Blitz Party Shoreditch

As a lover of all things retro and an organiser of roaring 40’s style AVON teaparties, I consider myself a bit of a 1940’s expert. The hair, the make-up, the music and the movies are all fabulous, and any era that holds Golden Syrup in such high regard is definitely alright by me. You can imagine then how excited I was to be attending the Blitz Party which happens every six weeks or so in Shoreditch.

My ticket was clutched tightly to my chest, my Victory Rolled hair was sprayed rock solid and ‘bomb-proof’, and my lips were red and patriotic as I wandered through the drizzle to the venue. On entering the ‘bunker’ at Holywell Lane I realised I was right to make a real effort because everybody else did too, and though it was only early the place was quite full and it was perfect – exactly what I expected: retro radios on the bar, sand-bags and union flags, Spitfire Ale being wielded by handsome ‘soldiers’ who looked like it was their last night of freedom before returning to the front and signs that said ‘Home Guard’ and ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’. The entertainment always starts at 9pm and first act was very impressive, particularly as it began with an air raid siren and a showering of red, white and blue confetti. She was called ‘Tricity Vogue’ and was a ukelele playing glamour puss who was able to belt out some 40’s classics and mix them with modern tunes such as ‘Sweet Dreams’ while strumming along like a much sexier George Formby.

My friend and I stuck to the cheaper Spitfire Ales and gin but some revellers had the ‘house’ cocktail which came in a tin mug (nice touch…but not for twice the price!) and it seemed like it would be a brilliant night. But everything became a bit disappointing after that. I think the first difficulty was realising that a venue with a capacity of over 700 people only had 2 toilets for women which is just going to be a nightmare when you factor in all that ale. Then after the brief interlude following the first act the second band came on and it all got a bit ridiculous. ‘Ta Mere’ look like a bunch of crazy drunken uncles and sound like The Levellers on speed. The music didn’t suit the night’s theme and they even played a song
that Tricity Vogue had already played earlier which I thought was lazy. So my friend and I were looking forward to the end of their set and the promise of some proper music over the sound system, and then we were disappointed again. The 1940’s British theme seemed to have been usurped by a 1950’s American theme and I do love the 1950’s and I love Rock and Roll….but not in a British bomb shelter when I’ve spent £20 to review a 40’s event.

I can’t tell if the organiser/DJ’s were ignorant or if they thought we were all ignorant and wouldn’t notice, but either way it didn’t sit right with me. I can hear ‘Rock Around The Clock’ at any cheesy wedding reception I go to so I don’t want to hear it at a Blitz Party, set in an era where people were actually too busy to rock anywhere and were instead trying to save the country with copious amounts of darning and pickling. So we left as ‘Great Balls of Fire’ came on – another song I absolutely love but that just didn’t fit in with the ‘Make Do and Mend’ atmosphere of the evening, and I could imagine had my war veteran grand-dad turning in his grave.

So if you really aren’t bothered about staying true to a theme then you will probably enjoy yourself at The Blitz Party. For me it wasn’t great but it was good and perhaps if a few people feel the same as me, the organisers (B&H events) might put on a 50’s event as well as a 40’s event to keep us all happy.

 

 

Written by : Carla Valentine