Clubs and House

Ferry Corsten, Eddie Halliwell and Pete Tong among highlights of Coloursfest 2011

10th anniversary of Scotland’s only dance-focused festival

30 May 2011

This year is the tenth anniversary of Scotland’s only dance-focused festival, and they’re throwing a little party. Who’s got the cake? And the Buckie? And the poppers? A ten thousand-strong sell-out for six years running, Coloursfest isn’t for the faint…

Interview: The Sub Club at RockNess

Glasgow’s legendary club heads to RockNess 2012 as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations

23 May 2012

Glasgow institution the Sub Club celebrate their 25th anniversary this year and as part of their celebrations they are bringing the sounds of the Subbie to RockNess. We catch up with two of the club’s directors, Mike Grieve and Paul Crawford, to see…

Interview: Andrew Weatherall set for RockNess 2012

Esteemed DJ and producer on A Love From Outer Space and festivals

30 Mar 2012

Andrew Weatherall is just one of the new announcements for 2012’s RockNess line-up where he’ll be joining Soma Records who are taking control of the new Arcadia UFO. It’s a Scottish Festival exclusive as he’s joined by Sean Johnston as they present an…

Padded Cell set for date at Glasgow's Kitty Kat Klub

17 Feb 2010

Richard Sen is being a bit modest when he describes the music he makes alongside partner Neil Higgins in Padded Cell as ‘just dance music, really.’ Asked to elaborate a little further, he’ll concede that the duo are often lumped in with the nu-disco…

Labels of love: Numbers

29 Oct 2009

Based in: Glasgow Roster: The first three releases will be by Lazer Sword, Redinho and Taz Buckfaster, with more artists to follow. Bosses: Jack ‘Jackmaster’ Revill, Calum and Neil Morton, Richard Chater and Adam Rodgers. Sounds…

Richie Hawtin

The Detroit techno man plays Glasgow

20 Aug 2009

Despite hailing from Oxfordshire via Canada, Richie Hawtin was part of the second wave of Detroit techno innovators, his Plus 8 label and Plastikman alter-ego helped set the ground work for the minimal scene. He’s slayed the Slam Tent at T in the Park…

Wire

6 Aug 2009

‘Discotronic pop, art punk, twisted folk, electronic love and beyond,’ promises promoter/resident DJ Craig Jamieson at Wire. ‘Scotland’s most eclectic soundclash celebrates the best in innovative and cult music.’ Jamieson will be happily living up to…

Edinburgh's Az-tech club comes to a close

Residents head up final night at The Caves

3 Nov 2010

‘Az-Tech started as a breaks night. We just wanted a place to play out the music we like and bring breaks to Edinburgh,’ explains Amy Fowler (aka resident DJ Siren). ‘But it’s evolved, our music policy is really loose, it’s just party tunes.’ Broadening…

Bloody Beetroots

Expressionless fright masks and slaying dancefloor electronica at Death Disco

14 Aug 2009

On the backstreets of Bassano del Grappa, in northern Italy, an ungodly experiment took place. Elements of Slayer and Daft Punk were fused together to produce the mutant progeny that is Bloody Beetroots, a vicious electro duo whose music hits like a…

Fierce Angel

6 Aug 2009

Mark Doyle not only set up the world conquering Hed Kandi brand of glamourous house, chillout grooves and instantly recognisable cover art, in 2006 he launched his Fierce Angel project, which comes to Glasgow for a night of sexy, fresh Ibiza anthems and…

Outdoor clubbing

25 Jun 2009

With the unpredictable nature of Scottish weather al fresco clubbing isn’t quite the major deal in Scotland that it is in, say, Ibiza or Miami. But parties under canvas, on boats and in beer gardens have proven to be the best ways for Scots to hedge…

Stereotype

22 Jan 2009

HOUSE The Edinburgh clubbing institution that is Stereotype knocks up another successful year, making it six in glorious total. To celebrate this rather stunning feat they’re throwing a birthday bash to knock you sideways. Along with their regular…

Student guide: Clubbing hitlist - Glasgow

15 Sep 2008

David Pollock selects the top ten club nights you cannot afford to miss. OPTIMO Riding the crest of a wave for the best part of a decade now, JD Twitch and JG Wilkes’ Optimo (Espacio), which borrows the aesthetic of early 80s New York nightlife and…

Student guide: Clubbing hitlist - Edinburgh

15 Sep 2008

David Pollock selects the top ten club nights you cannot afford to miss. Residents Hobbes and Erik D’Viking DJ all over town, but the eclectic party night Trouble is still their biggest deal. Diversity is key; since the start of 2007, Rob Da Bank…

Paul Oakenfold

21 Aug 2008

When you call a night Legends you had better have the talent to back up the name. And if it’s superstar DJs you’re after they don’t come much bigger than Paul Oakenfold. Oakenfold has been at the forefront of DJing culture since the 80s with his…

Optimo turn ten

15 Nov 2007

The main problem with Optimo (Espacio), to give the club’s full title, is that it’s almost impossible to categorise in one handy soundbite. Keith McIvor (aka Twitch, pictured left) and Jonnie Wilkes (pictured right) both came from a techno background…

Clubbers' Decktionary: Seapunk

A guide to the myriad genres of clubbing, from Trouble's DJ Hobbes

17 Apr 2012

Seapunk proper noun: varied tempos, mixing 90s rave, techno, house and jungle styles, R&B vocals, even speedier beats from Chicago juke/footwork, often cheap, 8bit-style synth melodies and, you guessed it, aquatic sounds. The aquatic theme is actually…

Interview: Ben Sims gets ready for RockNess 2012

The techno DJ/producer among names added to festival bill

13 Apr 2012

DJ Ben Sims has been announced for 2012’s RockNess festival, where he joins Soma Records on the Arcadia UFO stage. With over 20 years of DJ experience, running his own Theory label (among others), he’s renowned for his DJ skills using vinyl, CD and…

Clubbers' Decktionary: Ballroom

A guide to the myriad genres of clubbing, from Trouble's DJ Hobbes

29 Feb 2012

Ballroom aka ballroom house, or Ha, proper noun: house sub-genre, which, much like Chicago Footwork/Juke and Detroit Jit, owes its lifeblood to the highly expressive dancers (‘voguers’) who dominate the scene. Also similar to B-more, the music is raw…

Crate Digging: Deetron, aka Sam Geiser

The Swiss DJ gives a sneak peak in his record crate ahead of his appearance at No Strings Attached

17 Oct 2011

Scuba ‘Adrenalin’ (Hotflush Recordings) has been a constant in my set since I got it a few weeks ago, because the crowd reactions are always amazing. The combination of Detroit-ish bassline, euphoric pads and the vocal works beautifully, it’s a real…

French electro-house DJ Yuksek set for Death Disco date

In-demand remixer for Lady Gaga, Phoenix, Gorillaz and Shitdisco on DJ tour

11 Jan 2011

French electro-house DJ Yuksek didn’t take the most obvious route into his current career. ‘I studied piano at the French conservatoire for ten years,’ he says, ‘and after that I played bass and sang vocals in a few bands. Then I started going to clubs…

New Edinburgh club Soul Kitchen plays hip hop and soul

Hip hop, souls and soulful house on menu at Medina

19 Nov 2010

Edinburgh’s club scene isn’t as bad as its detractors might make out, but it isn’t thriving. Fewer good venues have been taking up the slack over the last decade, which is why anywhere that’s trying to do its own thing should be celebrated. Take compact…

Todd Terje to play Ultragroove Edinburgh date

4 Mar 2010

By Gareth Sommerville’s calculations this is the 250th Ultragroove. It’s pretty impressive stuff and the deep house and disco night celebrates with a guest set from good friend Todd Terje. So expect Latin funk, crafty re-edits, acid house, dubby techno…

Eddie Halliwell, Judge Jules and Marcus Schossow set for Inside Out

19 Jan 2010

Pressure isn’t the only night to up sticks while maintenance work is carried out at the Arches as Inside Out also makes a temporary home at the O2 Academy. Their first show of 2010 features the usual big house and trance action you’ve come to expect…

Off The Record

24 Nov 2009

This will be a big night for Off the Record. The seventh birthday party at the Soundhaus will be the club’s final regular bi-monthly date at the venue. In its place, a new night bearing the name Animal Farm – also the DJ collective which runs OTR and…

Headspin

29 Jul 2009

Always keeping it fresh and funky, the Headspin residents supply a four deck mix of hip hop, funk, electro, house and any other flights of fancy that take their mood keeping the dancefloor rocking at all times. For their festival special they invite…

Tiësto

9 Jul 2009

His high-energy trance might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Tiësto (born Tijs Michiel Verwest) cements his place as the biggest DJ in the world with a date in the huge environs of Glasgow’s SECC as over 10,000 clubbers will be dazzled by his full-on…

Club For Heroes

28 May 2009

‘A lot of clubs describe themselves as “sleazy” or “grimy”,’ says Club For Heroes’ founder, promoter and DJ, Simon Eilbeck. ‘I wanted to run a night which was a bit more aspirational, which held its head up higher than that. So I came up with Club For…

Ready for the festive floor: Hot Chip interview

13 Nov 2008

What are your favourite Christmas hits? My favourite is the Phil Spector Christmas album, which I think is wonderful and romantic. Of course, there are also the classics, like ‘Little Drummer Boy’ and ‘I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus’, which is about…

Profile - Laidback Luke

24 Apr 2008

Name Laidback Luke Occupation DJ/producer Location Aalsmeer, Holland A Dutch guy playing house music – you must be having a giraffe... Understandably when you think of Dutch dance music you instantly think ‘trance’. Ferry Corsten, Tïetso…

Interview: Friendly Fires plan to get the crowds dancing at RockNess 2012

Ed Macfarlane on festivals, pop music and dancing ‘like an idiot’

28 May 2012

Friendly Fires blur the lines between indie and dance music, so their brand of punk funk should fit in perfectly at RockNess. Hailing from St Albans in Hertfordshire they were nominated for the Mercury Music prize for their debut eponymous album, which…

Ride the RockNess Express - train details

The Express will pick up festival goers from London, Birmingham, Derby, York and Newcastle

8 May 2012

As part of the Year of Creative Scotland, RockNess are offering a unique (and environmentally friendly) way to the festival site on the banks of Loch Ness. Picking up passengers from London, Birmingham, Derby, York and Newcastle before dropping them off…

German house DJ Tensnake - interview

The DJ is set to play Musika, Heavy Gossip and Ultragroove's 12-hour bank holiday party

18 Apr 2012

Events like this usually happen in Glasgow. But Musika, in association with Heavy Gossip and Ultragroove, are giving something back to Edinburgh, presenting 12 hours of house and electro spread over three stages. Showcasing some of the best live…

Highlife's Auntie Flo releases debut album

Afro-house DJ Brian d'Souza launches Future Rhythm Machine LP with dates in Glasgow and Edinburgh

17 Apr 2012

It’s a busy month for Brian d’Souza; first he’s launching his debut album as Auntie Flo Future Rhythm Machine at his Highlife night in Glasgow, then a fortnight later he’s celebrating the club’s second birthday in the same city. Sandwiched in between…

Crate digging: Nick Curly of Kehakuma

The German house DJ shares his favourite tracks ahead of a set at Return to Mono

26 Mar 2012

I’ll start with ‘Easy’ Sante feat Daniel Wild (8Bit) for me it’s the best club record of the moment, people go crazy when I play it and there’s a great vibe on the vocal. I have two labels and sometimes you sign a track and you realise, ‘boom this is…

Clubbers' Decktionary: Witch House

A guide to the myriad genres of clubbing, from Trouble's DJ Hobbes

5 Jan 2012

Witch House aka Haunted House or Drag, proper noun: usually down-tempo to mid-tempo (80-120 bpm), dark, syrupy fusion of hip hop with goth, industrial, noise, drone and/or shoegaze elements. Its main practitioners also favour the use of occult symbols…

Crate Digging: Playdate's Steven and Stewart

On the eve of the leftfield house night's fourth birthday, the residents pick some tunes for us

5 Jan 2012

Steven Nôze ‘Remember Love’ (My Best Friend) features one simple piano loop with two drunk Frenchmen reminiscing over what could have been in broken English with rolling choppy drums that will never get old. Franco-knees-up-party-starting…

Crate Digging: Scuba

The Hotflush label boss gives us his top five tracks ahead of his set at the debut EQTV party

16 Nov 2011

The first track they did together, ‘Swims’, still isn’t out yet but it’s one of the most recognisable club tunes of the year; however I think Boddika & Joy O ‘Froth’ (Unreleased) is much better. It’s a lot deeper, a lot more atmospheric, though still…

Interview - Max Cooper

Respected electronica producer and DJ set for Kollektiv show

3 Nov 2011

Max Cooper first came to the attention of clubbers and electronic music fans with his ‘Serie’ trilogy on Traum Schallplatten in 2009, each track inspired by a different mathematical or scientific concept. Since then alongside his own productions he’s…

Ever been to a silent disco with a Chinese dragon?

25 Oct 2011

Ever explored a museum at night? Ever had a cocktail surrounded by thousands of years of history? Ever been to a silent disco with a Chinese dragon? Thanks to the support of RBS and The List, the National Museum of Scotland is bringing you an exclusive…

Azari & III - Don't call them house revivalists

Toronto-based act favour Roland drum machines, crisp piano loops and emotional lyrics

21 Oct 2011

Is it too soon for a house music revival? That’s the question The List is mulling over ahead of speaking to self-proclaimed ‘house music aficionados’ Azari & III. The Toronto-based band, comprising producers Dinamo Azari and Alixander III and vocalists…

Heavy Gossip and Ultragroove join forces

DJs Nick Yuill and Gareth Sommerville discuss the past and future of the Edinburgh house nights

16 Sep 2011

Nick Yuill (Heavy Gossip) ‘Myself, [promoter] Paul [Cunningham] and Gareth [Sommerville] first got together to discuss doing one-off events and we realised we had the exact same aims and goals and it kind of rumbled on from there. ‘My first club…

New Glasgow club Oh My Days from team behind Killer Kitsch

French Fries and Oneman among upcoming guests

16 Aug 2011

‘I grew up going to nights like Numbers, Monox and Optimo, and more recently Stay Plastic and Fortified,’ says Martin Moffat. ‘All of whom have done or are still doing amazing things for Glasgow music. I’m just happy to get a chance to do something that…

Virgo Four guest at Rubadub’s 19th birthday

Chicago house greats set for Glasgow record shop's Sub Club night

3 Aug 2011

‘We weren’t cool with any of the other DJs back then,’ says Merwyn ‘Merl’ Sanders, one half of old school 1980s Chicago house duo Virgo Four alongside Eric Lewis. ‘Our stuff was weird, it was a little mellow, and I’m coming from a Christian Church…

Interview: DJ Sneak - set for Edinburgh's Telefunken

The legendary DJ on 'real' underground house

3 Aug 2011

DJ Sneak loves house music. In fact he’s kinda protective of the genre. ‘The word “house” has been murdered by the media and people like Swedish “blank” Mafia, which clearly know nothing about house music. Underground house will always keep the spirit…

Richard Charter of Numbers - Full interview transcript

Innovative Glasgow club Numbers reaches eighth birthday

20 Jul 2011

How has this year been for you? A lot of things have been amazing this year. Being able to release new records from Redinho, Deadboy, Jamie xx and Lory D was a major thing for us because everyone involved put so much into it and the records really show…

Floating Points guests at Numbers eighth birthday party

Sub Club night celebrates great year for Glaswegian music collective

29 Jun 2011

We all like to celebrate, but few of us can do it better than the producers, DJs, label bosses and promoters that make up the Glaswegian music collective Numbers, renowned for their sheer foot-grabbing, hands-in-the-air dance-floor dexterity. Propelled…

Cabaret Voltaire venue launches Cab Vol Stars clubnight

New club helmed by Cab Vol employees from bar staff to cleaners

29 Jun 2011

Residents A rolling selection of Cabaret Voltaire employees from bar staff to cleaners Guests It will be a different line-up every month but as an example Prof, Dimi and Cunnie host this July date Music policy It really is a mixed bag, from…

Ms Dynamite, Yasmin, Niki & The Dove announced for RockNess 2011

Yet more names join this year’s bill

31 May 2011

Garage MC Ms Dynamite who recently collaborated with both Katy B and Magnetic Man (who also appear at this year’s RockNess) leads the latest additions to the line-up. Joining her is female British rapper Yasmin, Highland singer-songwriter James…

Profile: Joy Orbison

London-based DJ and producer set for Edinburgh date

24 May 2011

Joy Orbison’s a bit like one of those sought after rare birds: elusive, tantalizing, gleaming with a certain flair and vaunting a slightly mischievous charm. A comparison to Kevin from ‘Up’ springs to mind, only Joy Orbison’s quite a lot cooler. Since…