HOGMANAY 09 Midnight culture It is the busiest night of the year in clubland. Henry Northmore guides you through some Hogmanay dancefloor highlights in Glasgow and Edinburgh
W e kick off our round up with two institutions. Firstly, in Glasgow, the Optimo Hogmanay Party ‘celebrating the end of the decade’ takes over the Fruitmarket with special guests Hudson Mohawke, Drums of Death, Divorce and The Niallist keeping the soundtrack weird and wonderful, alongside your hosts Twitch and Wilkes who’ll bring in the bells. Over in Edinburgh The Vegas! Grand Hogmanay Ball 2009 returns to Ocean Terminal with their glamorous take on big band, swing, hip shaking classics and burlesque from Missy Malone, This is Elvis!, The Soul Foundation and Nevada Tam’s Ceilidh Band (plus a chance to win a holiday to Las Vegas).
Cutting edge electronic dance as Erol Alkan and Aeroplane (live) play both the NYE Cabaret Voltaire Party (also featuring Foamo) in Edinburgh and Death Disco: DDNY at the Arches in Glasgow. Death Disco have bolstered the line-up with Rex the Dog, Mark Moore, Sammy Jo, Den Haan and Acid Girls plus NYC theming throughout the building.
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The scale O ff i c i a l E d i n b u r g h ’s H o g m a n a y Afterparty 2009 features house and electro as Mylo (DJ set) and James Zabiela join Musika NYE 09/10 (The HMV Picture House,
and don’t forget the official Night Afore Party with Calvin Harris at the same venue on 30 Dec). Keeping things housey there’s the Fiasco New Year House Party (Mama San, Glasgow) with Marcoloco, Craig Hamilton and Soulfunk City. NYE2010 at Byblos (Glasgow) goes for a more glam approach with Kate Lawler and Hatty Lovehearts. tictactoeclub NYE 2009 goes more minimal and techy: they’re joined by Matthias Tanzmann as they take over one of Glasgow’s most unique buildings, the West Brewery, part of the Templeton Carpet Factory. For deeper house grooves there’s the Sub Club NYE with Ralph Lawson and Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts. Over in Edinburgh Colours joins forces with Hed Kandi for the Glitter Ball 2010 at City.
If you want something more alternative Glasgow has plenty to offer: Numbers & Ballers Social Club Hogmanay Party (Stereo) mixes up dubstep, techno and more with Dorian Concept, Brackles, Guido and the Numbers and LuckyMe DJs; 2010: A Space Oddity (Carnival Arts) promises an ‘intergalactic journey’ of nu-disco, house, breaks, hip hop and funk; Hacienda legend Greg Wilson and The Revenge guest at the Melting (the Pot Hogmanay Party!
Admiral) for a night of electro and house; Pussypower and Stevie McCole headline The Big Bang (Soundhaus) for a techno and drum & bass mash-up while the Pin Up Nights Hogmanay Ball 2 (Flying Duck) goes indie with live music from Rod Jones (Idlewild) and Paper Planes, plus DJ sets from Twilight Sad and Findo Gask.
live) at As does Edinburgh: leftfield techno from Neil Landstrumm and Subhead (both the Substance NYE (GRV); serious funk from Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse’s backing band The Haggis Horns at the Departure Lounge Hogmanay Celebration (the Caves); more funk and a trip back in time at The Motherfunk 80s Space Disco New Year Party (Voodoo Rooms, also available with a dinner package at just £35); there’s dubstep at the Volume! Hogmanay Party (Sneaky Pete’s and a bargain at just £5); Balkan beats and gypsy madness from the Balkanarama Hogmanay Special!!! (Studio 24) featuring Alejanndro Toledo & Magic Tombolinos or the freakiness, electro and burlesque of Confusion is Sex Hogmanay Party at the Bongo Club.
See Club listings, page 45, for full details and even more Hogmanay events.
Greg Wilson 17 Dec 2009–7 Jan 2010 THE LIST 15
GLASGOW HIGHLIGHTS
The centrepiece of Glasgow’s Winterfest celebrations is the Glasgow’s Hogmanay gig featuring Tommy Reilly, Bahookie and headliners Deacon Blue on Thursday 31 December. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, though, there are many more entertaining ways to ring in the New Year.
Glasgow On Ice is back once again until Wednesday 30 December, which is great for all those nimble folks who can pirouette, back flip and generally show off in ice-skates (and for those of us who like to spectate and laugh at the less-talented souls). The open-air ice rink is open 10am–10pm (last session 9pm) and prices start at £2.50 for kids and £6 for adults.
The Irn Bru Carnival also
returns this year, and runs from Friday 18 December to Sunday 10 January (if your stomach can handle it post-New Year revelling). There are over 60 whizzers, fliers and screamers packed into the SECC, and each one costs just £1 (with various offers available). If you fancy entertaining the kids
without the risk of losing your lunch, Disney’s Beauty And The Beast is finishing off its theatrical tour at Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium from Tuesday 8 December to Saturday 2 January. Or, for a more mature variety of musical entertainment, the Raymond Gubbay Christmas Festival Hogmanay Gala takes place on Friday 31 December at the Glasgow Concert Hall, featuring a selection of classical and traditional favourites, as presented by comedian Joyce Falconer. Also on the night, Maggie May’s
plays host to a comedy evening featuring Des Clarke and Scott Agnew. Aside from the laughs, there’s also a three-course meal and free entry into the Hell’s Bells Hogmanay Party to be had, for around £30.
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