Watch the story of Glastonbury’s legendary queer club in Meat Rack, a new short film released by Block 9.

Harry Lawson has created a 16-minute film to tell the story behind Glastonbury’s NYC Downlow. Shot on a variety of mediums, Lawson draws together footage of the club in 2017 (its 10th anniversary), from its construction to its wild dancefloor antics. 

Created in 2007, the ‘ever-changing artwork/club’ is the invention of designers Steve Gallagher and Gideon Berger. Strung with hanging meat and surrounded by performances by drag queens and ‘gay butchers’, the multi-floored club takes it inspiration from Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, which became a hub for gay parties in the early 80s (after the gentrification of Manhattan’s Lower East Side). Known for its dark and sweaty dance floors and ‘homocentric disco, funk, house & soul’, NYC Downlow claims to be a ‘counter-cultural, in-your face, [and] un-apologetically LGBTQ-specific’

The film is available to watch until Tuesday June 30, the dates in which Glastonbury’s 50th anniversary weekend was scheduled to take place. This comes among other initiatives launched by Block9 to accommodate those left disappointed over the festival’s cancellation this year. 

Man dancing in leather harness
NYC Downlow

This weekend, Block9 will host a charity live-stream to give listeners “a taste of the iconic Block9 stage”, showcasing 90 minute sets from Norman Jay MBE, DJ Paulette, Heidi and Batu. The virtual event is linked to a GoFundMe page, raising money for charitable causes including Runnymede Trust and Medecins Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders).

Furthermore, The Downlow Radio are helping fans reminisce over previous Block 9 parties. From 11am on Friday June 26, you can listen to a selection of live DJ mixes from 12 years of Block9 parties, across all three venues. 

Watch Meat Rack below.

Author Arielle Domb
26th June, 2020

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