How Does It Feel To Be Loved?

How Does It Feel to Be Loved? (often abbreviated to HDIF) is a London-based nightclub which predominately plays indie pop, Northern Soul and Motown music. On the club's website, founder Ian Watson explains: "We love pop, we love guitars that jangle, we love foot stomping melodies and huge choruses." The club's name is taken from the lyrics to The Velvet Underground song "Beginning to See the Light".

Watson, a former Melody Maker journalist, began the night in April 2002 at The Buffalo Bar in Islington.

HDIF takes place on the third Saturday of the month at The Phoenix in central London. Over the years, HDIF has taken place in a variety of venues in the capital, including the 100 Club on Oxford Street, The Canterbury Arms, The Windmill and Jamm in Brixton, The Grosvenor in Stockwell, Nambucca in Archway, The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston, The Crypt in Camberwell and the Montague Arms in Peckham. It ran from 2003 to 2015 at the Canterbury Arms, and was "Brixton's longest running indie club night".

Press for the HDIF has been extremely positive. "Legendary indie club," said the NME. "Much-loved indie pop institution," wrote The Quietus. "With a decade of great nights under its belt How Does it Feel to Be Loved? is one of London's most enduring and influential underground indie get-togethers," said Flavorpill. "A speakeasy for anyone who suspects that their life is one big Smiths song," declared Big Issue. In January 2015, it was named one of "London's best indie nights" by Time Out.

Guest DJs have included:

Since July 2005, HDIF has promoted live shows under the HDIF Presents banner. Bands featured have included:

In September 2006, HDIF's spin-off record label was launched with the release of the 19-track compilation The Kids At The Club and featured many of the acts who had played or DJ'd at HDIF nights.

The label has since gone on to release albums by Butcher Boy,Saturday Looks Good To Me, Antarctica Takes It!, Cats On Fire and Pocketbooks.

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Wikipedia