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MR SATURDAY NIGHT Brooklyn’s Mr Saturday Night share their love of Glasgow’s Optimo
T alk to Eamon Harkin of underground New York party Mr Saturday Night and you can tell he isn’t an original Brooklyn scenester. Originally from Derry, his partner in MSN is North Carolina’s Justin Carter, and he readily admits they’ve got very different backgrounds. Yet the melting pot threw them together when roving DJ Harkin started playing as residency support to Afrika Bambaataa at the now-defunct APT club, where Carter was music programmer, and they just clicked. ‘It was clear we had similar views on music and dance music culture,’ says Harkin.
Just over four years ago they branched out on their own with Mr Saturday Night, a night with an ethos in place of special guests and gimmicks. ‘It was a case of how do we foster an atmosphere of community and then grow that amongst people who love dance culture?’
46 THE LIST 21 Feb–21 Mar 2013
says Harkin. ‘It’s things like having a good soundsystem, friendly staff, fair prices and good music which still challenges the crowd. We put that at the forefront rather than money or ambition. Parties inspire me more than individual DJs or labels.’ Although he and Carter relate more to a soulful, jazz-influenced style rather than Twitch and Wilkes’ post-punk aesthetic, Harkin’s days visiting his sister in Glasgow made him an Optimo regular way back when. ‘Everything that they did was just hugely inspiring to me,’ he says, ‘and I remain in awe of them. They made me want to be a DJ, and the first time I playe d Sunday night at the Sub Club for Optimo was the most massive thrill for me.’ (David Pollock)
Optimo Presents at the Sub Club, Glasgow, Sun 24 Feb.
HITLIST THE BEST DANCEFLOOR ACTION
✽ The Bongo Club Now relocated to the Cowgate reopening with their full roster of clubs. Messenger’s annual celebration of Bob Marley’s birthday will be your first look at the new venue (23 Feb). Other highlights include Calyx vs Teebee at Xplicit’s eighth birthday (1 Mar); Four Corners also celebrate their eighth (8 Mar); plus the return of Mumbo Jumbo (2 Mar), Confusion is Sex (15 Mar) and No Globe (7 Mar). The Bongo Club, Edinburgh, see listings for details.
✽ Melting Pot It’s the 12th birthday of one of Glasgow’s definitive disco and
house night, and the very special guest is New York’s own Francois Kevorkian. Admiral Bar Basement, Glasgow, Sat 2 Mar.
✽ Subculture vs Numbers One of Glasgow’s most enduring Saturday
nighters welcomes the elusive Numbers back home in the presence of special guest Levon Vincent. Sub Club, Glasgow, Sat 23 Feb.
✽ #notsosilent Bassy housey dubstep from producer/DJ Joy Orbison with German
electronica support from Roman Flugel. Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Fri 22 Feb.
✽ La Cheetah Presents The House Sound of Chicago Celebrating the
Windy City’s electronic heritage with Terrence Parker (22 Feb) and Roy Davis Jr (15 Mar). La Cheetah, Glasgow, Fri 22 Feb & 15 Mar.
✽ Optimo Presents Twitch and Wilkes welcome some spiritual partners all the
way from New York City, DJ duo Mr Saturday Night. Sub Club, Glasgow, Sun 24 Feb.
✽ Moda Black A party for the thriving Moda Black label, with George Fitzgerald, Richy Ahmed, Jaymo & Andy George and Hot Since 82. SWG3, Glasgow, Fri 1 Mar.
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