Halloweߣen SPECIAL
N IS FOR NIGHTLIFE There are plenty of club promoters taking advantage of Hallowe’en falling on
a Saturday this year. The biggest party in town is the massive Vegas! 12th birthday party (Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh, Sat 31 Oct). Guests include The Kitsch Kats and Craig McMurdo with his Dance Orchestra alongside the Vegas! showgirls and the peerless DJ team playing jazz, swing, easy listening, big band and country classics. For a darker take on the fancy dress party
there’s Optimo (Espookio) (Sub Club, Glasgow, Sun 2 Nov). Expect the quirkiest costumes to match the ever eclectic soundtrack plus live electro pop from Cold Cave (they also guest at Playdate at Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh, Sat 31 Oct).
The Arches in Glasgow hosts two big
Hallowe’en parties with techno and house from Pressure (Slam are joined by Green Velvet, Robert Hood and more on Fri 30 Oct) and trance and hard house from Inside Out (featuring Marcel Woods and Headhunterz among others on Sat 31 Oct). For techno action JakN returns for a one off date combining both its sixth birthday celebrations and its Hallowe’en party (GRV, Edinburgh, Sat 31 Oct). Metro Soul host their first ever Hallowe’en party of underground house with guest Hector Moralez (Ad Lib, Glasgow, Sat 31 Oct). Elsewhere there’s a Warehouse Hallowe’en Afterparty at SWG3 (Glasgow, Sat 31 Oct) with a gothic/rockabilly theme and a techno showdown at Bleep vs Kreep with live guest Dexter (Universal, Glasgow, Sat 31 Oct).
If you fancy something with a bit more groove check out the Soulsville Hallowe’en Motown Special (Mono, Glasgow, Fri 30 Oct). Rock’N’Shock (Stereo, Glasgow, Fri 30 Oct) mix
S E G U R B - O E L : O T O H P
Optimo (Espookio)
up rock, electro punk, grime and breaks with Warlock (Rag And Bone Records), live guests Fangs, The Evil Eye and more. Classic Grand (31 Oct) offer a soundtrack of punk, emo, indie, rock and metal with £500 worth of cash prizes to be won. There’s spooky tunes and live music from Asazi Space Funk Explosion at Trouble, (Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, Sat 31 Oct). Finally, for mixed up funk, house, beats and hip hop head to the Horrible Halloween Headspin (Bongo Club, Edinburgh, Sat 31 Oct) where, they state: ‘freaky fancy dress costumes are encouraged, giving those that have made an effort ultra cheap entry’. (Henry Northmore) ■ See Clubs on page 39 for more information or ‘X is for X-rated’ for more nightlife.
couple who set out to capture the weird events going on at night in their suburban home.
After chasing distribution for years it was finally picked up by DreamWorks with director Oren Peli pencilled in to remake his own film on a bigger budget. But the no frills ‘found footage’ approach was so effective they canned the remake option. The fan reaction has been frenzied. Released in the US exclusively at midnight screenings, it was drip fed to the public with fans clicking on the ‘Demand It’ website (www.eventful.com/paranormalactivity) to bring the movie to their city (with a full nationwide US release promised if the counter reaches 1,000,000). It’s a film lead by public demand that has created a new and unique distribution network. Witness the phenomenon when it hits the UK on 27 Nov. (Henry Northmore)
O IS FOR ORATION As part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, the Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh will be hosting a special event of tales from the ‘otherworld’. Huddle close as storyteller Linda Williamson introduces a selection of stories from guest readers. ■ Night of the Circle: Stories from the Otherworld, Sat 31 Oct, 7.30pm. £10 (£8). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, 473 2000.
P IS FOR PARANORMAL It started as a no budget fright film,
ACTIVITY
somehow found its way into Steven Spielberg’s hands (he was so freaked out by the film he refused to let the preview disc back into his home) and now Paranormal Activity is set to become the buzz film of 2009. Heralded by many as the scariest film of the year, it purports to be home-video footage from a
FOREST PARK
Q IS FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH Enter the woods for this spooky Hallowe’en party in Aberfoyle’s Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, with a candlelit ghost walk, as well as party games, apple dooking and jugglers. ■ Queen Elizabeth Forest Park Hallowe’en Party Night, Sat 31 Oct, 5pm. £tbc. David Marshall Lodge Visitor Centre, Achray Forest, Aberfoyle, 01877 382 258.
R IS FOR ROCK Hallowe’en has struck a rich musical vein this year, with several great events on Sat
Oct 31 in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. In Edinburgh Behind the Light are showcasing a ten-band bill for just £3 at Henry’s Cellar Bar, featuring weirdness from Morphamish vs. Texture, Diva Abrasiva and Sileni. Mighty ska institution Bombskare will take over the HMV Picture House for a night of spooky skanking in aid of charity. Also in Edinburgh, enjoyably mentalist horror punks Gin Goblins come out of their dank hovel for a one off at the Ark. In gruesome Glasgow, Creeping Bent Records host
their own Benotowe’en event at Stereo, with Li’l Ze, Abel Soul and Flesh providing the sounds. More unhinged is the End of the Month Club Hallowe’en Spooktacular: a fancy dress laden mishmash of quiz, comedy, performance and general tomofoolery at the 13th Note. Lastly, for the death metal fan, one of the world’s most controversial bands, Cannibal Corpse, make it to Glasgow’s ABC right on time for a detuned, deranged splatter-fest. (Mark Robertson) ■ All Sat 31 Oct. See Music on page 63 for more information.
Queen Elizabeth Forest Park 24 THE LIST 22 Oct–5 Nov 2009
Cannibal Corpse