La Discotheque New Year's Eve review

Image: La Discotheque Credit: Jack Kirwin

New Year’s Eve is always met with mixed opinions. Is it the best night of the year or an over-hyped let-down? So much pressure on the final day of the year can, and often does, result in a rather mediocre night.

You’re expected to party into the early hours, so choosing the perfect event to attend is of the utmost importance. If you chose La Discotheque at the Albert Hall, like we did, then I’m sure you were amongst those lucky party-goers who thoroughly enjoyed the start of 2017. What better way to bring in the New Year then with a bit of disco? 

When the night finally arrived we were confronted with the classic New Year’s Eve case of extremely busy taxi services and incredibly long queues, meaning we sadly missed Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor performing a Prince tribute. However, even the unavoidable busyness of this night didn’t stop it from being an incredible experience.

Albert Hall is a fantastic and pretty unique venue which suited the event perfectly. It has huge arched Gothic windows and a balcony overlooking the main dance floor for extra dancing room. First to grace the decks were disco juggernauts Horse Meat Disco, who can always be trusted to play some fabulously funky treats.

Drag Queens served sass on stage whilst they selected some funk and soul classics such as Gwen McCrae’s 'Keep the Fire Burning'. The entire night really was a brilliant spectacle; dancers dressed as flamingos strutted through the crowd in sparkly stilts adding to the carnival energy.

The countdown slot was given to legendary disco diva Candi Staton, who confidently commanded the stage, looking absolutely amazing for her years. As our counting down chanting finally reached zero and 2017 arrived, confetti and balloons burst from the ceiling, people embraced, couples kissed and Candi began to belt her infamous and uplifting number ‘You Got the Love.’ It was blissful. She followed this up with another well-loved classic ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ which the crowd sang along to with joyful abandon, whilst a big 2017 flashed in different colours behind her. 

A quick toilet trip saw that Albert Hall had ensured everyone was going to be served disco no matter where they were. There was a mini prosecco bar where those waiting could be served by staff in fancy dress and Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘Relax, Don’t Do it’ was blasting out of the speakers. You couldn’t escape the party.

When we returned to the dance floor Derrick Carter was playing; a DJ who rose to notoriety as part of Chicago’s 90s house music wave and who claims to have been spinning disco since the age of nine. His ease and impeccable selection choices are undeniable, as he covered a mixture of unknown tracks and crowd pleasing party anthems like ‘On the Radio’ by Donna Summer, which was accompanied by some scantily dressed dancers performing impressive dance moves either side of the decks.

He was then followed by the extremely talented Irish DJ Krystal Klear, who brought more of a disco-infused house vibe with throbbing beats that made it impossible for the crowd to tire of dancing. We continued into the early hours, and began 2017 in the best way possible; accompanied by friends and delicious disco. 

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