FESTIVAL CLUBBING
WHITE RABBIT COWBOYS The Honeycomb, Edinburgh, see listings for full details on nights.
With the demise of the International Clubs Festival, you might think that clubbing will be the poor second cousin to comedy as this August’s late-night entertainment option. Then again, the White Rabbit Cowboys, curating events at The Honeycomb this year, might have a little something to say about that. The venue’s current roster will continue largely unchanged, with Motherfunk on Tuesdays, Taste on Sundays and the rotating Friday and Saturday night clubs running as usual. That’s more than enough clubbing for most people during the year, but over the heady months of August things are going a little bit crazy. As well as theatre and comedy, the clubs roster is expanding, with the boys versus girls battle that is Double Trouble taking over Wednesdays, when DJs from Three Piece Sweet take on their counterparts from Tribal Funktion in a stylistic mash-up. Bezique takes over Thursday nights with 805 tunes from brothers Stuart and Len McCaffer, who make up two-thirds of the White Rabbit Cowboys. Fellow gunslinger Sam Oakley will not, however, be joining them on the decks. ‘I can’t
DJ to save my life,’ he explains cheerfully. ‘We’re going to try and make it a good place to hang out, not a fun pub like most of what you get on the Cowgate. It’s not about being cool or serious but about running different styles against each other - anything goes, unless it’s
really stupid.’
The White Rabbit Cowboys aren’t exactly shirking on the stupid front, however. They describe the Department of Tranceport as ‘our little treasure.’ Others might describe it as the looniest idea in clubland since Pulp headlined Homelands England. Actually, it’s far worse than that. ‘I just had this idea a while back,’ muses Oakely, ‘about a van driving down the street, pumping out tunes with a self-contained party inside. If
GUEST DJ/ALBUM PREVIEW ROB MELLO
Acetate at the Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sat 18 Aug.
London-based DJ and promoter Roberto Mello has recorded. produced and remixed a plethora of house records over the past ten years. As one half of pioneering disco house duo Disco Elements and co-founder of saucy house label Luxury Service he's contributed to countless dancefloor fillers and as well as DJing all over the globe. has now found time to produce his first. as yet untitled. artist album.
‘I Just want to do an album that I personally would want to listen to at home. so it's more funk, jazz and afro-orientated than bang, bang. bang.‘ says Mello. ‘I can listen to compilation albums like DJ mixes and stuff but artist house records. I don't really know of many that have worked that well, maybe one or two. There will be four or five singles off the album that will be mixed in a house way but I want the album itself to be more listening-based than
Club Tropicana - drinks are not free
you were on the street you could just blink and miss it. It’s gonna be a romp through the streets of Edinburgh.’ The Department is open for business every Saturday night during the Festival, and consists of tunes from the Bezique DJs, plus twenty clubbers in the back of a van,
some boxes for self-expression, and industrial
dance orientated.’
The album will feature contributions from celebrated 70s and 80s soul divas, although Mello's cagey about mentioning any names at this stage of the game. ‘I will mention that one of the girls I‘ve been working with recently is a girl called Tania Gardner from New York; she did loads of stuff On a label called West End Records. I don't want to mention more than that but there's a few surprises on there.’
Rob Mello likes it right across the board
quantities of booze. lt lasts for eight hours, and takes in Arthur’s Seat and a motorway service station, among other things. ‘lt’s not going to be your average night out,’ explains Oakely, with what might be charitany described as understatement, ‘and it will be gruelling. But someone’s got to do something like this and we thought it might as well be us.’ Rather you than me, boys. (James Smart)
As to his DJ set at Acetate. Edinburgh audiences can expect an eclectic selection from vocal storiners right through to old disco classics. ‘l've been DJing for fifteen years now and collecting music for — oh God. how long? — well I'm 33 now and I started when I was thirteen. so that's twenty years.‘ he says. ‘I'm basically into music full stop. right across the board. so when I'm DJing I take all that into account.‘ (Catherine Bromley)
I Bezique Fish out your 808 ensembles for this faintly horrific nite of new romanticism, tentative electro and early hip hop. See preview. (opposite). The Honeycomb, Thu 76 8. 23 Aug.
I Cuban Brothers Breakdancing-DJing-fancy- dressing-comedy duo come exhibitionists The Cuban Brothers spoil our sorry asses with two (yes two!) special appearances in honour of the Festival. Teviol Row House, Thu 76 & Fri 77Aug.
Pure Gets the persian rugs in for the momentous return of the club that everyone goes gooey over. See panel. page 82. Studio 24, Fri 17 Aug.
l Acetate Acclaimed producer/ DJ Rob Mello and the hell talented resident DJs all under one roof to celebrate the occasion of the first birthday. See preview. (opposite). The Liquid Room. Sat 78 Aug.
I Luver Clubs not glam enough for you? Well get a load of this greased-up. glitter-daubed dancefest featuring the residents and their special guest DJ. Princess Julia (pictured). The Honeycomb, Sat 7 8 Aug.
I Messenger Sound System Raw roots and bowel-shuddering dub reggae from the almighty sound system. considerably augmented this month by the talents of MC Jeremiah (Jah Love Muzik, Jamaica). The Bongo Club, Sat 78 Aug.
I Rawhide Spit in the sawdust and ride that bronco like there's no tomorrow at this rootin' tootin‘ hoe-down for all you crazy cowboys out there. Club Java. Sat 78 Aug.
I Ultragroove An exclusive and ooh-so-rare opportunity to catch disco don Dave Lee aka Joey Negro in the intimate surrounds of this salubrious hotspot. La Belle Ange/e, Sat 78 Aug.
I Taste Jon Pleased takes up his quarterly residency at the Sunday clubbing institution you can't afford to miss. The Honeycomb. Sun 79 Aug.
lb 2)? Aug 2001 THE LIST FESTIVAL GUIDE 81