The countdown is now really on for the regions only roller skating venue, Rollerdrome, opening its doors at Invisible Wind Factory on Saturday May 22nd.
The team are close to fully unveiling their bold and immersive concept, reimagined as an interplanetary disco, with live and streamed DJs sets from Liverpool Disco Festival’s United Skates parties across every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and a variety of programming during the week. Skaters of all abilities are welcome, from beginners to advanced across a range of classes.
Central to the Rollerdrome’s ethos is focusing on activities that promote physical, mental and social well-being, all of which have been challenged during the last 15 months. The IWF team are combining the burgeoning craze of roller skating with music, distilled through their visionary approach to events. Roller skating has enjoyed a huge boom during the pandemic and now this is coming indoors.
Weekly events at IWF’s Rollerdrome:
Wednesdays – Beginner’s Classes
Thursdays – Laces Out – Hip-hop, soul and funk
Fridays – Hustle on House and Disco tip celebrating skate culture sounds of NY, Chicago, Detroit.
Saturdays – Liverpool Disco Festival – LDF day with Classic & Rare Disco, Funk, Soul, Boogie, Jazz-Funk & worldwide sounds
Sundays – IWF Sunday Skate Sessions
United Skates are programming each weekend with live DJ sets and streamed shows. Guests and events already confirmed include Mafalda, Mr. Thing, Jimpster, An ‘End of Term session on 4th-5th June with LDF X Soul Jam, SecretSundaze, a ‘We Out Here’ festival takeover with Rebecca Vasmant (World Wide FM), Rich Medina, Jovonn & DJ Spen (Thurs-Friday respectively). Further ahead, on Saturday 26th June there’s an all day skate session with special guest Marcel Vogel followed by an after party featuring Danilo Plessow / Motor City Drum Ensemble Jeremy Underground, Dam Swindle and Marcel Vogel with LDF DJs on support. Then on Friday 30th July as part of Liverpool Disco Festival 8 ‘Freedom Weekender’ is very special guest Natasha Diggs performing a disco skate set.
Wednesdays at the Rollerdrome is all about getting started and is suitable for beginners for all ages. Sessions will be hosted by the coaches from Liverpool Roller Birds, Liverpool’s own roller derby team. They will teach the key fundamentals such as proper skating posture, balance, skating, falling safely, stopping and more.
IWF Sunday Skate Sessions is the regular family friendly all dayer for families and groups of friends to come and skate, eat, drink and enjoy to good music. Rhythm Sport and friends will host the opening Sunday, The bank holiday Sunday programme, curated by the in-house Windy Rollers troop, will include sets from Twindependent Women, sneakBeats, Buddha and Jacques Malchance. June 6th will see the decks taken over by local collective Lime and June 13th by Melodic Distraction. Later in the summer, dates TBA, there will be further performances, takeovers and collaborations to come from Africa Oye, Stealing Sheep DJs and more.
Some of the new additions to Invisible Wind Factory include a permanent wooden dance floor and a range of quality skating gear to hire. There will be street food from Invisiburger serving mind-blowing meatless burgers, vegan shakes and sides with carnivores catered for too, and a bar service with cocktails, soft drinks and more.
Currently five days per week are programmed with many different time slots to choose from – full info, dates and times can be found at www.iwf-rollerdrome.com
