New LGBT party to launch at revamped Shampoo

The party isn’t over at a renovated nightclub that dominated the Philadelphia nightlife scene for nearly two decades.

In fact, it’s about to start over.

SuperStar is a new monthly LGBT night premiering 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Jan. 26 at Devotion Nightclub, 417 N. Eighth St. The event will mark the grand opening of Devotion, formerly Shampoo Nightclub.

The party will return every fourth Saturday of the month.

Co-producer Bruce Yelk, who started developing the project six months ago, said SuperStar will be similar in format to FriGAYS, Shampoo’s LGBT-themed night.

According to Yelk, SuperStar will include a celebrity tie-in every month. This month’s party will feature a performance by British pop star Neon Hitch, the songstress behind hits “Love U Betta” and “Gold.”

It will feature three separate DJs on each of the club’s floors.

SuperStar will also bring new music, Yelk said.

FriGAYs largely featured hip-hop and Latin music, but Yelk said the new party will incorporate more indie-pop-dance.

He anticipates the party will attract a diverse crowd.

“I feel like there is a little bit of something for anyone. It is geared towards everyone.”

Yelk said the general flow of Devotion will remain similar to that of Shampoo, but new furniture, bar tops, finishes and projection systems will be implemented. A new video system, which will project images, scenes and graphics to create different atmospheres for parties, also is being installed.

Yelk added that the main DJ booth will be reformatted to allow for the DJ to be more immersed in the crowd.

“The club will look modern, hip and fresh,” he said.

Devotion will resume the same 9 p.m.-3 a.m. hours as Shampoo had and will cater to a 21-and-over crowd.

Yelk has high hopes for the success of Devotion, especially because of Shampoo’s legacy.

“This is the club that started late-night parties in the city,” he said. “There is a lot of interest and a lot of buzz and people are interested to go back. For the young demographic, they have never been here before, so it will be exciting for them.”

For more information, visit www.superstarphilly.com.

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