Clubs

Why is it that us girls always do it in twos? Dolled-up duos are always taking each other to the toilet, Thelma never went anywhere without Louise and, let’s face it, Daphne would have been rubbish without Celeste.

Clubland is no exception either. Whereas indie boys have no qualms going it alone, it’s the alterna-chicks who often pair off and throw the coolest parties. Queens of Noize, (who, now they’ve been going since 2002, are almost prehistoric), The Dollyrockers, Zena and Becky aka Daughters of the Kaos (Club Motherfucker), and the Pyrrah Girls Sara and Nadia (Young and Lost), are all double acts who have been hosting successful nights for what feels like eons.
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The liberated clubbing world may not want gender politics tacked onto it, but it looked like no fresh blood was going to seep through. Until now, that is. Along with the freaky weather, this summer has finally brought with it a new lease of girl power that’ll have you skidding across the dancefloor before you can say ‘Spice Girls Reunion’.

PR gals Anne Kapranos and Daisy Quin are such a pair. Their Happy Accident Loves… soirée, with bands that ‘have to be fit’, has recently moved to a monthly Friday slot at Camden hangout Proud. ‘That element of “girl power” is so true,’ says Kapranos. ‘The other nights here are very guy-centric and all these lovely girls turn up looking beautifully trendy so we help keep it mixed and offer something more stylish.’ Stylish is certainly one word for it: the club began its celebrity infested life at Mayfair venue Mahiki, but the girls insist that Madonna turning up at their launch was, well, just an accident. ‘The fact she turned up was a complete fluke,’ says Kapranos, ‘so our club’s name really works!’

But Kapranos admits that starting out wasn’t as lucky: ‘We found it really hard because we were the only girl promoters doing something rockier at West End clubs and guys didn’t take us seriously.’

Girls-about-north-London Lorna Bean, Gabi Woo (and, more recently, Lucy Fitzgerald) rapidly dispelled any doubts when they kick-started the raucous Neverland at the Soho Revue Bar last month. By midnight most of the punters were cheering on surprise live guest Kav from the Happy Mondays. It was an instant hit, and some have already compared it to the recently-departed Frog. ‘Every indie club that I’ve been to has been nothing different,’ reckons Bean. ‘They’re all just a room with a bar. We wanted to do something a bit swankier, but not pretentiously. That’s why we have live burlesque performers and dancers as well as bands.’

Another fresh night that’s bound to give you a smack ‘round the chops (literally!) is Dirty Ticket, on the first Wednesday of every month at Madame JoJo’s. Of her rowdy Riot Grrrl moshfest co-promoter Julie Hogarty notes, ‘Our flyer says, “If you don’t leave with an injury, ask for your money back.” We encourage going mad, fuck it.’ They’re keen to tempt clubbers away from the East End and create a cool rock scene in Soho, while also making a stand against an industry that Hogarty believes is still sexist. ‘It’s so easy to say that but I strongly feel that there’s a need for [our night]. We want to give women performers and DJs who aren’t in NME a platform.’ This feisty night is following in Club Motherfucker’s footsteps…

Also back for August are the Queens of Noize with the new, weekly kiss-chase styled Smash & Grab at Punk. As usual the Queens set the innovative standard, adding feminine touches with their dress-up box and kissing booth. ‘I love indie nights, but you can’t move for them now and there’s only so much you can do with bands and DJs,’ says Mairead. ‘All of our nights capture the imagination because people like a challenge when they go out. And they want to be in our gang.’

What emerges is that there are some clear similarities with these female-spearheaded nights: there’s a sense of occasion, an atmosphere that encourages craziness. Plus there’s usually something other to see than the same band you’ve seen 20 times. ‘There’s more of an easygoing nature about girls’ nights. It’s almost anti-indie,’ concludes Kapranos. And that can only be a positive thing.

Happy Accident Loves… is at Proud on Friday; Smash & Grab is at Punk on Friday; Neverland is at Soho Revue Bar on Monday; Dirty Ticket is at Madame JoJo’s on Wednesday 5 September