Enter a ‘neon playground’ for colourful club night out in the city
A ‘neon playground of live music, performance and art’ is coming to a Sunderland nightclub next month.
Independent, in Holmes ide,w ill host Club Six Twenty, a one-off art club night aimed at people who enjoy festivals, going to gigs and cabaret nights.
Club Six Twenty is being produced and delivered by theatre company The Six Twenty as part of Sunderland Culture’ s Unlocking the Doors initiative to bring cultural events back to the city as restrictions are lifted.
The night – on Thursday, August 26 – will feature music from bands such as PICNIC and MXYM, as well as DJ set from Gladys Duffy. There will be pop-up theatre from The Six Twenty clubbers, opportunities to create your own artwork with Sunderland artist Jo Howell, circus drag performances, lots of glitter and a few surprises.
The project has been funded through Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants scheme.
Melanie Rashbrooke, Artistic Director, of The Twenty Six, explained: “It’s going to be a night people won’ t forget–an arts club night, an immersive experience where people can get involved or just enjoy some great music.
“It’ll be a celebration of the nights we missed for so long because of Covid, but also a celebration of local artists who’ve not been able to do what they do best during the pandemic.
“You’ll be able to leave your trouble sat the door, crack your glow stick sand immerse yourself in the unique and wonderful world of Club Six Twenty. There’ll be plenty of chill-out spaces as well as a brilliant digital installation from artist Ron an Devlin.”
The Six Twenty is a Newcastle theatre company specialising in creating unexpected theatre in non-traditional settings.
The company trial led asimilar evening at Alphabet ti Theatre on Tyne side in 2019 and the night was well received.
“It went really well, our club bershadsu cha great time, but what was also lovely to see was how our artists connected and collaborated. We planned to do more, but Covid got in the way,” said Melanie.
The company has worked in Sunderland before, presenting their cult comedy quiz show Mixtape at venues such as The Dun Cow and The Peacock, as well as working on a commission for last year’s (virtual) Summer Streets.
MXYM is a singer, songwriter and musician whose work is a blend of rock and ‘emo glamour’ while headliner PICNIC area nup beat,sax-driven funk pop band from Sunderland.
Digital artist Ronan Devlin works across print, screen and multi-sensory installations which encourage artists to interact and alter the artwork in real-time. Hi simmers ive digital installation In Flow will take over the whole of the upstairs at Independent.
Drag artist and DJ Gladys Duffy will help you dance the night away with her DJ set.
She said: “Sunderland is my home town and I have yet to perform there so it will be a real moment to be a part of this and bring some glamour to proceedings.”
Doors for Club Six Twenty will open at 7.45pm on August 26 and tickets, costing £10, are available now through the websitewww. sunderlandculture.org.uk
The event will include loud music, flashing lights, strobe, haze, smoke, and sensory elements–and isfo rover 18 s only.