With the holiday falling on a Monday, most London clubs are hosting their Halloween fun on Saturday 29 October. And as the clocks go back on Sunday, there’s a whole extra hour of freakish fun to be had! So dig out your witches hat and take a look at our pick of Halloween club nights in London:

Feeling Gloomy: Gloomy Halloween Spooktacular
DJ Grim Reaper and a Depeche Mode tribute act will ensure a hauntingly good night, along with the usual “misery pop” at The O2 Academy 2 Islington .
Advance tickets from £4.50 (club only), gig tickets £9. Book now

Propaganda Halloween Spooktacular
Get your indie fix at the brand new Electric Brixton (formerly The Fridge) with a guest appearance from Plan B’s beat boxer Faith SFX.  Advance tickets £5 Book now

Secretsundaze and Electric Minds Halloween Asylum Party
An asylum-themed techno party in former Victorian warehouse, Village Underground. Swedish duo Skudge headline, along with sets from Fred P, James Priestly and Giles Smith. Advance tickets £5-15 Book now

White Mischief: Ghost in the Marchine
Halloween-themed steampunk at Scala, with weird and wonderful acts including mime from The Boy With The Tape on His Face, steampunk legends Abney Park and nail-biting entertainment from the Covent Garden Chainsaw Juggler. Last remaining tickets £29.99  Book now

The Big Chill Presents Bruk Out
A night of the freshest UK bass at The Big Chill House featuring Marcus Nasty, Greenmoney, Elijah & Skilliam and a second room of hip hop sounds hosted by Yo Mama! Free entry

The Monster Raving Kigu Party
Get in on the Kigu craze at a secret London location. The Monster Raving Kigu Party promises Halloween-themed party games, £2 cocktails, the best underground music and general silliness! You don’t have to turn up in an animal suit, but fancy dress of some sort is compulsory. Tickets £15. Book now

Belle Epoque Halloween Special
Journey back to 19th century Paris and sample the delights of the Green Fairy at Belle Epoque’s Halloween Special. Advance tickets £20. Book now

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After enjoying White Mischief so much in March, I returned this weekend to see what they’d come up with for Halloween.

The steampunk extravaganza had a great line-up of entertainment including comedian Nina Conti, singer David McAlmont and neo-burlesque artist Empress Stah.

I was happily surprised that my very favourite cabaret entertainer Dusty Limits was hosting the evening. As usual, he had the best make up, songs and jokes and almost made me want the main acts off the stage so I could see more of him!

We also had lots of fun watching Mac Abbe et le Zombi Orchestra, meeting a man-eating plant and dancing to a few golden oldies in the Devil’s Dance room.

So what did my fellow White Mischief-goers think of the night?

“What a great evening. I was amazed by the effort that everyone had put into their costumes. Imagination was certainly not in short supply.  I’ll definitely be back. Well done White Mischief!”
Gillian, 29, Herne Hill

“White Mischief wins! Fabulous night, loved the costumes and the varied wacky entertainment, didn’t love the sore feet from too much dancing.”
Nic, 31, Shoreditch

“A good time had by all. Full marks to the David Bowie impersonator for his costume.”
Ben, 28

“Any Halloween event that promises a “Zombi Orchestra” is clearly looking to make a big impact, and White Mischief didnt disappoint. The evening had a great atmosphere and some brilliant live acts, and was really made by the effort that guests went to with fancy dress. There can’t be many events where David Bowie can be found cavorting next to a zebra….” Sarah, 27, Essex

What did you do for Halloween?

The dress code was described as “neo-Victorian… scientists, explorers, and exhibitionists.” This still didn’t give us many clues as to what we should wear, although a friend assured us goggles were key. We couldn’t find any of those in the charity shops of Clapham, but it didn’t matter because as soon as we entered Scala, it was clear that steampunk attire covers a lot more.

We saw top hats, moustaches, military attire, pipes, corsets and admittedly, goggles and tweed. Dress-up isn’t compulsory at White Mischief, but you’d feel pretty silly if you turned up in jeans and a t-shirt. Steampunks take dressing up seriously and I was hugely impressed by the amazing costumes.

The best thing about White Mischief was the atmosphere and the variety of entertainment. Despite the effort that had gone into people’s costumes, everyone seemed relaxed and friendly.

Unlike many club nights, you don’t just turn up and spend the next few hours on the dance floor, there are lots of other distractions. From Victorian curiosities such as a flea circus, to a steampunk fair where you could buy jewellery, comics and more steampunk-inspired souvenirs.

White Mischief didn’t feel like a club, it was more like interactive theatre. We loved the entertainment, including the fantastic Oompah Brass band (singing along to oompah Bohemian Rhapsody was a real highlight); Voltini the electrocuting scientist (conducting electricity through some unmentionable body parts); burlesque from Beau Burlington (who managed to shed enough clothing weight to take off in an air balloon); and a chainsaw-juggling pirate!

So I’m a convert, I will definitely go to White Mischief’s next party, I’m already planning my outfit…

Folu Babatola worked on the PR for the Red Bull Academy and after a very hectic few weeks, he’s taken time to reflect on the Academy’s time in London:

“If you haven’t been living under a rock (or you simply attempt to avoid any kind of media on your commute) you’ll probably have seen something about the Red Bull Music Academy, which has been in London for the last five weeks. There’s been a daily music paper, a three-hour radio show on NME Radio every night and a three-part series on Channel 4.

Then there were the gigs and club nights, 27 over 30 nights, ranging from the first ever cross-genre sound clash at The Roundhouse, to a demonstration of 3D clubbing at the Royal Albert Hall, to seeing 12 seminal producers perform their favourite tracks for a packed Scala.
 
Having managed to fit so much into a short time we’re now slowly acclimatising to the real world.  I’m being reminded that not everyone stays up til 5am at Plastic People yet is at work by 8 the next day!
 
But that’s what the Academy does to you; it removes every preconceived idea of how you should enjoy music. There are no barriers to consumption, creation or analysis of music. You just do it and enjoy the ride.

London has been lucky to host the Academy, and the Academy was lucky to be here. Nowhere else in the world could you find such an amazing melting pot of musical genres; no other city could impress and excite musicians in quite the same way as our town.”

Watch the Red Bull Music Academy video below, as former student Mr Hudson gives his view on what makes it so special:

Some of London’s finest nightspots are about to get a year older, and just like your friends’ birthdays, guess what? They’ve all come along at the same time…

Last week, Sugarbeat Club celebrated a successful first year at the Brixton Jamm. With the line-up safely in the hands of hosts Utah Saints, we’re more than a little excited to find out who’ll be playing next time.

Tonight The Old Queen’s Head reaches the ripe old age of four. With DJ sets from Foals, Chew Lips and Primary1, it’s sure to be quite a party. Make sure you arrive before 8pm for free entry.

Another baby celebrating its very first birthday is The Queen of Hoxton. But one night of fun just isn’t enough for the East End venue, which is taking a whopping five days (2-7 March) for its official celebration. Disco punks WhoMadeWho kick off the fun, which continues with indie bingo, light displays and the fab Hackney Colliery Band.

And finally, alternative night White Mischief sees in its third birthday on 27 March.  The party is at Scala, with a theme of The Great Exhibition. The line-up certainly seems to fit the title, as it includes a six-foot balloon man, an electrocuting scientist and steampunk burlesque!

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