G-A-Y

G-A-Y is a gay nightclub in London. It operated from the London Astoria music venue for 15 years until July 2008. On Friday 3 October, it will move to world famous gay venue Heaven. [http://www.g-a-y.co.uk/eventdetail.asp?ID=464]

G-A-Y is associated with G-A-Y Bar and G-A-Y Late, both of which were also owned by Mean Fiddler Holdings Limited and operate in Soho. The two bars sell discounted tickets to weekend performances, and are locations in which flyer boys operate. The brand was purchased on the 13th August 2007 by Mama group PLC. [http://www.mamagroup.co.uk/Announcements.aspx] [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5170.html] .

Performances

Saturday nights at G-A-Y have seen many performances from a wide selection of artists and genres (most of which are heterosexual). Acts to have appeared in the G-A-Y include:
Alcazar, All Saints, Amerie, Amy Winehouse, Ash, Atomic Kitten, B*Witched, Bananarama, Belinda Carlisle, BoyZone, Bucks Fizz, Busted, Chesney Hawkes, Christina Aguilera, Christina Milian, Cyndi Lauper, Dana International, Daniel Bedingfield, Dannii Minogue, Dina Carroll, Donna Summer, Emma Bunton, Erasure, Enrique Iglesias, The Feeling, Five,Gabrielle, Geri Halliwell, Gina G, Girls Aloud, Gloria Gaynor, Hear'Say, Hilary Duff, Human League, Jamelia, Jason Donovan, JC Chasez, Nicholas Marios, JoJo, Kelis, Kelly Rowland, Kylie Minogue, LeAnn Rimes, Liberty X, Louise, Madonna, Mariah Carey, McFly, Natasha Bedingfield, Pink, Pussycat Dolls, Republica, Rihanna, Robyn, S Club 7, Scissor Sisters, Sheena Easton, Sister Sledge, Sonia, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Spice Girls, Steps, Sugababes, t.A.T.u., Michael Jackson, Victoria Beckham, Westlife, Will Young, The Saturdays and Aly & AJ. [http://www.newspics.com/s/g-a-y Equinox Features G-A-Y photos] ]

Future performances will continue at G-A-Y's new home Heaven

History

G-A-Y began in 1976 in the Sundown club (in the basement of the London Astoria: now called LA2) as a Monday night event called Bang!, started by club promoters Norman Scott and Jerry Collins who worked as a DJ under the name of 'Gary London'. During the 1980s gay club nights Bang! (Monday)(Saturday) and also Propaganda (Thursday) were run by gay club promoter and dj Colin Peters,(Peter Daubeney) whose brother Jamie continued as promoter for a period following Colin's death. In the early 1990s Bang! was acquired by the DJ and promoter Jeremy Joseph who was a former DJ employed by the late Colin Peters, who oversaw its change of name to G-A-Y; its expansion from two nights a week to four; and its move from the LA2 to the London Astoria. For some years G-A-Y operated in both venues: the LA2 on Thursday nights and the London Astoria on Saturdays).

On 22 September 2008 MAMA Group acquired Heaven nightclub, [http://www.mamagroup.co.uk/18/section.aspx/download/99] and the venue will be the new home of G-A-Y. Plans as yet have not been announced for what direction the new home will move the G-A-Y in.

The G-A-Y Album

In 2000, a 40 track compilation album was released, featuring songs from some of the artists who had appeared at G-A-Y. A reasonably big promotional campaign took place in the weeks leading up to release, including television and radio advertisements, a nationwide poster campaign and magazine advertisements in both the gay and teen press.

On Saturday 1st July 2000, a show was held at G-A-Y to promote the release of the album. 7 acts who appeared on the album performed. These acts were Shola Ama, All Saints, Bananarama, Dina Carroll, Honeyz and Louise. Each act performed only one song, apart from Louise, who also performed her new single "2 Faced".

The G-A-Y album was released on Monday 3rd July 2000 and peaked at number 18 in the UK compilations chart.

G-A-Y Brand

The G-A-Y brand has expanded to two other bars in the area. G-A-Y Late (located nearby) and G-A-Y bar (located nearby in Soho's Old Compton Street). The brand's shares are split 75/25 between MAMA PLC and Promoter Jeremy Joseph [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-5170.html Pink news article] .

External links

* [http://www.g-a-y.co.uk G-A-Y website]

Notes