R&B vinyl dance party finds home in Olde Towne East bar
Pop into Olde Towne East’s cherished cocktail bar, The Oracle, on the third Saturday of the month, and you may be surprised to find that you’ve been fully transported to Candy Rain – a 1990’s house party where local DJs spin 90’s-2000’s R&B vinyl while everyone else sweats their hearts (and cocktails) out on the iconic checkered dance floor.
DJ Lady Sandoval, otherwise known as Sara Rose, dreamed of a space where “girls, gays, and theys” could gather and dance away to the vinyl she’s been collecting since 2001. She connected with another local vinyl DJ, Vicky Sixx, in 2019, and the rest is history. The Oracle welcomed their vinyl dance party concept with open arms, making way for Candy Rain to become an integral part of the Columbus community. “A big reason why the Oracle works so well for Candy Rain is the fact that it’s a bar in a literal house, which makes every Candy Rain feel like a house party. That intimacy in the venue helps people lower their inhibitions a bit. You don’t feel like you’re on display at some massive club – there’s no sterility to the space. It’s lived in and cozy, which are exactly the vibes I love for Candy Rain,” Lady Sandoval explains.
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Other turntablists spinning at Candy Rain include Dorian Ham, Topher Guenther, Matt Hazelbaker, Adam Scoppa, and Chris Sherman. But when Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, or JLO is blasting, guest DJ Brett Jones is probably the one behind the booth pumping out jams, wearing pigtails and a mesh shirt. Brett has helped set the tone for inclusivity through his bold outfits (or lack thereof!), unapologetic dancing, and outspoken social media presence. Lady Sandoval emphasizes that, “He’s not only provided inspiration for others, but he’s also given unspoken permission for everyone to feel sexy in the way that works for them.” Everyone is welcome to join and let loose at Candy Rain, but the DJs and The Oracle want to reiterate that everyone needs to abide by a respectful code of conduct and consent.If gyrating with friends and strangers to funky & sultry songs like “Juicy Fruit” by Mtume and “Doin It” by LL Cool J at a cocktail-bar-turned-house-party sounds like your vibe, the next Candy Rain is May 20th from 9PM-2AM, and every third Saturday of the month. You can find more info and other cool events at The Oracle by following their Instagram account. We’ll see you on the dance floor!
Want to read more? Check out our print publication, (614) Magazine. Learn where you can find a free copy of our new May issue here!
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