It's
been a year since ex-Fabric resident DJ Clive Morley took over the reigns at Sydney's
City Hotel and breathed new life into its Kent Street Living Room. Celebrating
the venue's luscious transformation and first ever birthday, Morley is hosting
a massive night of stellar DJs and complimentary drinks in a classic setting with
a modern twist on Friday 12 November.
"Nightclubs can be soulless
and lack character, while pubs don't have a big sound system," points out
Morley, "What we've got is a combination of the best of both. Essentially
the night is going to be a rave in a pub. City Hotel has been around for about
a hundred years but we've converted the upstairs restaurant into a party room.
Inside you'll find 90-year-old original artworks and 150-year-old guild-framed
mirrors. We've also got leather couches and crystal chandeliers… It's very
much along the lines of a traditional Victorian living room with a dance floor
and a great sound system, but retaining the classic pub heritage."
Unique
to say the least, the 200-capacity space has been gathering momentum a year on
since Morley's arrival, with quarterly Vintage Burlesque nights steaming things
up and setting tongues wagging about City Hotel already.
"The beautiful
look of the venue these days is really seeing the place packed to the rafters,"
says Morley. "The décor and style has definitely made it noticeable
and accessible to all kinds of events - it just looks and feels like the kind
of place you'd want have a party. Having been a resident DJ at Fabric in the UK,
I've gained some good grounding there because Fabric is so on-point with the way
its run, so I've taken the same ultra attention to detail and philosophy and applied
it here."
And it shows - with Becks and Sydney Party People also getting
behind the birthday party, Morley is putting on one hell of a lineup including
Modular duo Canyons, ex-Riot In Belgium's DJ Beni, and Paul Guy and friends to
kick off the proceedings on the night. Certain that the event will leave punters
hanging for more, Morley says the policy is "Just $10 on the way out if you
love it - or nothing at all."
"We're doing something that I've
never seen done before, which is charging people on the way out," he says.
"Because I'm certain that people will be absolutely blown away by the venue,
the music, the atmosphere and our staff. We've got Becks supplying free beers
on arrival, and they've been such a natural partner to team up with because they
stand for the same things we do. They say there are only five natural ingredients
that go into their product, which is what we're aiming for with our night - only
the best ingredients. We're not about gimmicks, we're just fussed about a spot-on
night, fantastic music, and great people."
Back on the decks after
a two-year absence is DJ Beni who has recently been putting the finishing touches
on his upcoming artist album available in 2011. Having recently joined the roster
on the uber-cool imprint Modular, Beni says he's looking forward to experiencing
the new-look, dolled-up City Hotel.
"I used to put parties on there
about seven years ago but I haven't been there for a long time," he says.
"I'm going to be doing a more chilled out set this time rather than a full
club set because it's going to be more of a party vibe. I've been producing my
first album for the last couple of years - it's a cross between disco and old
house with lots of guest vocals like Sam Sparrow. I've just also signed with Modular
which I'm really happy about because they've got great taste and they're good
people to work with. I think their secret is just picking acts that are doing
it properly."
CITY
HOTEL 1ST BIRTHDAY Feat Canyons & Beni
Date: Friday 12th November
(9pm- Late)
Line Up: Canyons, Beni, Paul Guy & friends
Entry: Pay As
You Leave: $10 if you love it, nothing if you don't
Address: Kent Street Living
Room, 349 Kent Street (corner of King), 1st Floor City Hotel.
More: Complimentary
Becks on arrival. Canapés throughout. Sydney Unleashed readers can RSVP
to: events@cityhotel.com.au
