SINK THE PINK
ONE OF LONDON’S MOST OUTRAGEOUS PARTY COLLECTIVES ARE SPREADING THEIR MAGIC TO BRISTOL
When two best friends became dissatisfied with the perceived monotony of London nightlife, they decided to take matters into their own hands.
Glynn Fussell and Amy Redmond’s mutual love of camp, kitsch, festival- inspired, home-friendly party debauchery complete with trannies, décor and decadence saw them form one of London’s most alternative and reputable party promoters: Sink The Pink. Five years later it’s still going strong, and what’s more, they’re spreading their particular brand of hedonism to Bristol. Crack got behind the party.
What’s Sink The Pink’s back-story, how did it all start?
Glynn: We’ve been doing the night for five years. In the past we’d been going out and every night we attended was either too dark, or too expensive, or there were brawls, and there were these awful nights that were stereotyped as gay or straight. So we literally just sat there and wrote a list of things we did and didn’t like about parties. House parties were a really big inspiration, where there are no rules, no one on the door, everyone is welcome and there’s stuff happening that shouldn’t happen because it’s behind a wall. We wanted to harness that feeling.
Amy: We’d go out in Soho and Vauxhall and be like ‘really, are these the options?’ We were in a bar in Soho recently and we thought to ourselves ‘this is why we started Sink The Pink, guys.’ People posing slouched against the wall on their phone. It was totally cliché. We wanted to create our own experience that had that feeling when you’re on the third day of a festival and it’s all very celebratory. We wanted that fancy dress, crazy feeling in a club.
What kind of venues were you using to start with?
Glynn: We’ve made a conscious decision not to use a gay club. The spaces have always been off the beaten track so it feels hidden. We also wanted somewhere that, if you are a gay guy you can bring your sister or your friend from work.
Amy: We’ve always done weird spaces, like a railway arch in Bethnal Green, an art gallery … now we’re in a working men’s club in Bethnal Green. The downstairs is like the old boys club and they are always still drinking when we’re in there, so there’s a nice community feel to it. There’s depth to it, rather than just putting on a party.
Are you inspired by things like the NYC Downlow at Glastonbury?
Amy: They’re like our drag mothers. But now there are a number of young drag queens in our scene that think of us as the mothers, so it just recycles itself. It’s a really nice scene where everyone looks out for each other.
Do you want people to attend your event for the show as much as the music?
Glynn: We always think ours is more like an event than a club night. We’ve got a number of shows and we’re always thinking what we can do at the next one. By the end of the night everyone is in some shit outfit.
Amy: In London there are enough themed novelty nights, but we’re not about hen party-esque ‘lets all be happy cowboys and Indians’ style nonsense. But there will be colour and the odd bollock hanging out.
Glynn: Usually mine!
What do you do with a venue when it’s a functional, dark club space?
Amy: My boyfriend is a set designer and he has got ridiculous skills in terms of building sets. We’ve got a massive Care Bear that is also a gay bear, a huge banana cock and Ariel with her tits out – among other things. We’ve got a whole set we’re bringing down with us.
So what is the inspiration for expanding to Bristol?
Glynn: We went down for the In Between Times festival in Bristol, for their equestrian-themed party at Lakota. We had the side room and it was dark, sweaty and naughty, and we put up loads of pictures of celebrities that looked like horses. For me, that was a moment. I was really keen to do it because I’m from Bristol originally and in the back of my mind I wanted to take Sink The Pink there. Bristol clubbers have a very strong festival mentality. Other than Alfresco Disco I don’t think there is anyone in Bristol who represents our scene. The gay scene isn’t particularly progressive, but there is a good crowd that would support this. The way we’re going to tailor it is our London party is the first Saturday of the month, and we’ll pick a theme and take it Bristol.
Amy: We’ll definitely give you a lot of ‘what the fucks?’
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Sink the Pink comes to The Exchange, Bristol on July 12th
Words: Thomas Frost
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