ONE Archives Foundation’s Queer Noise Event Honors Jewel’s Catch One

For one night only, the marquee found at the historic site of LA’s premiere queer black disco will once again read the words, “Catch One.”

The permanent rebrand of UNION nightclub to Catch One is a part of ONE Archives Foundation’s event Queer Noise, featuring a queer ensemble of live music and djs.

This Sunday, ONE Archives Foundation will honor Jewel Thais-Williams at Catch One, the same space where she made history.

 

 

 

 

 

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We are excited to announce that Jewel Thais-Williams will receive the ONE Archives Foundation‘s History Maker Award at QUEER NOISE! . The former club owner and longtime health advocate will be honored as part of QUEER NOISE. The celebratory night will feature live music, DJs, and performance across multiple rooms at Catch One, the legendary Los Angeles nightclub that Thais-Williams founded and managed for over four decades. . We are excited to celebrate with you! Buy your QUEER NOISE tickets now via the link in bio!

A post shared by ONE Archives (@onearchives) on Oct 8, 2018 at 3:32pm PDT

For many in the queer community, nightlife has served and still serves as a point of liberation and catharsis from a world that skews white and heterosexual. The legendary Catch One and Jewel Thais-Williams are a testament to that.

In 1973, when being LGBTQ also meant staying in the closet, and when many queer nightlife spaces were reserved for white folk, the only diverse spaces for QPOC to coexist in Los Angeles were a few dive bars.

After being denied entry to many queer underground spaces based on being black or lesbian, Jewel Thais-Williams decided to create their own space. Enter: Jewel’s Catch One.

For over 40 years, Jewel’s Catch One provided a safe space for black queer people in the face of systemic racism, the AID’s epidemic of the 1980s and a 1985 arson attack that almost left the venue in ashes.

Referred to by many as the unofficial Studio 54 of the West Coast, Catch One played host to such legends as Janet Jackson, Madonna, Chaka Khan, Rick James, Thelma Houston and more.

In addition to honoring Jewel Thais-Williams, Queer Noise will also host R&B afro-futurist Kelela. Last week, Kelela released a remixed edition of her highly successful album Take Me Apart featuring a stable of cutting-edge queer talents in music and nightlife. This Sunday will be Kelela’s first LA appearance since the release of Take Me Apart: The Remixes and the setting could not be more perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Queer Noise will also feature a number of other QPOC artists in Los Angeles including SAN CHA, BAE BAE, Rush Davis, Solomon Georgio, Thurmon Green, Liza Dye and more and an immersive presentation by Los Angeles’s iconoclastic party Mustache.

 

 

 

 

 

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Joining us at QUEER NOISE is San Cha (@el_sancha)! . San Cha is a vocal priestess known for her explosive, visceral and emotional live performances. A Femme Xicanx Goddess, her name is derived from the spanish word ‘sancha’ which translates to ‘mistress’, and is also a reference to the title of ‘San’ given to male saints in the catholic tradition. Captivating audiences with their blend of Mexican Folk Music, Cumbia and Punk while twirling around the stage, San Cha will you leave you inspired, healed and transformed. . Buy your tickets now by visiting the link in our bio!

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These days it sometimes feels like QPOC are under fire from every angle. The significance of a Queer Ethiopian woman like Kelela and additionally Queer Chicanx woman like SAN CHA, among many more others, coming together to honor a legend who created space for herself and others marginalized, is all the makings for a very beautiful and historical evening. 

To purchase your tickets for Queer Noise, visit the ONE Archives Foundation Website. Anyone purchasing a ticket for the event will also receive a membership to the ONE Archives Foundation’s new membership program.