Madonna Fan Party returns to London on 27th August from 3.30pm for it’s 32nd – 32nd! – event since the parties first started almost 20 years ago. This event is the official release party for the Queen of Pop’s new greatest remix hits compilation – Finally Enough Love, which collects all 50 of her number 1s.
From the first party in the with 50 or so fans at in the basement at G-A-Y Bar, talk of the party and it’s welcoming and non-stop-Madonna-music reputation spread throughout the worldwide Madonna Fan community, and by 2009 the events had to be upscaled to G-A-Y Late to accommodate the hundreds of fans – including many who routinely fly in from overseas – wanting to attend.
The events are hosted by Madonna fans Sharon Sheppard and Neil Symons – both lifelong fans. They have seen Madonna live hundreds of times around the world, and they promote and run the events supported by Madonna’s direct management team. The management team have endorsed and supported the events since they started, supplying merchandise and signed items to give away, with promotional materials and the official endorsement from the Queen of Pop herself.
“Back in 2015, Madonna’s manager filmed an interview with me, where I got to talk about the fan party events, and send Madonna a personal message” Neil recalls – and by 2020 during Madonna’s Madame X World Tour, Neil was playfully interviewed by Madonna herself during shows in Chicago and London.
Sharon remembers the first events and why they were so important to build a fan community – “between albums and tours, fans wouldn’t see each other for a long time. We had such fun during tours and promotional concerts that we agreed we should meet as fans more often. G-A-Y were welcoming to the idea and Madonna’s team were supportive”. She adds “we know so many friendship groups which are directly down to people meeting at the Fan Party events – many people come alone for their first party, then next time we see them they’re in a group of friends, and ten years later that group of friends are still together”.
That’s the proudest part of the running the parties for Neil too who said “I remember how isolated and lonely it was growing up gay and missing that sense of belonging. People often ask why I still spend weeks and months arranging these events – for me, it’s to continue to provide that place of belonging, where our community can meet others, find and form friendships and never feel lonely again”.
The next party will be on Saturday 27th August with doors open from 3.30pm – general admission entry is free – although fans are always advised to turn up as early as they can. “Once again we are back at our home at G-A-Y Late who continue to be so massively supportive by ensuring these events can take place” Sharon says. “A 3.30pm start time and 10pm finish may seem early – but it’s worked for almost 20 year – so why change a winning formula?”
Previous parties have seen Madonna’s management, her dancers, dresser, makeup artist and backing singers turn up – you never know who may pop in this time…
The Madonna Fan Party will be at G-A-Y Late on Saturday 27th August with doors open from 3.30pm-10pm. 5 Goslett Yard, London WC2H 0EA
