Somewhere along the way, clubbing acquired rules. It happens after dark, it costs a fortune, and it belongs to the under-25s, who will be stumbling home at 3am while the rest of us are asleep. Day Fever, the daytime disco dreamt up by actor Vicky McClure, her husband Jonny Owen and pals including Jon McClure of Reverend & The Makers, has torn up all three, and the results speak for themselves. “The first one sold out in two seconds,” Vicky beams. “We did Nottingham, then Sheffield, then Merthyr and Cardiff and it just flew from there.”
The origin story is gloriously low-tech: a WhatsApp chat and a hunch. “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 went nuts.”
What went nuts now fills venues in towns and cities across the UK with people from their 20s to their 70s, all letting loose in daylight hours with none of the aggro that can shadow a regular night out. “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: bit of mischief, loads of laughs, and not a hint of trouble.”
Ask Vicky who actually comes and her voice lifts. “It’s mothers and daughters, friends reconnecting, people on chemo, people grieving. 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 has stayed with her, about 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. She goes shopping Friday night, gets her hair done, and makes a proper event of it. That’s magic, isn’t it?”
Inclusivity here is not a line in a press pack; it is the whole point. “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. “It makes your hairs stand on end.”
You might catch a familiar face on the decks, whether Jonny, Vicky or Jon’s wife Laura, but 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.”
The music is taken very seriously indeed. “There’s a loose structure,” Jon explains. “Bit of Northern Soul to kick off, disco, 80s bangers, 90s dance, a singalong, maybe some indie, but we always have Whitney. If Vicky’s there, it’s the law.” Vicky grins: “Hits across the generations, that’s the key. We’ve done themed nights, even Christmas clubs. And we’ll ask, ‘Do you want more Christmas songs?’ and they’re like, ‘Nah, just give us the hits!’” She laughs. “You just get a feel for it.”
Each city gets its own flavour too. “Manchester goes mad for Oasis, Nottingham’s got its favourites, and we make sure to tap into that local energy,” says Vicky. “It’s about community, about people being together.”
Then there is the price, which in an era of entertainment that seems determined to price ordinary people out feels almost like a clerical error. “We’ve always wanted it to be affordable. A night out can easily cost £100. We didn’t want this to be that,” Vicky says. Jon adds: “Jonny said from day one it’s for ordinary people. Families, people with kids. We’re not here to rip people off.”
The venues are not complaining either. “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. It’s been a game changer for loads of clubs.” Everybody wins, including whoever gets your babysitter home by nine.
If Day Fever feels like a family party, that is because it more or less is one. “Jonny and I are married, Jon’s wife Laura 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.”
That extends to the founders themselves, who are usually in the thick of it rather than watching from the wings. It is not uncommon to find Vicky dancing on stage with partygoers while the selfies fly. “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 says. “And I mean, come on, when do you get to go clubbing with your mum?!”
Even with the day jobs, Vicky back on set for Line of Duty and Jon touring with Reverend & The Makers, both admit to missing it when they are away. “Sounds a bit daft,” Jon chuckles, “but Day Fever cheers me up. You leave feeling lighter.” Which is the whole thing, really. Day Fever is not just a disco. It is a dose of pure happiness, home by bedtime.
Tickets and dates at day-fever.com. Follow Day Fever on Facebook, Instagram and X at @DAYFEVERUK
The Brighton event is at the Concorde2 on Sun 30th Aug 2026, 3.00pm
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