Clubs listings
BHANGRA PUNJABI MC Phenomena at Eros/Elite, Edinburgh, Tue 25 Feb
Punjabi MC has reached a milestone in the history of the UK charts: the first bhangra track to go top ten. ‘Mundian to bach ke’ (meaning ‘Boys Beware’) fuses rap, bhangra beats and Busta Rhyme’s “Fire it Up’, which in turn samples the theme from Knight Rider.
Although obviously excited by the history-making UK chart entry, PMC has become used to its breakthrough power. ‘It was originally released in August 98 through the independent Asian record and video shops’, he says. ‘And it instantly became an anthem with the bhangra market.’
He toured Australia, Japan and Toronto on the back of its ‘phenomenal’ success. In Germany it went to number two and it reached the top ten in Italy. ‘It’s blown up all over Europe in the mainstream market,’ he says. ‘The great thing about it is that it wasn’t done with crossover appeal in mind. I recorded it for the bhangra market so it’s great that it has been embraced so widely.’
Joining PMC at Edinburgh’s Phenomena night, which mixes R&B with bhangra, will be Surinder Rattan, another new wave bhangra favourite. Metz, Trix, DJ Harri (not that one, kids) and West London Massive will also be showing up.
As bhangra nights start to find a foothold in the Scottish market, PMC is excited about getting up here to showcase his style. “It’s the kind of thing I’ve been wanting to do for years’, he says. ‘Mix hip hop with desi and it seems to be exactly what the people want, too. The crowd are really feeling it - they don't want the watered down stuff like Noree or Erik Sermon, they want to hear the raw dhol. And that’s what I give them.’ (Stewart Dalley)
I Vinyl at Massa (formerly Club Mercado). 8pm-3am. Free. Weekly. Commercial chart and dance counesy of Paul Funkster. plus drinks promos aplenty for those who want to stan the weekend fashionably early.
Edinburgh Fridays
Club I Berlin Belrhaua Birthday
80 TH! LIST 13-27 Feb 2003
Party at Berlin Bierhaus. Spin—3am. £5. [4 Feb. ()ne year party to mark the reincamation of the Berlin Beirhaus. and it‘s a full-on ten-hour celebration with all the residents and the odd special guest. So we have the Funkey Magic crew. the Frisco Disco residents. Huggy and the Subbie's Harri in full effect dishing out the best in the genre we like to call house. I Big Beat at Cabaret Voltaire. Monthly next date 7 Mar.
I The Bristo Square Experience at l’otterrow Student l'nion. 0pm 3am. Free to students and tip to two guests. Weekly. Mainstream dance and house on two levels. drum tk bass from D] Sneaker Freaks in the Park Room. party tunes from l’()|’ in the Debating Hall. karaoke. easy listening and salsa in the Mel/(mine atid a selection of [Us in the Middle Bar all adds tip to one of the biggest students nights in town.
I The Bug at the Venue.
l().3()pm 3am. Free. l4 l-‘eb only. Valentine's tiiglit party for all those wliojust love their techno. In Room l [M US and Lumin Barr play otit funky ass jacking digital mastered techno while Room 2 sees a selection of sweet house flavours from D] Flood and Randy Breiks.
I CC Blooms at ('(' Blooms. l().3()pm 3am. Free. Weekly. I)J Ally does the decks duty at this gay night with her inimitable selection of hiin camp and disco classics. lt)(i\ ing on to pumped-up house and dance as the evening progresses,
I Djinniditto at ligo. Monthly nest date 7 Mar.
I Dogma (formerly Lost) at Sttidio 24. Monthly nest date 7 Mar with a live set from Regis.
I Edinburgh Goth Weekend at Marco’s Leisure Centre. 7.30pm 3am. £2(| weekend ticket. l4 Feb. St Valentine's Heart of Darkness featuring all that is dark and black. Live bands such as Synthetic. the Screaming Banshee Aircrew. Sperniwhale and liye(‘atidy Nation (Fri I4 Feb) arid Revolution By Night. the Sepia. JeSus Loves Amerika atid Maya 2‘) (Sat l5 Feb) join the |)Js. performers and stalls. Remember strict dresscode: goth. cyber and fetish only. See Edinburgh Life page 9910:“ preview:
I Evol at the Liquid Room. l().3()pm—3am. £5. Weekly. lidinburgh's longest running indie night celebrated its eleventh birthday last Atig. With the tistial mix of the best current and classic alternative. crossover tunes. it's an institution already. And with the recent addition of the back room. playing host to Mr and Mrs Mogvvai. the future looks like a happy place for all things livol.
I Finisternis at the Pleasance (‘abaret Bar. Next date l4 Mar.
I Friscodiaco at Berlin Bierhatis.
I lpm—3am. £5. 2| Feb. Monthly. Residents Martin Valentine and Steve Wanless return to their old stomping ground with the usual mix of hot house selections.
I FUNflt] at Prive (‘otmcil. l()pm~3am. £5. Weekly. linjoy the specialist sounds of mainstream R&B grooves. smooth beats and 2|st century l‘lavaz.
I Gamma Proforma at Bongo Club. I lpm—3am. £7. l4 Feb. A live set from Live Sciences alongside l)Js Ker. Sim and Rik Mono.
I Get-Together at (‘abaret Voltaire. I lpm—3am. £7 (£6). l4 Feb. Monthly. Edinburgh favourite and nu jau fosion master Joseph Malik (Compost) sets up his new residency. subtly weaving jau. Latin. Brazilian and drum 8; bass rhythms. This second night sees Joseph doing a full live set with his band. so get there early for this Valentine's session. See prei'ieii'.
I 60-60 at (‘octeau Lounge (downstairs at iigo). l lpm~3am. £5 (£4). 14 Feb. Swinging (i()s garage (of the rock variety sorry to disappoint any So Solid wannabes). soul. mod. soul. R&B and sleazy listening the righteous Tall Paul Robinson and AngUs A Go- Go remain resident. Slim Jim Spectre all the way from Leeds fills the guest slot with the best in dancefloor soul and groovy soundtrax.
I Groove Harder at the Venue. 9.30pm—3am. £tbe. 28 Feb only. A night looking back at the indie/dance
era Ul- bltltlc‘llt‘slet' and the lttltl- nineties. lllls tour's special guests are Be/ (erstwhile freaky dancer with the Happy Monday s) and .~\K.s\ Weave.
I Kombi at Bongo (‘Itib l()pm 3am £7 (£5 with llyer or Hawaiian shirt), 2S l‘eb. Monthly, .-\ celebration ol surl culture with live delights troni .-\lpha Whisky l’roject alongside D] the (ieneral (Mangai. Jason Lee and Scott Young provide the soullul (an. ltink and surliii' visuals iii the backroom
0 Manga at lloney comb.
l()pm .‘saiii. £ll (£9 Illt‘lttlk‘l'sl. 2| l-eb Monthly. Manga don't follow the crowd they lead 'em with their irresistible monster drum & bass sounds. l’art 4. and the final party in their month long 7th birthday celebrations sees them back in the ('apital with Andy (. and M(' l-lus. Not forgetting the residents who make Manga what it is: (ivMac. l).l Kid. the (ieneral. Sense. Son ol l'gly. M(’ l'eclnian. M(' Sonny and \'.l A Dan Willi breakstep night Sw itch l 'p now taking over the backroom. Manga's prc—club session the llass'l‘l'ap Is at Baitith every l‘ri from Upiii with D] (3 Mac and guests. for more info call (l7SS-7ti7-(illtil (it' check
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I Mischief at the Venue. Monthly nest date 7 Mar.
I Modern Lovers at ligo. Motillily nest date 7 Mar.
I No Strings Attached at lllt‘ Venue. Next date 7 Mar when Marshall Jefferson returns to make tip for his cancellation.
I Nuklear Puppy at ligti.
l().3()pni 3am. £9 (£l()i. l4 Feb. Monthly. llard house night featuring residents Jason ('orte/ and Phil York. Valentine's special as they welcome back the gorgeous hard house ses botiib that is Anne Savage.
I Opal Lounge at ()pal Lounge. l()pm 3am. £5. Weekly. l‘uiiked up vocal house and dance classics from Stevie (i and ('alluni Murray.
I Opium at ()pitiiii. l().3()piii 3am. Free. Weekly. Rock. nu metal and alternative/indie.
I Perversity at the Venue.
9.30pm 3am. £ll) (£8 members). 2| Feb. Monthly. l'nderground house and trance as residents Allan Roy and Barry Fair join forces with ()flitsface.coni for their fourth birthday l()lll' with Neil Rtibel'ls ((ititlskilcltetl). Liam l)arl (Masterbtiilders) l)av id Jay ((‘loekwork ()range. Miss
Money pennyk). Jamie Rose (Slinky). l)an Stevens (Lanierica) and ()li Wainright ((ilossl ).
I Planet Earth at ('itrus ('ltib. I().3()pm 3am. £5. Weekly. Mosic from 1976 through to IUX‘) or in other words a healthy dose of ptitik. new wave. new romantic and electro pop. 0 Pogo Vogue at Bongo ('lub. l()pm ~3am. £8 (£7). 2| Feb. Monthly. No music policy allowed at this new night of experimental electronica. Very special guest Amon Tobin (Ninja Tune) drops by for his Scottish live debut of mixed up dark innovative beats.
I Roadblock at Po Na Na. l()pnr-3am. Free before I lpm'. £4 £5 after. Weekly. Nicci F stops the traffic in bad niUsie when she digs up the best in funk. disco. house and block rockin‘ beats. I’ur I4 ['2']; (III/t 'A—I.i.vl't'unl holders gel [I o/jfrlrmr price ul/ trig/ii. I Rock-a-Tiki at ('laremont llotcl. 9pm—2am. £5. l4 Feb only. Retro clubbing at its best as (ilasgow 's (‘lub Tiki and Edinburgh's ('lub Radiojoin forces for this one-off Hawaiian party night. Real R&B. rockabilly. jive and bop. this ain't jUst a club it's a lifestyle.
I Rudy’s at ('abaret Voltaire. llpm—3am. £6 (£5): special discount also available to Bays ticket holders. 2| Feb. Monthly. Rudy's step forward in 2003 with their new monthly reggae showcase from Dixieland to dancehall.