POGO VOGUE
The Bongo Club. Edinburgh. Fri 21 Mar
You only find out how much you miss something when it's gone, and the Bongo Club‘s oscillating future (it may end up relocating to Holyrood Road) draws attention to just how essential it is as a leftfield venue, immune to the gusts that have blown superclubs from their moorings and made Judge Jules an increasing figure of fun. It‘s made a habit of housing clubs that. while happy to nod to fashion and peek across at the status quo, are really happiest doing their own thing.
Since starting up last September, Pogo Vogue foraged through house and techno for the best tunes and the coolest guests. Visitors have included Freddy Fresh, Amon Tobin and Funki Porcini, while Red Snapper’s Rich Thair and Si Begg are lined up for future appearances. Residents Brian D‘Souza, Dr Air (of Super Scientists fame), Dirty and Krux play, well, almost anything. ‘We don’t want to be called a “no music policy“ club because we're not,‘ says promoter Alex Beckers. ‘lt’s electronic music,
‘I‘m the opposite of Fatboy Slim’ Baby Ford
anything that people can have a good time to. We are trying to move away from more manufactured styles of music like drum & bass or hip hop, but that doesn't mean we won’t play that kind of thing. Dr Air plays a fair bit of micro-house. a lot of which is his own stuff. You‘ve got clicky beats and robotic sounds, but it‘s very melodic. with jazz influences. It‘s quite poppy and there‘s lots of energy in it.‘
This month sees another iconoclast guest at Pogo Vogue. Peter 'Baby‘ Ford was one of dance music‘s early ambassadors, releasing acid house anthem ‘Hoochy Coochy’ in 1987. Since then, he's produced scores of techno tracks for a number of labels. including his own lfach imprint, Perlon and Force Inc. ‘What I do is kind of abstract, although I usually play more straight down, funky stuff in clubs,‘ says the supremely laid-back producer. ‘I guess I‘m the opposite to Fatboy Slim. I mostly play outside the UK, in places like Berlin and Switzerland, parts of Spain where they have these cool, strange parties, which isn’t really a scene you get in England. Scotland‘s better. The more north you go, the cooler people get.‘ (James Smart)
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CARL COX, PAUL VAN DYKE. Steve Lawler. Tall Paul. Sister Bliss. Ferry Corsten. Sonique and perhaps. most exciting of all. John Digweed and Sasha are the first names to be confirmed for this year's Coloursfest at Braehead Arena, 25 May. Colours has also announced some stellar forthcoming DJ rosters for the Arches. its annual Easter Extravaganza on 20 April featuring none other than the house don himself John Digweed alongside Danny Howells and the Hed Kandi DJs. And that‘s not all as Colours moves to its new slot taking over the first Saturday of the month on 3 May with their Subliminal Session residency and the one and only Erik Morillo.
FURTHER AFIELD HOMELANDS 2003 is also shaping up for Matterly Bowl, Winchester, 24 May. Groove Armada. Audio Bullys, Chemical Brothers (DJ set), DJ Marky. Jeff Mills, Andy C, Grandmaster Flash. DJ Food, Fergie and Umek being just the tip of the iceberg. Check www.welovehome
lands.com for more info.
INSIDE OUT HAS ANNOUNCED it is following Slam‘s suit and getting involved in the Carling Academy, Glasgow. 5 April sees it taking over the venue with DJ Tiesto (voted number 1 DJ in the world by DJ Magazine). Guy Ornadel, Simon Foy. Alan Belshaw and Fraser Latte.