Sohomo styling: Less as sometimes more The Lonely Planet travel guide calls Sohomo "the scene's coolest party," and Metro magazine describes it as "Auckland's undisputed big gay night out." Whatever did we do on Thursday nights before Sohomo? Sohomo night was launched on Friday 26 October 2007 – and promoter Paul Phillips tells us that it seems like yesterday. "We just wanted to create a night that me and my friends would enjoy, with people and DJs that we knew – so I was really glad so many people enjoyed it, and it's kept growing." Each fortnightly event has its own theme, with bands (often in a special last appearance in NZ before they jet off to find international fame), DJs (who will rock-out for half an hour… and then play a surprise Kylie track), avant-garde appearances (no, not your usual K' Road suspects – instead some bewildering beauties sourced from Melbourne and London), visuals (from '80's kids shows), fashion (Sohomo's Fashion Week night was one of its most popular – it was the place to be seen), and they've even tried speed-dating and hanky-code nights – as if the crowd need any extra encouragement! Sohomo also got a capacity turnout in Wellington this June, and will now visit the capital quarterly whenever Cuba Street's popular San Francisco Bath House venue is available. We'll let you know when the next one's confirmed. Visiting: Sydney's Bang Gang DJs Phillips, who's now a full-time event promoter and band manager, says he's hoping to keep growing his contacts in Sydney and Melbourne – and hints that an Aussie Sohomo night is in the planning stages. Plus he's not forgetting Auckland's Hero Festival in February: "This year's Hero sneaked up on us a bit – we were included, but didn't organise anything really special for it. But we'll definitely be ready for the next one and want to really go for it." Meanwhile, Sohomo's epic first birthday bash happens on Friday 17 October – with international guest DJ troupe Bang Gang Deejays visiting from their regular Sydney clubbing night and playing tracks from their latest CD release. Christchurch four-piece band Bang!Bang!Eche will also appear, in their last New Zealand show before they move to New York to play at the prestigious CMJ music festival and begin a new record contract. We hear there's a free Becks for the first 100 through the door, and there'll be an exhibition of all the Sohomo event posters from the past year. Happy birthday Sohomo! Find more details about their first birthday and future Sohomo nights on GayNZ.com's Event Guide and on Sohomo's official website, linked below. Matt Akersten - 9th October 2008