To start off our new club reviews, TS decided to go with one of Stockholm’s favorite dance clubs, Solidaritet, a lavish club located in Stureplan. Last Saturday I got the chance to spend the night finding out what the club was all about and what exactly this gem of Stockholm’s nightlife brings to the city.
When I approached the club the entrance line was long – which is always a good sign. It was a very warm welcome from the start. I felt a good vibe as soon as I walked into the building with its precisely chosen colors, which complimented the desired mood. The first floor houses mainstream hits with a mix of vocal house and pop music by resident DJs. There are three small areas downstairs – one middle area that serves as a bit of an enclosed dance floor with the floor’s DJ, and then two areas on each side of the dance floor with a bar at each end.
You can go upstairs by two different ways. One is a simple straight staircase and the other is a uniquely designed staircase. Like something out of an old castle’s cellar, it’s a circular white stoned staircase that leads up to another bar upstairs. On the second floor there are different compartments and areas that you can hang out in. They have a bigger bar area that is technically outdoors but is covered almost completely. It has a high ceiling and a chilled vibe for light dancing and chatting with friends. Adjacent to the back of the small dance floor is the roped-off VIP section, with it’s comfier and classier surroundings and of course table service. There is yet one more room upstairs, with it’s own bar and dance floor where the guest DJ plays. This time it was Norman Doray – a famous French house DJ who has made his way around the world and into Solidaritet more than once.
One of the things that pleasantly surprised me while I was there was the way I was treated by the staff. Any time I asked the bartenders, staff, and bouncers a question each one answered me nicely and respectfully. I find more and more that unless you find yourself buying bottle after bottle in clubs, you are not treated with the utmost respect. That’s not to say the VIP isn’t treated well at Solidaritet. In the VIP area clubbers are certainly well catered to, as you would expect when they’re spending a small fortune on their Grey Goose and bottles of Champagne. I just applaud the fact that while I was there I felt surrounded by a friendly staff also outside of the VIP section.
The crowd was relaxed too. Everyone was just enjoying the atmosphere and Norman’s music. It gets a bit annoying when people get out of hand and act like no one else matters in the club but themselves. With house music at its peak, its easy to find the young people who don’t know how to behave appropriately, but Solidaritet shapes a night that leaves no room for those kind of people and that type of atmosphere. I appreciate that as someone who enjoys going out and dancing but also wants to be able to chill and enjoy friends’ company without being enclosed by a circus show.
The only negative I can find is in the small smoking room bar area upstairs. It is open-air space but because it’s such a tight area and so many people use it the smoke doesn’t do a great job at disappearing. It would be nice to have a larger area for smokers but I guess room just doesn’t permit. I’m sure smokers would say they love that they have the option to smoke without having to go out the front but I say its nicer to get the break anyways! To each their own…
Since I am pretty new to Stockholm I have the beauty of not hearing about all the stigmas and rumors that all the clubs receive in the city. I take them for what they are and I judge them on what I know. What I know is New York and I’ve found that the best clubs in New York are the best because they are multi-faceted. They have options. Solidaritet gives you options and that’s why it rates highly in my book!
From a dynamic feel-good show from Norman Doray to a friendly atmosphere and fun late night-dancing I would be happy to go back to Solidaritet more than one time over again!
I got a chance to chat with one of the owners of Solidaritet, Pierre Jarnbrink, who let us in on some history and what the essence of the club is…
How did Solidaritet’s story begin? And how was the name chosen?
The name is “stolen” from the first electronic music club that was around in Stockholm in the late 80´s and early 90´s. The name later on changed to G-klubben and hit the broad masses but we wanted it to connect to the original and best.
How would you define Solidaritet’s style?
Our style is a blend of commercial up-tempo music (downstairs) and upstairs is the latest in house, all genres, and all the great dj´s. The main theme is music.
What do you think Solidaritet brings to Stockholm’s nightlife?
We were the first club to get into EDM and really helped house music into Stockholm and moreover, Sweden. We’ve had all the great names playing in our club such as Swedish House Mafia, Tim Berg (Avicii), Pete Tong, Todd Terry, Stefano Noferini, Mark Knight, Chris Lake, Wally Lopez and many many more. So we think that we bring entertainment.
What is it that you love about being a part of Stockholm’s club and bar scene?
The fact that we actually were a part of bringing EDM to Sweden is fantastic to carry with you. Stockholmers are really picky with their choice of clubbing and knowing that so many chooses us every weekend gives you great deal of pleasure and the proof that you’re doing something right. That is why we love it and that is what motivates us.
