Friday Nights Just Got Better: V2 Introduces Playhouse to Sky SLC

My go-to recipe for a flavor-filled Friday night goes something like this: First, preheat a sleek Downtown venue with a few hundred dancing bodies. Then, combine an expertly curated lineup of artists with a dazzling visual experience. Now throw in some underground house music and season to taste. What you get is a delicious new club night called Playhouse.

Playhouse is a collaboration between music promoter V2 and Sky SLC Night Club, and makes an exciting addition to Salt Lake’s burgeoning EDM scene. Taking place every Friday night from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Playhouse is an event welcoming all electronica admirers 18 and older. Sky currently hosts several nights dedicated to electronic genres: Energi Wednesday and Therapy Thursday featuring bass music and house music respectively. The focus of Playhouse is a more underground house vibe, featuring mainly local up-and-coming talents alongside international touring artists. One of V2’s central goals with this night is to uplift local artists while still providing Sky’s distinguished sound, lighting and visual production. Fridays will also feature a new layout, with a stage-on-the-floor setup that brings audience-to-artist intimacy to a new level.

“This setup has proven to be successful at past Therapy Thursdays events by creating a more intimate and personal vibe between artists and attendees, which is exactly what most fans of house music enjoy and appreciate,” says Ian Hiscock. The teams at V2 and Sky SLC are excited to encourage Salt Lake’s growing interest in EDM and give fans a high-quality listening experience.

“One of V2’s central goals with this night is to uplift local artists while still providing Sky’s distinguished sound, lighting and visual production.”

Playhouse would not have been possible without careful coordination by Ian and the V2 team which includes Production Manager Brendan Covey, Owners Brandon Fullmer and Jeremy Moreland, Manager Mitch Henderson and Marketing Manager Courtney Coles. Credit is also owed to the talented people over at Sky: Owner Ken Dinsmore, Director of VIP and Entertainment Matt Williams and General Manager Steven Brensike. 

V2 and Sky are also enthusiastic about broadening the electronic music fanbase to a wider range of ages, giving more people an opportunity to be a part of this flourishing community. Energi Wednesdays are Sky’s 18+ night, as are several V2 productions held at the Saltair, but there was still a need for a larger nightlife scene that caters to Salt Lake’s younger crowds.

“When we began Energi Wednesdays in 2017, the response from the 18+ audience was massive! The only problem was that Energi Wednesdays only feature bass music and Therapy Thursdays are 21+.” After seeing this desire for a more inclusive event for house music lovers, V2 and Sky have once again enhanced Salt Lake’s entertainment opportunities. And for those of us that are able to partake in Sky’s liberating libations, the bar is open on the second floor (sigh of relief from yours truly).

“It’s exciting to see how production teams and venue spaces work together to expose audiences to a wider range of music.”

The very first Playhouse was christened last Friday, Feb. 21, and featured Los Angeles artist Omnom alongside local talents. Playing his special brand of house some have called a “whirlpool of weird,” Omnom set the tone for future acts and exemplified the “underground” house vibe that Playhouse is looking to showcase. Resident DJ Nate Lowpass kept the crowd energetic and entertained between artists, maintaining Sky’s and V2’s reputation as bonafide party-throwers. This Friday (Feb. 28) will feature Franklyn Watts and Luke Andy from Dirtybird, and you can expect another night of endless dancing and high-energy tunes.

As Salt Lake continues to grow and EDM becomes more mainstream, it’s exciting to see how production teams and venue spaces work together to expose audiences to a wider range of music. Sky’s successful Energi Wednesdays and Therapy Thursdays serves as an indication that Playhouse will be gleefully embraced by EDM lovers and party-goers alike. Together, these events make one hell of a trio. As the team at V2 say: “Wednesdays are for the bass heads, Thursdays are for the party people and Fridays are now for the house lovers.”

Don’t miss the next Playhouse this Friday, Feb. 28,  at 9:30 p.m., and keep an eye out for future announcements regarding featured artists.