Josh Jones

So you’re sitting in Dalston Superstore doing a bit of research on Deep Throat Choir and the nice barman brings you a cup of tea, glances at your screen – which has several tabs open marked ‘Deep Throat Choir’ – smirks and calls you babe. It’s not what you think. It’s voices and drums. IT’S VOICES AND DRUMS! That’s what Deep Throat Choir are: 30 outstanding female voices singing original songs and fantastic covers, using just the power and flexibility of their lungs and one drummer. Having put on their own parties and shows since 2013, this weekend they’re joining forces with London club legends Horse Meat Disco at Camden’s recently refurbed Jazz Cafe. They’ll be filling the room with fun and disco love by singing versions of classics by Donna Summer, Patrice Rushen, Jean Carn and Candi Staton. Don’t for one minute, though, think that this is some kind of college acapella group (although Deep Throat’s founder Luisa Gerstein was behind the ‘Cups’ viral sensation that soundtracked the film ‘Pitch Perfect’). Starting with just five singers, Gerstein wanted to focus on simply exploring harmonies. ‘Sonically I only wanted to work with female voices,’ she says, ‘and then beyond that it became such a wonderful thing to have a female space. It feels decidedly different and I thought it would be best to keep it that way.’ Similar vocal projects like Lips Choir and House Gospel Choir have made singing groups en vogue right now – no thanks to the BBC’s choral cherubim, Gareth Malone,

The horrific attack on a gay club in Orlando has reminded us in cold, brutal starkness, that hate still exists in the world. But Monday’s huge outpouring of sympathy on the streets of Soho – in solidarity with the victims of the shooting and their families – showed that Londoners have the ability to comprehensively combat hate with love. The events in Soho were so moving, we think it’s important to keep that momentum going, to keep the chant that echoed around Old Compton Street echoing as long as possible: ‘We’re here, we’re queer, we will not live in fear.’ Therefore, we’re urging as many Londoners as possible to attend the Pride in London parade on Saturday June 25. To stand up for equality, and to make a stand against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. But don’t take our word for it. We’ve spoken to some of the most prominent LGBT+ voices – and some allies too – and asked one question…

Ever wondered how much loo roll gets used across a whole festival weekend? How many speakers there are blasting out on a main stage? Or how much it would cost to get a taxi home from Glastonbury? We’ve crunched the numbers on dozens of this year’s UK music festivals and dug up the most interesting facts and figures from across the festival calendar. Read on for the vital statistics on burgers, sheep and Lionel Richie’s massive head. RECOMMENDED: More on music festivals Research by Josh Jones and James Manning. Design by Becky Redman.