Suzy Mason

Club promoter and archivist - Speedqueen and Love Conquers Clubland

Suzy grew up in Leeds. When the club she wanted didn’t exist in a male dominated industry, she created it co founding Vague and then SpeedQueen
Running every Saturday night from 1992 to late 2000s they challenged the acceptance of sexism, homophobia, racism, ageism and ableism in clubland at the time
The clubs became emblematic of what Leeds could be: inclusive, supportive, rooted in community and an incredible amount of fun
Vague was the first purpose built mixed safe space in the city and Speedqueen was a social enterprise before they existed. When most clubs were going to Ibiza, Speedqueen was invited by the British Army to work with NATO in war torn Bosnia on peace building and reconciliation programmes through dance music for displaced youth and children
She now runs Love Conquers Clubland a local archive project focusing on women’s and overlooked people’s experiences in clubland.

Love Conquers Clubland is a community archive project focusing on women’s, overlooked and undocumented people’s experiences in clubland. The club scene in Leeds has a long and proud history. Participating in club cultures and communities plays an important part in people's identity formation, creative expression and sense of self. Capturing the positive impact of clubbing on people's lives and to a city's cultural and creative landscape is notoriously difficult. Flyers, photos, posters may exist as material artefacts but stories, feelings and memories from the clubbers themselves rather than the main industry players are rarely told in a way that is publicly shared or celebrated
The project is a collaboration between original 90’s clubbers and young people in the city interested in club culture