Summer Rites: Pride in the Park is going to be the festival of the summer to watch out for, celebrating the wonders of the varied gay scene in a sizzling festive atmosphere all in Shoreditch Park. The first Summer Rites festival stormed the London scene in ’96 and its refreshing mix of neighbourhood charm, slick production values and musical credibility remain at the core of the event’s popularity. This year the festival has joined forces with Pride in London to create an exciting partnership that will deliver the professional expertise of Summer Rites combined with the vibrancy of a huge event that celebrates and supports the LGBT+ community. Here we speak to three of the Bear promoters involved in ‘The Bear Big Top’ Tent to tell us more of their nights and what to expect…
TIM JONES
DJ/Promoter @ Tonker
Tonker’s mantra is ‘BOOZE CRUISE TUNES’ and we aim to bring back the social side of life with our Blokes parties. Tonker attracts a great mix of bears, blokes and guys – a very sexy crowd of ‘guy next door’ meets your favourite dad or uncle and rugby player! There’s always a warm welcome for everyone at Tonker, and the music policy is always the best dance tunes, some old, some new: everything from the latest dance tracks to those hands in the air big anthems we all love!
TONKER TOP 3
- Chase The Mouse – Joris Voorn
Samples of Giorgio Moroder, very now, very hot and very sexy and pumping! - Addicted – Tasito Tikaro
Great driving rift of Latino bass lines track, always gets the floor dancing - Donna Summer Vs Gorilla Guys – DJs from Mars
A brilliant mash-up mix of “I Feel Love” meets “The Gorilla Guys”: disco hits the hard rock!
Pride memory
“Our best Pride memory is the attack of the Trannie Bears when we hosted the Bear Zone one year at Pride! Think lorry drivers in flock dresses, bad makeup and screwed up wigs hitting on the hairy Muscle Bear crowd!”
ROBB WHITE
Promoter @ Energy Bears
Energy Bears is an event where you can enjoy house-progressive music and meet likeminded guys with or without fetish dress code. The event has built a European reputation for offering a great gay masculine attitude atmosphere. It is a place where you can meet other men with your same interests, have a drink, chat and dance. A monthly must-attend event in London, hugely successful on the Continent, drew the crowds in Rome, has amazed the Barcelona Boys, rocked in Milan and raised the bar on the Costa Del Sol when it visited Southern Spain. Energy Bears works in Partners with Andrew Christian, Gaydar and Joe Snyder Fashion.
ENERGY BEARS TOP 3
- Abba – Visitors (SE11 vs Robb White 2013 House Remix)
From 1981 to 2013, where did the time go? This track totally blows us away with its new make over by Robb White v SE11. - Micky Galliano – Move To The Funk Feat Daddor (Original)
Micky Galliano does it again a great House Track with kick arse beats and great voice sampling a definite 3am floor filler. - Agnetha Faltskog – Dance Your Pain Away (SE11 vs Robb White Remix)
It’s as if she never went away! The blond sex siren returns in 2013 with her hot new club anthem Dance Your Pain Away, thumping retro grooves: a familiar voice with a hot new banging sound.
MICKY GALLIANO
DJ @ Bear Necessities
Bear Necessity is Europe’s clubbing household name for bears, musclebears, daddies, cubs and chasers! Regular parties in Amsterdam, London, Antwerp, Barcelona and soon in Paris makes this one of the most recognisable brands in the bear clubbing community. Progressive house with a funky twist combined with a crowd of hairy and beary beasts out hunting. It’s a great place for a drink and a boogie and a guaranteed great night out.
BEAR NECESSITIES TOP 3
- Etienne Ozborne, Benny Royal – Can you feel it – Zulu Records
This is a big hit on the dancefloor and when DJs start spinning this tune the floor vibrates. - Micky Galliano Feat . Daddor – Move to the funk – Go Deeva Light Records
Fresh and funky sound with deep sexy vocals. Uplifting club hit. - Tom Stephan, Pagano – Give It – Almibar
Hot track with a groovy rhythm and catchy soulful vocal.
Pride memory
“One great pride memory was playing Bear Necessity Amsterdam few years back! I tell you those Amsterdam bears are PROUD! One of the most amazing nights, Bear Necessity crowd went wild during my set. It was one of the most amazing interactions I had with a crowd! Brilliant”
• The Bear Big Top will be at Summer Rites: Pride in the Park 2013 on Saturday 29th June from 2-11pm, at Shoreditch Park, New North Road, N1 6TA.
