A yawning Kurt Cobain was once photographed wearing a T-Shirt stating that grunge is dead. This is one of those rare times I disagreed with the great man. Grunge today is still going strong, and you want to keep its spirit alive by having a live n loud grunge party
This guide is here to help you do just that. From creating the perfect playlist to setting up the ideal venue, I’ve got you covered with ideas about how to set up the venue, music to pick, food and drink and what outfits to wear. So let’s dive into the world of flannel, distorted guitars, and timeless, angsty anthems!
When & where to host a grunge party
A grunge party is really suitable for any occasion you wanna throw a party. Birthday parties and New Year’s Eve are probably the best excuse for it, though.
Where you want to host it depends on what sort of size party you want? It can be a smaller gathering in a house or, if you want something more riotous, a large basement to get that underground feel or hire a hall for more people. Outdoors will work well for this theme too.
How to decorate for a grunge party
Try and set the mood in your venue by decorating it as if it was an underground show. Think of the sort of lighting used in famous grunge music videos, like Smells Like Teen Spirit. Achieve this with dim light bulbs in 90s style lamps picked up from a thrift store.
Embrace this gritty, underground vibe with vintage posters of grunge bands, both old and new, on the walls. Create grunge aesthetics for backdrops by using distressed fabric wall hangings and plaid pattern tablecloths for the food table.
To really get the decor down, find some battered old sofas and use them for seating along with some bean bags.
Add DIY elements like cassette tape decorations or vinyl record displays to enhance the authenticity of the era. You can even go the extra mile by hanging old band t-shirts or displaying classic grunge album covers and band photographs on the walls.
What to wear
Deciding what to wear at a grunge party is easy because so much of it has been incorporated into mainstream fashion now.
Outfits that capture the spirit of the era should be priority, such as flannel shirts worn over band t-shirts, old big cardigans, ripped jeans or distressed denim skirts. Doc Marten boots and Converse style canvas shoes, distressed, naturally.
Check out Courtney Love’s style of vintage dresses and lingerie she performed in for more inspiration. For something even more fun, guys can dress in old 70s style dresses or just wear a bra and shorts, like Nirvana did for their famous São Paulo show in 1993.
Accessorize with big sunglasses, small backpacks, large hoop earrings, chokers and layered necklaces.
Music
No grunge party is complete without a heavy grunge playlist. Start with iconic bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Stone Temple Pilots. These legendary bands defined the grunge scene and continue to inspire bands today.
To keep things fresh play music from lesser-known bands from the era like Mudhoney, Screaming Trees, Tad, or Temple of the Dog and introduce guests to contemporary grunge-inspired artists, like Noisehead & Dinosaur Pile Up.
Checkout this playlist to get you started.
Invitations
Set the stage for your grunge party with creative invitations that transport guests to the ’90s. Use vintage concert ticket designs to remind people of when physical show tickets were still a thing.
Incorporate iconic grunge imagery like electric guitars, Marshall amps, flannel patterns, or album cover art. Experiment with grungy fonts and textures, and consider adding handwritten notes or doodles to give the invitations a personalized touch.
Food & Drink Ideas
When it comes to food and drinks, infuse the grunge-inspired menu with flavors that match the vibe of the era. Serve gourmet sliders with unique combinations of meats, cheeses, and sauces, such as bacon jam, blue cheese, and caramelized onions. For vegetarians, offer sliders with grilled portabello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and creamy cheese.
Set up a pizza station with a variety of classic pizza slices. Offer toppings like pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and olives. You can even include specialty pizzas like BBQ chicken or vegetarian options with spinach, feta cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes.
Offer loaded nachos with a variety of toppings like melted cheese, guacamole, salsa, and jalapeños. Classic pizza slices with a variety of toppings can cater to different preferences.
Consider “Build Your Own Grunge Burger” station where guests can customize their burgers. Provide a selection of burger patties, including beef, chicken, and veggie options. Set out an array of toppings, such as crispy bacon, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, various cheeses, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, and an assortment of sauces and condiments.
Pair the food with beers, soft drinks like sodas and ice tea, and try the Heart-Shaped Box and Black Hole Sun cocktails to match the grunge theme.
Activities and Games
Keep the energy high with grunge-themed games and activities that engage your guests. Set up a band jam session area with instruments where guests can showcase their musical talents and create an impromptu grunge band. It’ll either be good or terrible, but either way it will be fun!
Host a grunge fashion contest where guests can strut their stuff and show off their best grunge-inspired outfits. Consider organizing a DIY band merch workshop, where guests can customize their own grunge-themed t-shirts or make their own band posters.
Grunge trivia or a battle of the bands-style competition can also add excitement to the party and of course, don’t forget some grunge karaoke.
You could really push the boat out and hire a band to play live grunge covers or have a bandakoke, grunge style, for some extra guest participation.
Party Favors
Make your guests feel like true grunge aficionados by providing them with cool party favors and giveaways. Consider mini cassette tapes with curated grunge playlists, reminiscent of mixtapes from the era.
Custom guitar picks featuring band logos or memorable grunge symbols make for unique and practical keepsakes. Temporary tattoos featuring iconic band artwork or logos allow guests to show off their grunge spirit.
Personalized mix CDs featuring a compilation of grunge classics or emerging grunge-inspired artists add a personal touch. Grunge-themed enamel pins, retro cassette tape keychains, and grunge-inspired stickers are also fantastic options.
That’s it. Now you have everything you need for a great night filled with the raw energy of grunge. I hope you have a fantastic party filled with nostalgia, great music, delicious foods and lots of memories to take away with you.
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