Arche de Trium
Sandra Marron, former press manager for
‘THE ARCHES SMELLS OF
FUN AND CREATIVITY, MIXED
WITH RAILWAY BRICKS'
phe
e Arches and current Glasgow
clubs editor at The List, gives a personal history of clubbing at the Arches.
first stepped into the cavernous spaces of the
Arches in the year 2000 to hatid in an application
form for a press position. I remember Andy Arnold taking me on a tour of the building (works) and showing me a massive hole iii the floor (the Cafe Bar) but most of all I can remember the way it smelled. If you ever want to smell ftiii and creativity mixed in with old railway bricks. then the Arches is where you‘ll get a good old whiff. I was then and am still reminded of Robert Duvall's line in .-tpoi'ul_v/ist' Now: ‘I love the smell of napalm iii the morning.‘ It‘s not quite napalm btit on a Monday morning after two packed club nights. a theatre show and a live music event the smell was probably just as powerful. btit comfortable as all hell. I still love that smell.
The Arches turns l5 this year and to celebrate it is putting on a series of events entitled I'llh’t’ll l'mrs: 'Iii-o Fingers for five weeks in every nook and cranny of the building including some killer clubnights. Mind the Gaps line-up includes 1)] Touche. Rex the Dog. Cagedbaby' and local band l'nion of Knives pltis for one night only punters will be treated to the return of the Arches' first ever in-house club night. Cafe Loco. which joins forces with Death Disco.
For many the Arches will always be synonymous with putting on some of the best club nights in the CR. The infamous Slam nights were among the first regular nights to put the club side of things on the map. the first time Cream came to the city in 1995 over 4.000 people queued around the block to get in. Carl Cox is its newest patron. it is Judge Jules‘
34 THE LIST 2‘. Sop—5 Oct 2006
favourite place to spin. Mylo D.led iii the Cafe Bar before he made it big and Madonna‘s musical director Jacques l.c ('ont was about to throw in the tow cl and quit DJing forever until he played at Death Disco.
During my time there I worked with lots of great club promoters and nights btit Death Disco was the one I was most inyolyed with. Along with 'l'iernan Kelly (programmer). 'l'anisin Austin lllic then music programmer). .\'iall \Valker (marketing manager and Designer) and DJ Mingo-(io (resident D!) we poured our heart and soul into making Death Disco (named by yours truly) into a club that fitted in with the ethos of the Arches: a place that nurtured young talent. took risks and ptit on cutting edge bands and l).ls that no other cltib night had the balls to put on.
()n the first night about 300 people turned tip and now. three years on. it regularly packs in o\ er a llltlll punters each month. One night at Death Disco it dawned on me that I had been using the same toilet for the best part of five years. The (iliniiner ’l‘wins were rip-roaring through a bla/ing set and l was in “my toilet'. As I sat there. I thought. foi' as long as [We been in this city. this place has been and will probably always be part of my life. A year on and
over two years since I was a ftill time member of
stuff. I‘m still using that same bloody toilet. Long may it continue.
Mind the Gap, the Arches, Glasgow, Sat 23 Sep; Death Disco v Cafe Loco, the Arches, Glasgow, Sat 14 Oct.
Xplicit Manipi Swiift double drops hard and last iungle Distorted tiassliiies and raw drum & bass come as standard. The Bongo Club, Edinburgh, in 2.? Set).
Bad Robot Loosjoints and Stevie Elements take over this new weekly. (-‘iuest John MacLean iBeta Band) is on spinning duties. Glasgow School of Art. Glasgow, Sat 23 Sep.
Disco Not Disco to celebrate their second birthday Norwegian ltalo house royalty Todd lGTJC puts in an appearance. The Arches Cafe Bar. Glasgow. Sat 23 Sep.
Pussypower One of the original Glasgow techno nights hits its 15th birthday. Pussypower, Hamish (My Machines) and lWitch party like it's 1901. The Sound/mus. Glasgow, Sat 23 Sen
Essential three big nights this fortnight: DJ set from Bloc Party (26 Sep). Fun LoVin' Criminals (3 Oct) and finally Avalanches DJ Dexter (4 Oct). Po Na Na. Edinburgh, Tue 26 88/). Tue 3 Oct 8 Wed 4 Oct.
We Are . . . Electric The disco punks at WA . . E are 10ined by gothir; electro specialists Black Strobe for a full live show. Cabaret Voltaire. Edinburgh, Wed 27 Sep.
Hospitality One of the best drum 8. bass labels in the business. Hospital Recorsz showcase Logistics and High Contrast. The Bongo Club. Edinburgh, Fri 29 Sep.
Kinky Afro Rhythm and SOund guest With Tikiman (live). An evening of dancehall dub is on the cards. Sub Club. Glasgow, Fri 29 Sep.
Top Cat Mungo's Hi Fi know how to bag the best ragga. )ungle or dancehall guests and this is no different With The Jungle MC. The G/asgow School of Art, Glasgow, Fri 29 Sep.
Progression Last chance to catch their future house. with special guests Steve Angello and Desyn Masiello. The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sat 30 Sep.