‘TEN YEARS IS A MILESTONE NOT JUST FOR A CLUB, BUT FOR A SCENE'
Dieselboy
Manga madness
David Polloc
talks to drum & bass specialists MANGA as they
reach their tenth birthday and the last of their regular club nights.
‘ o put things in perspective.~ asserts Manga
I resident 1)] Kid. ‘the only other Scottiin club
I'm aware of that has managed to last for ten
years is Pure. .-\nd no disrespect meant to the guys who
ran it. because 1 know they‘ve moved off into other
things. but I reckon we'll do more than they did after they turned ten.‘
Much like Twitch and Brainstorm's famed techno night. however. it seems that Kid. alongside fellow resident and Manga's founder (i-Mac. will he treating the anniversary of a decade in the business as a good point to ease hack on the night as a regular concern. Where Manga. in its heyday at lidinhurgh's old La Belle Angele. wrested Pure’s unofficial titles of best and most nationally recognised club in Scotland away — at the same time putting Scottish drum & bass firmly on the tnap — it's now reached a stage where the people
who have masterminded it for so long feel it‘s better off
going part-time.
Kid and (i—Mac both cite La Belle Angele infamously burning down three years ago as the turning point in the club's fortunes. although they also mention that some great nights have been had at their last home. the
lloneycomh (which has now also shut down. another
factor in the decision to call a halt). ‘lt [the fuel was a major event in not only Iidinhurgh‘s history but it also was for me personally.’ says (i—Mac. ‘I worked there.
that's where my business was based. it was the home of
drum & bass in Scotland up to that point.
‘lt was hard to keep going after that. but we did. and we had three good years at the Honeycomb. The past year hasn't been the best. though. and I think anyone
on the scene will tell you that last October and November were the hardest couple of months in memory for Edinburgh club promoters. You can‘t keep
going like that. you can‘t keep throwing thousands of
pounds at a club that‘s not making its money back.‘ While Kid now lives in Surrey. G-Mac is using the break from Manga to consolidate and take stock. He’s bought Underground Solush’n. the Cockburn Street record shop where he previously worked. and he plans
to concentrate his attention on promoting one-off
events in different venues. as well as his own production career.
‘This decision to stop going regularly will mean that each event can be much more special] he asserts. ‘I can try out new ideas in new places. rather than just do the same old same old as so many people do. It’s a strange time on the scene anyway. with clubs closing and moving about. and it makes you think that ten years is a milestone not just for a club. but fora scene.
‘Things need to evolve. which means they have to change first of all. and a lot of people in dance music
just need to look at what they do and make some
changes so this evolution can come. So what these final regular nights are — aside from a positive way to kick off change in 2006 — is a celebration for everyone who helped make Manga. and Scottish drum & bass. what it has been over the last decade.‘
Manga’s 10th Birthday Part 1 with special guest Dieselboy, the Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sat 21 Jan; Part 2 with special guest Andy C, the Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Fri 3 Feb.
’ Madge v Kylie The best tracks from Ms Minogue and Madonna go head to head for Breast Cancer Awareness. Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh. Thu 79 Jan.
Hell The Mission take over Gig every Friday with the best in rock. metal and alternative tunesmithery. Gig, Edinburgh, week/y Fri.
Solid Steel The Ninja Tune night stops being so coy on their first birthday and lets us know in advance that Treva Whatever (pictured) is guesting. The Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Fri 20 Jan.
Symbiosis A fitting tribute to MC Sonny as they fill the floor With the best in drum 8 bass. The Soundhaus, Glasgow, Fri 20 Jan.
Kinky Afro Berlin's DJ Kiki. plus a live set of electro pop from Swimmer One to tickle your sonic taste buds. The Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 27 Jan.
Pressure Derrick Carter, Greenskeepers. the Hacker and Speedy J all join Slam. Nice. The Arches, Glasgow, Fri 27 Jan.
Xplicit Another first birthday with live hip hop from Phi-Life Cypher and the Valve tour supplying the heavy drum & bass with DJ Friction and Raiden. The Venue. Edinburgh. Fri 27 Jan.
Headspin They reach the venerable age of eight this month so expect lost classics and the best in eclectic funk, hip hop. disco and beats. The Bongo C/ub, Edinburgh, Sat 28 Jan.
; Melting Pot The missing link between Northern Soul and acid house. the Mancunian legend that is Greg Wilson returns once again. The Riverside C/ub, Glasgow, Sat 28 Jan.
Stereotype Right, this is getting silly. Yet another birthday bash and this time it‘s all about the house from Huggy and friends. Ber/in, Edinburgh, Sat 28 Jan.
if) Jan «2 Feb 20%} THE LIST 29