The presenters of It’s Funtime, the Bongo’s alternative pub quiz, outside the venue. Left: clubbers at Cabaret Voltaire. EDINBURGH VENUES
HOBBES LIST COLUMNIST, LIMBO AND TROUBLE PROMOTER
‘The Bongo Club occupies an enormously important niche for many students and longer-term residents. It took the venue two years to recover from its last eviction and, if it really is impossible to let it remain, fi nding a good replacement space is imperative. The Bongo is one of a dwindling number of vital cogs in the wheel that pumps lifeblood into the city’s alternative music and clubs scenes. ‘It remains to be seen exactly how the change of hands at Cabaret Voltaire will affect its programme, but, given G1 Group’s track record, one thing is certain: Cabaret Voltaire will no longer be breaking boundaries in music. The gap left here will undoubtedly be fi lled, though, by the Liquid Room’s new lower-ground-fl oor club, the Annexe, which launched at the end of February, as well its new basement space, which is due to open at the end of 2012.
‘Negociant’s old basement, Medina, currently undergoing a soft re- launch as the Third Door, also has real potential. If new owner, Ellis Johnston, can invest as required and employ an intelligent team, who exhibit the kind of passion and savvy for the music scene to be found at venues like the Voodoo Rooms, Sneaky Pete’s, Henry’s Cellar Bar, Electric Circus, the Liquid Room, Studio 24 etc, it could be realised. ‘So, things aren’t so bad that Edinburgh can’t recover (again). However, it will take blood, sweat and tears, as well as real business nous, imagination and talent. Also, if a few more politicians cared enough to understand how signifi cant a part of the broader cultural economy this night-time trade is, by addressing these and related licencing issues, the whole state-of-play could be improved, and drastically.’
KRIS WALKER PROMOTER OF WASABI DISCO AT SNEAKY PETE’S, AND DJ AT GASOLINE DANCE MACHINE AT CABARET VOLTAIRE
‘Edinburgh’s nightlife has suffered signifi cantly since the millennium, or more accurately since the closure of the legendary Venue. Since then it’s seen venue after venue closed down or taken over and turned into rugby-friendly soulless commodes. Edinburgh is now in a state of fur coat and no knickers – it’s a beautiful city with great history and a world-renowned arts festival, yet it provides next to nothing to support grassroots, counter-culture creative types and zero diversity for its long suffering residents. The grim but inevitable news that Cab Vol is to suffer the same fate as Anakin Skywalker is yet another boot in the chuckies for Edinburgh’s punch drunk alternative nightlife. ‘The truth is Edinburgh is long overdue at least two brand new Bongo Clubs – versatile spaces that can be used seven days a week as rehearsal spaces for theatre or music, and can be used commercially for comedy, music or theatre year-round (particularly during its oh-so-precious festival period). Surely two of the 1000s of venues that pop up over August can be used in this positive and productive way? There need not be heavy investment – creative people just need the space.
‘I guess it’s now up to us: the bands, the DJs, the artists, the actors, the poets – fuck, just people who like to have fun – to stand up and be counted, to try to kick against the pricks, or we will be all be suckling on Simon Cowell’s man boobs. C’mon let’s not get to the stage where the edgiest, most alternative thing this wonderful city has to offer is brown sauce on your chips! Fight the power! Occupy! We are the 1% . . . or something like that . . .’
‘THINGS AREN’T SO BAD THAT EDINBURGH CAN’T RECOVER (AGAIN)’
1–29 Mar 2012 THE LIST 15