Clubs Edinburgh
Events are listed by city, day, type then alphabetically by name. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to clubs@list.co.uk. Edinburgh listings are compiled by Henry Northmore. ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry
Edinburgh Thursdays Club ■ Blitz at Electric Circus. 9pm–3am. £3 before 1pm; £5 before midnight; £6 after. 28 Jan. Night of vintage glamour and big band swing (discount entry for those in vintage dress). ■ Born to Be Wide at the Voodoo Rooms. 7.30pm–1am. £5. 4 Feb. Music industry social club that aims to bring musos, journalists, promoters, record shop workers and musicians together. ‘German Night’ with a German Music seminar (from 7.30pm, spaces limited please request a place when booking) followed by a live set from Jeans Team, quiz and German music from the DJs. See preview, page 38. ■ Bounce at Po Na Na. 10.30pm–3am. £5. Weekly. Thursday night mix of classic R&B, funky house and dance beats from Johnny Frenetic. ■ Dolly Mixtures at Electric Circus. 5pm–3am. £6. Weekly (not 28 Jan). Clubbing aimed at the ladies with teapot cocktails, vintage clothes, crafts and regular tribute acts (including Robbie Williams, 21 Jan, and ABBA, 4 Feb). ■ Illusion at Shanghai. 10pm–3am. £5. Weekly. Funky tunes at this student night featuring games and cash prizes. ■ Octopussy at the HMV Picture House. 11pm–3am. £4. Weekly. Student night of chart, R&B, electro and indie classics. ■ Rude at Po Na Na. 10.30pm–3am. £5 (£3). Weekly. A mix of funky house, electro, urban licks and dirty mash-ups form John Hutchison. FREE Sick Note at Cabaret Voltaire. 11pm–3am. Weekly. Indie/electro night from the Cab, with residents from Clash and Spies in the Wires. FREE Sneaky Beats at Sneaky Pete’s. 11pm–3am. Weekly. Hip hop, funk, soul and a dash of electro. FREE Speaker Bite Me at Espionage. 10.30pm–3am. Weekly. The Evol DJs take charge at this alternative disco night of indie, hip hop and a dash
of electro, which features everything from Chic and Dizzee Rascal to The Cribs and Crystal Castles, and the DJs are always happy to take requests. ■ Stiletto at Lulu. 10pm–3am. £5 (£4). Weekly. Electro-pop, glam house classics and disco. FREE Sucka Punch! at the Bongo Club. 11pm–3am. Weekly. Bass-heavy underground beats. ■ Thursdays at Bacaro. 10.30pm–3am. £3–£6. Weekly. New hip hop, R&B and urban party. ■ Vanity at Opal Lounge. 10pm–3am. £5. Weekly. Cutting edge soul, R&B, electro and funky house.
Edinburgh Fridays Club ■ Adventures in Sound at the HMV Picture House. 11pm–3am. Free before midnight; £3 (£2) after. Weekly. Andy Wilson takes charge with a mixed soundtrack of indie, electro and alternative classics as the Picture House club nights go weekly once again. ■ Axis at Cabaret Voltaire. 11pm–3am. £5. 22 Jan. Electro, breakbeat and techno night with special guest Liam Vizzle (Venga Digital). ■ Broke at City Nightclub. 10.30pm–3am. £2 before 11.30pm; £5 after. Weekly. Huge student night of chart indie, hip hop, dance anthems and drinks promos. FREE Carry On! at Electric Circus. 10pm–3am. Weekly. Danny Chutes and JP Mason (Leith FM) host a musical party of classic hits and dancefloor favourites. ■ Confusion is Sex at the Bongo Club. 11pm–3am. £tbc. 22 Jan. Dolby Anol are the DJ stars at this night of electro, white trash and other eclectica party also featuring the Freaky Brides and more tbc. ‘Where the weird is normal’. FREE Definition at Sneaky Pete’s. 11pm–3am. 22 Jan. Dancefloor friendly underground house, electro, minimal and techno cuts as residents Mark Balneaves and Martin Lightbody welcome back their first ever guest Ricky Palys (Club Beatroot/Plastic Fantastic Records). ■ Devil Disco Club at the Bongo Club. 11pm–3am. £3 before midnight; £5 after. 29 Jan. Trouble is back with a new darker incarnation, and the residents step to the fore with a night of vintage disco, electro funk, proto house and New York classics. Featuring Kris
Wasabi, Nick Yuill, Hobbes and Erik d’Viking plus a live set from Findo Gask. ■ Flava at Shanghai. 11pm–3am. £6. Weekly. Hugely successful R&B, hip hop, UK funky and urban night with resident DJ Prospect. ■ KandiFlip at Po Na Na. 10.30pm–3am. £3 before midnight; £6 after. Weekly. R&B, house and dance classics from Jay and Mark B. ■ Limbo at the Voodoo Rooms. 8pm. £5. 29 Jan. The Black Spring DJs man the decks and bring you a handful of live acts including North Atlantic Oscillation, Simon Doherty and Louise McVey & The Cracks In the Concrete. ■ Lulu at Lulu. 10pm–3am. £tbc. Weekly. Soul, house, funk, electro-disco and Latin from the resident DJ squad. ■ Misfits at the Hive. 11pm–3am. Free before 11.30pm; £4 after. Weekly. DIY indie, electro, punk, rock and retro with bargain drinks. They’re also open on Christmas Day (please note £5 entry for this date only). ■ Modern Lovers at the GRV. 11pm–3am. £4 before midnight; £6 after. 29 Jan. Soul, funk, garage, freak beat, psyche and more from Craig Jamieson, KRS Young and very special guest Chris ‘Beans’ Geddes (Belle & Sebastian). ■ Planet Earth at Citrus Club. 9.30pm–3am. Free before 11pm; £6 after. Weekly. Music from 1976 through to 1989. In other words, a healthy dose of punk, new wave, new romantic and electro-pop (now with added 90s). ■ Random at Wee Red Bar. 10.30pm–3am. £5. 29 Jan. Psy-trance night with Dark el Kante and DJ Flow. ■ Skunk Funk at the Jazz Bar. 11.30pm–3am. £5 (£3). Weekly. Night of top funk from DJ Aki and live guests including funked up soulful disco from The Number Nines (22 Jan) and funk and dancey jazz from Those Dutch Funk Guys (29 Jan). ■ Sugarbeat at Cabaret Voltaire. 11pm–3am. £8. 29 Jan. Sugarbeat founders Tim and Jez (aka Utah Saints) are joined by Riton for a hip hop meeets bass meets electro mash-up and Ibiza Rocks’ Doorly. ✽✽ Xplicit at Potterrow Student the door). 22 Jan. It’s a huge fifth birthday party for the Xplicit crew with a night of hard drum & bass from DJ Friction, Dillinja, Spor and more. See feature, page 28. Union. 10pm–3am. £12 (more on
Chart & Party ■ Hot & Gold at Stereo. 10pm–3am. Free before midnight; £4 (£2) after. Weekly. Disco, dance and raunchy R&B on the mainfloor while upstairs you get 80s classics. ■ Lush at Karma Nights. 10.30pm–3am. £6. Weekly. Chart, dance and commercial R&B. ■ Passion at Lava Ignite. 10pm–3am. £6 (£1 before 11.30pm). Weekly. Stuart Lewis plays dance anthems and chart hits in the mainroom with everything from R&B to 60s-80s hits in various other rooms.
Edinburgh Saturdays Club ■ Beat Control at the HMV Picture House. 11pm–3am. Free before midnight; £5 (£3) after. Weekly. The Evol DJs dish out the best in twisted pop, indie and alternative beats as clubbing returns to the Picture House. ■ Bubblegum at the Hive. 11pm–3am. Free before 11.30pm; £4 after. Weekly. A student friendly chewed up, spat out mix of electro, pop, dance, disco, soul and indie. ■ Dare! at Cabaret Voltaire. 10.30pm–3am. £5. 30 Jan. Monthly. Taking over the Speakeasy with a celebration of dance music from through the ages (from Gorgio Moroder to Mylo) all from the masterful Jon Pleased Wimmin. ■ Edinburgh Soul Promotions at the Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor Hotel. 8pm–2am. £10. 30 Jan. Night of modern and northern soul featuring the likes of Kwik Mix, Bob Jeffries, Zander and Kenny Burrell on the decks. ■ The Egg at Wee Red Bar. 11pm–3am. £1 before 11.30pm; £3 after. Weekly. Indie, 60s garage, electro, northern soul, ska, 70s punk and new wave at this Edinburgh institution for those in the know after a quick fix of decent music and attitude free clubbing. ■ Fish Fry at the Jazz Bar. 11.30pm–3am. £5 (£3). Weekly. Scottish jazz, funk, soul and Latin bands join DJ Astroboy. The line-up includes electro/acoustic reggae meets dance beats from former Ruffness man Bob Hillary & The Massive Mellow (23 Jan) followed by funk from the Netherlands with Those Dutch Funk Guys (30 Jan). ■ Fuel at Studio 24. 11pm–3am. Free before 11.30pm: £6 (£4) after. Weekly. Playing everything from rock to punk
EDINBURGH Club venues ■ Berlin 3 Queensferry Street Lane, 467 7215. Selection of cool house nights. See listings for details. ■ The Bongo Club Moray House, 37 Holyrood Road, 558 7604. One of the coolest and most eclectic clubs in town. See listings for details. ■ Cabaret Voltaire 36-38 Blair Street, 220 6176. Mixed bag from house and techno to drum & bass and indie. See listings for details. ■ The Caves Niddry Street South, 557 8989. Great subterranean venue (as the name suggests) getting more and more popular due to its unique atmosphere. See listings for details. ■ CC Blooms 23-24 Greenside Place, 556 9331. One of the city’s most enduring gay
clubs, with hi-NRG tracks every night of the week. ■ The Citrus Club Grindlay Street, 622 7086. Mainly studenty venue that goes for an indie vibe as well as a dash of punk, new wave and 80s classics. See listings for selected highlights. ■ City: Edinburgh 1a Market Street, 226 9560. From student nights to big house and guest DJs. See listings for selected highlights. ■ Club Pivo 2-6 Calton Road, 557 2925. A selection of the best Edinburgh DJs play every night for free. ■ Electric Circus 36-39 Market Street, 226 4224. Eclectic dance beats and indie plus private rooms for a unique clubbling experience. ■ Espionage 4 India Buildings, Victoria Street, 477 7007. Five floors of
varied chart and dancey action. ■ GHQ 4 Picardy Place, 550 1780. New swish gay club. See listings for details. ■ The GRV 7 Guthrie Street, 220 2987. Intimate club venue mixing art and beats. See listings for details. ■ Henry’s Cellar Bar 8-16a Morrison Street, 228 9393. Eclectic and experimental night from surf rock to electro. See listings for details. ■ Hive 15–17 Niddry Street, 556 0444. New home for most of the Subway Cowgate’s nights of rock, indie and electronica. See listings for details. ■ The Hudson Club Hope Street Lane, 247 7000. Quality eclectic nights from big house to student nights from some of Scotland’s best DJs. ■ Jam House 5 Queen Street, 226 4380. Primarily a live music and jazz venue open until 3am, but home to the odd club special, including Club Noir. See listings for details. ■ The Jazz Bar 1 Chambers Street, 467 2539. Cool beats from global sounds to straight ahead jazz. See listings for details. ■ The Liquid Room 9c Victoria Street, 225 2564. Currently closed due to fire damage. More news when we get it. ■ Lulu (under Tiger Lily) 125b George Street, 561 2245. Cool funk, house and other grooves from the people who brought you the Opal Lounge. ■ Medina 45-47 Lothian Street, 225 6313. Laid back vibes with cool hip hop and other sounds. See listings for details. ■ Le Monde 16 George Street, 270
3900. Slick and stylish venue in the heart of Edinburgh. ■ Mood Omni, Greenside Place, 550 1640. Chart and party tunes. ■ Opal Lounge 51 George Street, 226 2275. House and funky beats for a dressed up crowd. ■ Opium 71 Cowgate, 225 8382. Rock, punk and metal, no messing. ■ Po Na Na 43b Frederick Street, 226 2224. Student nights, funky beats, house and more. See listings for selected highlights. ■ Potterrow Teviot, Bristo Square, 650 9195. Student heaven. ■ Sneaky Pete’s 73 Cowgate, 225 1757. From techno and dubstep to indie. See listings for details. ■ Siglo 184 Cowgate, 240 2850. Charty, party, indie nights until 3am. ■ Stereo King Stables Road, 229 7986. More big party tunes and drunken dancing. ■ Studio 24 Calton Road, 558 3758. Down and dirty club nights, specialising in techno and rock. See listings for details. ■ The Subway West End Lothian Road, 229 9197. Another one for the after office crowd. ■ The Voodoo Rooms 19a West Register Street, 556 7060. Sophisticated clubbing and entertainment. See listings for details. ■ The Wee Red Bar Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place, 229 1442. Student nights for the arty set. See listings for details. ■ Why Not? 14 George Street, 624 8311. Hits from the 80s to last week.
42 THE LIST 21 Jan–4 Feb 2010