Forget the music and just feel that beat

The name of the gig could be "Cum on Feel The Noize", because Britain's first nightclub rave for the deaf is happening in London tonight.

Although many of the 900 party-goers at the sell-out event have no hearing, they will be able to feel the beat from the vibrations from the speaker boxes and the dance-floor.

The Seventies hit by Slade sums up the spirit of the event but the DJs (who also have hearing difficulties) will be playing bass-heavy dance music.

Troi Lee, of Deaf Promotions, which is organising the event, said: "The speakers are everywhere and it's a wooden floor so you can feel it. Hearing people don't realise that. They think we can't hear."

Mr Lee, 29, said he had selected the Glasshouse club in Blackfriars because "it's one of the top nightclubs in the country and one of the loudest".

He said that most socialising in the deaf community involved meeting in pubs. "Pubs are boring," he said. "I'm more of a raver and I like to hear music and have a drink at the same time."

The party runs from 9pm till 4am. The official name is "Carnival Splash", timed to coincide with the weekend Notting Hill Carnival, and party-goers are being encouraged to come in fancy dress.