Like most things right now, nightlife and clubbing is tail spinning into chaos. Over the past ten years, under the Tories, the number of licensed clubs has declined by a whopping 28%, and the recent spike in the cost of energy, alcohol, rent and all the various other things needed to keep a club open at a bare minimum has not helped. Clubbing, particularly queer clubbing, is to be cherished, and places like NYC Downlow (and the Meat Rack, a sweatbox of a club within a club) must be celebrated, even if they only open one weekend a year.
This year was a special one for the beloved jewel in Block9’s crown. For Downlow’s sweet 16th birthday, the team threw a party featuring a glittering lineup that included Shelter founder Timmy Regisford, Detroit deep house “titan” Rick Wade, Mood II Swing, the UK’s garage legend Scott Diaz, and The Carry Nation.
Though it may be housed inside a film set replica of an 80s New York bathhouse-cum-meatpacking warehouse, there is no artifice to NYC Downlow; it is pure, authentic good fun. Here, photographer Dani d’Ingeo captured the revelry of a scorching hot, Elton John-headlining bumper year for the festival.
Credits
Photography Dani d’Ingeo