Published: 1 September, 2011
by ROISIN GADELRAB

IT’S become a tradition, a black hole of depression into which indie kids followed by grey clouds disappear at the heart of the N1 Centre in Angel on a Saturday night.

For six years, Feeling Gloomy, at the 02 Academy in Islington, has been the destination for those who revel in the dark tones of the likes of The Smiths, Leonard Cohen and other maestros of the art of miserability, if such a word can exist.

We’ve highlighted this charcoal beacon before but with the night’s sixth birthday looming, we wanted to remind those who haven’t been for a while and bring it to the attention of any other brooding souls hiding behind closed curtains who may have missed out on this joy, sorry wretchedness.

So, on Saturday, September 17, there will be a birthday celebration of sorts.

In a gesture not quite in the Gloomy spirit, the guys behind Islington’s most successful misery fest are offering to buy every visitor a pint of beer and dish out Feeling Gloomy T-Shirts.

There will even be a birthday cake. And if the freebies are not temptation enough, there will be a special birthday performance by indie air guitarists The Miser­ablists, a set by DJ Grim Reaper and as many sad songs as one can cram into a desolate night.

From humble beginnings – inspiration struck creator Carl while listening to Morrissey in bed one day when he was down on his luck more than six years ago – the gloom has now spread worldwide.

Carl and co-founder Mike Toller have created a monster so much in demand that it has expanded to New York and Berlin with more international ventures on the way.

Carl said: “When we started Mike and I said if we make it to six years then it will be a miracle. Well here we are and we are both delighted and somewhat shocked.”

Over the years, the night has diversified, with one particular highlight being Gloom Aid, held on the gloom­iest day of the year in aid of Depression Alliance, attracting musicians and comedians including Daniel Kitson, Marc Watson and Robin Ince. And regular visitors will find misery loves company so much that the Down with Dating nights have featured such delights as Speed Hating and Blind Hate – you get the picture.

They’ve even ventured across the border to play the Camden Crawl.

For this year’s celebrations, Mike said: “We asked the customers what they wanted this year and basically it came back, ‘beer and good music’.

Well, the music we can do but to fulfil the other part we decided to say thanks to all our loyal customers by buying them a pint, nothing fancy mind, but a pint none the less and it’s free to one and all.”

• More info from www.FeelingGloomy.com