Girls just wanna have fun …and go Out on the Dock

Planet London is taking to the docks and looking forward to seeing you in the vaults on the Ground Floor of the Tobacco Dock this Saturday. It's the SummerRites 'Out on the Dock' event and our stand will be open from 12pm - 8pm (after that the party continues to midnight)...

Summer Rites, supported by Smirnoff, have joined forces with established lesbian event organisers Nicola Chubb and Rebecca Paisis – known for a wide range of events on the scene, including CODE, One Love, Winter Pride and the infamously glam MINT nights to bring the LGBT community Out on the Dock - one of this summer’s biggest, most diverse LGBT festivals. 

We all know that feeling of getting excited about that hyped up LGBT festival, only to turn up and be faced with masses of gyrating gay men and a ridiculously cramped area for the ladies. You also don’t need to worry about the wrath of the unpredictable British summer as Out on the Dock has both covered and open air areas for you to shake it like it hot - no matter what the weatherman says…

Now don’t get me wrong, every LGBT festival needs a hearty dose of hip-grinding pretty boys (work it baby!), yet I know you hear me when I say that these fabulously frivolous festivals need a heck of a load more fun-loving females. Out on the Dock promises to be pleasingly girl-heavy and brings together a number of well known LBQ event organisers and DJs to get it on for the girls. 

There will be over 30 world class brands coming together in 10 humongous arenas, including Bootilicious and luscious latin club Exilio, as well as massive reunion names performing, such as Love Muscle, Trade, DTPM, Crash, Hazell Dean and the splendid sexy songstress Sinitta – for all you rampant ravers of the 90s and early 2000s.
I am loving the fact that us girls will have a whole arena to ourselves, as well as the swanky MINT champagne and cocktail bar, so we can mingle with like-minded ladies and strut our sassy stuff after a bout of energetic dancing with the festival-going masses.

With perk-abundant VIP tickets, thrifty student tickets, reduced-price key worker tickets and general tickets available, there is no good excuse not to join me for one of the most diverse LGBT festivals of the year - and show the guys exactly how we like to party.

Tickets, from £20, can be purchased from this Link https://www.summerritesevents.com/  (or get yourself a VIP ticket for just £60 which includes food and drink all night!)

A Queer New Year's Eve for us all... event round up

A little roundup of all the best events for LBQ women in case you haven't decided what to do...

(As Dermot would say, in no particular order...)

What: 90s NYE @ Candy Bar
Where: Candy Bar, 4 Carlisle Street, Soho, London W1D
When: 5pm - 5am
Entry/Tickets: Entry £5 and £3 for members. (Not ticketed in advance)
Further info: https://www.facebook.com/events/631021140270243/
Details: 
NYE 1996… when it all begun! Open- 5pm till 5am.

Candy Bar is taking you back to the 90’s for one night and one night only!
As many of you already know the Candy Bar will close its doors for the final time in January 2014. The Candy Bar was opened in 1996 so we are rewinding back to its opening to make this a celebratory affair and not one of sadness.

Dress up as your favorite 90’s celebrity… don the questionable fashions from that decade or simply come and dance your shell suit off!

There will be special goody bags for you including things like glow sticks and giveaways!

We have an incredible DJ line up for you who will be playing you a mixture of your favorite chart hits as well as commercial dance/rnb/pop/electro plus the odd surprise 90’s track!

DJ'S Sandra D / Poppy L Kav & Caz Coronel.

What: Sunday Happy Day NYE Party
Where: Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, Soho, London
When: 9pm - 3am
Entry/Tickets: Early bird tickets £20, after 9 Dec tickets go up to £25. After 22 Dec tickets are £30 if available. 4 tickets maximum per person (SOLD OUT)
Further info: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6141177377
Details: 
Ticket price includes free glass of Prosecco for all ticket holders and nibbles for early arrivals.
Some VIP tables available, £40 per table for six and includes a bottle of Prosecco.


What: New Year's Eve Queer Disco @ Blush
Where: Blush Bar, 8 Cazenove road, Stoke Newington, N16 6BD
When: 8pm - 2am
Entry/Tickets: Free Karaoke upstairs, £5 Disco downstairs
Further info: https://www.facebook.com/events/249276235236145/
Details: 
We are proud to announce we have DJ Soraya from Luscious spinning an amazing set for New Year’s Eve 2013. Playing all your favourite dance club classics and keeping you on that dancefloor til we see the NEW YEAR in together. .... you asked for it and we are giving it.
Free karaoke in the upstairs bar & DJ Soraya Khan (Luscious, Oak bar, Rumours) spinning the decks downstairs.

What: Countdown to 2014 with MINT and Code…
Where: Green Carnation, 5 Greek Street, Soho, W1D 4DD
When: 9pm - 5am
Entry/Tickets: Tickets £10 (early bird) 
Further info: http://bit.ly/JekbGe   https://www.facebook.com/events/219779621529037
Details: 
If there’s one night of the year which is guaranteed to leave you feeling lost and confused, it’s New Year’s Eve. So make your New Year’s resolution in advance, save the stress and promise yourself something amazing this December 31st, as Code and MINT come together for the last and best party of the year!

Bringing all the best bits of 2013 to one venue, this party will mix the finest DJs from One Love, Girls Club Together, Hot Mess, Popstarz, Code and MINT, with some of the hottest women London has to offer.

With floor upon floor of music, you can switch your taste according to your mood. Start out with RnB and pop, before moving onto House and commercial remixes, then maybe end the night with some 80s and 90s floor fillers with a remix twist. Each DJ feels like a new party, which is why this night ALWAYS sells out.

There will be limited tickets held on the door, but you can buy your early bird ticket now at only £10. We love a good man crush, so gay boys are welcome as guests, just make sure they arrive with you or they won’t get in. For extra special VIP tables, email nicola.chubb@gmail.com.

We’re not going to force you into something you don’t feel comfortable wearing, so there’s no dress code. But try to don your best swagger in anticipation of the balloon, glitter, streamers and champagne corks at midnight. Start the year as you intend to continue, looking amazing and having fun!
What: Push the Button New Year's Weave
Where: SE11 5HY London
When: 8pm - 4.15am
Entry/Tickets: Final remaining £15 Advance tickets here: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/242202
Further info: https://www.facebook.com/events/340807982722555/
Details: 
SNATCH YOUR WIGS AND HOLD ON TO YOUR KNICKERS GIRLS! It’s time for NEW YEAR’S WEAVE and the most ridiculous, daftest party you’ll have the opportunity of attending.

London’s BIGGEST Pop party is going in to OVERLOAD for the New Year!

2013 - what a year! We've enjoyed friends of PTB Icona Pop FINALLY releasing 'I Love It' AND scoring a #1 HIT to boot; you've inadvertently allowed Miley to become A THING; Britney pinched Madonna's trick of pilfering from gay culture with INCREDIBLE results; and, importantly, Whitney off of Eastenders performed an interpretive dance version of Shania's You're Still The One LIVE on the Royal Vauxhall Tavern Stage.

SO, it's TIME TO CELEBRATE with the BIGGEST PUSH THE BUTTON TO DATE.

The line-up will be confirmed over the coming months but we already have some fabulous performances and installations (including Myra Dubois and The Dream Bears) PLUS there'll be more sweets, stickers, Poundshop tat, posters, weaves and INCREDIBLE POP than EVER BEFORE!

Interview: Lara A King, singer, songwriter & stand up comedian

**Funny Women Winner 2011** | **L-Talent Finalist 2011**

Lara A King's website

Planet London caught up with Lara in the Mint VIP area overlooking the exhibitor hall and main stage shortly before she performed to the Big Gay Lifestyle Show visitors.

Cool and collected as ever, Lara talked to Planet London about L-Talent, performing and what she likes about living the gay lifestyle.

We congratulated Lara on her excellent performance in the L-Talent finals earlier this year. She commented that there had been a really high level of talent and it was great to have a platform to promote lesbian talent and that in particular, the Brighton heat had been a great night with a good atmosphere and an appreciative audience - some 400 lesbians.

Lara, performing in the Funny Women slot, said it was really exciting to have the opportunity to perform as a funny, gay woman.

She thinks that events like the Big Gay Lifestyle Show are important as they are a chance to spend the day hanging out with lots of gay people. When we asked Lara what her favourite aspect of the gay lifestyle was, she quickly responded 'shagging women'. Enough said!

There are busy times ahead for Lara following her performance at the Big Gay Lifestyle Show, she is being whisked away to Brighton to headline at the Pavillion Theatre; there will be more Funny Women gigs and she is writing music in preparation for a tour in early 2012. Keep an eye on our events calendar for the London gigs, and on Lara's website for all her gigs.

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Read our overall review of the Big Gay Lifestyle Show here.

Review by Katie and Naomi