Day Fever: Vicky McClure brings discos to the daytime

If you ever thought clubbing was just for the under-25s stumbling home at 3am, think again.

Day Fever, the unstoppable daytime disco dreamt up by actor Vicky McClure, her husband Jonny Owen, and pals including Jon McClure of Reverend & The Makers, is flipping the nightlife script, one sunlit dancefloor at a time.

Born from a WhatsApp chat and now heading to 24 towns and cities in September – including locations close to Derbyshire in both Sheffield and Nottingham – Day Fever brings affordable, joy-filled clubbing into the daylight hours.

‘The first one sold out in two seconds,’ beams Vicky. ‘We did Nottingham, then Sheffield, then Merthyr and Cardiff and it just flew from there.’

It all started with a simple idea. ‘Jonny just said: “Have you ever seen those bars in town during the day? They’re rammed!’” laughs Jon. ‘We were like, come on then, let’s do it and it just went nuts.’

Now, this feel-good phenomenon sees people of all ages, literally from their 20s to their 70s, letting loose on packed dancefloors.

The events bring together people from all walks of life Photo: Chuff Media ‘We’ve had Jonny’s mum sneak in a bottle of gin and stash it in a bush outside in Cardiff,’ Jon jokes. ‘That’s the vibe – a bit of mischief, loads of laughs, and not a bit of trouble.’

And it’s that warmth, spontaneity, and inclusiveness that keeps people coming back.

Vicky’s voice lifts when she talks about the kind of people turning up to dance.

‘It’s mothers and daughters, friends reconnecting, people on chemo, people grieving, the list goes on,’ she explains.

‘These are your nurses, your cleaners, your teachers. These are the people keeping the world spinning and now they’ve got somewhere to let go and feel joy.’

One story that’s stayed with Vicky is a woman who had barely seen her friends or family unless it was for a wedding or a funeral.

‘Now she’s got a new frock every month, and she’s out at Day Fever,’ continues Vicki. ‘She goes shopping on a Friday night, gets her hair done, and makes a proper event of it. That’s magic, isn’t it?’

Inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword here, it’s baked into the experience.

Jonny Owen and Vicky McClure at a Day Fever event Photo: Chuff Media ‘We’ve had people in wheelchairs come up on stage, and the crowd goes wild. It’s electric. We want it to be accessible to everyone,’ says Vicky, visibly moved. ‘It makes your hairs stand on end.’

While you might catch a familiar face on the decks in the form of Jonny, Vicky, or even Jon’s wife Laura, most Day Fever events are led by local DJs.

‘We’ve been really selective,’ Vicky explains. ‘They know their crowd; they know what their people want to hear. And they’re smashing it.’

And yes, music is taken very seriously. ‘There’s a loose structure,’ Jon explains. ‘ A bit of Northern Soul to kick things off, disco, 80s bangers, 90s dance, a singalong, maybe some indie… but we always have Whitney. If Vicky’s there, it’s the law.’

‘Hits across the generations, that’s the key,’ grins Vicky. ‘We’ve done themed nights, even Christmas clubs. And we’ll ask, “Do you want more Christmas songs?” and they’re like “no, just give us the hits!” You just get a feel for it.’

Regional pride plays a part too. ‘Manchester goes mad for Oasis, Nottingham’s got its favourites, and we make sure to tap into that local energy,’ explains Vicky. ‘It’s about community, about people being together.’

The Line of Duty cast lend their support Photo: Chuff Media Regional pride is very much a part of Vicki’s makeup too. The BAFTA-award-winning actor, who was awarded an MBE for services to drama and to charity in 2023, was born and raised in Wollaton, just over the border in Nottinghamshire and still lives locally.

As such, Vicky retains a strong affiliation with neighbouring Derby and the county of Derbyshire.

‘I have a lot of time for the county and don’t live far away, just over the border in Nottinghamshire,’ says Vicky.

‘It’s a place I have visited frequently throughout my life. We’re really blessed here in the East Midlands to have some stunning towns and villages and, of course, wonderful countryside too.

‘When life can get a bit hectic, there’s nothing better than heading out into the Peak District to recharge and Jonny and I love to do that when we get the chance. That never gets old.’

While walks out into the Peak District may not be expensing, many things in this day and age are.

With so many entertainment options pricing people out, Day Fever deliberately keeps things cheap. ‘We’ve always wanted it to be affordable,’ Vicky continues. ‘A night out can be £100 easy. We didn’t want this to be that.’

‘Jonny said from day one that it’s for ordinary people – families, people with kids, for example. We’re not here to rip people off.’

Venues love it too. ‘We shut up shop at 8pm,’ Vicky explains. ‘They do a quick turnaround and run their usual night from 10pm. They’re making great takings and reaching a new crowd in the process. It’s been a game changer for lots of clubs.’

If Day Fever feels like a family party, that’s because… it kind of is.

‘Jonny and I are married, Jon’s wife DJs, his brother Chris and childhood friend Jamie are involved. Even Jonny’s daughter Katie’s behind the decks,’ Vicky laughs. ‘It’s one big gang, and when people come through the doors, they’re part of it too.’

It’s not uncommon to see Vicky herself dancing on stage with partygoers, selfies flying and smiles everywhere.

‘When people realise we’re just there to have fun too, that we’re not up on a pedestal, they really get into it,’ she adds. ‘And I mean, come on, when do you get to go clubbing with your mum?!’

With festivals such as Splendour and Reverend & The Makers’ 20th anniversary show taking place in Sheffield this summer, things are scaling up—but slowly.

‘We’ve had offers to take it abroad, but we’re being really careful,’ Vicky concludes. ‘It’s only 18 months old, although it feels like a decade, and we want to make sure we look after what we’ve built.’

They’ve even announced their own Day Fever Festival, which is due to take place at Nottingham’s Arboretum this month, on August 23 and there’s plenty more in the pipeline.

‘We’ve got loads of ideas,’ she teases. ‘But for now, we’re just really enjoying this moment. It’s simple, and it works.’

Vicky and the gang are making ‘clubbing’ accessible for all ages Photo: Chuff Media Even with their busy schedules – Vicky is currently filming the next series of the popular BBC drama Trigger Point and Jon, a producer, actor and writer, is the other side of the world touring Australia – both say they miss it when they’re away.

‘It sounds a bit daft,’ Jon laughs, ‘but Day Fever really does cheer me up. You leave feeling lighter.’

And that’s the magic, really. Day Fever isn’t just a disco, it’s a dose of pure happiness.

UPCOMING CLUB DATES CLOSE TO DERBYSHIRE:

August 20: Nottingham Rock City

September 6: Birmingham O2 Institute

September 6: Sheffield City Hall

September 13: Leicester Athena

September 13: Nottingham Rock City

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