As our very own super club COLO
‘WE'RE A LITTLE OLDER AND WISER NOW, WITH A LOT MORE BRAIN CELLS INTACT'
Colour heraii.,--.--
Mark Edmundson looks into the clubbing phenomena.
hainpioning quality house music and a Scot’s
predilection to party. ('olours has carried the
flag of a Scottish clubland the world oyct' —- and now it’s‘ gearing up to celebrate its tenth birthday. It first appeared in its club format at the Vaults (now lidinburgh's Honeycomb) in February 1995. moying on to the Arches in (ilasgow a year later. though the pre-history of (‘olours can be charted all the way back to 198‘). Prestwick International Airport. and the monthly parties at Ayr l’ayilion. 'lt‘s always been an eyent-based night rather than a club night.‘ explains Ricky Magowan. the man at the helm of the good ship (‘olours since its inception. ‘You get people travelling from around Scotland because we’re putting on the l).ls that people want to see.‘
Besides bringing the world's datice music glitterati to Scottish clubs. (‘olours has gone on to host (ilasgow‘s millennial street celebrations for oyer l(l(l.()()() people (returning to do it again the following year). of which Magowan defiantly states: ‘\\'e had the balls to do it. we‘ye done it. we’re still here. we lived to tell the tale.
last year was our best eyer year.’ he says. '()ur last nine gigs sold out. That‘s a record for its. Again it‘s down to diyersity. you’ve got to move with the times. Having said that. we’re still using a number of' the DJs we were using back then — John Digweed‘s been with us from day one.‘ Indeed (‘olours regulars will need no introduction to the leader and standard bearer for chunky. progressive house. Digweed's partnership with Sasha has giyen the humble clubbing community the Northern Exposure and Rennaissance nights land
32 THE LIST 3—1." Feb 3035
rightly ubiquitous mix (‘l)si. not to mention a series of (‘olours parties now etched in Scots club folklore.
'Scottisli crowds are some of the best in the l'K.~ says Digweed. now a byword for funky yet cerebral and truly timeless dance music. "l'he crowd really knows the music and gets into it. I always haye a great time at the Arches too. It‘s one of those yenues where you can guarantee a really great atmosphere — it's going to bc a yery special gig.‘
Alongside Digweed. (‘olours haye lined tip some of
the big movers and shakers of last year. namely Dubf'ire of Deep Dish. l)ayid (iuetta and Shapeshil‘ters who represent what some might tentatiyely hail as a renaissance in house music. 'They say trends come in ten year cycles. and fortunately we were there for the first one so we
know how to handle the second.' says .‘ylagowan of
oyer IS years at the forefront of dance iiiiisic eyent management in Scotland. ‘We‘re a little older and wiser now. with a lot more brain cells intact.‘
And as if to pt‘oye (‘olours‘ unparalleled powers of
party throwing. Saturday‘s birthday spectacular will be followed in two weeks by ‘(‘olours tenth Birthday Party Part 2‘ ~ a night that promises another bomb. this time at Carling Academy with grand Dutch trance bof'lin 'l‘i'esto.
Colours 10th Birthday Party Part 1, The Arches, Glasgow, Sat 5 Feb; Colours 10th Birthday Party Part 2, Carling Academy, Glasgow, Sat 19 Feb.
See Word Up page 35 for a chance to win John Digweed Fabric Mix CDs.
'3 Better Days A free club that appears here by dint of its immense popularity and its quality liltlSlC. courtesy of Giddy and Kevui McShane. Bloc. Glasgow. weekly Fri.
‘-." Scratch Meie quality hip hop from a true master. Gangstarr's driVing force DJ Premier. The Bongo Club, Edlnburgli. Fri 4 Feb. i? Timelines Detrort funkmaster DJ Bone (pictured; appears at this anti-nostalgia night looking at the people who make techno so bloody great. The Sub Club. Glasgow. Fri 4 Feb.
i. Killer Kitsch The wonderful Buff comes at us with another great regular night. Mylo. Madonna. Talking Heads . . . you name it, it's gonna get played here. Buff Club, Glasgow. weekly Tue. II. Oxfam Tsunami Appeal Fundraiser The cream of Edinburgh's clubbing fundraisers this issue with live action from Diwan. Bombskare and the Trips plus a funky reggae DJ soundtrack. The Bongo Club. Edinburgh. Thu 70 Feb.
iii Subculture The most hitlisted club in this periodicals histOry? Probably. The club welcomes Johnny Fiasco into the big concrete DJ box. Sub Club, Glasgow, Sat 72 Feb.
-It Dig Everything! Some of the country's best rare record Obsessives all gather in one room to play out their vinyl gems. Names include Hero¢:7. Si Cheeba. Andy & Boney Votel and Ed Blaxploitation. The Cellar Bar. Edinburgh, Sun 73 Feb.
:2: Superlreak DJ Mingo-Go plays records between a fine selection of live bands. It's all in aid of the Tsunami relief effort and AIDS charities in Africa, so this is well worth a look. The Arches. Glasgow. Thu 77 Feb.
:2: Vaudeville A burlesque cavalcade of dancers. clowns. freaks and gypsies as Vaudeville make the dark corners of the Bongo their home for the night. The Bongo Club. Edinburgh, Thu 77 Feb.