The LGBTQ+ community has a long history intertwined with electronic music and club culture. The roots of clubbing stem all the way back to the 1970s and 80s, in cities like New York and London, where an underground dance culture was created by marginalised groups including the queer community and POC. Disco and house music were becoming popular, and club venues were safe havens where queer people and minorities could express themselves freely, and indulge in escapism from the discrimination and violence they faced every day.

Cork City has its own history with queer club culture. In 1983, Loafers Bar opened in Cork and became a safe space for LGBTQ+ people. Queer people found refuge and community there, at a time when homosexuality was still a criminal offence in Ireland. Considered the longest running gay bar in Ireland, Loafers finally closed its doors in 2015. Contemporary queer spaces like Chambers, which opened in 2006, faced controversy and backlash after giving up its long established status as a queer bar.

The owners changed the venue’s name, redecorated, took down Pride flags and posters, and cancelled the weekly drag show. It had a huge impact on the local queer community, who were left feeling abandoned with no space to feel safe, and monetarily affected as local drag queens loss a huge source of income. However, the local queer community in Cork are taking power into their own hands.

Dave Kienrowski, also known by his DJ name Acid Dave, founded MILK in September 2024. MILK is an electronic music party in Cork City, running regular events at local venue Nudes, “by queer people, for queer people and allies.” Dave found his inspiration to start MILK through attending queer parties in Dublin and London. “I found it inspiring because it was always such a nice crowd, so much connection. It was just different from going out in some normal bar.” He saw how these queer nights created safe spaces in the city’s nightlife, away from people and venues who can be less accepting. Dave also cited Mockie Ah, a group who regularly host queer nights and events around Cork City and elsewhere, as having a huge influence on his decision to start MILK. “It was something different and it’s a place just for queers as well. It makes that sense of community and belonging, that’s what it’s all about.”

“With a queer space, you have to set the intention: this is a queer space. I love straight people going to it as well, I always put up a post saying allies and friends are always welcome. But just to be mindful of the space that you’re in, how you use it, and the space you’re taking up. And if people don’t have a problem with that then they should be there absolutely. If you go to a place that’s not queer, you don’t know if you can feel safe there. If it’s not run by queer people, it’s not the same thing.”

In regards to the music they play at MILK parties, Dave spoke about how a lot of electronic parties in Cork and Dublin played a specific type of music, often playing harder genres like techno. At MILK parties, the DJs lean into more dance focused styles of electronic music, including progressive house, trance, and 90’s old school. “I’m very focused on curating the sound. So usually for the night I set an intention that this is the vibe, and we’re going with this. It’s kind of inspired by a lot of queer culture and queer parties all over.”

The response from MILK’s parties has been overwhelmingly positive, Dave’s been receiving plenty of DMs from people expressing how much they enjoyed the night and how the space he created was so nice to be in. He’s even received positive feedback from employees of the venue, Nudes, where MILK takes place. They commented that the party always brings in a lovely crowd.

“From day one it’s just been a very consistent, nice community of people that started going there. No one’s fighting, no one’s rowdy. It’s very intentional, everyone who’s there wants to be there.”

Looking towards the future of MILK, Dave said he had no desire to try to expand the party or host outside of Cork. “Part of what makes it what it is, is that it’s in Cork and the people that go to it.” Instead, he’s focused on retaining what makes MILK special, and finding unique ways to build on that concept. After a successful night where he brought in two drag queens to perform alongside the DJs, he’s hoping to diversify what MILK offers as a party. “Maybe make more social aspects like an open decks or social events before, just for people to get to know each other, different interactions not just a party. Some smaller things that tie it all together.”