In what seems like a different lifetime, just over three months ago though not long before baby Cleo turned our lives around, we celebrated 20 years of Beauty & the Beat – yep that means 20 years of (mostly) monthly parties, which went from a mouldy basement gallery at the back of Waterloo Station in June 2005 to the bath house community centre of today.
Needless to say this has been the most incredible and rewarding journey of our lives.
The big 2 0 was a truly memorable party that will long live in our collective memory. We literally went through the roof 💥
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Huge props to the core batb fam without whom none of this would be possible (you know who you are), and to our good friends and long time collaborators Soundspecies for kicking off the dance with a killer set (which included the first ever live version of the seminal ‘Balafon Jam’, which was the first ever release of our label – circle completed).
To each and everyone who were part of the journey and joined the spaceship at some moment in time (and space) during these past two decades, be it for one night or two hundred, you make the party what it is. We cannot thank you enough.
What a community!
What a ride!
So much love!
Big thanks also to the crew at the bath house for hosting us for the past four years, it truly is the best venue and a crucial community space that should be treasured.
Here’s to another 20 years of dancing, community-led, anti-fascist, party people shenanigans.
Way of life.
(All cool pics by Silvia Gin)
