Where were you on the night of the Leopard Print Disco?

Renowned Bristol drag performers Cynthia Road and Spank are powering up the time machine and preparing to take us back to the 70s.

After a successful pop-up at Boomtown festival, the pair are bringing the party back to Bristol with Leopard Print Disco, a club night on Friday, February 27 at Death Disco.

They want people to turn a look, have fun and be as loud as their outfits.

“It sprung from the mind of two drunken drag queens. It’s over-the-top, garish and in love with itself. It’s making a scene for the purpose of making a scene. Leopard Print Disco is a night for queer people to turn a look and get really silly,” said Cynthia.

Cynthia Road is one of the creators of Leopard Print Disco

Showcasing Bristol’s stupidity

Both Cynthia and Spank love disco. From Studio 54 to Bob Mackie and all the stars he continues to design for.

The pair are looking to parody garish, celebrity culture from the 70s. “We want it to feel like a glamorous time-capsule,” said Spank.

The music at their club night will be a mix of disco and current queer pop hits. Spank explained the night will be pretentious, but in a stupid way – they’re not taking themselves too seriously.

“More pretentious! More hats! Not enough people wear hats anymore. I want to see a goose on someone’s head,” said Cynthia.

Spank laughed and added: “Throw on a pair of heels, bring a white horse, wear a cape. We want it all.”

Cynthia explained that in queer communities there is often an emphasis on looking sexy, but at Leopard Print Disco they want people to look as silly as possible. Cynthia said: “We want people to say where were you on this night. Did you see what so-and-so wore!”

Leopard Print Disco is coming to Death Disco and the pair are confident that their idea works thanks to their success at Boomtown. “We had a captive audience. They were listening to mostly drum and bass. When you hear Donna Summer in the distance, you get drawn in,” said Spank.

Spank is excited for Leopard Print Disco’s return after a successful pop-up at Boomtown

Bristol’s LGBTQ+ community rallies to support

Leopard Print Disco has received a supportive reception from Bristol’s LGBTQ+ community.

Many of Cynthia and Spank’s friends will be coming to the event and there is even hope that popular Bristol drag performance, Tess Drive, will make an appearance too.

“My drag family has been very supportive. Maks (a friend) runs an agency Queer Links, who have helped with promotion. We’ve had friends come forward to go-go dance. I’m getting good use of the drag family. I’m keeping them off the streets!,” said Spank, laughing.

The pair have also seen support from other queer nights including Froot and Don’t Tell Your Mother.

Spank said: “Bristol has so many amazing political roots. There are so many amazing events to celebrate that, and get involved. We will uplift them all. But with Leopard Print Disco we just wanted stupidity. It’s a respite from the normal.”

A rare occasion

Leopard Print Disco won’t be a monthly event. Cynthia said they have had an amazing response, but they want it to be an exclusive party. They explained: “We want it to be, where were you on the night of Leopard Print Disco? To quote Batman, when the city needs us, we will be there. In leopard print, sequins and pink.”

Spank added, laughing: “There’ll be a big leopard print ‘S’ and a big leopard print ‘C’ in the sky, and we’ll be there!”

Death Disco is a small and intimate venue. On the night, everything will be coated with glitter and sequins.

Cynthia said:“Andy Warhol will be at the door. Cher will be there. Elton will come out of retirement. If we’re lucky, we might get Diana Ross. Our USP is a lack of one. We want fun and glamour. Over-the-top attention seekers, your city needs you!”

Leopard Print Disco will be on Friday, February 27 at Death Disco. Tickets are available via Headfirst.

All Images: Cynthia Road and Spank

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