NO OTHER OCCASION CALLS FOR SO MUCH BAD TASTE & HUMOUR
Trick or rerit
Club Noir
David Pollock checks out the best spooky offerings across Scotland’s Clubland this Hallowe’en
Halloween. but even the best cltibs can't hitching their night onto the celebrations. Of course. mainstream party venues will latch onto any occasion for which a greetings card has ever been printed. but the more upmarket events tend to keep their powder dry for the big festivals.
So what's so special about I’lallowe'en'.’ As noted. a bit of a Pagan frisson doesn‘t hurt. and neither does the fact that it sits just towards the tail-end of the autumn. At this point we're all far enough away from our memories of summer fun. and not quite close enough to the traditional (‘hristmas blow-out. that any half- baked e\cuse for a party is desirable.
Plus -— and here‘s the bit that gets everyone going ~r Hallowe’en is a great reason to try out your fancy dress skills. No matter what every hen or stag night party marauding up the (irassmarket or Sauchiehall Street might think. the best costumes are those which incorporate a lot of traditional club black. and if they feature a bit of gothic imagination. so much the better. No other occasion calls for quite so much bad taste. humour and creativity to be invested in one outfit.
As justly famous for their filthy and furious Hallowe‘en parties as much as they are for. well. everything else they do. Optimo’s Espookio night (Sub Club. Glasgow. Sun 28 Dell is a fine place to launch yourself into the spirit of the occasion alongside the best-dressed people and weirdest. most wonderful music. For a similar but much less intimate journey into electronic rock‘n'roll. Belgian cut-up masters and sometime disco-funk scene leaders the Dewaele
t‘c‘sist
aybe it's something about the Pagan origins of
brothers. of Soulwas and 3 Many l).ls lame. bring their Radio Soulwax Halloween Fancy Dress Party roadshow to town (Carling Academy. (ilasgow. Wed .il ()ctl.
Mention of fabulous outfits and late-night clubbing can‘t be made without mention of Club Noir. the hugely popular (ilasgow-based burlesque club whose ‘Schlock Horror‘ night i.-\cademy. (ilasgow. Sat Ill ()cti promises one-off liye performances based on classic horror B-moyies. and all the usual elegant debauchery besides. Meanwhile. Chakra (Soundhaus. (iiasgow. Sat 27 Oct) will be hosting a vampire-themed party.
Similar goings-on are afoot in the liast. with lidinburgh's home of fancy dress fi'iyolity Tackno bringing us a llallowe'en event entitled “Most Haunted‘ (The (ayes. lidinburgh. Sat 27 ()cti. (‘hances are. however. if you and your mates are thinking of going as a particularly frightened-looking (iirls .-\loud. you won't be the only ones to haye had the idea.
‘Scary drum and bass' is what the folks at Obscene (ligo. tidinburgh. Sat 27 ()cti are offering. along with special guests Jammin' Jay. J Bostron and Brainstormer. as well as cheap entry for anyone in fancy dress and a pri/e for the best costume. If that all sounds a bit too frightening. the Fence Hallowe’en Fancy Dress Party (The ('ayes. lidinburgh. Thu I Now promises ghoulish fun from the life indie-folk label. as well as a performance from Edinburgh's Found. promoting their new single. among other unannounced acts.
See listings for details.
Horrorshow A big shout out to Craig McGee and this conSistently great night. lliis time featuring the amazing Robots in Disgtiise. Firewater, Glasgow, Fri 79 Oct.
Upstart Importing their own 8l< soundsystein to the Caves, the Firecracker DJs are icinerl by a multitude of live guests running through everything from Afrolioat and disco funk to ska and techno. The Caves. Fr’l/ribt/rgh, Fri 79 Oct.
Club Noir It's a Sctilock Horror theme for Halloween. so expect outfits to die for Wliil burlesque shows galore. Carling Academy, Glasgow, Sat 20 Oct.
Dolly Mixture Great tunes from the ladies every month. The Flying Duck, Glasgow, Fri 26 Oct.
Pressure Another top line up from the Slam camp featuring Green Velvet, Interstellar Fugitives (UR. l.ve. pictured). Joris Vorne (live) Dan and Martin (Rube-Dub). The Arches. Glasgow, Fri 26 Oct.
Chakra It‘s the club's seventh birthday. Celebrate With a soundtrack of funky hoose. disco and some spooky tones courtesy of this month's vampire theme. Soundnaus, Glasgow. Sat 27 Oct,
Substance Proper underground clubbing as techno night Substance reaches its tirst birthday. Tim Wright aka Tubeierk (live; is on hand to help the celebrations. Henry's Cellar Bar. Edinburgh, Sat 27 Oct.
Vegas! This one‘s gonna be massive as Vegas hits double figures with its tenth birthday party. Expect live swmg. big bands, Elvis and burlesque. Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh, Sat 27 Oct.
“5 L'.‘ ' THE LIST 27