The Honeycomb
'It seems like yesterday when it opened but I’m pretty sure it was the end of 1995.‘ Craig Wood, head of marketing and the events coordinator for The Honeycomb, might be slightly vague about how long the club has been operating but he’s more than clued up about what’s in store for the future.
Planning a major refurbishment, the club is due in the next few months to be extended to double capacity. Although Woods admits that the strength of the club at the moment lies in its ’intimate’ size, the hope is that after adding 800 to the capacity, bigger and better guests will be attracted to the venue. He enthusiastically explains: ‘The plans look amazing. It's going to be a purpose-built live venue as well as a club venue. For example, guys like Masters At Work - if you've got the capacity, then you can afford to bring someone like that to Edinburgh.’
During this years Festival, regular nights will run as usual but with the added bonus of some very special guests and one-offs. Saturday nights continue to alternate between the garage heaven of Substance and the Euro-house beats of Atomic Baby. Taste, the renowned weekly Sunday night mix
of hard house and garage, is so popular it doesn't even need flyers. Techno god, Billy Nasty will hit Edinburgh for one night only at Forward, and there's free entry to a special Smirnoff sponsored evening (meaning free swally too) which will entitle clubbers to an evening of Ashley Beedle, Craig Smith and Adrian Milarski. Last,
This is Craig Wood. He knows The Honeycomb.
but by no means least, Yogi Haughton's welcome return to the venue with his new R&B/soul session, Streetlife, is 'celebrated with guest Radio 1 DJ Trevor Nelson at the end of the month.
(Catherine Bromley)
I For individual club details, see listings.
Salsa In The City
Despite numerous attempts to establish it in Britain, salsa's champions on the Edinburgh circuit are quick to defend its latest resurgence as more than Ricky Martin-mania.
Simon Hodge, who runs Edinburgh's longest running salsa night, Club Latino, believes that today's climate is fertile enough for salsa, a dynamic
It's a Latin love thang: salsa in the capital.
fusion of Hispanic, African and New York styles, to finally take root. ’Five years ago, it was practically an historical relic - a revered, acquired taste,’ Hodge believes. 'Now people are much more open to it in its unadulterated form because they are hearing its influences in everyday music.’
Proof of this current state of
enlightenment are the new crop of salsa clubs (some offering on the spot dance lessons) and Latin-themed bars such as Baracoa, Cuba Norte and Club Havana that have sprung up around Edinburgh in the last twelve months.
Coco Vega, DJ, musician and co- runner of Salsa Viva, is pleased to note a surprisingly discerning clientele, from both the small Latin community and locals. It is this warmth of support in the last three years that has helped the rise of bands like Edinburgh's Salsa Celtica.
And what of Ricky Martin? His Latin- lite disco may well be drawing attention, but, with Edinburgh soon to be hosting its heat of the British Open Salsa Championships, it seems as if the desire for La Vida Loca is already here. (Judith Ho)
- Club Latino hosts the British Open Salsa Championships on Sat 21 Aug; Salsa Viva is at The Venue Fri 20 Aug and monthly; Salsa Celtica play at The Queen’s Hall on Thu 79 and Thu 26 Aug. See listings for details.
I I h Itl I St \
Miss these at your peril this week Club Latino Easily one of the capital’s best salsa clubs, mark tonight in your diary as the Latino lot play host to the Scottish heat of the British Open Salsa Championships. Through the back there will be Capoeira dancers making everyone feel more than a little unfit. Essential night. The Bongo Club, Sat 27 Aug.
International Club Festival Justin Robertson and Rob Bright represent Bugged Out, the Northern club that everyone holds close to their heart. Fine house and techno. Teviot Row, Fri 20 Aug.
Pure Not only is this seminal techno club celebrating their ninth birthday tonight, they’ve invited the Canadian master Richie Hawtin over to do his Decks, Fx and a 909 thing. We are, as ever, grateful. The Venue, Fri 20 Aug.
Rebel Waltz Murray Richardson takes his label showcase idea to more of a local level with In Demand Records gracing the City Cafe. Craig Smith and Adrian Milarski join the deep house man for a bit of a knees- up. The City Cafe, Fri 20 Aug.
Colours Of Love The final Colours bash at Mercado tonight . . . get down for your final go at glammed up house in this beautiful venue. Club Mercado, Sat 27 Aug.
Disco Inferno Start singing your parent's fave 70s anthems, pull on the biggest afro you can find and shimmy your way down to the pure silliness that will their eighth birthday bash. The Venue, Sat 27 Aug.
Afro Art Records vs In Demand Recordings Party Ashley Beedle, Craig Smith and Adrian Milarski join up for a night of garage magic. And it's free. The Honeycomb, Thu 26 Aug.
19—26 Aug 1999 THE LIST 7: