London’s last true hippy haunt Whirl-Y-Gig re-opened its doors at newly-refurbished venue Tracks, just north of the river near Cannon Street station.
As a Whirl-Y virgin, I was highly anticipating the night ahead of me as I queued down Allhallows Lane with my trusty bottle of Sailor Jerry’s tucked under my maxi skirt.
Walking through the doors I was transported to another world, far from the gloomy streets of London I’d left behind, feeling that I may have been time-warped back to the South East Corner of Glastonbury.
Patterned sheets hung off the walls, a magician showed off his tricks and a face-painting stand stood in the corner enticing people to have their faced adorned with glittered patterns.
On an upper level, air beds were thrown across the floor, a perfect place to rest your aching bones after dancing to a variety of world trance music down the tunnel.
Whirl-Y is renowned as an event for all ages – one of the only nights in London that caters for adults and children alike. However from the sights I witnessed, I would hardly take one of my Girl Guides along with me.
Any dance venue will have its share of attendees intoxicated with a bit more than booze; some here were happy just clutching bottles of water whilst dancing wide-eyed to resident sombrero-wearing DJ Monkey Pilot.
The atmosphere was one of the best I’ve ever encountered, and although I never made it to the legendary 5.30am parachute, booking a ticket for the next event is definitely at the top of my to-do list.
Whirl-Y-Gig at Tracks, 13-16 Allhallows Lane, Upper Thames Street, EC4R 3UE.
10pm-6am, events on February 21, March 21, April 25, May 23.
Featured image courtesy of Richard Sutcliffe