preview
= spaced gap, according to the people
addition to clubbing.
‘ BIG BEAT BONANZA
? walls of the superclubs and the
NEW VENUE
Mas
29 Royal Exchange Square, Thu 9 Nov. Another day, another Glasgow club
opening. But this time, things are a bit different. Because for all the variety of club nights and club spaces in Glasgow, there's a little too much in the way of homogeneity: there are more than enough spaces to cater for the dressed-up, Ben Sherman trance fraternity, for the serious, furrowed brow mixologists, for the dedicated . hedonist. But in amongst the shiny
peeling paint of the tiny basement joints, there‘s a yawning, club-
behind Mas, Glasgow's newest
Having brought about a revolution in Glasgow's drinking habits last year with the clean lines and stylish service (not to mention the staggering array of beers from all four corners of the globe) of the Republic Bier Halle, this year it’s clubbing’s turn to get the treatment. Eschewing the 'pack them in and get them drinking' ethic of most clubs, Mas instead, according to general manager Teo Van Well, is aiming to go down the route of providing a real alternative to the current Glasgow club scene.
With clean, minimalist design - 'the aesthetic we were after was a kind of Japanese industrial space' says Creative consultant Colin Barr (the man who opened both the Tunnel and the Volcano) - and the same dedication to customer service that has made Republic such a success, Mas (Spanish for ‘more') aims to create a truly different atmosphere.
Add in the line-up of DJs secured already, including a Mixmag night with Jon Pleased Wimmin (11 November), a date with Daft Punk's Bob Sinclair (17 November) and
Mekon - still heating it after all these years
Andy Spence aka Organic Audio - at one with nature
a live appearance from dancefloor funk genius Andy Spence aka Organic Audio (27 November), and Mas looks to be shaping up as a real competitor. And this is only phase one: a capacity of 420 split over two intimate rooms opens on 9 November, but come next February, phase two will be ready: a 1200 capacity megalith with four rooms, one of the best sound systems in the country and more stellar DJs than you can shake a lightstick at.
However, this isn't, according to Barr, going to mean
that clubbers Will have to sacrifice quality for quantity. ; this week by the UKS largest
What Mas is striving for is a big, bold and stylish, but
clubs@list.co.uk
Word Up
AMONG THE FORTHCOMING highlights, Glasgow has one or two dates you may well want to buy tickets for just now. The first of these is the next Colours date at The Arches that features a five hour set from Mr John Digweed and those fuzzy freaks the Dope Smugglaz launching their new album Dope Radio. What's more, the club will be licensed till 4am to make room for all this mayhem.
THE OTHER DATE for the diary is the forthcoming Pressure 2nd Birthday celebrations also at The Arches on Friday 24 November. Destined to be a wildstyle night of debauched hedonism, the seven hour meltdown will include Fatboy Slim (very rarely
. caught in these parts) warming up for
DJ Sneak in the main room, while Billy Nasty gets ’em going with the help of Stuart and Orde in the techno room. The tickets are £16 in advance and the sooner you buy your tickets, the better you'll sleep at night.
MEANWHILE, THIS FORTNIGHT sees the arrival of American R&B goddess Jill Scott. She'll be appearing at the Liquid Room on Sunday 12 November (please note the event was previously billed at The Venue) and there's a warm-up event at
PopRokit from 4pm. See listings/hitlist for further details.
still intimate atmosphere and the kind of communal '
spirit usually associated with tiny sweatboxes, where what matters is the music and the crowd. (Leon McDermott)
loud, I’m not Mr Ambient.’ Well said indeed and with the Fatboy, The Dirty Beatniks and Mekon all releasing new albums over the next few months, perhaps now is the time to rekindle Our love of those chunky phatback sounds.
SUBWAY WEST END has been bought
independent nightclub owner, Luminar, in a deal believed to be worth £15
million. The club’s previous owner, Elaine McManus, has retained
ownership of the smaller Cowgate Subway and although some changes
will result in programming for the West *
Added to this, Wall of Sound are now i and fresh local talent) will touch
a big name and are 'semi-efficient, almost like a proper record company' according to Mekon, but only almost.
The music that comes out of their 2 ‘ End venue, Noa as from Saturday 3
vaults is still distinctly leftfield and crosses over, in many cases, the dance-
seen in the majority of dance acts. 3
[Dirty] Beatniks doing their stuff, kind
i Rizla Presents: The
Boutique Bands & Booze Tour
The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Mon 6 Nov.
Could there be a more appropriate sponsor than Rizla for this latest outing from the Big Beat Boutique and Wall
Of Sound? With a line-up boasting The
Dirty Beatniks, Alpinestars and South all appearing live and Mekon manning
78 THE “ST 2—16 Nov 2000
the decks, the Liquid Room is certainly gonna be smokin' next Monday.
Now some might say the big beat sound is so 1997, but our Mekon's not lost his passion for the scene largely created by Fatboy Slim’s tinkerings at the original Big Beat Boutique night in Brighton. As he explains: 'Big beat's been and gone for a lot of people but
not for me. I’m big beat for life. It's a -
good pop format and what does it really mean, but just loud drums? And I’m always gonna want my drums
of a disco rock thing, with mad ranting
over the top and I do old skool breaks' I
and 'uneasy listening’. Manchester’s Alpinestars will also be appearing with their electronic dance
When asked what to expect from a ; Boutique night Mekon replies ’The ’
pop (think The Chemical Brothers ;
having a dust up with Kraftwerk), as will live indie act South and to warm the evening up good and proper, local DJs The Merry Pranksters and The Jengaheads will be spinning their frisky mix of big beat and booty.
(Henry Northmore)
End venue, we’ll keep you posted.
RENAISSANCE FANS WILL be pleased to learn that the Nottingham
superclub is poised to return to . Scotland. The residency (featuring big name guests, Renaissance residents ‘
down in Edinburgh on Saturday 23 December at Ego and will then continue on a monthly basis at West
February. Once again, we'll keep you
indie divide with a live element not g 9°5ted With the panicu'ars'
Digweed