A Night at Roller Jam with Grapeskates
On a cold December evening, in the hustle and bustle of Digbeth, sits a gem in the crown of Birmingham’s nightlife. Surrounded by the old industrial buildings and elevated rail tracks, Roller Jam shines out like a beacon to anyone looking for more than just a regular night out with friends. As you walk into the main entrance, you can hear and feel the thump of disco music and laughter as people zip by on their roller skates towards the rink. The walls are adorned with vibrant graffiti but still embraces the industrial heritage of the venue. It’s a fantastic aesthetic mix which seems apt for the reason people come here.
We joined with SkateHut’s sponsor, April Alforque aka Grapeskates and experienced the We Jammin’ event at Roller Jam, which had only recently opened earlier in the year and although it was a cold night, the roller skaters seemed to be generating their own warmth, burning shapes into the floor and showing off their moves. This also gave us a chance to sit down with April and talk about all things Roller Skating and Roller Derby.
SH- “This place is great! How often do you come here?”
AA - “As often as I can! I love the vibe here and it’s a great place for me to practice roller skating and meet with new people. I recently went to the Stranger Things event here as well and it was awesome!”
SH - “How did you get into roller skating then?”
AA - Instagram! It was during lockdown during the pandemic and I just stumbled upon a group of roller skating influencers and I immediately fell in love. I just loved how graceful and free they looked and decided to have a go and haven’t looked back.
SH - “What’s your biggest challenge at the moment?”
AA - I think it’s just finding the time to create content. I love roller skating and sharing it on my channel but it can take up a lot of time sometimes and it’s especially difficult during the cold weather because you can’t really go outside. That’s why places like this are great. It just provides an environment where I can do my thing and share on social media.
SH - “So what moves are you working on right now?”
AA - I’m still trying to perfect roller skating backwards with a cross over. Some people make it look so effortless and I’d love to get that good!
SH - “Do you have anything big planned for next year?”
AA - I really want to go back to Barcelona to the Skate Love event. It’s such a great city with everything you could ever want, including the beach!
SH - “Tell us about the roller skates you’re wearing”
AA - These are my favourite. Moonlight Rollers and I’ve customised them with Luminous wheels. They are so comfy. Have you ever seen the Slades clip on roller skates as well? I really want a pair!
As the night went on, April took to the rink and gracefully weaved in and out of the crowd with her light up quad wheels. Although it was getting late, more and more people came through the doors, but it was a mix of pros and beginners all enjoying the night together with a sense of unity; they were all there to enjoy the freedom of roller skating. We left just before the after party kicked off, which was scheduled to go on until the early hours.
Roller Jam seemed to be a mecca for roller skaters and it’s a great venue for parties, with a well stocked bar and food available throughout the night. We’ll definitely be going back so watch this space!
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