INFERNO, the queer techno collective, brought together eight of London's leading nightlife collectives for a photoshoot and collective message addressing the "crisis facing queer nightlife in the capital".
Photos by Rae Tait
INFERNO, the queer techno collective, brought together eight of London's leading nightlife collectives for a photoshoot and collective message addressing the "crisis facing queer nightlife in the capital".
The collaboration - featuring INFERNO, Queer House Party, Riposte, RIOT, BUMPAH, Coven, UHAUL Dyke Rescue and PLASTYK - marks a rare moment of unity as the collectives speak out against rising venue closures, impossible hire fees, and the "corporate exploitation of grassroots queer culture".
The message comes as INFERNO celebrates its 10th anniversary, with founder Lewis G Burton having just released their first new music in six years - a powerful video for Mother's Milk (watch HERE) - alongside a 25-track compilation album. The milestone marks a decade since the collective launched in 2015, the same year iconic venues The Black Cap, Madame Jojo's and Joiners Arms closed. Between 2006-2017, 58% of London's LGBTQ+ venues disappeared - from 125 to just 53.
Lewis G Burton, who is also a founding member of London Trans+ Pride, says: "This photoshoot is an important moment of solidarity between all nightlife collectives. It's about collectivism. These spaces are a lifeline - it's where we build chosen family, find community care, and survive. We need queer nightlife to be taken seriously and funded properly, like any other cultural institution. We provide just as much culture as galleries and museums. By not investing in nightlife, the careers of artists, creatives, musicians, and DJs are stagnating”.
"This is not a eulogy. This is a declaration," the message concludes. "The question London must answer: what version of queer nightlife do we want in ten years? One built on individualism and corporate profit, or one built on care, collectivism, and genuine liberation?".
