elliot Reed has given presentations at The University of Minnesota, University of Southern California, and Macalester College, in addition to performing at Northwestern University, The Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Chicago, The Gene Siskel Film Center, FOKL Arts Center Kansas City, Human Resources Los Angeles, and other venues in Baltimore, Minneapolis, Chicago, Phoenix, Tuscon, Los Angeles, Marfa, and Austin TX.
His work is held in the Los Angeles Contemporary Archive collection, and his electronic album ‘Anxiety Magic’ was recently listed in The Wire: Adventures in Sound and Music magazine. Elliot is currently on a January 2017 international music and performance tour, starting in Tokyo and ending in Reykjavik.
6pm - 8pm
Free entry (£3 donation)
Tue 24 Jan: Extra Second London V: Social Class
We're back! With a healthy dose of reality to banish those January blues. Or make them worse, whatever. This month's theme is social class, and we have a bumper set of features for you including the newly crowned Genesis slam champsion Rashid Nuhu and the fantastic Leyla Josephine who's come all the way down from Glasgow! As always we also have an open mic and the world famous audience discussion.
AND IT'S FREE ENTRY!!
Featuring: Nathan Smith Marika Josef Rashid Nuhu David Judge Marc Livingstone Leyla Josephine
Sat 21 Jan: Big Girls Disco
IT'S BACK!!! BIG GIRLS LIVE/// LOADSA DRAG///
SUPERSTAR DJ'S-------- CHAKA KHAN'T/// DANCE ARMSTRONG/// ROCKY MILK/// FROSTY KNUCKLES///
FIVE SQUIDS ON THE DOOR///