The Baltic Battle
from
Recon Events
05 October 2019
The Baltic Battle party has taken place every year since 1978. The first one was organized as the official opening of the – at that time – new clubrooms in the Old Town and was a joint venture between SLM Stockholm and MSC Finland. The party was originally named The Battle of the Baltic Sea (in Swedish) because the Finnish neighbours would travel across the Baltic, and eventually the name was changed to the English translation- Baltic Battle.
From the very first party, in August 1978, Baltic Battle was a big success. It included a boat trip around the southern neighbourhood island and the main party took of course place in the new premises. Tom of Finland was specially invited and showed how his drawings were created, these iconic images later become world famous. MSC Finland brought a jumping leather jack toy as a gift, which is framed behind acrylic glass in the current clubhouse.
For the Baltic Battle 2, the year after, the organisers teamed up with five Nordic leather clubs and commissioned the first exclusively designed Baltic Battle poster by Tom of Finland. There would be 10 further posters designed by Tom of Finland during the 80s. The Baltic Battle 3 in 1980 was organized entirely by SLM Stockholm, and so it has continued, year after year. The rumour spread about Baltic Battle and many international guests came and are still coming. In 1981, Drummer Magazine – legendary leather and fetish magazine – writes that the Baltic Battle is even bigger than the CMC Carnival in San Francisco!
Some particularly memorable BB's are those with the main battle in a ship yard dry-dock (1997), at the culture exhibition hall at Euro Pride with 600 participating leather gays (1998), at a ship yard (2000- 2002), in a former printing work (2007), in a former big cinema (2012) – all with welcome pub evenings and Sunday brunches in the club and additional activities in town. Gay and leather history has been written and there are many memories are many of amazing and (in)famous parties – and all was and is only possible due to all the volunteers, who engage and work hard, breaking their balls – both literally and practically.
The next Baltic Battle will take place on October 18-20 and will be the 42 annual event in Stockholm. Expect it to be bigger, harder and more fetish then ever.
This year, Recon hosts the annual Pre-Battle event at SLM. Gear up and hang out, meet and get to know the guys you'll see over the weekend at this iconic venue, with cruising areas and play spaces.
As well as drinking and socialising there'll free giveaways for the first 50 guys through the door, so get down early. Non SLM membership card holders are welcome.
The Main Battle takes place on Saturday 19 October at Slakthusgatan 6, 121 62 Johanneshov.
Gear up and get down and dirty with other fetish guys in the play spaces and on the 2 dance floors with DJs all night. This event has a strict dress code- Leather, Rubber, Sports, Jocks and Underwear, Worker, Uniform, Skinhead/Punk no street or casual clothing. You can pay with both cash and card at the bar.
The Red Battle on Sunday 20 October is the official closing fisting party of the Baltic Battle weekend at SLM Stockholm. Open for members or Baltic Battle weekend pass, this event is free and doors open at 7pm and close at 9pm so get down early.
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