27/10/12: In 1990, London’s gay scene hailed the arrival of what was set to establish – more than anyone could have anticipated – a whole new standard of the gay clubbing experience.
Trade saw faster, harder and euphoric acid house roaring in across the speakers on the weekend – along with the other notoriously explosive, feel-good sounds and anthems of the era.
In the process, the club became the stuff of legend – and has stood in good stead and gay folklore for 22 years now; last Saturday being its much anticipated birthday!
You can just imagine the queue and the buzz being generated outside The Sidings, the evocative warehouse venue selected to house the celebration – and the buzz only built-up to an atmosphere fit to burst inside, with the interlinked maze of brickwork rooms indulging unrelenting bassline after bassline!
Topless, structured and socially uninhibited men lined the walls and rubbed against each other throughout the venue, the laser design dotted and dived across the horizon of each arena and the unyielding line-up of DJs just kept on coming!
Things got more than a little crazy at the end with a surprise sudden ending to the night leaving revelers a little disorientated and desperate for more – and the coat check issues that saw unrelenting queues of people placed an unfortunate sour note to the end of an otherwise quality event.
Venue issues aside, we’re sure the Trade experience is powerful enough that it won’t lose favour quite so easily amongst it’s diehard clientele.
The Sidings, 53 Southwark Street, SE1 1RU
Words by Yafeu-Khamisi Rodway-Brown
Photos by joel-ryder.com
