NEWSextra
The Strokes on stage at the Venue
The Venue says goodbye
After two and a half decades of seminal club night and gigs, Edinburgh’s Venue finally closes its doors to make way for a property development. David Pollock joins those who have worked, played and partied there to bid a final farewell.
Riley Briggs
ABERFELDY
The first time we played in the Venue we sold it otit. which l‘elt like a huge achievement. But look at the closure of the (‘as Rock and the Tap ol' l.auriston. the Venue‘s just the next one to go. liventually there‘ll just be one big super-venue out at the (iyle.
Dave McGeachan PROMOTER. DF CONCERTS
I used to travel through to the Venue l'rom (iout'ock in the late eighties. It's very sad; the place has
got a long history. I remember
seeing Blur there when they were just starting out. and recently we booked the Ordinary Boys. with the Kaiser Chiefs playing their first Scottish gig in support.
Simon Henderson PROMOTER, PCL CONCERTS
lidinburgh sul't'ers from a lack of
variety in comparison to Glasgow. and this closure is particularly bad timing because the people in charge at the Venue just now have made it one ol‘ the best venues in Scotland.
Lloyd McDermott
GENERAL MANOER, THE VENUE The owner of the premises offered us the chance to buy the place when he decided to sell. but the price was
10 THE LIST 8—22 Jun 2006
out of our league. Then the development company couldn‘t put a new development next door to a nightclub so they bought the Venue.
Twitch PURE; OPTIMO
I think about thirty-three percent of
my brain cells were lost over the
Pure years so all my memories of
the Venue are a bit Italy. I was very surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response that bringing ()ptimo to lidinburgh had. and this will be a sad loss for the city. I don‘t think it will be possible to lill the Void.
Steve Mason
KING BISCUIT TIME, EX-BETA BAND
l practically grew up in the Venue. I went there every week from when I was seventeen onwards. The last night‘s going to be really sad: that place is such a stepping stone for local bands and for nurturing new talent. The loss shouldn‘t be underestimated.
Jaq Finlayson
LIVE MUSIC BOOKER, THE VENUE It's really sad: it‘s been such an important part of our lives for so long. But Edinburgh's local culture throughout the year is being put aside in favour of things like the
l’estival. and the el‘l‘ect is that some touring bands will just take lidinburgh from their schedules.
John Hutchison
TOKYOBLU
Had the Venue not been there. clubs like Pure and Tribal l"unktion might not have paved the way for people like us. What surprised me was the lack of public outcry — you can imagine the huge amount of press there would have been it it were somewhere like the Playhouse or the King‘s.
Mark Mackie DIRECTOR, REGULAR MUSIC
lidinburgh has a great tradition of
closing venues down and it’s punching below its weight now. I don‘t think we‘ll realise how much the Venue will be missed until it‘s gone. but this is the time for someone to step forward with a new idea.
Tall Paul Robinson MONDO-A-GOGO
It really will be the end of an era. and a small chunk of history as tar as lidinburgh nightlife is concerned. We're incredibly flattered to be playing.
The Venue closes its doors on Sat 10 Jun.
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