Lordy, the lady-lovers are spoiled with events this year at Pride. Last night, SoundChick in Spy Bar kicked off the Pride season and tonight we have not one but two women-oriented club nights to get you into the spirit of the season. Kiss takes up its new residence in The Academy, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1; and Body Language relocates to Wax in Spy Bar, South William Street, Dublin 2.

And although there may be nay-sayers mumbling “Lesbian clubs being like a Dublin bus: You wait around listlessly freezing yer nips off and then two come along at once”, each night offers something unique and will appeal to clientele with different taste. We caught up with the organisers of both nights to get the skinny on what to expect tonight.

Body Language

New gig on the block, Body Language, blazed onto the scene last May 15th in the ‘Mezz Bar’ in Twisted Pepper, Middle Abbey Street, D1 and has proved to be so successful that its moving to bigger digs this month in ‘Wax’ in Spy Bar, South William Street. The club’s organisers, Sinead and curlee (two friends collectively known as Elektrik DJs) met last January and immediately bonded over a shared interest in music and as Sinead puts it:

We saw a gap in the market for a house music club for girls and with our taste in music being very similar, we quickly started to work on a plan to get a night started.

So Body Language speaks to that lass and her chums who are looking for a casual night out while basking in quality house and electro. Doors open 10pm. Free in before 11pm, €5 after.

Kiss

Kiss takes up residence in The Academy, Middle Abbey Street, D1. The clubnight was borne of a conversation between two mates who liked to go out but felt that something was lacking in the events that were available. So rather than complain about it, Fiona and Pauline decided to give this club-organisin’ lark a shot. They got some pointers from a former Dublin women’s night organiser and set about getting Kiss off the ground. As Fiona says:

It just came down to the two of us going out  on the scene but not enjoying it. We spoke to Sharon Hargreaves, who ran Libida in Dublin for five years about the organisational stuff. We also found other women who were looking for something different too. Then we looked at venues and found the original location, The Shelter in Vicar Street. It kind of came together by itself although it took a lot of time and money and we were very nervous on that first night. As it happened there were queues down the street and we’ve had a full house ever since.

Nearly six years later and Kiss is still going strong. Over the years, Kiss has had to relocate due to venue refurbishments, suitability and most recently closure but looks forward to settling into The top floor of The Academy for the foreseeable future. In case that venue sounds familiar, it’s because another women’s night-out, CaKe, takes place in the Green Room (Ground Floor) of The Academy. However, this isn’t a case of one lesbo club trampling on another’s turf. For starter’s CaKe takes place on the second Friday of the month and Kiss is usually on the third Friday (sometimes the fourth Friday if the venue has a prior booking). And as Fiona points out:

We worked hard over this past month to find a new venue but it was difficult because so many venues have their own thing happening on Fridays and Saturdays so there was very little choice. It came down to finding the best venue, the best offer and the best location. We were in two minds about The Academy because CaKe are already in the middle section. We contacted CaKe‘s organisers and they were great about it and very encouraging.

So what can a first-timer to Kiss expect?

Kiss was the first women’s club to allow men and now the slogan we first used “for women and their male friends” is commonly used by other club nights. We aim for an inclusive atmosphere rather than some meat market and Pauline and I are always there and if we see someone new or who’s on their own, we chat to them and try and make them feel welcome.

Music-wise, Kiss’ patrons come from all parts of the country and span an age range of 18-50ish so it’s a blend of pop, cheese, dance, hip-hop. Mostly it’s mainstream and there are a number of DJs who play at the event which keeps the playlist fresh. Fiona and Pauline are always looking for innovative and talented DJs so if you fancy a chance on Kiss’ decks, contact Fiona and Pauline via email.

In the past, Kiss has allocated profits from the door community and charitable causes, such as Dublin Lesbian Line and development projects in sub-Saharan Africa. Dublin Pride will be the beneficiary of tonight’s event. Doors open 11.15pm until late. €12 entry. Also The Front Lounge will be offering a 2-for-1 drinks special for Kiss’ patrons tonight and every night Kiss is on. Ask staff in The Front Lounge for details.

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