Roller-skating to music could be back; and not just any music, but contemporary dance music. A series of eight-wheeled (that's four wheels per foot) summer events, backed by big brands like Nokia and Vauxhall, and featuring cool bands and DJs, might just be the start of something culturally fresh. It might just, on the other hand, be an excuse for something zany and fun….
Roller-discos had their swirling, twirling moment in the 1970s before rapidly retreating to a few local venues scattered across the UK in the subsequent decade. The original ‘roller’ sound was, as you’d expect, easily danceable disco, a sound that sparked the zippy craze in the first place, not to mention magazines, films and fan clubs. Around 1980, things had reached a tipping point - the roller-disco crowd was mainstream and its sound, diluted pop. The original, unique atmosphere had been lost, and the scene fizzled away.
It’s what makes this summer’s revival even more interesting. Do the promoters of today really think roller-disco – or maybe that should be roller-club - can stick this time round?
Vauxhall Skate, sponsored by Vauxhall Motors, rolled into action last week at Village Underground in London’s Shoreditch, and offered DJ sets by Sophie Ellis Bextor, former Libertine Carl Barât and Queens Of Noize; over 600 people packed out the venue. “There seems to be a trend for fun, unconventional, alternative clubbing experiences” explains Vauxhall’s Consumer PR Manager Simon Ewart. “Skate events are experiencing a renaissance and they’re obviously a nice fit with our cars.”
This Wednesday (August 5) Nokia kicks off its five-day Skate Almighty fest on a specially built outdoor rink by Tower Bridge; it follows a hugely successful pilot event last year. Punters register for free one-hour skating slots online and don’t find out who their musical entertainment is until they arrive at the party, from 6pm every evening. Calvin Harris, Little Boots and The Rakes are all set to DJ; it’s a sharper, smarter brand of ‘roller’ fun.
According to DJ Goldierocks, who is also booked for Skate Almighty, live roller events are not to be sneered at. “The clubbing scene has got… a little bit dowdy, so nights that combine fun and theatricality with music are great,” she told one national newspaper recently. “I’ve never done a roller disco before but…the energy of nights like this are what make them true music events.”
Goldierocks’ own ‘Soundsystem’ parties are driven by interaction with clubbers, often including theatre and live performance artists. Such innovation helps ensure healthy attendance and offers a powerful channel, much like the recent roller revival, through which to mass-communicate cool new music – not denigrate it.
Back in the day reputable DJs on both sides of the ‘Pond’ were dropping fresh new sounds to clued-up roller-rink crowds. It’s a vivid enough memory for many to think roller-disco really can zoom back to the future, provided it has serious marketing and stylish acts in place.
There are plans for further one-off events in London, and regional promoters like Superfunk are quickly widening their reach in cities like Manchester and Liverpool. The roller revolution might just be a dazzling spin or two away….
Check http://tiny.cc/vauxhallskate and http://skatealmighty.nokia.co.uk for more information.
