COOL AS LEICESTER

In 1996, during the fevered atmosphere of the Britpop revolution, a new club night called Brighton Beach was launched at University of Leicester Student’s Union. Already successful in Leeds, DJs at the club mixed Classic 60’s & Northern Soul with R’n’B and new records by British bands like Blur, Pulp, Ocean Colour Scene and Oasis – it was an instant success!

Brighton Beach had started just two years previously in 1994 at The Cockpit in Leeds, aimed at playing classic 60’s mod and soul tracks alongside the great British bands of the time, and as Britpop emerged, the night could not have been better timed. Before long, Supergrass, Shed Seven and other bands were hanging out at the club and performed frenzied secret gigs there too. Shortly after the night began, DJs from the vinyl obsessed, underground UK 60’s scene were brought in to host a second room at the club, playing pure Northern Soul, R&B, Jazz and Freakbeat introducing fuzzed up garage and speed fuelled psych to salivating kids. On the dancefloor, Mods from the local Scooter clubs were teaching the new Britpop scenesters how to dress and dance, with tight ties and perfect hair.

Brighton Beach is now back to celebrate its 15^th Anniversary, the legendary clubnight returns to O₂ Academy2 Leicester, at the University of Leicester Students’ Union for a one-off special!

They’ll be retaining the classic Brighton Beach music policy with two rooms of pounding 60s soul, Motown, Indie, Northern Soul and Britpop set to a backdrop of psychedelic visuals and cult 60’s films. In the main room, original DJ Red Helen will be playing everything from The Who to The Libertines, The Sonics to The Supremes, and The Stone Roses to Hendrix. In the second room, hosts The Buzz Club, return with residents DJ Rob Glover+guests spinning floor pounding alternative 60’s dance music from Classic & Northern Soul, R’n’B, Psychedelia, Hammond Groove, Exotica, R’n’B and Garage Punk all on beautiful, priceless 45s.

It’s going to be one hell of a night!