
In the UK especially, handbag house became emblematic of the clubbing culture. The accessibility of diva house lead to the mainstreaming of gay club music. In the 1990s, as gay clubs and gay culture became more mainstream so did house music. Dance culture's usage of the word 'handbag house' started life as a derogatory term. The term "handbag house" appears to be particularly popular on British dancefloors and refers to the notion of a group of female club-goers dancing around a pile of their handbags. This bombastic genre can include songs performed by dance specialists as well as club remixes of pop songs by singers such as Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston. Such samples come from soul, disco, gospel recordings and even show tunes performed by singers like Bette Midler, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, and other gay icons. The term "diva house" was in use as early as July 1992, when Billboard magazine described "What Are We Doin'" by Dee Dee Simone as "iron-lunged diva-house." It is known for booming unisex vocals, sometimes sampled from other recordings. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary British Culture defines handbag house as having "prominent female vocals, breakdowns, and a proliferation of piano 'stabs'." Modern diva house compositions use synth stabs and four on the floor rhythms. Check their schedule for upcoming events.ĭiva’s won the 2013 Valley Advocates Best of Western Mass in several categories: best nightclub (straight and GLBT), best place for a bachelorette party, and best place to hear a DJ.Camp (style) – Diva – Gay culture – Computer music – Record labels – Gay icon – Circuit party – Gay anthem – Gay prideĭiva house or handbag house is an anthemic subgenre of house music that became most popular in gay clubs during the second half of the 1990s. You’ll find reality stars putting on a show, comedians, international DJs, live bands, and more. Without question, Fridays are the most diverse night. Friday nights feature EDM music from local and national DJs, with a cover that varies from week to week. The cover is $7 and it’s open to anyone 18 and over. Haven’s is a quarterly goth and industrial dance party, which typically takes place on the last Thursday of the month. Drag wars, drag kings, diva dolls, and unique drag themed events all make the final cut on a regular basis.

On most Wednesday nights you can be treated to 18 and up drag shows, which rotate on a weekly basis. Their website is frequently updated with the latest changes and additions.

Consistently open on Wednesday through Saturdays, they sometimes drop the rope on other nights for special events. Diva’s Nightclub, located in Northampton, is one of the premier nightclubs of western Massachusetts.
