The evening is shimmering and crisp, energy is high, when all of a sudden you realise you’ve been throwing shapes under a precariously placed disco ball. You look to your left and you’ve been dancing to donk-ified Y2K hits with someone’s lost uncle, watered down screwdriver in hand, covered in glitter… welcome to Cheug Town.
London offers an abundance of flashy, high-energy nights out. One of the first things you’ll notice about this city is that it seems one will never be at a loss for ways to spend the weekend. Regardless of your niche interests or budget, you will always find some way to make the most of your Friday or Saturday night.
If a little boogie is what you’re after, the city has much to offer in the way of dancefloor based activities. When decades themed events call you, all it takes is a quick scroll on apps like Dice where 80’s and Pop nights are a dime a dozen. But this isn’t your average “decades themed” event. Instead, this evening embraces the unserious, the cringe, and the goofy… all with a backdrop of high quality mixes and kick ass performers.
I got to chat with Cheug Town’s founder and all-around raveboy wonder, Ereda Ouadfel ahead of the next event taking place on November 22nd. Despite this being the second instalment of the new London-based series, he is no stranger to events curation and production. Having previously hosted countless parties with his siblings when they were younger… His event dreams have long since expanded. Now, well beyond the confines of the four walls of their once family home. Read below to find out more.
Tell me more about the inspiration behind Cheug Town… where does the name come from?
When I was looking for a name for the party I wanted it to reek of uncool and trashy. The concept for me was that, similarly to the genres we promote, the party had to be so trashy and unserious it would actually be cool.
I thought of calling it Live Laugh Love Central or Trash Tack City but back then everyone was using the word Cheugy to mean uncool, naff.
I found the word itself so uncool and naff so it worked perfectly. Thus was born Cheug Town. I also love the fact that people simply can’t seem to pronounce it. A bit like Loweve, Loveve, Lowee, Loewe.
How did you get into events curation and what’s your favourite part about hosting / creating programming?
My siblings and I used to throw big parties in my parents house whenever they were out of town (hey mum tee-hee).
Now I organise slightly more serious events as my day job, combined with the fact that I’m a massive raver/party-goer and most people around me are the same.
I’m always the sober one whilst simultaneously remaining the last one standing. I always took on the role of the conductor and organiser.
What makes your club night different from all the other events in London, why should people come to this series?
Interestingly, the reason I chose this exact theme and genre is because I spent a couple of years hoping to find an event centred around the 90s/Y2K aesthetic that was NOT RnB or Pop music. I’ve always loved the unseriousness of Eurodance, I mean what the hell were they thinking??
Across Europe, there are a few events like 2much (previously La Darude) in Paris and a few ‘nostalgia’ festivals here and there although mostly in the Med. Sometimes, rogue nights in Central/Eastern Europe but nothing consistent in London let alone in the shape I imagined.
Usually when it comes to partying/raving it’s a “the darker and oontz oontzier the better” scenario. I wanted something light hearted and unserious. I think the rise of London’s inclusive donk raving scene in the past few years is a good sign that the timing is right for happy raving.
What kind of music can people expect?
Cheug Town is all about 90s and Y2K music – rather than going down the more RnB and pop hits route, or the ravier Acid House route, we chose the trashy side of that time period with Eurodance and adjacent genres such as Eurobeats. You’ll find a pop of Trance makes it a smidge more accessible and a bit of donk to make it even more unserious.
As the second instalment of the series, what do you see in Cheug Town’s future?
I want to keep growing and attracting more party-goers and people who love an unfussy night out. I want to keep attracting all kinds of humans and for it to be a stronghold of inclusivity and happy, light-hearted fun.
If we expand far enough, I’d love to collaborate with other events, explore other spaces…
If Cheugtown were a specialty cocktail… what would it be?
Honestly barely a cocktail, probably more of a vodka and lukewarm orange juice with 2 half-melted ice cubes.
In the end it tastes good and you’ll find yourself finishing the entire bottle!
What’s your favorite song / musician at the moment?
Funnily enough I’ve recently been obsessed with another genre of the 90s which is at the other side of the spectrum, Electroclash. I’ve been listening non-stop to classic mixes with Vitalic, Miss Kittin… I also love a bit of disco and one of my good friends Sellier has been producing amazing tracks.
Eurodance-wise, am I legally allowed to say my favourite track is probably Crazy Frog’s take on Cotton Eye Joe?
Any final thoughts?
Come one, come all, give it a taste for the party that never rests in Cheuuuuug Town.
Signed: The Mayor (Just imagine me with a cane, top hat and monocle)
With all the Y2K fuss and 90s dance hits, you might think you’ve seen it all. We’re here to warn you, you haven’t… not yet at least. There’s a new, bitchy, messy, and all around good-time event series in London. Attendees can expect naughties mixes, heavy breakbeats interwoven with donk, glitter, and a silly, seriously unserious night out with besties and dates alike… the name everyone will be singing? Cheug Town.
The next instalment of this series is taking place on November 22nd, 2024 – click here for more info.
Follow Cheug Town On Instagram
Photographer: Marion Gabrielle
Words: Lauren Bulla