Stop! In the name of love… TIM HUGHES solves all your Valentine’s quandaries by setting the lights to green for a colour-coordinated Valentine’s night.
MUSIC” in the words of the great 19th century American musician and poet Sidney Lanier, “is love in search of a word.”
Wise words indeed. But then music has always gone hand-in-hand with passion.
And, as we know, to our cost, peril, and, hopefully, benefit, when we get the music right, romance is never far behind. Which is why it is so important to find exactly the right place for that most expectation-laden night of all – Valentine’s Day.
So thank your lucky stars for those good people at the Oxford O2 Academy, who have come up with the perfect wheeze to make this year’s Valentine’s Day your best ever. Guaranteed.
Already an outrageously popular Saturday night out, tomorrow sees the Cowley Road venue hosting a night which will leave lovers smiling and singletons, well, hopefully re-attached.
Yep, that’s right. It’s a pulling frenzy… but all done with impeccable taste.
The night is called Love is Noise (like The Verve song) and is billed, in the words of the venue’s promotions supremo Lauren Riddy as “a special night for lovers, haters… and those little devils who don’t know what they want!”
The evening is a saucy threesome of the venue’s ever-popular club nights – the bright and breezy Trashy, the darker indie-flavoured Transformation, and the rock-tastic Room 101.
And while Lauren is urging everyone to “dress to impress” the night has a unique Valentine’s twist.
“We are having a red-amber-green dress code,” she explains.
“Wear red if you’ve already found that special someone; amber if you’re feeling adventurous, and green if you’re looking for love!
“It’s a perfect system,” she adds. “If you see someone in red, then hands off!. If they’re in amber, then who knows?… and if they’re in green, it’s all go! It’s a bit of fun, and keeps things interesting.”
So what can you expect to hear?
“We’ve got three rooms,” she says, “And they cater for everybody and for every mood.
“As always, Transformation will still be blasting out full-throttle indie and electro… but with special songs for the dumped. So you can join the other singletons in Oxford and rejoice with a soundtrack of lonesome records from the likes of Editors, Johnny Cash, Radiohead and Glasvegas.
“If, however, you’re feeling doe-eyed and fit to burst, Trashy can supply the tunes to fall in love to… and for that special end of the night slow dance. And love legends will be crooning all night long as the DJs spin songs from the likes of Marvin Gaye, the Bee Gees, Elton John and Barry White.
“Then there will be Room 101 splitting the crowd with the best alternative, rock and punk hits – and some epic power ballads from rock greats thrown in.”
She insists there is no better place to spend this special night.
“Valentine’s Day is a big deal for everyone. And if you’re single you feel the pain more. So it’s great to have somewhere to go with like-minded people.
“Remember, if you’re looking for a bloke then you have lots of choice with Oxford boys – especially if you like skinny indie boys in tight jeans. And, of course, Oxford is full of the most beautiful women. They are funny, clever and amazingly good looking.
“And if you make an effort by properly dressing up, then we’ll do something to put a smile on your face!”
l Love is Noise takes place at the Oxford 02 Academy tomorrow. Admission is £6 / £5 NUS. The night runs from 10.30pm-3am (Over 18s only).
Siobhan Nutt, DJ Nelly B Page and Frances Taylor are pictured getting ready for Love is Noise.
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