“Kimber is the DJ. Get ridiculous.”
The two phrases, plastered on posters around the city, are hallmarks of popular Atlanta party collective Nonsense ATL. Co-founded by Kimberly Turner, Scott Lockhart, Joseph Fuller and Rob Jones in 2007, Nonsense is 15 years into partying with no intentions of slowing down.
Today, the Nonsense team is small but dedicated: Kimberly Turner, known by her DJ moniker “Kimber,” is the group’s only full-time employee and resident DJ. Scott Lockhart manages marketing, decor and other details, while TAD is the “mad scientist” in charge of creative fabrication.
Together, they throw various themed parties in different venues across Atlanta, like the monthly Hot Mess dance-pop or Heyday 1980s hits at the Basement, the twice-annual Lady Gaga ball and several holiday-themed parties throughout the year. Over the years they’ve hosted about 35 different recurring events. Each one boasts hours of music, costumed partygoers and themed decor to transform the venue.
Turner and Lockhart said the parties take intense work and preparation to come to fruition. But the pair sees Nonsense as a joyful alternative to a nightlife scene that isn’t for everyone.
“The whole sort of reason that we exist is that we think too much of nightlife isn’t fun,” Turner said. “We feel it should be less about looking cool being seen.”
As longtime partiers, Turner and Lockhart see the Atlanta nightlife scene as a very self-conscious space focused on bottle service and VIP venues. Turner wants parties to be a chance to “let go” of personal and social stressors.
“We’ve always focused on trying to give people an opportunity to, like, get stupid and play,” Turner said.
The two came into the nightlife scene as participants first, over 15 years ago. They frequented parties with Decatur Social Club, a group that shut down in 2008. When it closed down there was a gap in the social scene, and the…
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