Bass pulsed through the venue as people danced, grabbed drinks and browsed the art for sale.

Eye-catching visuals, multicolored LED lights and camera flashes accompanied the DJs and drag queens on stage as they performed at Tucson’s new rave, Club Hatred.

Club Hatred is a 21+ queer rave that brings the vibrant Los Angeles club scene to Tucson, highlighting queer artists and providing a safe, inclusive space for partygoers.

“We want everyone to know, when you’re at Club Hatred, you’re special,” said Christian Carreon, a DJ and host at Club Hatred.

He said it’s a space where everyone is valued and can express themselves freely and authentically.

“Peace, love, unity, respect, hatred,” said Kylie Long, a DJ and host at Club Hatred. It’s a play on the values, known as PLUR, associated with the US rave scene and electronic dance music. “PLURH, with an H at the end. The H is silent,” Long said.

The club was founded by friends who were frustrated with Tucson’s lack of a club scene. They wanted to elevate the queer rave scene in Tucson, drawing inspiration from the LA scene “but with our own touch,” added DJ and host Regan Lord.

“In LA, there’s more of a clubbing experience, but we don’t necessarily have that in Tucson. Especially not a queer clubbing experience,” she said.

And getting DJ jobs in Arizona is difficult, she added.

“If you don’t know somebody or if you’re not friends with somebody, it’s really hard to get booked,” she said. “We wanted to do something where we’re platforming ourselves and other artists.”

DJ and host Bryn Nowlin said that their “shared hatred and frustrations” with the world motivated them to make Club Hatred a reality and provide their community with a space to “use that energy as fuel—to have fun and connect with people.”

The group inaugurated Club Hatred last November at The Rock and returned to the venue for their second event on Jan. 31.

They invited various performers including DJs Elusiva, puppyWuppy and Spinetruck, and drag queens Michaela Talls and Amoré XO.

The space included a “stage and dance floor, tables, booths, a bar and non-stop music,” Long said.

Vendors set up booths, and The Rock’s spacious layout gave partygoers plenty of room to play pool, snap photos and watch the performances.

Connor Wagner, a Club Hatred attendee, said Tucson needs more events like this.

“Tucson’s becoming a bigger city, so I think it’s really important to have spaces like this where people can do their thing and express themselves,” he said. “I think Tucson needs more of this.”

Amoré XO added that the acceptance at Club Hatred makes it special.

“You can be yourself here,” she said. “There’s great music, great performers –what else could you want?”

As Club Hatred continues to grow, its hosts aim to keep the spotlight on Tucson artists while eventually inviting out-of-town artists, too.

“We want to stay in Tucson, but we also want to expand,” Carreon said. “We were thinking of a show in Phoenix – and with ties to LA, we eventually plan on trying to make it [there].”

Club Hatred is throwing its next rave, “Rave 4 Refugees” at The Rock, on March 2.

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.