Handsome 14th Birthday Bash

I remember the date of Handsome’s first party ‘cos it looked auspicious: 10.11.12. After a disastrous launch party the month before that didn’t just fall flat on its face, it buried itself and gave its own eulogy, a Toby Grimditch rebrand the following month had us back at Visions in Dalston. Eddy who ran it was great as after the first party most owners would have told me to sling my hook. He also championed a gay night at a straight venue that had a very different regular crowd which I respected. We were later invited by Dan Beaumont to Superstore where we had some wicked parties and guests. Dan also let me put on other nights and was a great support in those years.

Pre-pandemic our final home was East Bloc where I shared many a late night with the EB family - thank you Wayne. At this time we were also taking the night up to Manchester with Dave Kendrick and Paul Flynn (THAT train journey home) - a lot of new friends made & brain cells lost. I really loved those parties… maybe we’ll get up there again. Just before lockdown we threw a party at our home Eagle London where it’s been ever since & where I started my first night, Carpet Burn, nearly two decades ago. Mark Oakley & I go way back to my teen years when I met him in the Bagley’s office and we discovered we had a mutual love of John Waters.

That we’re still going fourteen years later says that launch date was indeed auspicious. I still get promoter stress but I’ve got better at keeping it to myself. After last Saturday’s banging party with Giles Smith, I’m reminded why I still do it. I love house music. I love bringing good people together. And I love not having an office job.

We’ll be celebrating 14 years on November 14th with longtime Handsome guest Terry Farley & venerable house head Stuart Patterson making his debut. I hope you can join us.

Thank you to all the venue owners, DJs, staff, mates, randoms and party people who have supported it. You’re all Handsome ❤️