10 Highlights from the Bongo's 20th Birthday Celebrations

Henry Northmore
20 September 2016

DJ Trendy Wendy

Live music, theatre and DJs galore as the Edinburgh institution celebrates two decades

Not many clubs last 20 years. Especially not clubs that have been forced to move location not once but twice. Now firmly ensconced on the Cowgate The Bongo Club are celebrating their 20th birthday in style with a month long programme that highlights their commitment to diverse, alternative acts, music and DJs.

Techno
Substance kick off the Bongo's 20th celebrations with special guest Ben UFO. The co-founder of Hessle Audio continues to confound expectations with his seamless dancefloor heavy sets that encompass hard techno to Afrobeat, house and electro.
Fri 30 Sep

Grime
Grime and UK bass is blowing up across the world. Electrikal bring the sound of the underground to the Bongo with a double headline show from Spooky and AJ Tracey.
Fri 7 Oct

Theatre
It's not just music and DJs. The Bongo is the home of resident theatre company Creative Electric. They reprise their Fringe production Fragility – an honest, uncompromising examination of masculinity in the modern world – for the Bongo's 20th.
Sat 8 Oct

Funk
DJs Trendy Wendy and Steve Austin explore the outer reaches of funk at Mumbo Jumbo as they mash up hip hop, house and beats aimed at your feet. Joined by special guest JD Twitch (Optimo) for an out there funked up selection.
Sat 8 Oct

Spoken Word
Rally & Broad has finished. Now Jenny Lindsay launches her brand new night The Flint & Pitch Revue. Mixing spoken word, poetry, theatre and music the opening lineup includes Harry Giles, Jo Mango, Finn Lemarinel and Chitra Ramaswam in association with the Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Fest.
Fri 14 Oct

Jazz
It's impossible to choose between the funky grooves of Simon Hodge, Chris Astrojazz and Johnny Cashback's jazz, boogie and 50s R&B party Four Corners, and the rare grooves, soul and disco of Soulsville (joined by special guests Nik Weston).
Fri 14 & Sat 22 Oct

Hip Hop
Edinburgh's favourite hip hop crew Stanley Odd return to the Bongo. Expect off kilter, offbeat rap from a very Scottish perspective. Who else would write a rap track about the Indy Referendum?
Fri 21 Oct

Reggae
Messenger Sound System weigh in with two heavyweight dub sessions first up is Jamaica's MC Jeremiah on 4 Oct but it's the return of the mighty Jah Shaka that really is unmissable. Operator of one of the original UK sound systems Jah Shaka has been laying down righteous roots since the 70s and returns to the Bongo for his first date with Messenger for over 10 years.
Sat 29 Oct

Rock
After tearing the UK hardcore scene apart with Gallows and Pure Love expect your world to be ripped asunder by Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes. A feral pitbull of a front man, a seething, snarling ball of energy, Frank Carter is the personification of rock intensity.
Thu 3 Nov

Midweek
Forget living for the weekend, midweek clubbing needs love too. And the Bongo keeps things moving with house and techno from Notion every Tuesday; bass party Loco Kamanchi on Wednesdays and Trendy Wendy and Steve Austin on Thursday with soul, disco, funk, hip hop and breaks at Hullabaloo.
Weekly Tue–Thu