Handsome 14th birthday celebrations are heading to Eagle London, with Terry Farley and Stuart Patterson joining the party. Fourteen years after its first night in a Dalston basement, Handsome still has its ears firmly on the house music that brought it all together.
The party began on 10 November 2012 at Visions, a predominantly straight R&B club. Promoters Martyn Fitzgerald and Toby Grimditch wanted to bring back the sound and spirit of the US house scene they’d spent the nineties dancing to.
That meant records with deep basslines, soulful grooves and gospel-tinged vocals, drawing on the sounds of Masters At Work, Murk, Strictly Rhythm and Nervous Records. The music was the starting point, and an open-minded crowd helped give the party its home.
The Handsome 14th birthday line-up
For its birthday at Eagle London on Saturday 14 November, Handsome welcomes Terry Farley and Stuart Patterson. Both are central figures in Faith, the influential collective whose place in British house music makes them fitting guests for a party built around the records.
Martyn Fitzgerald is also on the bill for a night that runs from 9pm until 4am. There are limited £5 tickets for entry before 10pm, with £8 advance tickets and £9 on the door.
Handsome has had a few addresses since that first Dalston night. It’s moved between venues including Dalston Superstore and East Bloc, as well as spots in Manchester, gathering a long list of guest DJs along the way.
Chicago house pioneer Marshall Jefferson has played, as have K-Alexi and Maurice Fulton. Robert Owens, whose voice is instantly recognisable to house fans, has appeared too, alongside queer DJs from London, Europe and the US.
There’s new music ahead for the Handsome crew as well. After a string of remixes for other artists, they’re preparing their own EP for release in 2027.
For now, there’s a birthday to celebrate. After 14 years of parties and changing venues, the appeal remains a familiar one: good records, a welcoming crowd and the pleasure of hearing the right track land on the dancefloor.
Handsome 14th Birthday takes place on Saturday 14 November 2026, from 9pm to 4am, at Eagle London, 349 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QY (nearest Tube: Vauxhall). Tickets are £5 before 10pm, with limited availability, £8 in advance or £9 on the door. Find out more at Eagle London.
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