Black gold
‘ANYONE WHO GETS ON STAGE IS A SHOW OFF'
David Pollock talks to Club Noir as the world's biggest burlesque club reaches its
fifth birthday
icn (‘lub Noir was first born to proud co- promoters Tina Warren and Ian Single five years ago. it stood in a field of one. Burlesque clubs weren‘t the fashion then. or at least not outside of London. and the pair succeeded in their aim of presenting a cheeky. sexy breath of fresh air to Scotland‘s clubbing scene. lixcept now their success has been noticed. and it feels like every other week a new night offers burlesque as one of its specialities. even if that just involves a few girls in their underwear alongside some ropey music. While Warren doesn‘t wish to slag off any fellow performers. she does note that many people are now out there chasing what she calls the ‘burlesque pound‘.
‘lt's like any other type of club.‘ she says. 'some of
them are done very well. and others aren‘t quite so slick. And it's the good ones which tend to last. It looks easy to do. but when you see bad burlesque you realise it isn‘t.‘
Club Noir isn‘t so much a club night as it is an event. Now a regular at Glasgow‘s ()2 Academy (it‘s now roughly ‘seasonal’. according to Warren. which means there are four or maybe five every year). the starting formula of live performances. ranging from striptease to rather old—fashioned comedy skits and then late-night DJ sets of rockabilly. punk and rock'n’roll. continue to serve it well. With an aesthetic which runs from bawdy Victoriana to retro Benny Hill naughtiness. the crowd are invited to join in by dressing up for the occasion: they don‘t have to be semi-naked. but ‘glamour'. ‘fun' and 'sexy' are words Warren keeps coming back to in describing the
night.
In this respect. Warren is correct when she quotes Edinburgh‘s VEGAS! as a comparison. Both clubs defy changing tastes by appealing to a very specific cross-section of fans who enjoy dressing tip and showing-off. and not feeling self-conscious about it. ‘()f course burlesque is a medium for show-offs] she laughs. ‘But then. anyone who gets on a stage and performs is a show-off. whether they're in a band or a dancer.’ Regularly using themed nights to keep things fresh. this fifth birthday celebration will be a simple ‘greatest hits' of all Warren and Singles favourite acts of the past five years.
(‘Iub Noir has also recently established its standing on the international scene by the most retro of means. inviting the Guinness Book oer'r‘on/s along to ratify their status as the biggest burlesque club in the world.
lintry was achieved by selling toil) tickets to their
Valentine's night in lr'ebruary. although Warren expresses mild disappointment: they usually. she says. manage to top 2()()(). Whether or not they really are the world's biggest burlesque night. it‘s still a benchmark which will take a bit of beating in future.
‘My favourite moment of every (‘Iub .\'oir is the point where the shows have finished. Ian and l have handed over to the DJs. and we go up on the balcony to watch everyone on the dancefloor flirting and looking fabulous] says Warren. ‘lt makes me want more — I never thought we'd reach five years when we started. but now I‘d love to make it to ten.‘
Celebrate Club Noir’s fifth birthday at the 02 Academy, Glasgow, Sat 30 May.
-E-‘ Sound Box Boys Noi/e's Housemeister guests at this new night. alongside three of Glasgow's finest in the form of Jackmaster. Johnny Whoop and Pro Vinylist Karim, Pit/o Pivo, Glasgow, Sat (30 May.
if: The Wee Chill A top line up of DJs and bands as this one~dayer returns With Justus KOhncke headlining a main stage curated by London's Horse Meat Disco. Queen's Park Glasshouses, Glasgow. Sat 30 May.
321 Sugarbeat and Optimo Vancouver duo Fan Death. demonstrate that ice queen disco is timeless With dates in both cities. Cabaret Voltaire. Edinburgh, Fri 29 May; Sill) Club, Glasgow. Sun 37 May. :31 Black Tape Kicking oft early with live music from Mitchell Museum, Copy Halio and My Latest Novel before the BT crew (and friendsl man the decks one last time. Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh, Fri 5 Jun. 13! Creative Industries Two live sets of Detroit flavoured techno and electro as local heroes Cymbol and Stephen Brown unleash the beats. The GRV. Edinburgh, Fri 5 Jun.
’3 Eyes Wide Open Garage and psych sounds from guest DJ Thomas Thellmann, we're loving the fact that his own night in Germany is The Paisley Club. Twisted Wheel, Glasgow. Fri' 5 Jun.
>51 Bleep Live Smart techno and pretty electronica from guests Plaid. ahead of the release of their new album Scr’nti'l/i'. P/vo Pivo, Glasgow. Sat 6 Jun.
>2< Coloursfest Scotland's biggest dance festival with a house. trance and old skool line-up including Ferry Corsten. Markus Schulz. Judge Jules. Dave Pearce. Mauro Picotto (pictured), Ultrasonic Richardo Ferri and more. Braehead Arena, Glasgow. Sat 6 Jun.
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