Southpaw announce early 2000s dance rave in Sunderland

The nostalgic DJ event, Hay Day, is coming to Sunderland on Saturday, August 1, at Southpaw Studio in Sheepfolds Stables.

The event promises an energetic throwback to the era of dance anthems, with doors opening at 3pm and closing by 7pm.

Robby Graham, artistic director of Southpaw Company, said: “Hay Day will be full of energy and atmosphere and take away the hassle that often comes with a late night out.

“Whether you’re coming to dance with friends, celebrate a special occasion, or simply relive the soundtrack of your youth, Hay Day will be an afternoon to remember.”

UK-based DJ and producer, Aaron Swales, will be spinning the tunes, a mixture of dance club anthems and feel-good favourites from back in the day.

The early finish means guests can enjoy a night out without the after-effects of a typical late-night rave.

Tickets are selling fast with plans already underfoot to hold the event regularly.

Southpaw Company was established in 2013 under the artistic direction of Robby Graham and blends innovative choreography with compelling storytelling rooted in the lived experiences of working class and marginalised communities.

Southpaw Studio is located in the heart of Sunderland’s Sheepfolds district, a fully-equipped creative space designed to host performances, rehearsals and community activities.

From creating intimate touring pieces to large-scale outdoor spectacles, the company blends innovative choreography with compelling storytelling rooted in the lived experiences of working class and marginalised communities.

Southpaw’s mission is to craft performances that are reflective of the communities it engages with, driven by authentic collaboration and co-creation.

Whether working with local residents on mass-movement pieces, such as RUSH and RISE, or touring narrative-rich productions like Speakeasy, it believes in the transformative power of the arts to spark dialogue, promote empathy and celebrate the diverse cultural voices across the UK.

In addition to its artistic output, Southpaw runs three, free engagement programmes:

• AMPLIFY – A community performance company
• ORIGINS – Breaking barriers and empowering young dancers (aged eight to 18) through breaking and hip-hop styles
• IGNITE – A high level training class for professional working class dancers and advanced students

Erimus, created for the re-opening of Middlesbrough Town Hall, won the Journal Culture Arts Council England Award and National Campaign for the Arts Award for the Best Local Authority Arts Project Encouraging Community Cohesion.

Tickets are available via the Southpaw website at southpaw.org.uk/events.