‘IT'S GREAT TO BE PART OF A CLUB THAT'S LASTED SO LONG'
Voodoolounqe
Royal Crown Revue
David Pollock talks to Vegas as they gear up for another high swinging night at Ocean Terminal with special guests Royal Crown Revue
here many clubs appear on the scene hoping to make a big splash. Edinburgh-based swing institution Vegas is safe in the knowledge that its long-established reputation for fabulousness will have the crowds flocking no matter what. With regular dates already tip and running over two cities. the Vegas bandwagon shows no sign of stopping any time soon. Indeed. the team behind it are looking into expanding yet further afield. and starting their own venue in their home city. ‘It's going pretty well.’ says Ewan McNaught (aka
Vegas top dog Frankie Sumatra) with a note of
understatement. ‘We‘re still enjoying doing it. the crowds that come along are all having a good time. and it‘s great to be part of a club that's lasted so long. It's going to be our tenth anniversary in September — we’ll be putting on a big party to celebrate some time around ()ctober.‘
Regular Vegas dates are held monthly at Ego in Edinburgh and The Ferry in Glasgow. while this month sees another of the club's semi-regular extravaganzas taking place at Edinburgh's ()cean Terminal. While there are no plans to call a halt to any of these residencies. the big news is that Vegas will soon be opening their own Edinburgh joint.
‘It's something we've been trying to do for a while.’ says McNaught. ‘and we‘re hoping to do it around the time of the Edinburgh I’estival. We’re opening a bar and restaurant with a live music element called The Voodoo Rooms. It's a joint venture with the guys who run [fashionable Edinburgh barsl Dragonfly and The Villager — they've been friends of mine for a while. It's
going to be upstairs at the old (‘afe Royal. and we’ll be spending a bit of money giving it a complete refurb. because we want to restore it to its former glory and give it a bit of a contemporary twist too.~
While Edinburgh will have to hold its breath until summer for this new venue. the Vegas experience is ongoing at a club near you. The upcoming ()cean Terminal event features a special appearance by Los Angeles' Royal Crown Revue. forerunners of the swing revival alongside the likes of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. who have. until now. only played one L'K date (at the Reading Festival). It’s quite a coup for Vegas to lure them over the Atlantic.
'They're one of the only bands of that type we haven‘t managed to book at Vegas.‘ says McNaught. 'so we really wanted to get them. I‘d tried a few years back. but they weren’t sure that coming over for just one club date was viable. so I‘ve managed to grab them for gigs in Edinburgh and London now that they have other European dates lined tip. I‘ve never seen them myself. but concert footage and reports from people who have suggest they‘re going to be great. The Counsellors. who are a very good local lounge outfit. will be supporting.‘
With a new semi-regular night starting in Aberdeen and plans to revisit old residencies in London and New York. it looks like Vegas is all set to start its tenth year even more fabulously than ever.
Vegas with Royal Crown Revue and The Counsellors is at Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh, Sat 12 May. There will also be a regular Vegas night at The Ferry, Glasgow, Sat 19 May.
ii? Burlescapades! Cheeky cabaret and glorious burlesque from one of the country's leading exponents Miss Lily White (pictured). Assemb/ey Rooms, Edinburgh, Fri 77 May. :3”: Solescience Two date third birthday party with Greg Wilson (11 May) followed by Greenskeepers (17 May). Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Fri 77 8 Thu 7 7 May.
2;”: DBLSPK Big ragga. techno, hip hop-infused grooves from Ghislain Poirier. Blackfriars, Glasgow, Sat 72 May.
T3: Inner City Acid Two Lone Swordsman’s Keith Tenniswood (aka Radioactive Man) with a darker edged techno and electro. Soundhaus, Glasgow, Sat 72 May
:1: Liquid Room’s 10th Birthday Ten days of clubs and gigs including a DJ set from Snow Patrol (16 May), Sharam Jey at Kink (19 May). Trevor Nelson (20 May) and a slightly delayed Cuban Brothers (24 May). See Music, page 60. for preview. The Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Wed 76, Sat 79. Sun 20 & Thu 24 May
:3: Chew the Fat The brilliant Layo and Bushwackal, The End '3 favourite residents guest. Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 78 May :1: Fake New wave electro shot through with old school dance beats from rising star Kissy Sell Out (live). Studio 24, Edinburgh, Fri 78 May
«if: Mixed Bizness The hard to define yet fantastically soulful Greenskeepers play live. Glasgow School of An, Glasgow, Fri 78 May
:1: Subculture Constantly bringing you the best in house music, the king Carl Craig visits this month. Sub Club. Glasgow, Sat 79 May.
‘(1- 1X1 May PM)? THE LIST 29