The best Hallowe'en music and club events in Edinburgh and Glasgow

This article is from 2010.

Marcel Woods

HALLOWE'EN CLUBS

There’s blood on the dancefloor as Hallowe’en takes over clubland. First up, Hung Up! host the annual Optimo (Espookio) as Glasgow’s weirdest Hallowe’en party rises from the grave (The Sub Club, Sun 31 Oct). And if there’s dressing up on the cards, Scotland’s biggest cabaret night Club Noir (O2 Academy, Sat 30 Oct) will be there with bells on, featuring Frankenstina, Medusa, Ghost and Vanity Kills among their frightful delights.

The Arches hosts two big Hallowe’en parties with hard trance from unhinged genius Marcel Woods at the Inside Out Spooktacular (Sat 30 Oct) and Colours open up on Sunday especially for their Hallowe’en Party with Dutch DJ Sidney Samson (Sun 31 Oct). Indie staple Pin Up Nights transforms into Pin Up Frights (Flying Duck, Fri 29 Oct) for live music from PopUp, Endor and Social Services; La Roche Rumba take over the Queen’s Park Glasshouse for their Hallowe’en Guise (Sat 30 Oct) of funk, soul, electro and new wave; Fortified (Glasgow School of Art, Fri 29 Oct) combine their Hallowe’en party with their fourth birthday for a night of demonic dubstep from Oneman, Ben UFO, Elijah and Skilliam while Technofest becomes Terrorfest (Universal, Glasgow, Sat 30 Oct) for a night of fancy dress, creepy visuals and deep house from Silicone Soul, all raising funds for Cancer Research UK.

Over in Edinburgh She-Bang Rave Unit (Wee Red Bar, Fri 29 Oct) don’t care about seamless mixing, it’s all about the tunes. For their rather special Hallowe’en date they’ve resurrected Tokyo Bitches and the delectable Ms Penny Pornstar. There’s even more madness as Confusion is Sex throw open the doors to their Insane Asylum (Bongo Club, Fri 29 Oct) featuring gory burlesque, glitchy techno and the Freaky Brides. JakN team up with Electrikal (The GRV, Sat 30 Oct) for a terrifying techno party; house night Karnival embrace the horror (Cabaret Voltaire, Sat 30 Oct); Killer Kitsch go all out with a guest DJ set from Simian Mobile Disco (Cabaret Voltaire, Sun 31 Oct) while goth rock night The Mission (Studio 24, 30 Oct) would never miss out with a Trailer Park of terror at their Hallowe’en ball. (Henry Northmore)

HALLOWE'EN MUSIC

FENCE RECORDS HALLOWE’EN PARTY
‘Futuristic cowboy’ fancy dress and music from King Creosote, James Yorkston, Silver Columns and more at this all- dayer Hallowe’en celebration from Fence Records.
Stereo, Glasgow, Sun 31 Oct, 2pm, £25.

OUR LADIES OF SORROW
For sheer terrifying spectacle there’s nothing better than the annual synth-rock opera performance from members of eagleowl plus guests, creating chilling soundscapes to accompany footage from Italian horror films (Argento, Jodorowsky, Bava et al … )
Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, Sun 31 Oct, 7pm, £5.

DEATH WEEKEND
Come join the morbid celebrations with live music from Adam Stafford, Nalle and others, or enjoy a talk from sci-fi author Steve Aylett.
The Roxy Art House, Edinburgh, Fri 29–Sun 31 Oct, times and prices vary. www.roxyarthouse.org

THE MISSION PRE- HALLOWE’EN BASH
Release your inner beast with metal favourites like Torn Face and Drive by Audio. Half-price entry for those in costume, including entry into their Hallowe’en party afterwards.
Studio 24, Edinburgh, Sat 30 Oct, 7–11pm, £4 (£2 in costume).

CBGBS TRIBUTE NIGHT
Maggie’s Chamber are keeping with the spirit of the occasion and dressing up as CBGBs. Live music comes from tribute acts to The Ramones and The Cramps. There will also be a special CBGBs DJ, which can’t possibly be a bad thing.
Three Sisters, Edinburgh, Fri 29 Oct, 8pm, £6.