May 14, 2025 |
For the past 10 years, Gala Festival has been the foghorn for the start of London’s long-awaited summer. Scheduled in neatly for May’s tail-end bank holiday, the now 30,000-capacity event, which calls Peckham Rye its home, is known for serving up a buffet of the best and brightest names in electronic music for its expertly curated three-day lineup. From all-out legends like Theo Parrish and Moodyman to beloved selectors like Ben UFO and Avalon Emerson, Gala is a knees-up the capital’s music-loving punters can hardly resist.
One of the names billed for this year is the queer party Laundrette, hosted by Berliners Roi Perez, David Elimelech and Partok. A Panorama Bar staple, Laundrette hosted their first London night at The Carpet Shop in January. Now, they’re bringing their fizzing flavour of dance music back south of the river to Gala’s Saturday instalment. They’ll be headlining a stacked line-up as part of an all-day takeover of the Pleasure Dome by Chapter 10, the cherished queer night founded by Dalston Superstore boss Dan Beaumont and famed fashion journo Charlie Porter that shuttered in 2023. The formidable B3B will be joined by Courtesy, S-Candalo and Fafi Abdel Nour, and are set to use their time behind the decks to explore the far-reaching scope of house music and percussive thumpers that celebrate the “queer essence” that acts as a foundation for Laundrette’s sonic stylings. Here, we sit down with the Laundrette DJs ahead of their set at Gala to chat about playing the festival’s 10 year anniversary, why they chose the name Laundrette and what’s on their rider.
1. How would you describe a Laundrette set in three words?
Cunt, Sizzling, Drums.
2. How does it feel to be playing at Gala’s 10th Anniversary?
Super exciting! Honored to be invited to close the Pleasure Dome stage. Happy 10 Gala!
3. Why the name Laundrette?
Main inspiration was the movie My Beautiful Laundrette (Daniel Day-Lewis in his gayest and sexiest role ever) and also spinning wet and being rinsed is very much the energy we’re conjuring for our parties.
4. What’s your favorite thing about playing together?
We’re all vintage queens and play a lot of older music so it’s always exciting to see what new findings each one brought this time. Also it is really special for us that when we play together we create something that none of us would or could do on our own.
5. Who are some other artists you’re excited to catch at Gala?
The whole day of Chapter 10 is queer deliciousness!
6. Why do you think festivals like Gala are so important in today’s music scene?
With rising costs making it harder for festivals to survive, events like Gala are more important than ever. Especially while staying connected to the local community and giving a platform to both heritage and up and coming artists like Gala does.
7. If you could curate your own festival line up, who would be the headliners?
Ron Hardy
Deee Lite – Live
Junior Vasquez
Liz Torres – Live
Sweet Pussy Pauline
8. What’s on your rider?
David – Vodka, Redbull, Poppers
Roi – Tequila, Soda, Poppers
Partok – Pet Nat wine, Poppers
9. If Laundrette could play anywhere in the world next, where would it be?
There are many places we would love to go together but the first room that comes to mind is Studio at Basement Club in New York. We all played there separately and it’s one of our favourite clubs but still haven’t done it together. That would be something.
10. What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever seen behind the booth?
We can’t share too many details but it happened when we played at the beloved Savage club in Hanoi and it involved four shots of Bobo.
Purchase your Gala tickets here. Photography courtesy of 36framez.
