Few club brands have travelled the world quite like Twisted Bear. What began in London more than a decade ago has grown into one of the best-known bear parties on the international circuit, packing dancefloors from New York and Los Angeles to Sydney, Toronto and beyond.
Now it’s coming home.
Ahead of Twisted Bear London – The Return on Friday 17 July at MA1: The Bunker, we caught up with founder and DJ Paul Coals to talk about bringing the party back to its spiritual home, why reading the dancefloor will always beat following a playlist, and why he believes the bear community remains one of the friendliest corners of the LGBTQ+ scene.
Twisted Bear is back in London. How does it feel to be bringing one of the USA’s best-loved bear nights with a British flavour back to the capital?
Amazing and can’t wait… we’re so excited to be coming back to the UK and love that Phil Marriott and Ross Jones will be on the decks for “TWISTED BEAR LONDON – THE RETURN”!
London is where it all started over ten years ago… and it’s still very much the spiritual home, playing a part in much of what we’ve done internationally, whether that’s been the US, Europe, Australia, or even Canada! So much has happened since then. We’ve been really lucky… Twisted Bear has featured all across the US…… from coast to coast, New York to Los Angeles, Seattle to DC, with so many cities, like Dallas, Chicago, Houston, Columbus, Denver, and so on, in between… Just think of all the bears and their accents… WOOF!!! :-))
For anyone discovering Twisted Bear for the first time, what makes it different from your average club night?
Oddly, we find that we’re never just a bear party… Twisted Bear attracts people from all across the gay scene who want to have a relaxed, fun time. The music plays a big part in our offer, and we’ve always tried to bring together a mix of local, national and international artists. In the last few years alone, our events have featured some amazing DJs, producers and remixers like Tony Moran, GSP, Tom Stephan, Abel, Seth Breezy, Brady Prince, Jack Chang, Hector Fonseca, Alex Ramos, and Brent Milne, to name a few!
You’ve spent years behind the decks. What still gives you that buzz when you step into the DJ booth?
The energy on the dance floor. Seriously… seeing people enjoying themselves and having a great night out. It really does. We spend so much time on phones and devices these days that it’s so great to see people out and about, letting their hair down, and having fun with their friends. We all need to do more of it. Seeing some hunky, beefy bears also helps!
Music trends come and go, but a packed dancefloor never lies. What’s your secret to keeping people dancing all night?
Making sure you observe the crowd. It can never be about a playlist… if one or more tracks don’t seem to connect, then change the direction. You’ve got to keep that flow and connection with the dancefloor and take people on a journey. I still get a huge kick out of watching reactions to different tracks… people hearing a familiar classic… a wave and rush of energy across the dance floor… or suddenly seeing them think ‘What the hell is this? I don’t know this… but wow, it’s cool’.
The bear scene has always been about more than just the music. What do you think makes the community so special?
Hmm, no comment! No, seriously… friendships have always been really important with people across the bear community tending to look out for each other. Maybe uniquely, the bear scene has a reputation for being open and welcoming all around the world. We’ve been so lucky in the US. Did I mention the beefy bears… and their accents?!?! Grr!!
Looking ahead, what’s next for Twisted Bear? Are there any exciting plans or surprises you can share with us?
We have a fair amount planned over the next 12-18 months… Definitely watch this space for more events in London… as well as a few other cities across the UK. Twisted Bear will be popping up in some new locations!
Finally, if you could sum up the Twisted Bear experience in just three words, what would they be—and why should our readers be there?
Sweaty, frisky, beefy!! TWISTED BEAR LONDON – THE RETURN is going to be epic… Fair to say… if you’re not there, it’s almost certain that your future boyfriend or hus-bear will be!
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Twisted Bear returns to MA1: The Bunker on Friday 17 July, bringing together beefy bears, admirers, friends and anyone who loves a proper dancefloor with no attitude. Expect dirty house beats from Phil Marriott, Paul Coals and Ross Jones, plenty of leather and gear (encouraged but never required), and the welcoming atmosphere that’s made Twisted Bear a favourite around the world.
Whether you’re a regular on the bear scene or thinking about your first visit, this is one worth adding to the diary.
Twisted Bear London – The Return
Date: Friday 17 July
Time: 10pm – 4am
Venue: MA1: The Bunker, 217–221 City Road, London EC1V 1JN
Nearest Tube: Old Street
Tickets: tblondon.eventbrite.com
