Official Paradise Garage HIV fundraiser for The Terrence Higgins Trust and Gay Men’s Health Crisis.
Sunday 27th November has been revealed as the date for the 2016 edition of A Night In Paradise. The Paradise Garage inspired event returns to Ministry of Sound with a unique line-up featuring DJs who were a key part of the legendary New York club between 1977-1987, Ministry’s original house missionaries, and contemporary DJs who embody the club’s musical spirit.
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| Jellybean Benitez |
The first names announced are Jellybean Benitez, David Depino, Joey Llanos, Victor Rosado, and Severino in the Box; Paul Trouble Anderson, Fat Tony, CJ Mackintosh, Jazzy M, Ricky Morrison, Justin Berkmann, and Jeremy B in 103 (bringing the spirit of the venue’s first decade); and Handsome in the Baby Box with Terry Farley, DJ Paulette, HiFi Sean, Dave Kendrick, and Jamie Bull. Further special guests and live performances will be announced later in October…
This event is an official fundraiser for two of the world’s first and leading HIV charities; New York’s Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) and the UK’s Terrence Higgins Trust, with all profits from the event being split equally between the two organisations.
Official Paradise Garage merchandise and membership cards will be available at the party.
The debut of A Night In Paradise in 2015 saw a sold-out show with over 2000 people paying homage to the legendary New York institution, dancing from day into night to the likes of Danny Krivit, Joey Llanos, David DePino, Victor Rosado, Jocelyn Brown, Justin Berkmann, Kenny Carpenter, and many more.
As Homer’s Odyssey is to western literature, the Paradise Garage is at the cornerstone of modern dance music and its culture. Having attained almost mythical status, this groundbreaking club and the man at its musical helm, the legendary Larry Levan, have had a profound and lasting effect on all forms of electronic music. The reception to this year’s definitive Levan ‘best of’ collection, ‘Genius Of Time’, proved that a whole new audience is discovering what Pitchfork described as his “slippery, pliant, ecstatic sound”.
From its inception in late 77' this “Paradise” in a former parking garage for trucks offered gay men, and indeed all its members, including post 70’s liberated women some relief from the mundane nature of everyday life, and the dog-eat-dog reality of an almost bankrupt and wholly unforgiving New York City. The dance floor at Levan’s ‘Saturday Mass’ was a place given over entirely to the enjoyment of music. There was no pretence and no attitude; there weren’t even any mirrors to distract you. There was only you, Larry and the music. Disco, Philadelphia soul, funk, r’n’b and a new emerging genre which we now know as ‘house music’ were all staples, but boundaries in music fell down too here; There was only one real rule - if you could dance to it, you could play it.
During the AIDS crisis at it’s epicentre in the early 80s, aside from hosting the world’s first ever HIV benefit ‘Showers’ in 1982, The Paradise Garage was invaluable in providing a support network for those affected by this not yet fully understood disease. The dark lesions that Kaposi’s Sarcoma left on its victims’ skin meant doors all over the city were closing to them; clubs, restaurants, bars, even their family homes and churches. Not here though, the door was always open, this was their home, their family and their church.
Paradise may have been lost, when over two weekends in the Autumn of 1987 over 14,000 people made their pilgrimage to say goodbye to the dance floor at No. 84 King Street, but we can hold up the Garage as a reminder of all it stands for, and the message of unity, love and respect in its music. An opportunity to support the fight against AIDS, to love life and uplift the music, the memory and people from what was perhaps the greatest party that ever was; the Paradise Garage, yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever.
The Ministry of Sound
When Justin Berkmann arrived back from New York in 1989 he brought something very special back with him. A seed of inspiration that was to grow into what is now the world’s favourite nightclub. Upon opening in 1991 the new venue featured not only a state of the art sound system installed by Austen Derek, but also a long ramp and tunnel at its entrance, a sprung dance floor, a no alcohol policy, only admitted it's members and their guests and had no particular closing time - the party was over when the last record was played. All key elements Justin had brought back from his experiences at The Garage. Then in 1992, just months before his death Berkmann brought Levan to London where he spent three months playing at the club and helping to tune the new system. Truly cementing the connection between the dance floor at the South London venue and No84 King Street NYC.
Gay Men’s Health Crisis – GMHC
In 1981, six gay men and their friends gathered in writer Larry Kramer’s living room to address the “gay cancer” and raise money for research. This informal meeting provided the foundation for what would soon become Gay Men’s Health Crisis. In 1982, an answering machine in the home of volunteer Rodger McFarlane acted as the first AIDS hotline — receiving over 100 calls the first night. Today GMHC is the world’s first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy, building on decades of dedication and expertise. Since before AIDS had a name and until the epidemic is over, GMHC will continue to fight AIDS and love life.
The Terrence Higgins Trust
Terry Higgins was among the first people known to die of an AIDS-related illness in the UK. He collapsed at Heaven Nightclub and was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital, London where he died on Sunday 4th July. In his memory, Martyn Butler, Tony Calvert and Terry's boyfriend Rupert Whitaker set up The Terry Higgins Trust (later renamed Terrence Higgins Trust), dedicated to preventing the spread and promoting awareness of the condition. Thirty years into its mission, THT continues to work closely with club events and venues to raise awareness of HIV and safer sex.
The Box
Paradise Garage 1977 - 1987
Jellybean Benitez, David Depino & Joey Llanos, Victor Rosado, Severino
PA - TBA
103
Ministry of Sound - The First Ten Years
Paul Trouble Anderson, Fat Tony, CJ Mackintosh, Jazzy M, Ricky Morrison, Justin Berkmann, Jeremy B
PA - TBA
The Baby Box
Handsome Dance Party
Terry Farley, DJ Paulette, HiFi Sean, Dave Kendrick, Jamie Bull
Sunday 27th November 2016
2pm - Midnight
Ministry of Sound
103 Gaunt Street, London, SE1 6DP
Tube: Elephant & Castle
Tickets £20/£25 advance. £30 on the door.
Additional info:
