Welcome to the Jungle

Philadelphia, a city known for its rich history and vibrant LGBTQ+ community, is gearing up for a ferociously festive night on October 7th, as the Concourse Dance Bar takes center stage to host The Jungle Party. The evening spectacle will be a highlight of the city's three-day OURfest festivities, and promises a night of pulsating music, unity, and celebration.

Hidden between Market St and JFK Boulevard, Concourse is renowned for being Philly's underground adult playground! On this particular night, it will transform into a haven of LGBTQ+ joy and liberation, as attendees from all walks of life gather to celebrate love, diversity, and acceptance.

The beats that will reverberate through the club will be courtesy of some of the biggest DJs in today’s gay circuit party scene, including Las Bibas From Vizcaya, a Brazilian drag queen.

DJ Jace M, a Miami-based club music producer, will be the opening night DJ. “I've never played with (Las Bibas) before,” DJ Jace M reflects on Las Bibas From Vizcaya from his South Beach home. “We’ve met, chatted, and even hung out,” he continues. “She's an incredible artist, a true icon in our community.”

He doesn’t worry that his set will interfere with her high-energy Brazilian sounds. “I play more uplifting synths and melodic remixes,” he explains. His set will include more vocal tracks and familiar tunes, including Taylor Swift songs for all the Philadelphia-based Swifties out there.

The Concourse will be adorned with vibrant jungle-themed decorations and attendees are encouraged to express themselves freely in as much or as little clothing as they prefer. “There will definitely be many shirtless men, literally everywhere, dancing the night away,” DJ Jace M adds.

OURFest is an annual LGBTQ+ celebration and has been a cherished tradition in Philadelphia for years. It was actually the first LGBTQ+ festival and parade in the United States, envisioned to commemorate National Coming Out Day.

The three-day extravaganza honors the vibrant LGBTQIA+ community and aspires to serve as a lighthouse celebrating personal journeys, resilience, and the radiance of diverse identities while also casting a spotlight on unity and pride.

“In a world that often feels divided, events like Jungle remind us of the power of love, music, and unity,” Jace M explains. “It's a night where everyone is celebrated, and for a few hours, the worries of the world fade away.”

Jace M started DJing in 2000s, playing gay clubs in Detroit and throughout the Midwest. He calls the circuit community tight knit and supportive. “It’s a lifestyle. People from across the globe are consistent parts of one another's lives, not just at the club.”

Circuit parties began in the 1980s as a way to raise funds to care for HIV/AIDS patients in the gay community. The US government was doing little to help the afflicted so cities across the country threw benefit events to help people in need. The term Circuit Party was coined by Alan Brown, one of the original creators of Motorball in Detroit. He explained that when the community was in need, everyone came together and went to the events, like a circuit, to support them.

Says Jace M, “Be ready to dance the night away at Jungle. It's not just a party; it's a celebration of love, life, and the beauty of being true to oneself. It’s going to be wild.”