Magic Door at Lab11 Birmingham review

Image: Magic Door

Magic Door is more of an experiential journey than a club night. For its first event of the year the brand returned to Birmingham’s Lab11; a large warehouse that from the outside totally concealed the carnival-esque mayhem occurring within.

The motley crew assembling in the queue outside, every one of them drenched in glitter, were the only hint at the vibrant extravaganza that awaited. Upon entry, you’re handed a magic bean, and ushered by the infamous Guardian of the Door to the Crafty Girls in the Transformation Tent. Here, the bean can be swapped for a glittery makeover and an array of wigs and props, allowing ravers to really immerse themselves in this outrageous haven.

The venue was a vibrant maze, with one tented area trimmed with colourful fairy lights, an indoor room with neon beams on the ceiling and a huge terrace and outdoor area that gave it a real festival feel. There was an overwhelmingly positive atmosphere, with staff, including the bouncers, being talkative and accommodating, in fact the only downside to this festival influence was the porter loos but even they were upgraded from your regular disastrous toilet trip.

The terrace’s décor included huge hanging cubes onto which morphing patterns were projected. It was a ridiculous, sensory spectacular with furry walls lining the perimeter, delighting party goers who stroked them in amazement. The euphoric disco-techno sets fit the vibe of the event perfectly and we spent the majority of the night in the large terrace enjoying the energetic tunes.

Magic Door regular Deano Ferrino, dressed up in a funky fur coat and masterfully commanded the crowd. Playing addictive tunes like Waze & Odyssey’s 'Down With Tha', which had the terrace exploding with energy. Juke of Hazard’s closing set was particularly impressive, especially as by this point legs were starting to tire. But with some ridiculously infectious rhythms, like 'Untitled' (Mark Broom Edit; Taken From Moveable) by Robert Hood, they managed to pump life back into the crazed crowd.

By the end of the night, as we spilled out onto the street, glitter and sequins were slightly askew but grins remained firmly in place and we already missed the magical wonderland that is Magic Door.