Festival of Sins - Envy
By Simone Stenfors
The Festival of Sins is different to any other club I've been to. Its hosted by the gorgeous, Illustrious May, and the equally gorgeous Ben Cooke. These two have certainly put a lot of thought into this pot-pourri of entertainment.
Each month the club celebrates one of the seven deadly sins. This month it was Envy! When I walked in, I was greeted by two very green, glowing stilt walkers. The place was atmospherically, fetishly dark. Plates of complimentary chocolates and chunks of Millionaire shortbread were placed around the bar, for anyone who fancied a nibble whilst waiting to be served. I got my drink and went for a wander around as there were lots of interesting things to look at, there were stalls selling corsets, beautiful tiny hand crafted burlesque style top hats and jewellery. There was four live bands, fashion shows, burlesque entertainers, pole dancers, body painting, in fact, the entertainment doesn't stop. The music is best described as dark, sexy and glam electro it has a feel of stepping back into the 80's.
Anything goes for the dress code, as long as its sexy, lusty or bizarre and if your that way inclined, there were a few people in just capes and masks and nothing else. But, to quote Mae West, "those who are easily shocked, should be shocked more often" ;)
If you make the effort to dress up, you'll be warmly welcomed ( so no jeans or trainers please).
As I chatted to May at the bar, Ben (looking like a cross between a ring master and the host in the movie Cabaret), introduced the first band of the night ( The Firm)
After that there was an electronic band called Adfinem , Next came the first Burlesque entertainer of the evening the lovely but slightly deranged 'Crimson Skye' with her side kick Ed, the severed head. Then a needle fetish performance by twisted Cirque.
And there was even more.
A fashion show followed Crimson Skye. The models were strutting the catwalk in the most divine corsets by Valkyrie Corsets. Then came the second Burlesque entertainer, 'Fancy chance' and then the final band of the night, the aptly named 'Envy and Other Sins'. There was still more entertainment to come in the form of another fashion show courtesy of 'lacing lilith',
and still time for DJ sets by resident DJ' 'Kate Way', Guest DJ DJ Knine and LO Freq.
Overall, I really enjoyed 'The festival of Sins' and I'm looking forward to going again.
The club is on every second saturday of every second month, doors open at 8pm and closes at 3am performances start at 9pm the next Festival of Sins will be held on the 12th of April, if you fancy a decadent night out, then look no further..
You can find out about the club or any of the bands, performers or fashion designers, by clicking on to the sites below.
Simone
The Firm
http://www.myspace.com/thefirmband
Adfinem
http://www.myspace.com/liveandlearnalbum
Crimson Skye
http://www.myspace.com/crimsonskye
Fancy Chance:
http://www.myspace.com/veeness
Twisted Cirque
http://www.myspace.com/twisted_cirque
Valkyrie Corsets
http://www.myspace.com/valkyriecorsets
Lacing Lilith
http://www.myspace.com/lacinglilith
Stalls included:
http://www.zahirasboudoir.com/
http://www.myspace.com/tctophats
http://www.myspace.com/dogheadltd
Resident DJ Kate Way:
http://www.myspace.com/popsiclekate
Guest DJ: DJ Knine
http://www.myspace.com/propaganda_tv
LO Freq
http://www.myspace.com/hellofreq