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Leopard Skin Lounge

Deep in the murky heart, the dark alleyways, the red lights and abandoned buildings of Newcastle West, there is a door. Normally, during the daytime, it is closed. In fact, you will walk past it and think nothing in particular exists behind it. But, late at night, should you pass by again, you will see it open, and if you dare to enter in, you will be amazed...

The Leopard Skin Lounge, an exotic '60s nightclub will welcome you. The girl at the door will place a lei of flowers around your neck and perhaps offer you some multicoloured popcorn. Already you will hear the music; cool, rare grooves, warm gogo beats and hot funky sounds, and your feet will begin to shuffle. Once inside you will walk through a forest of jungle plants to a smoke-filled clearing, a dance floor on which a hundred bodies or more are moving in sheer bliss. You will look up to see a group of sequined go-go girls shimmy on the podiums, and behind them, a velvet-suited gentleman playing records, dancing simultaneously. You will go to the bar, bathed in psychedelic oil-wheel projections, and you will order a cocktail, something Hawaiian. Casually you will push past some glinting door-beads to an adjoining room where you will find yourself a purple beanbag and recline, watching as you do a giant screen on which some B-grade Italian monster film is playing. For a moment, maybe longer, you will wonder what planet you are on...

Created by Benjamin Gilmour, Yasmin Moutafis and Ben Anderson, The Leopard Skin Lounge is a nightclub designed to bring neglected and rare music of the '50s, '60s and '70s to Newcastle, NSW. Opening in 1998, the lounge rapidly became reputable for its exotic atmosphere. The interior decor is a smooth blend of red walls, long leopard-fur lounges, cushions, jungle plants, psychedelic lighting, rare movie posters and much more. Popular theme nights have included Space-age Boogaloo, South of the Border, Ultra-cheese and a Jack Rabbit Slims twist contest, the trophy being won by a couple from Port Macquarie.

With eight regular go-go dancers, four DJs, a resident fruit slicer, fire-eater and identical twin acrobats, The Leopard Skin Lounge employs many local artists. Even the costumes are designed and made by Vicki Ryan of the Daisy Chain store (above The Rock Shop, Hunter St. Newcastle) and the bar provided by The Cambridge Hotel.

The Leopard Skin group has recently relocated to Sydney and is frequently behind exotic nights. Rare-groove events in Newcastle and Sydney have included film premiere parties, club nights and private functions.

Check out these groovy links:





			Leopard Skin Lounge Deep in the murky heart, the dark alleyways, the red lights and abandoned buildings of Newcastle West, there is a door. Normally, during the daytime, it is closed. In fact, you will walk past it and think nothing in particular exists behind it. But, late at night, should you pass by again, you will see it open, and if you dare to enter in, you will be amazed... The Leopard Skin Lounge, an exotic '60s nightclub will welcome you. The girl at the door will place a lei of flowers around your neck and perhaps offer you some multicoloured popcorn. Already you will hear the music; cool, rare grooves, warm gogo beats and hot funky sounds, and your feet will begin to shuffle. Once inside you will walk through a forest of jungle plants to a smoke-filled clearing, a dance floor on which a hundred bodies or more are moving in sheer bliss. You will look up to see a group of sequined go-go girls shimmy on the podiums, and behind them, a velvet-suited gentleman playing records, dancing simultaneously. You will go to the bar, bathed in psychedelic oil-wheel projections, and you will order a cocktail, something Hawaiian. Casually you will push past some glinting door-beads to an adjoining room where you will find yourself a purple beanbag and recline, watching as you do a giant screen on which some B-grade Italian monster film is playing. For a moment, maybe longer, you will wonder what planet you are on... Created by Benjamin Gilmour, Yasmin Moutafis and Ben Anderson, The Leopard Skin Lounge is a nightclub designed to bring neglected and rare music of the '50s, '60s and '70s to Newcastle, NSW. Opening in 1998, the lounge rapidly became reputable for its exotic atmosphere. The interior decor is a smooth blend of red walls, long leopard-fur lounges, cushions, jungle plants, psychedelic lighting, rare movie posters and much more. Popular theme nights have included Space-age Boogaloo, South of the Border, Ultra-cheese and a Jack Rabbit Slims twist contest, the trophy being won by a couple from Port Macquarie. With eight regular go-go dancers, four DJs, a resident fruit slicer, fire-eater and identical twin acrobats, The Leopard Skin Lounge employs many local artists. Even the costumes are designed and made by Vicki Ryan of the Daisy Chain store (above The Rock Shop, Hunter St. Newcastle) and the bar provided by The Cambridge Hotel. The Leopard Skin group has recently relocated to Sydney and is frequently behind exotic nights. Rare-groove events in Newcastle and Sydney have included film premiere parties, club nights and private functions. Check out these groovy links: www.soundsofseduction.com www.20-20.org/loveseat www.cool&strange.com www.goodgroove.com.au Designed by Kara Jenkins. Contact me at [email protected]