London Paper 8

15th December
London Paper Column
On The Scene
Words: Chantelle Fiddy

Call me old fashioned, but I won’t be raving it up on Christmas Eve or Christmas day unless my entire family tree – Grandad with oxygen mask included – are on the guest list. Without the worry of which promoters in London boast a remedy for entire families suffering from excess turkey consumption, my thoughts are with a lot of you this week who are finishing (or starting) Christmas shopping, and planning on how to see in 2007. Well think of me like the best friend you’ve never had. Instead of ruining your fun and getting held up in the Oxford Street scrum, why not buy all your presents when you go clubbing? I kid you not. A growing trend in Christmas club land this year, it seems, is offering punters the one stop club shop. Quench your spending thirst on Saturday at Everything Must Go (previously called POP), on Soho Street. Stalls will offer music, toys, artwork, photography, clothes and much more from the likes of Rough Trade, Susie Lloyd, Aquarium, Hooky Gear, One True Saxon, Bama Lama and Mosterism. If you forget your good intentions and end up donating most of your pounds to the mulled wine fund, fear not. Sunday will see A Christmas Fete Worse Than Death & Oxfam Christmas Fair takeover Brick Lane’s 93 Feet East. From 3pm in the main room Ebony Bones, Miss Odd Kid, LJ Kruzer’s Electronic Carols and Le Cocteau Jeaune’s Burlesque Nativity celebrate all things festive. Elsewhere in the Bar, the Christmas Fair will be in full swing raising money for Oxfam. While listening to the sounds of Battle DJs, Bigggpaul, Jay B, Helen Noir and James Bradley on decks, you can buy records, books and all manner of donated items.

Now, If you’re reading this thinking ‘look at the face, bovvered?’ cause you finished your shopping like in September, then you might as well pat yourself on the back (pocket) tonight and fuck off to Fabric Live. Blow your wages getting wasted with Dizzee Rascal, Newham Generals, Joe Ransom and Scratch Perverts. If you’re looking to shed a few pounds before your roasted bird lands, opt for the back room where Krust, DJ Die, Simon Bassline Smith and many more will have the D&B massive cooking up a serious sweat. More in keeping with the Christmas spirit, the Bistrotheque Drag Christmas Panto is also taking place tonight in Wadeson St, east London, starring Jonny Woo, Spanky, Richardette, Ryan Styles, Xtina (no relation to Christina Aguilera), and Lisa (not Scott) Lee.

As for New Years Eve, there’s already been some interesting invitations come through the door, including Roller Disco’s fancy dress party in Vauxhall, Madam Showtimes Masked Ball at Egg, Moondance at SeOne and The Bond Ball at the Kensington Close Hotel & Spa. Bigger isn’t always better so I’m putting my money with a smaller, local joint, namely the Legion in Old Street where the trusty Crackin Skullz duo are going to do their parents proud mixing up a selection of beats and bars. With tickets at only £10 a piece they also make for suitably cost-effective stocking fillers.