Halloween in the UK: A Weekend of Horror and Hedonism

Britain has been quietly embracing Halloween over the years; slowly sexing up the U. S of A’s spookiest season with a steady stream of Halloween mash ups and masquerades, fetish nights and all-round revelry.

NO longer are Halloween followers confined to the picturesque, pumpkin-adorned avenues of suburban America – skeletons, witches, vampires and all things dark and ghoulish are now well catered for on London’s edgy party circuit; there’s a Halloween bash for every taste and budget.

So you can either stay in this weekend and invest in a few bags of Haribo for the hoards of trick-or-treating ghosts and Harry Potters waiting to descend on your doorstep, or you can satisfy your rave cravings and head out to one of the many parties of fright and fantasy.

Halloween 2011 is set to be a horrific affair.

Guilty Pleasures Halloween Horror Ball at KOKO
The unashamedly tasteless pop music phenomenon that is Guilty Pleasures has swept the UK in a wave of sequins and unadulterated sillyness in the past few years. This Halloween Camden’s KOKO invites you to let loose and unleash your inner cheese with shameless party classics and costume for those seeking a playful alternative to the conventional club experience.

21.00 – 03.00 Saturday 29 October at KOKO, 1a Camden High Street, London NW1 7JE

Secretsundaze & Electric Minds – Halloween Asylum Party at Village Underground
Tonight’s stonking lineup includes Skudge, Fred P, James Priestley, Giles Smith, Dolan Bergin and Minkioni at this minimal house, electro and techno institution by the original daytime party pioneers. Be prepared for some hand-in-the-air high jinks and Halloween hedonism at this not-so-secret Shoreditch location.

21.00 – 06.00, Saturday 29 October at Village Underground, 54 Holywell Lane, Shoreditch, EC2A 3PQ

Circus presents Rebel Rave Halloween Fancy Dress Party at The Masque
Man of the moment Jamie Jones will be on board with sidekick Seth Troxler as well as Ryan Crosson, Lee Curtis, Damian Lazarus, Lewis Boardman, Alex Wolfenden and Scott Lewis for this flamboyant, fancy dress extravaganza by Circus founder and resident DJ Yousef. Expect an evening of techno splendour and supercharged excess.

22.00 – 05.00, Saturday, 29 October at The Masque, 90 Seel Street, Liverpool L1 4BH

Mulletover Halloween 2011 at Proud2
Mulletover main man Stuart Geddes has recruited Guy Gerber, Andrew Weatherall, Steve Bug, Tobi Neumann and Ivan Smagghe to work the decks at his most hyped of annual hoe-downs. With obligatory fancy dress and top secret locations, the Mulletover Halloween parties have become the stuff of London legend. This year the venue has been revealed as former Matter club Proud2, with a 24-hour license that should see the party turn up full throttle into the following day.

22.00 – 06.00, Saturday 29 October at Proud2, The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DY

In:motion – Just Jack Halloween Freak Boutique at Motion Skate Park In Association with War Child
The freaks will be out at this Victorian multi-sensory fancy dress extravaganza with live music, wonder and cabaret. The line-up includes Tale of Us, Shaun Reeves, Soul Clap, Space Dimension Controller, Midland, Death on the Balcony, Tom Rio, Dan Wild, Solid Gold and Park Ranger with 10 per cent of the profits from the event going to War Child – the charity for children affected by war. The dress code is ‘circus freak and zombie chic’.

22.00 – 06.00 Saturday 29 October at Motion Skate Park, 74-78 Avon Street, Bristol BS2 0PX

5 Years Of Ketoloco – Halloween Soirée at The Warehouse
This 1979 ‘viva la acid house’ themed party will feature music from Solomun, David August, Jef K and jozif, as well as Jonny Cade, Cera Alba, Brett Sinclair, King Tut & The Wookie. Expect circus performance, magic and spectacle with Balearic beats, deep house and disco to warm the most haunted of Halloween souls.

22.00 – 07.00, Saturday 29 October at The Warehouse, 19-21 Somers Street, Leeds LS1 2RG

Halloween Spooktacular at Propaganda London
Led by founder DJ Dan, London’s biggest indie night brings a terrifying Halloween Spooktacular to the brand new Electric Brixton with Plan B’s beatboxer Faith SFX performing live. In the main room there will be an unrivalled mix of the best current and classic indie anthems from Propaganda residents DJ Dan, The Postman, Andy Tokyo, Chris Moody and Matt Nelmes, while room two will feature pop, party and dance anthems with POP’aganda.

22.30 – 04.00, Saturday 29 October at Propaganda Halloween Spooktacular at Electric Brixton, Town Hall Parade, London, SW2 1RJ

Fuse Halloween Rave
This combined fancy dress rave up and tINI album release party smack bang in the middle of Brick Lane will feature Guti (extended live set), Enzo Siragusa, Rich NxT and Luke Miskelly at the busy 93 Feet East bar. tINI – who is celebrating the release of her debut album, Tessa – will be appearing ahead of her world tour at the party that promises to be a 13-hour event. To get your name on the guestlist go to: www.fuselondon.net .

10:00 – 23.00, Sunday 30 October at 93 Feet East, 150 Brick Lane, London E1 6RU

First published on I Voice, Ibiza, October 2011.
© Abbey Stirling