Superfly City: Leicester's House Music Institution

When you think of Leicester's electronic music heritage, one name has been pushing boundaries and filling dance floors for nearly two decades: Superfly. Born from the legendary venue at 2 King Street in 2008, Superfly has evolved from a four-floor nightclub into a thriving house music collective that continues to define the sound of the Midlands for upfront and underground house music.

From Council Social Club to Dance Music Mecca

The story of Superfly is intrinsically linked to one of Leicester's most iconic buildings. The venue at 2 King Street has quite the pedigree - built in 1930 as insurance offices, it transformed into Leicester City Council's private staff social club in 1980 before evolving through various incarnations as Lizard Lounge and Original Four. But it was in 2008 when the space truly found its calling, reborn as Superfly and destined to become Leicester's premier destination for electronic dance music.

What set Superfly apart from the beginning was its ambitious vision. While other venues focused on a single sound or demographic, Superfly opened its doors four evenings a week across four newly refurbished floors, each offering a distinct musical journey. From deep house to dubstep, Motown classics to drum and bass, disco edits to chart-topping mashups - this was the all-round club experience Leicester had been waiting for.

The building itself exudes huge character. Dominating Market Street - with its haunted house / meet’s gentleman's club aesthetic and grand mock-Tudor architecture, it provided the perfect backdrop for the sophisticated yet unpretentious atmosphere that would become Superfly's signature. The venue quickly established itself as the only spot in the Leicester postcode offering an elite showcase of electronic dance music artists, attracting both internationally recognised guests and the finest in local residents and the biggest headline acts in the scene.

The Golden Era: 2008-2012

During its peak years operating from 2 King Street, Superfly became synonymous with quality bookings and unforgettable nights. The venue's reputation for forward-thinking programming brought some of the biggest names in electronic music to Leicester's dance floors.

In August 2010, the venue hosted Total Kaos, a massive drum and bass event featuring an absolutely stacked lineup: DJ SS, DJ Promo, Fearless, G1, Kenny Ken, Mastersafe, O Jay, and Warren G. This wasn't just a club night - it was a statement of intent, proving that Leicester could compete with any city in the UK for world-class dance music.

The following year, 2011, saw Superfly cement its status as a house music destination. Progressive house maestro James Zabiela brought his technical wizardry to the decks in April, while house music aficionados Death on the Balcony and Soul Clap delivered their infectious blend of disco-infused grooves in March. These weren't just bookings - they were carefully curated experiences that showcased the breadth and depth of house music's many ultra flavours.

But Superfly was more than just a vessel for international talent. The club cultivated a family of resident DJs who understood the dancefloor intimately, building the energy week after week and creating that essential connection between the booth and the crowd. These residents became the heartbeat of the venue, the trusted guides who could read a room and take dancers on a proper journey.

SONiDO: A Night to Remember

One of the most significant chapters in Superfly's history was its relationship with SONiDO, a house and techno event series that called the venue home and brought truly special moments to Leicester. SONiDO wasn't content to just book big names- they created experiences, hosting parties in Ibiza and transforming unconventional spaces around Leicester, from car parks to courtyards, into heaving dance floors.

The night's second birthday on October 1st, 2010, exemplified everything that made both SONiDO and Superfly special. Welsh house music royalty Jamie Jones - before his Paradise parties would make him a global superstar - headlined with his discofied deepness and strobe-lit house. Supporting him were Death on the Balcony fresh from providing DJ Weekly's first(!) podcast, ready to blur the lines between house and disco.

SONiDO's resident team of Sölberg & Martinez, Rich Fawcett, and Jon Brooks had cultivated something special - a night that could hold its own alongside Europe's coolest house and techno events. And in true Superfly fashion, there was diversity: room two featured a Brazilian takeover by Run Chamada, complete with live Capoeira performances, Ninja Tune's Peter Parker, and residents Jon 1st (a UK DMC finalist and later on winner!) and Dan Tanda delivering their unique flavor.

This ability to offer multiple experiences under one roof - the main room's sleek house and techno balanced by the second room's more eclectic, bass-driven sounds - defined Superfly's golden era.

More Than Just Music

What made Superfly truly special wasn't just what happened in the DJ booth. The venue understood that a great night out is a holistic experience. Behind the bar, Leicester's finest cocktail makers created liquid magic, using carefully selected ingredients and only premium spirits. The mid-week deals became legendary: three cocktails and three shots for just £10. This wasn't about getting people wasted - it was about making quality accessible and ensuring everyone could afford to have a great time - it was the house party you never had to clean up after.

The atmosphere combined sophistication with genuine warmth. The staff knew regulars by name. The crowd was diverse but united by their love of proper dance music. There was a sense of community, of belonging to something special. You weren't just going to a nightclub - you were part of the Superfly family.

Evolution and Legacy

As Leicester's nightlife landscape evolved, so too did Superfly. The venue at 2 King Street later transformed into XY before eventually becoming Buddha Bay and That's Amore. But the Superfly name and ethos didn't disappear - it evolved, becoming less about a single physical space and more about a movement, a sound, a philosophy.

Today, Superfly lives on as a resident collective, hosting weekly Saturday nights at Après Lounge in Leicester's Garden of Dreams since 2017. The monthly Superfly Radio Show, hosted by long term resident and now under his 4th (or 5th) moniker of Jacque La Maison the show is curated by the Superfly family of residents, keeps the fire burning. Each episode delivers upfront house mixes, deeper grooves, guest spotlights featuring handpicked house selectors and producers, and throwback gems from the time machine.

The show's segments - The Fly Mix, Garden Grooves, and The Time Machine - reflect that same diversity that made the original venue special. Whether you're after exclusive edits and certified dancefloor weapons or proper deep house whoppers from the residency, Superfly continues to deliver monthly doses of what they do best: making people dance, smile, and lifting them up.

The Superfly Spirit

What is it about Superfly that has allowed it to endure while so many other nights have faded into memory? Perhaps it's the unwavering commitment to quality - both in bookings and in the experience itself. Perhaps it's the genuine love for house music that radiates from everyone involved. Or perhaps it's simply that intangible magic that happens when the right people come together in the right place with the right soundtrack.

SONiDO no longer a running event, but one etched in the memeory - was still bringing those special moments to Leicester with bookings that have included MK, Paul Woolford, Rich NxT, and Subb-an alongside the original headliner Jamie Jones. The connection between these events and the Superfly legacy shows how deeply intertwined Leicester's house music community truly is.

The Future Is Superfly

As we look toward the future, Superfly remains committed to its founding principles: pushing musical boundaries, creating unforgettable experiences, and building community through the power of dance music. The Saturday residency at Après Lounge represents not an ending but a new chapter - a chance to take everything learned over nearly two decades and distill it into weekly house music at its finest.

For those who remember sweating it out across those four floors at 2 King Street, for those who witnessed Jamie Jones' Leicester appearance before he conquered the world, for those who danced until 4am at King Street - and wondered onto Basement and Sophbeck til the sun came up. Superfly remains a cornerstone, a reminder of what made Leicester's electronic music scene special.

And for the new generation discovering Superfly through the radio show or catching their Saturday night residency, there's still that same energy, that same commitment to the music, and that same invitation: join in the love, the hype, the banter, and experience something truly Superfly.

As Georgi Porgi once said, life goes on. The journey continues, and Leicester's house music heart keeps pumping - powered by Superfly City and a whole host of brands. The scene is very much alive and well, and it’s great to be a part of it.

Thanks to everyone who came to our 17th birthday - Retrouve and Tre Reynolds for headlining and the Superfly family of residents for playing.