It was a feel-good start to the day with high-energy bangers
Wake the Lion’s 7am coffee rave at Blend in Nottingham
My mornings normally start with a gentle get-up and several cups of tea — not dancing to pumping music at 7am.
Ravers of all ages shook off their inhibitions and lost themselves for an hours to the beats of house, drum ‘n’ bass and electronic dance music, not at an abandoned warehouse or underground club, but Blend, a coffee shop in Sneinton Market.
Bleary-eyed and sluggish when I arrive at the Nottingham coffee shop rave, I’m bouncing out the door 60 minutes later, high on life, fuelled by coffee and adrenaline, and ready to face the day ahead.
Men and women of all ages — some weren’t born when rave was at its height in the 1990s — attended the sell-out event.
Sequins, bright neon colours, jeans and T-shirts, and even pyjamas… anything goes. Before hitting the dance floor, we grab a coffee for an instant boost but some ravers don’t need it, they let loose from the word go.
Wake the Lion DJ Joe Norrish
Sam Pell, 50, of Newark, got up at 5am for the rave and said: “I’m a 90’s kid. We’re impressed, it’s really good. It’s a great way to start the day. It energises you, it makes you feel great.
“Normally at 7.30 in the morning I’m on my third cup of tea trying to motivate myself to get out the house.”
Kath Pyer and her partner Joe Norrish run the Wake the Lion event together with Blend. Kath, of Carlton, said: “The energy in the room is amazing. People come in at 7am literally ready to go. Dancing releases so many emotions, positive, negative. We try to keep the music uplifting, that high energy vibe.
“It’s just good for you, from a physical aspect to a mental aspect. You go away ready to start your day energised.”
Franze Carr-Pell, of Newark, is ready to rave
Kath, who works in public health, had the idea of doing a breakfast rave two years ago but sat on it until this year.
“Morning events are happening around the country but there was nothing happening in Nottingham,” she said.
“Sometimes if you want to go to something, you just have to put it on yourself if no one else is doing it. If we want it potentially other people want it and Kinga, the manager at Blend was really open to it.”
The first event in June attracted 30 people, this time it’s double. The dream would be to stage a mass sunrise rave in Old Market Square one day, said Kath.
Hairdresser Stewart Fereday, 42, from Carlton, said: “It’s amazing, It’s better than going to the gym. Everyone’s so friendly as well.”
Maisy Norrish, 22, sported pink PJs
While DJ Joe keeps the energy high, his daughter Maisy Norrish is cutting some moves on the dancefloor.
Sporting silky pink PJs with feather edging, she said: “The vibes are amazing. We’re all partying, raving, no alcohol. You can come in your pyjamas, your office wear, whatever you feel comfortable in. I’m having the best time here.”
The 22-year-old dental nurse said: “Music brings people together… people that maybe wouldn’t be together in your normal life.”
Kinga Gogolewska-Stark, general manager at Blend, said: “Creating moments that bring people together and brighten someone’s day is what truly drives me.
“We wanted to create something different, something that would inspire people to start their day with energy, connection, and positivity.
“I couldn’t be prouder of my team members who represented us and helped bring this event to life. Seeing them embrace the vision and create a memorable experience for everyone is incredibly rewarding. This is only the beginning.”
Ravers will get a lie-on at the next event on Sunday, August 23, as it starts at 7.30am. Tickets £9, including coffee, are on sale here.