‘I'M OBSESSED BY THE MOTION OF A SOCIAL CLUB'
7' \T” 3 A. ».
King of c ubs
Sandra
arron talks to Mark Robb as he launches his new
club experience, The Regal Social Club, on the Glasgow scene
f you are tired of all the identikit nightclubs
operating in our fair cities. the overly flashy lights.
the burly surly doormen. the cattle mart ethos and standard music policy that operates throughout. then you probably think you are too old to be out clubbing. That or the club scene as you know it holds nothing of any interest for you anymore. But what if there was a place you could go to for cheap booze and to hear the music you like. albeit a little more specialised: a place you could chat to your pals til 3am in another room without music if you so desired: a place where some candles and a glitter ball were the preferred decoration.
[inter Mark Robb (of the original Buff (‘lubl and his new venture The Regal Social (‘lub. a new basement space in the Merchant (‘ity next door to the Red Lizard on Bell Street. A simple sign and a wooden-clad hallway will alert you to this little gem as you pass by. Within you will find a two roomed bunker — at Twin Peaks style ether meets working man‘s club complete with red curtains on the walls. school furniture. l‘ormica and a floor that was conceived for Northern Soul.
Mark Robb knew what he wanted when he earmarked the place ten years ago as a club space. '(irowing up in the Thatcher years in ('lydebank. I‘ve been at the tail end of social clubs. The first pint I ever had was in the Buyermakers Social (‘lub in (‘lydebank and I've always been obsessed by the aesthetic and the notion of a social club. I suppose it‘s a nostalgia trip for me too. and I‘m obsessed by jazz music. soul music and historical jar/f
Robb is a well known fixture on the (ilasgow music
scene. llis l’riday night Buff (‘lub in the West lind is still the stuff of legend and this new venture takes all the successful elements of his past projects and adds
just a few improvements without losing any of the
charm. Robb knows exactly what he wants. '1 want a contemporary social club. I want a social club for the arts. a social club for any age group. Really I want a space for ja/I. soul and funk. It's definitely club hours but with pub prices. A cheap door price and a cheap bar for me. to the best of my abilities. is really important and I think that creates a lot of loyalty. l’m here to sell music essentially. I‘m not here to sell bevvie. the by—product of selling bevvie is that I pay my rates.’ he says.
Robb is also excited about the rota of DJs and live hands he will be hosting. ‘Another great thing about this venue is that l have all the guys I‘ve always worked with — like big Kevin Stevens. Nick Peacock. Craig. Andrew Divine who will be doing a liriday night. we‘ve got Simon Hodge who used to do The liunk Room through from lidinburgh and Afterglow. The liriday Street guys so it’s all the gttys and girls I‘ve ever wanted to work with under the one roof - they are the cream of the crop.. lle beams before adding. ’for me essentially what the club is about is the people. It really is. It‘s about the people who will frequent here. it’s about the people who come and dance that you can vibe off to.’
The Regal Social Club is open Wed-Sun, see listings and check www.theregalsocialclub.com for full details.
THE BEST DANCEFLOOR ACTION
ti: Club NME This event launches a new weekly Edinburgh residency. while over on the west coast it's the last one for the summer with the hottest new chanteuse Remi Nicole at the helm. fresh from supporting Amy Winehouse. The Arches, Glasgow, Thu 7 Jun; Ego. Edinburgh, week/y Wed. Divine Dave Ball — yes the other half of Soft Cell — plays a Northern soul set at the arty. Brilliant. Glasgow School of Art. Glasgow, Sat 9 Jun. Motherfunk Live soulful grooves down Edinburgh funk institution as Poets of Rhythm join forces with The Whitefield Brothers. Opal Lounge, Edinburgh, Tue 72 Jun.
Mixed Bizness and GET IN The Nextmen tour to promote new album This Was Supposed To Be The Future. Sub Club, Glasgow, Thu 74 Jun; Assembly Bar, Edinburgh, Fri 75 Jun. Annual Summer Revel Live bands and hip Dds get down and dirty at the Edinburgh Art School's summer party. Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh, Fri 75 Jun.
' History of House Retrospective If you're gonna look back on the world of house. you couldn’t get safer hands than Larry Heard and Robert Owens (pictured). Ber/in, Edinburgh, Sat 76 Jun.
2' Subculture Summer Boat Party Time for Harri and Domenic to take their annual trip on the high seas. Ok. Loch Long. Summer is officially here. Leaving from ll/lacSor/ey’s. Glasgow. Sat 7 6 Jun.
Marky Ramone Who knows what this rock'n'roll legend will play but seeing the Ramone's drummer play records is worth the door tax alone. Sub Club. Glasgow, Wed 20 Jun.
' I". do.” I’l‘l‘n' THE LIST 31