Think Charlie XCX’s “365 party girl”—underground rave queen meets clubbing every other weekend that ends with awkward run-ins with your next-door fitness aunty out on their 7am jog while you’re stumbling back home from a night out. I’ve done my share of partying but over this last year, the party that truly stood out wasn’t in a packed warehouse, an off-the-grid farmhouse, or the hottest club in town. It was instead a home café sundowner. What is that, you may wonder. It’s basically a mad mix of creatives from fashion, music, and art gathered together in someone’s candlelit living room to party the night away. Here we sipped on specialty coffee (because who drinks alcohol anymore?), shared our hopes and goals for the year ahead, and grooved to a funky afro house DJ set. Instead of the morning-after regret over last night’s questionable decisions, I left feeling oddly energised and inspired. Turns out, I’m not the only one retiring my raver ID in search of the new offbeat party.
As more and more Gen Z and millennials move away from the mindless alcohol consumption habits that once typified a night out, the best parties have in turn moved out of the club. Disillusioned with exorbitant entry fees, crammed crowds, and decibel levels that make the music indecipherable—the young, wild and free are ditching dance floor debauchery in favour of thoughtfully-curated experiences at unexpected venues. From ice cream parlours and coffee shops to fashion stores and museums, the more out-of-the-box the venue, the more it appeals to this new wave of partygoers seeking connection and a sense of community. Read on about this reinvented rave, why it's happening, and the cool people making it all possible.
