list.co.uk/LGBT Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to gay@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Laura Ennor. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
GLASGOW
Activities & Events Gender Shift: Women Who Make Men Thu 17 Nov, 6—7.30pm. £3 (free). Glasgow Women’s Library, Mitchell Library, 15 Berkeley Street, 248 9969. Drag king pioneer Diane Torr and Scottish writer Zoe Strachan discuss the creation of male characters by women. Life Drawing for Bears and Butches Tuesdays (bears) & Thursdays (butches), 6.30–8.30pm. £7 in advance; £8 on the night. The Virginia Gallery, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. Semi-tutored life drawing classes for fans of brawnier/burlier type. Open to all levels of artistic ability. FREE Prime Time Sun 20 Nov & 4 Dec, 3–5pm. Luke and Jack, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. Informal social for gay and bisexual men over 40. FREE Together Tue 29 Nov & 13 Dec, 7–9pm. Gay Men’s Health, 48 Albion Street, 552 0112. A social, support and information group for gay and bisexual men living with HIV. FREE LGBT Bipolar Self Help Group Tue 6 Dec, 7pm. Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland, 134 Douglas Street, 332 3838. LGBT self help group for people with bipolar disorder and their families, friends and carers. Boylesque for Beginners Sun 11 Dec, 3–5pm. £20 (includes refreshments). Luke and Jack, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. This two-hour class led by Jan MacNaughty introduces the craft of masculine striptease, and while aimed at men is also open to women and transgender people who want to explore their masculine side. There’s no nudity in the class, which is held in a safe and fun environment.
Arts FREE Re-Invention Until Sat 26 Nov, Mon–Sat 11am–6pm, Sun 12.30–5pm. The Virginia Gallery, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. Group show exploring ideas about heroes, heroines and underdogs. Boys Don’t Cry Sun 20 Nov, 7.30pm. Glasgow Film Theatre, 12 Rose Street, 332 6535. Film based on a true story about a young man who makes a good impression in a new town, until his big secret is revealed. Presented by Lock Up Your Daughters for the International Transgender Day of Remembrance and introduced by a representative from the Scottish Transgender Alliance. FREE #MAN Sat 3–Sat 24 Dec, Mon–Sat 11am–6pm, Sun 12.30–5pm. The Virginia Gallery, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. Group selling exhibition exploring ‘man’ as subject, homo- eroticism, masculinity and the man-made. Clubs Jock Fri 18 Nov, 10pm–3am. £10 (members £5). Above Speakeasy, 10 John Street, 0845 166 6036. Men-only night with a strict dress code of rubber, leather, kilts, uniform, braces & bleachers, sports kit, industrial or jockstrap & boots. Once you’re kitted out right though, it’s a fun, social, no-attitude night with DJ eXploit. Membership is £2, sign up via Facebook or at Luke & Jack boutique (address and contact details above under Prime Time listing). Death Disco Sat 19 Nov, 11pm–3am. £14; £7 if on DD mailing list. The Arches, 30 Midland Street, 565 1000. Electro, house, disco and gauche party tracks at the Arches’ monthly party, with residents Hush Puppy, Josh Jones and Wavy Graves joined by guests Jacques Lu Cont, The 2 Bears and more to be confirmed. Menergy Sat 26 Nov, 11pm–3am. £6. Stereo, 20-28 Renfield Lane, 222 2254.
PREVIEW CLUB NIGHT HOT MESS Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh, Fri 2 Dec
If you’ve been to certain gay clubs in Glasgow or Edinburgh, you’ll know that there can be a certain whiff of cheese in the air. Not so with Hot Mess, held at Wee Red Bar every two months and fast gaining a rep for being one of the coolest off the beaten track nights in the city.
Organiser and DJ Simon Eilbeck explains: ‘It’s essentially a dance party
for queer kids and their friends who are looking for an alternative to Edinburgh’s mainstream gay scene. You don’t have to be queer to come to it but you probably will be by the time you leave.’ Although Eilbeck has been a DJ since his time at university in the 90s, he
was more familiar with a laddish club crowd or gay nights that worship Gaga, Rihanna and other chart hits. Discovering creative and alternative Glasgow clubnights like Menergy and Lock Up your Daughters inspired him to start something similarly anti-establishment in Edinburgh.
‘I wanted to do a night that was quite obviously geared towards gay folk.
The posters nearly always have a guy in pants on them. Straight people are welcome but they’ll know if they come along that anything goes.’ From techno, electro and house to Donna Summer and 80s treats like
Kate Bush, Prince and Depeche Mode, Hot Mess is eclectic to say the least. ‘These days, I think there’s an expectation of a lot of clubs that they
should have a guest appearance or there should be some live acts and it’s not a proper club if there isn’t. I don’t agree with that. I wanted to make a party where music came first and foremost – where people could dance, have a good time and not get any funny looks if they were getting off with someone of the same sex.’ (Lauren Mayberry)
Monthly Italo disco and Hi-NRG gay dance party, hosted by Lady Munter and DJ Kid Zipper. FREE Bears in the Underground Fri 2 Dec, 9pm–1am. Underground Glasgow, 6a John Street, 553 2456. The BearScots night for Glasgow gents in search of a little furry company hosts a Christmas party special. EDINBURGH Activities & Events FREE T-Time Sat 19 Nov, 1–4pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. The welcoming monthly group hosts a special event for the Transgender Day of Remembrance. How to Speak to Just About Anybody Tue 22 Nov, 6.30–8.30pm. £tbc. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Workshop in confidence building and dealing with different situations. Cuestars Tue 22 Nov & 13 Dec, 7–10pm. £3. Shandon Snooker Hall, 99 Shandon Road, admin@lgbthealth.org.uk Friendly, social snooker group for the LGBT community and friends.
FREE Edinburgh Gay Men’s Book Group Wed 23 Nov, 7–9pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. A book club for gents with a lust for reading. FREE Icebreakers Wed 23 Nov & 14 Dec, 7.30–9.30pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Make new friends. FREE Women’s Wellbeing Group Fri 25 Nov & 9 Dec, 2–4.30pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. A relaxed setting in which to meet other women and chat about health and wellbeing. FREE Prime Time Sun 27 Nov & 11 Dec, 2–4.30pm. Gay Men’s Health, 10 Union Street, 556 1309. Meet-up for gay or bisexual men over 40. LGBT Age @ the Regent Bar Quiz Tue 29 Nov, 8.30–11pm. £tbc. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. The group for older LGBT people meets at the quiz. FREE World AIDS Day Service Thu 1 Dec, 5.45–8.30pm. St John’s Church, Princes Street, 523 1100. Join a group walking from the LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing to St John’s Church
LGBT
for a service of music and readings to mark World AIDS Day. FREE Edinburgh Trans Women Group Meeting Sat 3 Dec, 7.30–9.30pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Group for MTF transgender people. FREE Sunday Strollers Walking Group Sun 4 Dec, 1–3.30pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. A gentle stroll led by Archie Lowe. FREE Christmas Crafts Sun 4 Dec, 2–4pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Festive crafting with mince pies and seasonal songs. FREE Rainbow Families Sat 10 Dec, 10am–noon. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. It’s Christmas party time at the regular event for LGBT parents and their children. FREE BearScots AGM Sat 10 Dec, 9pm. New Town Bar, 26b Dublin Street, 538 7775. Have a say on the group’s activities, or get involved for the first time. Loud and Proud Festive Quiz Mon 12 Dec, 7pm. £1.50 per person. The Regent Bar, 2 Montrose Terrace, 661 8198. Get competitive over a good quiz and raise a few pennies for Scotland’s LGBT choir in the process. Arts Pussy Whipped Fri 2 Dec, 8–10.30pm. £2. Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place, 229 1442. The first edition of a brand new night for queer/female bands welcomes Munich riot-grrls Elcassette, queer-feminist electro-punk one-man-band Ste McCabe and surf punks the Fnords. Attendees get free entry to Hot Mess afterwards (see separate listing, below, and panel). Winter Concert Fri 9 Dec, 6–9pm. £5 (£2.50 unwaged). LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Music, stories and mince pies. Loud & Proud Festive Gig Sat 10 Dec, 8pm. £9 (£7). Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place, 473 2000. Now in its seventh year, Edinburgh’s own LGBT choir holds its annual festive concert.
Clubs Saturday Night Beaver Sat 19 Nov, 10.30pm–3am. £4 before 11pm; £5 after. Cabaret Voltaire, 36–38 Blair Street, 220 6176. A kickin’ soundtrack for ladies and their invited male guests. FREE ELECTROsexual Fri 2 Dec, 11pm–3am. CC Blooms, 23–24 Greenside Place, 556 9331. Lucky Luciano and Kenwai spin the usual dirty bootlegs and ‘cheeky’ electro. Hot Mess Fri 2 Dec, 11pm–3am. £5 (£3). Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place, 229 1442. Describing itself as ‘an irregular party for irregular folks’, with a heady mix of disco, hi-NRG, acid house, italo and electro from the safe hands of DJ Simonotron. See panel. Fever & Lovechild Sat 3 Dec, 11pm–3am. £12. The Liquid Room, 9c Victoria Street, 225 2564. House, funky house, electro and tribal sounds as gay clubbing sensation Lovechild presents DJs Alessandro Londra, Fisher & Price, Miss Chris and a live PA from Reeson plus the Lovechild dancers. Torture Garden Sat 10 Dec, 9pm–3am. £18 in advance; £20 on the door. The Caves, Niddry Street South, 557 8989. The world’s leading body art, fetish and twisted burlesque club makes another trip up north with a hard house, electro, dubstep, rock’n’roll and mash-up playlist. Special guests include Polish art collective Suka Off, two ‘freakshow’ performances from Chrisalys, exotica from Cherry Loco and burlesque form Cat Aclysmic and Vendetta Vain. Fetish wear/fancy dress is compulsory. FREE Bears in the Basement Sat 10 Dec, 10pm–2am. New Town Bar, 26b Dublin Street, 538 7775. A Christmas party special from the BearScots with Beary Santa and his helpers. Cue jokes about full sacks, etc etc.
17 Nov–15 Dec 2011 THE LIST 83