Liverpool mums organise daytime raves for party people too old for late nights

Two Liverpool mums are organising daytime raves for party people who love the music – but not the late nights!

Kitty Rae launched Day Release at 24 Kitchen Street with DJ friend Clare Blair last year after missing the fun and vibes of Cream and Ibiza after having kids.

Kitty says: “We still love the music and we still love to dance but we wanted to be able to get back for the babysitter – or before the last bus home.

“We did two events last year and our third is coming up on Saturday, February 15, and they’ve been really successful.”

Kitty goes on: “We aim them at people over 25-30 but there’s a real mix of ages and everyone’s welcome. Younger people come too – and some have even brought their mums so they can enjoy clubbing together!

“There’s a great atmosphere and it’s a chance to dance – and feel happy.”

Techno fan Kitty, 49, from Aigburth, was a regular clubber in the ‘90s with friends like Clara. They and other pals loved going to Ibiza as well as dance nights at places like Circus, Voodoo and Bugged Out in the city.

But as they started settling down and having kids – Kitty has Molly 16 and Jude 14, and Clare has three children, Archie, Ella and Annie, two of whom are still at primary – the dance nights out became fewer and further between.

Kitty, events manager at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, goes on: “Clare and I have been friends for over 30 years (we used to work together at Keith’s in Lark Lanes) and she still DJs. She’d ask me and our other friends to go and see her, but when she said she was on at midnight, we’d be like, no that’s too late, we’ve got kids now.

“We like to get home – and not feel rubbish the next day.

“The other thing is that sometimes we would go to club nights but we’d feel so old, like someone who’s out looking for their child; or people would come up to us to say how cool it was that we were still clubbing at ‘our age’.

“Clare, who DJs under the name Clara B, went out with her husband to see Carl Cox – and people wanted to take their photo because they were so old!”

Kitty and Clare decided to organise a rave event for people like them, starting at 3pm in the afternoon and ending at 9pm.

The first was on May Bank Holiday with a second later on last year, again at 24 Kitchen Street Green Room events space, and they went down a storm.

“Everyone loved them. 

“We’d like to organise about three or four events each year,” explains Kitty. “For our third event we’ve gone for a bigger name with DJ Emma, who’s DJ’d for years and has been on things like my Analog journal, played for Shindig Festival, and played at Annie Mac’s Before Midnight.

“But we also try to get local up-and-coming DJs too, to introduce them to people and so it’s not just old music but new stuff too.” 

DJ Clare, from Allerton, will also playing at this month’s Day Release which will have a mix of house, old skool and nu disco.

“It’s a nice atmosphere, it’s friendly, and it’s a safe space to dance and have a good time.

“You can get off home at 9pm – or go out for something to eat,” smiles Kitty.

“People loved the last ones and compared them to Ibiza vibes on a Sunday.

“And even the DJs loved them because everyone was up and dancing and having a great time – and not looking at their phones!”

Tickets are available now for Day Release, starting at £10 plus booking fee, here.

Find more events across Liverpool HERE.