Photo: Marc Sethi
Another bank holiday? So soon after all those others? Well sure, if you insist. Yes, there’s another glorious free day approaching and as ever, there are a ton of great parties and pop-ups taking place this weekend to make the most of the situation. Here are five top options to enjoy yourself with and for plenty more head to our bank holiday parties page.
The crew behind the ace Night Tales series of wintery pop-up parties are returning with a new summer venture. And this time there are rope swings. It’s a loosely jungle-themed pop-up party, featuring all the things we loved about Night Tales: bespoke bars serving up creative cocktails, some of London’s finest street food vendors (including Italian banqueteers Forza Win and grilled cheese warriors Morty & Bob’s) and top DJs spinning on-point house, disco and bass grooves. As there’s a jungle theme in play, you can monkey around on rope swings, lounge in hammocks or simply soak up the sun (fingers crossed) on a huge sun terrace. Red Market. Friday-Sunday weekly until late August.
These deep disco-loving party-throwers are getting high over the bank holiday weekend – high up on Dalston Roof Park, that is. Atop the lush, sky-high venue you’ll be able to hear spacey, nu-disco jams and grooving house, spun by Harry Wolfman, Magnier and a secret headliner, which is sure to be someone worth sticking around for. Dalston Roof Park. Friday May 22.
Is there a better way to spend your bank holiday Sunday than pretending you can rap to a crowd of strangers? Seriously, though, it’s actually pretty damn liberating and a lot of fun. This special edition of the hugely popular Hip Hop Karaoke night features Southern Hospitality DJ Rob Pursey spinning hip hop anthems, plus Bobby Champagne Jr. hosting. Go channel your inner Snoop, Missy or Beastie Boy/Girl. Jazz Café. Sunday May 24.
Photo: Ryan Dinham
Seminal urban radio station and record label Rinse is giving Londoners plenty of reasons to keep raving through Sunday night. Specifically, Rinse is bringing a gleaming cast of DJs to seminal club Ministry for a superb all-nighter. Surgeon and Starlight, Perc, Sigha, Objekt, Brawther and DJ Haus are a few of the underground warriors who’ll be spinning anything from deep house to banging techno to dub to garage. Ministry of Sound. Sun May 22.
This deliciously fun – and just plain delicious – pop-up impressed us last year, so we’re chuffed that it’s back in town. It’s set on and around the terrace space of Hackney Wick canal-side venue Shapes and once again there’s all kinds of delicious street food on offer (from Bill Or Beak and The Cheese Truck, amongst others), plus summertime cocktails and specially brewed Turntables lager. Once you’ve filled your boots, get dancing: on Friday, party crew Eat Your Own Ears host a takeover, on Saturday there are secret special guests, and on Sunday it’s the legendary Don Letts behind the decks at part of a show from Rompa’s Reggae Shack. 119 Wallis Rd. Thu-Sun weekly until late July.