Cult Artist Tribute Night (FM Club Craze)

[michelej1]

Scout London March 20, 2013

http://www.scoutlondon.com/2013/03/2...lubbing-craze/


Sometimes, when you go to a club, you’re just desperate for a DJ to play a tune by your favourite band. But what if there was a night that played nothing but your favourite band? Laura Martin investigates the new craze for cult artist tribute nights.

Holding a flashing LED tambourine and an old Stevie Nicks vinyl triumphantly over my head to a barrage of cheers, I am in the midst of hedonistic, infectious Fleetwood Mac fervour.

Hours of enthusiastic dancing at the centre of a crowded club to The Chain, Everywhere and You Can Go Your Own Way have culminated in this moment: me taking the ultimate glory of the night, the coveted ‘best costume’ prize.

The 80s diamante-studded denim jumpsuit that I managed to pick up for £5, teamed with a louche cigarette and trademark vodka tonic, has been deemed “classic Christine McVie” by the promoter of Fleetmac Wood, and won me my moment of triumph. That was one well-spent fiver.

Fleetmac Wood is a cult club night that is, obviously, dedicated to celebrating all things Fleetwood Mac. It has been taking place in the capital every couple of months since June last year, with one of the strictest music policies around: songs have to be original Fleetwoods, re-edits or remixes only – strictly no covers. And it has tapped into a feverish demand for the Mac, no doubt heightened by the band’s recently confirmed tour of the UK this September.

Far from being an anomaly, Fleetmac Wood is one of several new London nights devoted exclusively to a classic artist. Themed retro clubbing is nothing new – everything from the Blitz Party to Ultimate Power have been going strong for several years now. But the tribute night scene is a new development.

Fleetmac Wood’s founder is Lisa Jeliffe, who also DJs as Roxanne Roll. “I’ve been to so many house parties where the best of Fleetwood Mac ends up being played and played again – all night long,” she tells Scout. “People who love Fleetwood Mac really love them so I’m not surprised at all by how popular it
has become.”

Jeliffe says it’s a concept she’s been working on for a while now. “I had the idea about three years ago, but was waiting until I found a venue that felt right,” she says. “At the same time, since having the initial idea the whole vintage re-edit genre has really exploded. Fleetwood Mac have such an incredible back catalogue that spans blues, rock and 80s pop, so it’s a rich mine for re-editing and remixing. For each party, we put a call out to producers to make exclusive re-edits that we then play on the night.”

While DJs might have taken up the mantle to create their own imprints of famous tracks, the revelers packed into the Visions Video Bar in Dalston on the night of my costumed triumph have gone all out in their finest Mac attire. Alongside my award-winning outfit, you can’t move for swirling, gypsy-skirted Stevie-a-likes, all floaty scarves, top hats and dangling jewellery.

Lisa says: “A lot of people dress up, which is great, and I like to hand out peacock feathers too. It’s a celebration of the Mac, after all. What’s great about the night is that people are there for the music. Everyone’s excited, there’s a sense of ‘we’re in this together’ as it’s essentially a six hour Mac marathon. I’ve actually bruised my hand from banging my tambourine so hard
all night.”

Meanwhile, the trend for tribute club nights in London has taken another 70s/80s musical legend for inspiration. David Bowie’s return after a 10-year absence with a new album has awoken fans of The Thin White Duke – so much so that they want to revel in his back catalogue all night long. So thank the stardust for Shirley Presents: Night of A Thousand Bowies.

Journalist and Bowie super-fan Naomi Atwood set up the club night recently, and it had its premiere on March 8 at Charlie Wright’s bar in Hoxton. “I always had the idea to do a Bowie-themed edition of my fanzine, Shirley,” she says. “Bowie is an obvious choice for a themed party. It struck me as an appropriate time to do it now, because of the V&A exhibition and his musical comeback – it’s like the whole zeitgeist has been taken over by Bowieness.”

On the night, three different DJs took over the bar, playing tunes by Bowie and other music inspired by him. Then, in a highly avant-garde performance, artist Thom Shaw lip-synced to Barbra Streisand singing Life On Mars while downing a bottle of red wine. Which surely would have pleased Mr B himself.

“We had some people dressing up more than others,” says Atwood, “with mullet wigs and lightening bolt face paint being the most popular ways to channel his Ziggyness.”

Over in Hackney, the tribute adoration parties have moved into the 90s with a night dedicated to a Mr Robert Sylvester Kelly. Unpackaged Presents: R Kelly promises a night of “Bump n’ Grind-themed cocktails, sneaky Ignition Remix snacks and Trapped In The Closet played in full on the projector”. Oh, and a couple of “sexy surprises”, (which hopefully don’t include any of the King of R&B’s actual sex tapes).

While Atwood says the next Shirley Presents party will be inspired by a different act, Jeliffe is also looking to branch out into other musical avenues: “We’d love to do some festivals and Ibiza feels like a good fit. We’re also launching a new project for my other favourite band, who are rumoured to be headlining Glastonbury. It’s called Mix Jagger.”

The Rolling Stones, perhaps? I’d better get working on my Keef outfit

Fleetmac Wood: White Winged Love, March 23, The New Empowering Church, E8 3RL. £10, 9pm-3am, soundcloud.com/fleetmacwood