A QUEER CELEBRATION THAT HIT ALL THE RIGHT NOTES

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon

There need to be more nights like this. Full stop. SLT Presents: Dykonic Times at The Clapham Grand wasn’t just an event; it was a whole mood! A room filled with joy, open hearts, and unapologetic queer brilliance. No judgement, no posturing, just a crowd basking in love. It was community. It was comfort. It was queer magic!

Brought together by SLT Studios and the radiant Amy Spalding, this panel marked the lead-up to Lesbian Visibility Week. It was a safe space to celebrate sapphic identity, share powerful stories, and raise money for Queer Britain and the London Dyke March. With all proceeds going directly to the charities, £12,000 was raised on the night. A testament to the love, power and generosity of this community.

CALLING TO THE STAGE… ICONS AND LESBIAN ROYALTY

Comedian Ella Wills kicked off the night and had the crowd howling within minutes. Setting the tone for what turned out to be a rollercoaster of laughs, stories, and sapphic power. The panel? Stacked. Georgia Wood, my Queen, and yes, I was six feet away from her at one point. Still recovering! BRIT-nominated singer Cat Burns, the brilliant Shiv Dave, and Drag Race legend Victoria Scone. All steered beautifully by host Charley Marlowe.

The panel was a mix of light-hearted laughs and deeply personal moments. Each speaker brough their own unique perspective. From the soul-stirring presence of Cat Burns to the powerful presence and perspective of Shiv Dave. From the radiant joy that is Georgia Wood to the humour and honesty of Victoria Scone. Together, they talked about identity, visibility, dating, community, and everything in between, open, raw and unfiltered.

AMY SPALDING: THE QUIET FORCE BEHIND THE MAGIC

Despite being the reason we were all there, Amy Spalding never make the night about her. She introduced everyone and guided the night, but it never felt like it was hers alone, it felt shared. You could see and feel how deeply she cared about creating this space and letting others shine. She amplified the voices around her, and it was sincere, celebratory, and full of heart. Also, side note, I met her Mum, and she was lush!

It wasn’t just what was said on stage, it was the energy in the room. People showed up as themselves. In outfits that screamed this is who I am and dared anyone to question it. Queer couples cuddled up. Groups of friends rode the high of cocktails and community. Solo attendees glowed with ease. No judgement. No hierarchy. Just love. It felt like a collective exhale. Like everyone knew they were exactly where they were supposed to be.

MORE THAN AN EVENT: A LOVE LETTER TO QUEER JOY

I’m not gay, but I am proudly an ally. And it meant a lot to me to be able to witness and share an event like Dykonic Times. In a world that often feels like it’s falling apart, Dykonic Times was a reminder that joy, love, and queer community are always worth fighting for. It was more than a panel. It was a celebration of sapphic stories, of identity, and of being proudly, loudly, and fully yourself.

What made Dykonic Times so impactful was the balance. Light and heavy. Silly and serious. One minute you were laughing, the next you were holding back tears, but none of it feel performative. It was real. Raw, joyful, and messy in the best way. It felt a beautiful love letter to the queer community.

Dykonic Times was sponsored by NYX Cosmetics, who showed up hard with a banging goodie bag. You’ve got to love a brand that shows up for the LGBTQ+ community all year round, and not just for Pride Month.

DYKONIC TIMES, DYKONIC ENERGY

Big love to Amy, the SLT Studios team, and every single person who made Dykonic Times happen. And to every person who stepped on that stage and gave a little piece of themselves, thank you.

CLAPHAM GRAND | SLT STUDIOS

Photo Credit: Panel @lydsthatpicstook | Amy @phoebes_photographs_ | Group shot @jenny_graphic