[title]
Not going to Notting Hill Carnival this weekend? Don't care about Notting Hill Carnival? Don’t worry, there’s a ridiculous amount of great stuff going on outside Notting Hill. Here are ten London parties and club nights happening this weekend that should cover all the bases. And remember that you can find tons more options over at our bank holiday parties page.
Want bleeding-edge house and techno?
Bugged Out at XOYO, Friday.
Hear Michael Mayer from tastemaking German label Kompakt spin melodic techno, alongside underground house ace Kim Ann Foxman.
Want to break the hipster-ometer?
Dalston Disco Day and Night Party at Old Street Roundabout and The Nest, Saturday.
Dance to disco at the ‘Magic Roundabout’ (Old Street Roundabout) venue 5pm-10pm, followed by more grooving in a stylish Dalston basement from 10pm, courtesy of super-cool Belgian DJ Aeroplane. Sure, it all sounds so hip that it hurts – but you want in, don’t you? And so you should, as it’ll be great.
Want a two-part party?
Secretsundaze at Oval Space and Village Underground, Sunday.
One of the most celebrated events in London, Secretsundaze swoops back for another mighty east London all-dayer. The fun begins in Bethnal Green, with Steffi and Hunee spinning a daytime deep house soundtrack. At 10pm things move to Shoreditch, where techno trooper Roman Flügel controls the dancefloor until the very early hours; bloody good thing that Monday’s a bank holiday, eh?
Want to have some good times in a funky church?
Norman Jay presents Good Times Goes East at St John-at-Hackney, Saturday.
Funk and soul maestro Norman Jay is taking his west London-affiliated Good Times party for a bank holiday hop across town, landing in the beautiful St John-at-Hackney church. It's a daytime bash, and Jay will be spinning all kinds of uptempo, soulful and sunny sounds, taking you on a thoroughly enjoyable pre-club trip.
Want to hear how the masters do it?
Bump and Hustle Music at the Bussey Building/CLF Art Café, Saturday.
Two New York DJ heroes, Victor Simonelli and John Morales, plus London soul legend Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson will be schooling in the ways of classic house and disco. Watch and learn, kids.
Want to top up that tan in a hot tub?
Solar Indoor/Outdoor Day Party at The Old Baths and Cr8 Galleries, Saturday.
Fed up of dancing in dark, dingy dens? Take George Michael’s advice and go outside for this daytime party – providing the weather sorts itself the hell out, of course. There’ll be DJs spinning summery jams, sun loungers (keep the faith), a hot tub (keep holding on to that faith), hog roast, jerk food and beach-ish area – seriously, keep believing and it might just happen. But hey, there's a big indoor area if the weather keeps kicking us all in the crotch and laughing.
Want a selfie-free dancefloor?
Rhythm Section at Canavan’s Peckham Pool Club, Friday.
Peckham hero Bradley Zero’s night of deep grooves is an intimate affair in a pool hall for those who want to dance, rather than take photos of themselves dancing. No phones on the floor, y’hear?
Want beats with an unbeatable view?
Gilles Peterson Up on the Roof at The Prince of Wales, SW9 8HH, Sunday.
The acclaimed selector and musical mastermind DJs at a Brixton venue, boasting one of the best roof terraces in London. Expect anything from jazz to disco to dub to soul – and don't worry if the weather stays disgusting, as there are plenty of covered areas and heaters available.
Want to travel the globe?
Highlife at The Book Club, Sunday.
Notting Hill isn’t the only place to get tropical this weekend: multi-talented musician and DJ Andrew Ashong and savvy producer Auntie Flo spin Afrohouse, Latin and other exotic dancefloor treats at this acclaimed night of on-point, progressive global grooves.
Want heads-down raving?
The Hydra at Studio Spaces, E1W 2BB, Sunday.
If you’re of a musically nervous disposition, stop reading now. Everyone else, go and rave your way through the bank holiday at this awesome event, which signals the 2015 opening programme from underground party monsters The Hydra. The superb line-up features Detroit techno kingpins Jeff Mills and Robert Hood, plus genre-mangler Untold and dub-technoist Objekt.
Read about more bank holiday clubbing and parties here.