Jonny Owen and Vicky McClure: Two of the co-founders of the Day Fever daytime dancing phenomenon that hits York Barbican tomorrow
LET Line Of Duty and Trigger Point star Vicky McClure introduce Day Fever, tomorrow’s disco-dancing destination of choice at York Barbican from 3pm to 8pm. Yes, you read that right, 3pm to 8pm.
“It feels like a massive house party at your nan’s. No drama, no egos, just people acting daft, getting dressed up, and having the best time,” says Nottingham actress Vicky, who launched this daytime clubbing phenomenon with filmmaker and broadcaster husband Jonny Owen, Reverend & The Makers frontman Jon McClure (no relation), his brother Chris McClure and Sheffield businessman James O’Hara at Christmas 2023.
From its debut in the Sheffield City Hall Ballroom to a nationwide tour that sees thousands hit the dancefloor each month, the message remains the same: people everywhere are craving a space to let loose, laugh and dance, all before 8pm
“It started as a WhatsApp idea,” says Jon McClure. “Jonny [Owen] just said, ‘A daytime disco, how good would that be?’ We’re all a bit nuts, so we just said, ‘Come on then’!”
What began as a spark of an idea among friends has turned into a full-blown national movement, and after a record-breaking September, the good times are rolling into November before the team turns up the tinsel for a Christmas takeover when Day Fever will transform into Sleigh Fever.
Should you feel that your clubbing days are behind you, think again with Day Fever. No dress code, no pressure, and the hangover is optional; just wall-to-wall feel-good tunes and an open invitation to dance like nobody’s watching.
Looking forward to this weekend, Jonny says: “It’s our first one ever in York. It’s been a city that we’ve been looking to come to for quite a long time. Jim (O’Hara), our business partner on this, has worked hard to make it happen. He was a big fan of coming to York. He said it’s a great city to go for a day out and a night out.
“Obviously a famous tourist city too; I’ve been there myself, so the idea was to take it to York and the ticket sales have been fantastic, so it was the right decision.”
Jonny partly puts Day Fever’s popularity down to Vicky’s impact. “She has an amazing following, because of her acting and the work she does with the Dementia Choir, so Vicky’s brought a lot to it and people trust her. It’s just something that’s really connected,” he says.
“There are a myriad of reasons, I think, why people really enjoy it, from people wanting to go out earlier in the day, if they’re a bit older, to the fact that you’re going out dancing and socialising and listening to great music, but I do think at the very apex of it all is definitely Vicky and her connection with people. Her mantra is always that music is medicine.”
Vicky says: “When we started, it was addressed to people over 30 but we very quickly scrapped that. People came and they came with their families, mothers and daughters and aunties and nieces. The thing is, the hits are still the hits today. Motown or disco, those kind of tracks, they’re known across the world as songs that will never die.
“Then we’ve got a great Nineties’ section as well, which hits a slightly younger audience, so from my nephew, who’s 18, to people in their late-80s; it really is for everybody.”
From Nottingham to Newcastle, Glasgow to York today, every Day Fever event has its own flavour. Local DJs who know their crowds keep the energy high with a nostalgic mix of Northern Soul, disco, indie and Nineties’ classics. “If Vicky’s there, we have to play Whitney, it’s non-negotiable!” says Jon.
“With our DJs, it sounds like a football team,” says Jonny. “We’ve got a stable of people who are very good and they do tend to be more localised; often we use local presenters…people who are very experienced, who know how to speak to a crowd, play the right music.
“We encourage people to come up on stage and dance, a bit like the old days on Top Of The Pops used to be, right in the centre of it. We know that these events are going to go off brilliantly if people play the right stuff.”
What you wear is all part of the fun. “What I love about Day Fever is that some people will get absolutely dressed up to the nines,” says Vicky. “Some people will do fancy dress; somebody came to Day Fever in London not so long ago in an inflatable giraffe! They got in without any bother!
“Basically, it’s not really got a dress code, and I think people love having the option of not being forced into feeling you’ve got to be dressed up. I always wear trainers, and I wanna dance, and I can’t dance in heels. So it’s joggers, a T-shirt, some trainers. I’m super-comfy.
“I don’t care if I look silly or people are taking pictures. I get lost in the music – and it’s not just me, it’s everybody getting lost in it.”
From December, Day Fever will don its festive finery for its rebrand as Sleigh Fever, a run of special Christmas editions that promise all the usual joy, dancing and daftness, sprinkled with extra sparkle, singalongs and seasonal surprises.
Expect glitter, Santa hats, Mariah moments, and maybe even a mince pie or two on the dancefloor. As Jon puts it: “It’s like a wedding party where everyone actually wants to be there, only this time, Santa’s invited too.”
Day Fever, York Barbican, tomorrow (22/11/2025), 3pm to 8pm. Box office: https://www.yorkbarbican.co.uk/whats-on/day-fever/