Dialogue wins Kerlin's oral history of Britain's queer club scene in three-way auction

Dialogue Books has acquired an oral history of Britain’s queer club scene, Memories from the Dance Floor, by writer and podcaster Damian Kerlin, following a three-way auction. 

M.d. Sharmaine Lovegrove bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Tim Bates at PFD. 

The publisher said: “Inspired by the highly successful podcast of the same name (which will return for a second series in 2024), Memories from the Dance Floor will be the first authoritative oral history of the queer club scene. It is a glittering celebration of the gay bar, with a cast of characters ranging from Boy George to Reverend Richard Coles, Paul Oakenfold to Peter Tatchell.” 

The book promises to “unravel the hidden history behind LGBTQ+ nightlife, colourfully told by the community that lived it”. The synopsis reads: "Crossing Britain, Memories from the Dance Floor spans the nation, scratching the surface to find a wealth of parties that not only continue the long tradition of queer clubbing in the UK, but build on it.  

“From the vibrant energy of Clapham’s Two Brewers, pulsating disco beats of the Nightingale in Birmingham to Lesbian Line Disco on Kings Road, Cardiff, and old school raves in Glasgow’s Bennetts; gay bars have always been more than mere venues – they are havens of celebration, solidarity and unabashed sexual expression.” 

Memories from the Dance Floor “delves into the heart of the most important and influential gay bars, both past and present, along with the diverse cast of characters associated with them,” Dialogue said.

“Through a series of interviews, we are transported to the pulsating dancefloors, guided by the voices of those who populated these spaces – the club promoters, managers, DJs, hosts and, of course, the patrons.” 

Kerlin is a culture journalist and broadcaster, who has had bylines in Attitude, the Telegraph, the Independent and the Huffington Post. He also runs a Substack, Material Queer, a celebration of queer culture. 

Kerlin said: "I can’t wait to share the stories of our incredible spaces and what they meant to the LGBTQ+ community in living memory. They really were a lifeline for some and a home to all. And even through some incredibly challenging and political times, such as the AIDS pandemic, Section 28 and gentrification, we knew how to party.

"Dialogue is the perfect publisher and I couldn’t be more grateful to be part of the fold championing underrepresented voices in publishing underpinned by great storytelling and what a story we have to share.” 

Lovegrove said: “I grew up in the gay scene in London and spent my teenage years and 20s in many of the clubs with many of the people interviewed. More than a nostalgia project, Memories from the Dance Floor is a vital narrative that adds the importance of gay history and dance culture on our social and cultural landscape to the archives. Damian’s lived experience and broad approach gives a scintillating voice to this project and it’s a perfect fit for Dialogue Books.”