Eddie Halliwell
‘WE'RE AIMING AT THE COOLER END OF THE HOUSE MARKET'
'i
Brand new dance
David Pollock chats to the folk behind the inaugural Parklife festival featuring the likes of Eddie Halliwell, Judge Jules and Anne Savage across five arenas
his first-ever instalment of dance music festival
Parklife should take attendees back to the mid-
9()s glory days when T in the Park was still young and finding its feet. and Strathclyde Country Park was big enough to contain it. It‘s not like the Park hasn‘t played host to music events since — Parklife’s co-organisers Stereofunk have used it themselves for that very purpose — but this is an attempt to take things to a whole new level.
‘Myself and Craig Kelman started off DJing around Scotland.‘ recounts Stereofunk‘s co-organiser Stevie Lennon about he and his DJ partner‘s beginnings. ‘and running overnight parties in castles up and down the country for our friends. Demand for these grew to the point where we started booking outdoor venues and eventually settled in Strathclyde Country Park. although these parties were for about 2.000 people — Parklife has a capacity of 7.()()(). which is still intimate by T in the Park standards. but a massive jump for us.’
Parklife certainly has the backing to ensure that nothing is done by halves. The trio of promoters
involved are Stereofunk. who have the experience of
outdoor events on the site. Simon Foy's Inside Out. who are one of the biggest names in mainstream Scottish clubbing. and Manchester's Goodgreef. which has a list of big contacts at a national level.
At what Lennon describes as ‘the tougher end' of the house spectrum is the Inside Out meets Fire It Up arena, which boasts the only Scottish appearance of the year by Eddie Halliwell as its main selling point. although Judge Jules and Sander Van Doorn are also on the bill. In the Goodgreef Xtra Hard arena meanwhile.
38 THE LIST 4—18 Set) 2008
the Tidy Boys. Showtec. Anne Savage and an exclusive Alex Kidd set back-to-back with Kutski should keep the proper ravers happy.
The (‘lubland arena is there to scoop up all the more
commercially—minded partygoers. with the likes of
Kelly I.lorena headlining while Flip & Fill prop up the bill alongside members of L'ltrabeat.
‘At Stereofunk.‘ says Lennon of his own fourth arena. ‘we like to think we‘re aiming at the cooler end of the house market. Judge Jules will be playing another set for us in there. a straight-up house one. and you can expect to hear all sorts of minimal techno and dirtier stuff at Stereofunk.’ Also on Lennon's bill are My Digital linemy. Mark Mendes and Gareth Sommerville.
‘I don‘t think we‘re here to compete with (‘oloursfestf says Lennon when the obvious
comparison is made. ‘or if we are it's a friendly type of
competition. because we offer a different style of music
and we‘re at the opposite end of the summer. A lot of
people I‘ve spoken to who go to (‘oloursfest have been impressed with how good our line-up is. though.‘
There‘s something that just appeals to our primal instincts that makes dancing in the open air so appealing. And of course the smoking ban has meant that outdoor clubbing is even more of a draw for some punters. ‘A lot of the big clubs don't put large bills on over the summer thanks to things like 'I‘ in the Park and (‘oloursfest I‘m sure the emphasis will switch back in the autumn. when the aim for us is to get planning next year's Parklife if this one goes well.’
Strathclyde Country Park, Glasgow, Sat 13 Sep.
www.list.co.uk/clubs
>l= Fast Celebrate five years of uncompromising punk attitude with a live set from So So Modern. The Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Fri 5 Sep.
3%: Nuklear Puppy Just as punk rock, but in her own special way, the first lady of hard dance Lisa Lashes returns. Luna, Edinburgh, Fri 5 Sep.
$1 Bleep It's an al fresco house party at Bleep By Day in the Courtyard, and then time to decamp to Bleep Live with Stefan Robbers (pictured) at Stereo in the evening. The Courtyard and Stereo, Glasgow, Sat 6 Sep.
ti: Slabs of the Tabernacle One of Glasgow's hottest young clubs gets in on the ltalo craze with special guest Mark Du Mosch. Twisted Wheel, Glasgow, Sat 6 Sep.
it: Sunday Service Not much could drag us out of bed of a Sunday evening, but surely a special guest DJ slot by Kevin Rowland of Dexy’s Midnight Runners is cause enough. Oran Mor, Glasgow, Sun 7 Sep.
3%: David Holmes One of the world’s best DJs makes a trip to Edinburgh to launch new album The Holy Pictures. The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, Fri 72 Sep. ii: Soundcrash A two-for—one extravaganza, with Soundcrash's debut night presenting The Bug and Warrior Queen, and Baller’s Social Club's first birthday showcasing Platinum Pied Pipers. Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow, Fri 12 Sep.
ii: Inner City Acid House legend DJ Pierre guests at this keenly anticipated event, alongside Phuture 303 and others. Soundhaus, Glasgow, Sat 73 Sep.
Di: Musika Deep house and techno are combined with equal abandon as special guest D Ramirez provides the cut up electronic grooves. The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sat 13 Sep.