The Apollo Club

I went to Apollo on 6th February after my friend's birthday bash just up the road. It has been years and years since I have been there. I went there once in my late teens, once in my twenties and once in my thirties. Last month I went there (now in my fifties) and Apollo hasn't changed one single bit. The decor is still the same the whole thing is in a time warp!! I loved every second of it. It brought back so many memories. More to the point the DJ was kicking/banging whatever it is you want to say. He was on top form! He played Lovers all night one after the other after the other. He couldn't put a foot wrong that night. Each decade I go, I always come out of there when the last light comes on - about 5.30am and my feet are usually killing me (a sign of having a good time!) I danced so much my feet were numb lol lol lol. I had a fantastic time. The ages ranged from about early forties and older with a speckling of late thirties. The music brought back memories to a time when men were not afraid to ask a woman for a dance and the guys from those times were there that Saturday night a month ago. I intend to go back for my birthday in April hoping that the Lovers Rock played is still as great as last month and the guys are not afraid to "pull a gal fe a dance" and spend the rest of the night on "lock down" while they bend you into all sorts of contortionistic moves - and don't let me get started on the dripping sweat!!! lol lol lol - absolutely fantastic. Loved every minute of it. We had a laugh and a good dance-up and went home happy!! Woke up Sunday morning knackered, feet tingling, still trying to get feeling back into it and the phone ringing non-stop with a "serious" discussion on who got who's phone number and were they going to call!!

1 month later - Apollo here we come - next week (beginning of April) for my 52nd birthday!!

Laters!!

Carol W xx

I went to the Apolo Club in Willesden Saturday 2nd Jan 2010,had a great time. I just want to big up management for a wonderful night of Revival reggae music. I definately will go again and would recomend it to any Reggae Revival fan.

I'm very disappointed at the downturn in Apollo Club over recent years.
What used to make it stand out from other venues was the calibre of revival music being played by DJ's such as Eddie Regal and Admiral; grassroots DJ's who understood the music they were playing and could always play something new and different, but still remain within the revival genre.

The crowd was also varied and included a large section of 'big' people, coming in couples and groups and out to enjoy themselves, that brought a real ole skool feel to the venue.

Anyone that attended Apollo last night looking to be entertained by revival DJ's would AND were, extremely disappointed that it has now been taken over by Vibes FM radio presenters, who spend far too much time talking amongst themselves and cracking dry jokes, instead of playing music. Who walk around with the same record boxes drawing the same old tunes that we hear from them week in, week out.

They will have seen people standing around and sitting down, unable to catch a dance because the music being played wasn't worth dancing to, or because they felt the need to keep pulling up every tune like it was big, rather than standard.

They will have found that they had to pay £7.00 for a double drink. £7.00!!! Now that's just being plain greedy.

Apollo needs to go back to being the once a month revival reggae connoisseur music venue that it used to be, with grown DJ's playing for grown folks and move away from this Vibes FM style that seems to be taking over London raves.

Don't get me wrong, I am not against Vibes FM or their DJ's, I've attended many of their dances and venues, but I know what to expect when I'm going there - everyday tunes for everyday ravers. Revival DJ's they are NOT!

I always thoroughly enjoy myself at the Apollo Club. I am a "Lovers & Revival" lady and that's the sought of music played there. The D.Js are very good. I especially enjoy "Cabbage Man", he is funny, pleasant and above all plays excellent music. The vibes in the Apollo Club is great. I have only been going to clubs in the last four years and when a friend brought me to Apollo about two years ago and I have never looked back. I look forward to the beginning of the month.

My only critism is, the place could do with making it bigger. Get rid of one seatin area and the club will benefit with more people and space to thoroughly do some skanking. Thank you very much for the venue. Keep up the good work. Miss Elegantx