Proud and Loud (From Oxford Mail)

Proud and Loud

6:00pm Friday 8th July 2011 in Club Reviews By Rachel O'Connor

RACHAEL O’CONNOR enjoys a colourful night out at the 02 Academy.

Last month saw the third annual Oxford Pride Festival sweeping the city to celebrate lesbian, gay, bi, and trans life in Oxfordshire.

The loud and proud 10-day celebration was jam packed with a diverse array of events for all to enjoy – including the popular sponsored "Drag Race” through Cornmarket, the chance to show off your prize pooch at Jolly Farmer’s “Dog Show” and the ever so colourful street parade through the city to Oxpens Field.

There were also lots of great one-off clubbing nights to check out too – my favourite being Army Night – when brave revellers were invited to “go Commando” for one night only at Plush Lounge on Park End Street.

O2 Academy took the opportunity during this flurry of excitement to launch a brand new night on the first Monday of every month.

Icon will finally provide Oxford with a slice of exuberant gay nightlife right in the heart of OX4. Hitting the post-pub crowd from 10pm to 2am, £8 (£4 with valid NUS) gets you access to the venue's impressive main clubbing room with its brilliantly vibrant pink lighting and spinning gold disco balls whizzing everyone into a fun frenzy.

Resident DJs play full-on crowd-pleasing hits – an enthusiastically received soundtrack including classic Kylie, Prince, Wham! and, of course, Madonna’s Vogue – the perfect musical accompaniment to striking that all important pose.

Believe me, there's no holding back on this dancefloor and the disco divas are always out in force – fuelled by a good array of cheap drinks deals, good vibes and lots of fun.

All in all, an impressive launch party that leaves us eagerly anticipating where Icon will go next.

Some seriously big DJ names have been hinted at for future months, so definitely watch this space!