Ox-Rave! (Newcastle)

Standing on the quiet street outside The World Head Quarters, it would never be apparent that just a few steps away were more than 200 people raving as one. After donating to Oxfam on the door, guests were welcomed into the club by an array of free glow paint and glowsticks, with friendly volunteers on hand to design any body art desired. Once sufficiently crusty with paint, the crowds moved through some double doors and on into the rave.

 

 

 

 

The room was so dark that all that could be seen were the fluorescent glows emanating from various areas of dancing bodies. Raised on a level above the crowd stood the DJ booth, housing one of three DJs, all of whom could easily be spotted by their luminous yellow tabards. The atmosphere was one of a crowd of friends, almost like being at a house party. Not one person sat on the sofas, every single guest was dancing to the electronica and drum ‘n’ bass resonating around the room.

The night proved so popular with the guests that the DJ was asked to continue for a further thirty minutes from the finish time, and even when the turntables stopped, the crowd were calling over and over for one more tune. Leaving slightly deafened, the mood was as high as ever, with further donations being left upon exit and the name of Oxjam firmly imprinted on people’s brains.

Gerry Dallas (Oxjam Newcastle event organiser)