Nightlife that made a difference in 2020
Despite last year being a complete disaster – with most events cancelled or postponed – it didn’t stop the industry from sharing the love. If there’s one thing that coronavirus can’t ruin, it’s the community in nightlife.
At a time where sticking together was so important - these clubs, festivals and event brands did just that:
1. XOYO London
We’ve all heard of Clap for Our Carers by now – where the country applauds in unison for the NHS’s hard work through the pandemic. But did you hear about XOYO’s take? #ClubForOurCarers raised £7340 for NHS workers through live streams, archive recordings, exclusive releases and artist-curated playlists. Not forgetting merch, vinyl and prints of residency artwork.
2. Boiler Room
Boiler Room set up a live stream series raising money for NAACP Legal Defence – a charity that stands up to racism and fights for equality in America. Streaming From Isolation included sets from Peggy Gou to Dixon and a long list of other names.
3. Studio 338
After their Fuse May Bank Holiday Rave was cancelled, they decided to do it the only way 2020 knew how – a live stream, raising money for NHS Charities Together COVID-19 Urgent Appeal. The club also encouraged their creative followers to take part in their t-shirt design competition – giving them the opportunity to get their work out there. 50% of profits went to charity, whilst the winner received the other half.
4. Junction 2
After disappointing news of a cancelled festival, Junction 2 soon cheered us up with the announcement of J2V – the virtual event with a 3D online platform. With four different music stages and a private chat room, it’s the closest thing we got to the real thing. It was also a fundraiser for a number of charities including Black Lives Matter, The Care Workers Charity, Refuge, The Outside Project and The Trussell Trust’s foodbanks.
5. Lovebox
Lovebox released a limited-edition t-shirt, with all profits going to NHS Charities Together and Making PPE For Frontline Workers. Their followers chose the winning design after they shared a selection of options on their Instagram account.
6. Love Saves the Day Festival
Teaming up with other businesses and groups in the area - Love Saves the Day helped supply food boxes to those in need. At the time of writing, the fundraising page raised £45,299 for the project. In just one week they had sent 800 boxes of fresh fruit and veg.
Some of these initiatives are open-ended fundraisers, meaning it’s not too late to show your support. If you would like to donate or help out - visit their website for more details.
Written By: Megan Milstead