Hosting a selection of respectable disco DJs from old to new, along with some super talented queer performers and an excitable crowd, Glitterbox held its Welsh debut on the first day of July at Cardiff Castle. One of several large-scale music events in its grounds this summer, the Ibiza-born event (co-promoted by locals Shangri-La, who return to indoor climes at the Depot on Sat 30 Sept with Patrick Topping) brought a different audience to previous, rockier gigs on in June.
Sadly, the amount of footfall meant the outdoor site had seen better days: walking in, my eyes start to burn as I’m taken aback at how much dust is flying around. Despite Gritterbox being a more fitting name at this point, I throw on my shades and take shelter in the crowd for Horse Meat Disco, where it’s clear from the start that this is no place for such worries. London troupe HMD being their usual, feel-good vibes with classics such as Luther Vandross’ Never Too Much, and their hour-long set warms the crowd perfectly in the mirroring sun.
At 4 pm, Melvo Baptiste blesses the stage for his performance; glancing at the expanding crowd, one of the loveliest things to note is how the disco event has brought in such a wide variety of folk of all ages. I find some people act too ‘cool’ to dance at a lot of house nights, but Glitterbox seemed to bring all of the happiness and movement out of its attendees – not to mention some stunning sparkly outfits that would put Beyoncé to shame.
With smiles all around, soon enough it’s Folamour, and despite the place filling up rapidly, the crowd still offers ample space to let loose and dance, even at the front. The bucket-hatted Frenchman was his usual smiley self, and brought out some bangers including Madonna’s timeless Vogue – but the ultimate highlight of the set comes when onstage performers strut out. The sheer energy they bring, half of them from the Welsh Ballroom Community collective, makes it extra special, and the go-go dancers emerged frequently from there on out. Voguing, perfectly-beat faces and incredible (and tiny) outfits make it hard to avert my eyes: I find myself wondering why dancers like this aren’t the norm for club nights.
Next up was Dan Shake, who provides a killer intro: repeats of “shiggy shiggy shiggy shake” belted out, creating a climax and building up into my favourite set of the day, dropping definitive disco tracks like Eartha Kitt’s Where Is My Man. Father-daughter duo Floorplan follows, with an uplifting, piano chord-heavy set keeping the crowd happily dancing until headliner Eats Everything. During the first 10 minutes of his set, cheesy club anthem You’re Not Alone by Olive is casually slipped in, with Basement Jaxx’s Romeo causing everyone to go feral not long after.
Amidst the euphoria, something incredibly rare nowadays caught my attention: the absence of phones recording every moment at this event. I put it down to the nostalgic music selection and the mesmerising dancers, transporting us back to the glory days when you live in the moment, and I thank Glitterbox for creating an environment like that in 2023.
Glitterbox, Cardiff Castle, Sat 1 July
words INDIA MUNDAY
