As the summer heats up, the team at The Glory has decided to celebrate by holding their first mini-festival. Taking place over 3 days in the their freshly turfed pub (an homage to The Bricklayers Arms, Shoreditch circa 1995) and The Magic Roundabout (Old St Roundabout), Glory Days, features some fantastic, homegrown, live music talent and queer performance recently featured at The Downlow, Glastonbury and The Glory itself since it’s opening.
They’ve snagged some top DJs to add to the festivities plus a very special mystery guest playing and singing on Saturday day at the Roundabout. It’s the perfect a chance to get a taste of the queer Glastonbury madness if you missed out on the real thing or to re-live some memories if you were there and a great warm up for or those returning from Brighton Pride. Glory Days brings the spirit of the festival to you in the comfort of a pub or a roundabout where your tube to your next party is right there beneath you. Glorious!
Right, so you know Old Street roundabout? It’s covered in fag butts and Ursula Snakes ends up there on all fours sometimes after East Bloc. Well imagine if Jonny Woo and his glorious Glory team took it over and put on a big gay festival in the middle of it. Jonbenet Blonde lip syncing to The Ting Tings whilst choking on dust clouds from passing rubbish trucks. Princess Julia trying to plug in her mixing deck under a hail of old kebab boxes being blown from across the street. John Sizzle getting his heel stuck in a drain and being flattened by the N55.
That’d be ridiculous wouldn’t it? Well guess what…IT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING. Yes! The Glory Days Festival centres its three day knees-over-head ankles-at-your-ears knees-up with the main Saturday event on Old Street Roundabout. Or, as it shall henceforth be known, The Magic Roundabout! Jonny Woo is a bit of a Zebedee actually. Boing!
He can’t quite believe it’s happening either; “I was shocked to discover how many people the middle of Old Street roundabout can actually hold!” he said “It’s also the 20th anniversary of gay Shoreditch and that whole unconscious scene explosion which we didn’t know then, but would go on to define our lives. To throw this massive drag party on Old Street roundabout is a mile stone for East London – as it’s a roundabout it’s only fair to make it free for everybody and I cannot wait!”
Before all that though they kick things off with a ferocious Friday night at their dusky Haggerston lair The Glory, guarded by courageous night watchwoman Zoe Argiros. She’s like John Snow from Game of Thrones, but hotter and more butch. It’s Frock N’ Roll, with headliners Black Gold Buffalo and DJ sets from Bright Light Bright Light and HRH our gorge Princess Julia.
Then it’s ON to the Saturday madness! They’re teaming up with Burger Bear (we’re not sure but we think it might be bears serving burgers), and bringing a Glastonbury Reunion to the roundabout with the kids from NYC Downlow, as well as Hannah Holland and an extra super special superstar guest *takes breath*
THEN, it’s the Sunday “chillout”, which we’d love to say will be chilled out but of course won’t be. There are live sets from Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones and Dolly Parton. That’s a lie. But there will be drag queens approximating their essence with varying levels of success.
So that’s THAT. Stumble out of Old Street Station and hope for the best, ladies and jennelmen.
• Glory Days is at The Glory (281 Kingsland Road, E2 8AS) and
The Magic Roundabout (Old Street Roundabout, EC1Y 1BE) from Friday 31st July until Sunday 2nd August.Check Listings for times.
