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CLOSING DOWN SALE David Pollock chats with Boom Monk Ben to find out why he’s calling a halt to Mixed Bizness
For nearly nine years, Boom Monk Ben has been leading a party that has blazed its own trail through Glasgow’s club scene. But now it’s all coming to an end. With offshoot club How’s Your Party? (HYP?) going out last month with a special Night Slugs party, this month’s edition of Mixed Bizness will be the last ever.
‘It’s been the dominant part of my life for a long time now,’ says Ben Coghill, the Boom Monk’s civvy alter ego, ‘but the time has come to end it. Mixed Bizness has reached its natural conclusion and I want to go out on a high.’ Strangely for a promoter putting his baby to bed, though, he doesn’t seem able to expand on precisely why he took the decision. ‘I get the sense it’s resolved itself of its own momentum, and essentially I just want a change in life. I have this innate feeling the end has come – so let’s end it.’ Initiated through Subcity Radio as a one-off party in 2004 playing house music at the old Art School, Mixed Bizness grew into a monthly night before winding down for a brief leave of absence during which HYP? emerged at the Sub Club. When the Art School asked Coghill to return and take over its Thursday night slot in 2008, however, was when the club really kicked into high gear. For nearly four years he presided over an eclectic party that was both a great student midweeker and one of the most cutting edge homes of new national talent in the city . It would also host dates in London, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.
and HYP? have continued to provide strong guest line-ups on a regular basis around the city. ‘We’ve had so many great guests over the years,’ he says, ‘but for me the highlights have been the nights which involved all the family [of local DJs he would play with; he also names Shaun Murphy of Vitamins as an essential friend of the club]. The first and last nights at the Art School were the best for me, the nights that showed what Mixed Bizness was really all about, and also Benga at Fresher’s Week two years ago. It was easily the wildest I’ve ever seen a nightclub go.’
Coghill is proud that neither of the clubs would allow themselves to be pigeonholed by genre – they presented guests from across the spectrum of hip hop, house, dubstep and dancehall, with artists appearing including Magnetic Man, Fake Blood, Ms Dynamite, Caspa, The 2 Bears and Ben UFO. ‘That was the point,’ he laughs, ‘or the lack of a point, depending on how you look at it. As a clubber I’m happy listening to all sorts of music as long as the DJ, the soundsystem and the venue are good. That’s what I wanted to bring to our events.’ So now, one final fling in the company of Brighton’s Tru Thoughts signee Hint and Scots friends of MB Profisee and S-Type aside, it’s over. What does the future hold? ‘I’m interested to find out,’ says Coghill. ‘I’m going to enjoy my weekends, spend time with my wife and friends and go to all the nights that I’ve missed over the years.’
‘I HAVE THIS
INNATE FEELING THE END HAS
COME’
Clubs
RELAUNCH THE SUMMER OF LOVE The Third Door, Edinburgh, Sat 23, Sat 30 Jun & Sat 7 Jul
Edinburgh’s Third Door is having a bit of a relaunch this month and we catch up with three of the clubs involved – Souloco, Karnival and Gasoline Dance Machine – who are all putting on free nights billed as the Summer of Love. What type of music do you play?
Kirk Douglas (Souloco): There is no set genre but we keep things deep house and more underground.
Kev Hendry (Karnival): The deepest of house to the funkiest of techno and everything in-between. Cheap Picassio (GDM): Pretty much anything goes, if we think it sounds good, we play it. But if we are to mention some genres then it would be Italo, electronic boogie, house, disco, techno, synths and more synths, all in that order too!
Looking forward to making the Third Door your new home? CP: One lady ultimately sold the idea to us, [new manager] Sarah David. She gave us the opportunity to start Gasoline Dance Machine so we owe it all to her for giving us the chance. Everyone knows Sarah as the queen of clubs in Scotland, so we know that this place will definitely blow everyone away.
KD: Since we started Souloco two years ago, we always wanted a monthly Saturday. Also we’re 100% behind Sarah after the opportunities she has already gave us at Cab Vol, we can’t wait to see what she is gonna do with the Third Door.
KH: We always loved the space and it was the made easy for us as Sarah had taken over running the venue plus the fact a lot of other nights we respect had also decided to make the move so we’re sure the venue will very much be the central hub of underground clubbing in Edinburgh. What have you got planned for your Summer of Love date?
KD: You can expect the usual high party standard from the residents and also we have Mark Wilson over from Fife, his sound really hits the bill with Souloco and were looking forward to having him on board. KH: Free entry, full resident showcase plus a double-up as the Bad Apple BBQ afterparty.
CP: Apart from a full on dance/prance mince around from us? We have an exceptional music policy where anything goes, expect the unexpected. Also, expect a cool lighting rig, sort of like an 80s time warp with futuristic disco and synth vibes. (Henry Northmore)
The closure of the Art School last year was a blow, Coghill admits, but since then both Mixed Bizness The final Mixed Bizness is at Chambre 69, Glasgow, Fri 29 Jun.
21 Jun–19 Jul 2012 THE LIST 57