'AndyFest IV: Disco in Space' party set to rock the Savoy

People can interpret the party’s “Disco in Space” theme however they want, Garris says: “The theme is open to whatever that means to you. Are you going to come decked out in '70s attire? Are you going to come as an astronaut or an alien?”

The Savoy will be “completely transformed on that night,” with “lighting schemes, decor, and other things that add to the disco and space theme,” he says. Last year’s AndyFest III — which had a '60s, '70s, and '80s prom theme — featured a photo booth that “went over great, so it’s likely there will be a photo booth again,” he hints. Club Divine, which occupied the space before ownerDave Curtis transformed it into Savoy in March, used to have go-go cages that “might make an appearance” at the party, he says.

Andy Garris

“People who know me know that I love to dress up. Whenever there is a chance to dress up, I do. I love costumes and themed parties,” which “get people engaged in a fun time,” Garris says.

Beyond celebrating his birthday and raising money for 826michigan, Garris hopes this year’s party will show off the Savoy as a newly renovated and transformed venue, and to let people see for themselves that it’s not Club Divine anymore. He joined Savoy’s team after leaving the Elbow Room somewhat abruptly. He threw a “last hurrah” party for the Elbow Room in June, to the surprise of the club’s owners, and immediately teamed up with Savoy. (The Elbow Room recently reopened.)

Garris declined to comment on the circumstances surrounding his departure from the Elbow Room and related issues. However, he explained why he likes working at Savoy.

“I love the Elbow Room,” Garris says. In fact, the first AndyFest “was about giving thanks to everybody that had been coming out and supporting the Elbow Room, because things were going really good,” since he started managing the club in 2007. However, he moved his birthday party to Club Divine the following year, in order to throw it in a larger space. A few hundred people have shown up to past AndyFest parties, but the Elbow Room’s capacity is only 128, as opposed to the Savoy’s 701-person limit.

Garris is a “big supporter of 826michigan” and a long time friend of program director Amy Sumerton, who has helped out a lot at AndyFest parties in the past, he explains. He reports he helped raise around $12,000 for the organization at last year’s annual Mittenfest, a four-day New Year’s festival that was held at the Elbow Room. In the past, AndyFest has brought in another $800 or so. He decided to start supporting them because “a lot of the local scene was helping out doing charity work for them and tutoring. I just looked at that as, everybody in the core group that we were establishing is taking part in this by volunteering their time and networks. That’s where the community was involved” and he felt it was a good organization to support.

Sunday, August 29, the day the party happens, is not actually Garris’ birthday. He will be celebrating his real birthday at Savoy’s Friday night show, a release party for Drunken Barn Dance's "Grey Buried," also featuring Chris Bathgate, Ferdy Mayne, and Big Mess, on August 27 (doors open at 8 p.m.). “I couldn’t have picked out a birthday show better than the Drunken Barn Dance,” he says. He also thinks Saturday’s "Elbow Deep," a gay night that used to be held at the Elbow Room, will add more flavor to his birthday weekend, on August 28 (doors open at 8 p.m.)

As far as turning 30, Garris is not worrying about it. “My 20s were great, but I feel like I’ve been in them forever!” he laughs.

Jennifer Eberbach is a free-lance writer for AnnArbor.com.