Clubs

www.list.co.uk/clubs

‘IT’S A GOOD PLACE TO MEET AND TALK ABOUT MUSIC’ Hitlist THE BEST DANCEFLOOR ACTION*

✽✽ Sunday Circus Third Birthday It’s been around the houses, but Glasgow’s favourite house all-dayer is still going. With guest Hector (8 Bit, Mobilee, Cocoon), and don’t forget the afterparty at Stereo. The Ark, Glasgow, Sun 25 Jul. ✽✽ Friday Street It’s been a decade since the popular mod and soul club started, so this tenth birthday features the one- off return of original residents Kevin Conn and Davie Quinn. Blackfriars, Glasgow, Fri 30 Jul. ✽✽ Killer Kitsch Presents The midweek club hits the weekend with a big line-up of Reset! (Cheap Thrills), Wafa (Grizzly) and Euan Neilson. Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 30 Jul. ✽✽ CAUSE IT! Night of techno, electro and drum & bass all in support of St Columba’s Hospice and boasting the Scottish debut of Canada’s Patrick DSP. The GRV, Edinburgh, Sat 31 Jul. ✽✽ Flying Duck Third Birthday Party Live bands including Quack Quack and DJs such as Picante celebrate three years of clubbing in a kitchen with indie sounds. Flying Duck, Glasgow, Sat 31 Jul. ✽✽ Madchester The celebration of all things baggy returns to its spiritual home with very special guest, and man who was there, Tim Burgess (The Charlatans, pictured). Liquid Room, Edinburgh, Sat 31 Jul. ✽✽ Über-Fest From the afternoon until the early morning, a whole slew of the Soundhaus’ residents provide a monumental summer techno party. Soundhaus, Glasgow, Sat 31 Jul. ✽✽ Electric Frog Street Carnival Hands up who likes the sounds of Liquid Liquid, Felix da Housecat, Simian Mobile Disco, Alter Ego, Factory Floor, Planetary Assault Systems and a whole host of Glasgow’s best DJs and electronica acts rocking the streets. Us too. Eastvale Place, Glasgow, Sun 1 Aug.

For the record David Pollock talks to the people at Rubadub Records about what makes their shop so unique, and how they secured Jeff Mills for an intimate set at the Subbie

‘I n any city that has an important musical movement happening, there’s always a hub, like a really influential record shop or club or something like that,’ says Jack Revill. ‘As far as shops go, Berlin’s got Hardwax, Detroit has Submerge and Glasgow’s got Rubadub. Now Glasgow has a more vibrant club scene in comparison to the size of its population than any other city I’ve been to, but I really don’t think that would be the case if Rubadub wasn’t here.’

Revill’s in a better position than most to know how important the shop is, because he’s worked there in some form or another for the last ten years, starting out on work experience from school and then moving on to a Saturday job and now a full-time post in its distribution arm. He also makes use of the store as a customer too, as Jackmaster he’s one of Glasgow’s most promising young DJs, with a growing reputation nationally and internationally.

Now, to celebrate both the 18th birthday of the shop and the imminent unleashing of their new website, Rubadub is preparing to welcome Detroit techno legend Jeff Mills to the Sub Club for a special intimate set. ‘We did his Model 500 party at Triptych a couple of years ago,’ says Revill, ‘and that was really good fun. It’s proved tricky getting Jeff back in his own right though, because he has outstanding commitments with Pressure and the Slam Tent and all that. ‘Then suddenly it’s all just come together this year. We’ve been dealing with him and his wife Yoko for many years because we distribute his label, Axis Records, in the UK, and he’s dropped in and done

36 THE LIST 22 Jul–5 Aug 2010

things at the shop before. He plays Scotland about once a year, but for him to play a venue the size of the Sub Club anywhere in the world is incredibly rare.’ And particularly exciting for Revill, an avowed Mills fan, because he’ll be the sole support to his three-hour headline set on the night. So what makes the shop so tempting to visiting techno dignitaries? ‘I’ve always said Rubadub is a good forum for people to receive their musical education,’ says Dan Lurinsky, manager of Rubadub and also a promoter and label boss (of Monox and MNX Recordings, respectively). ‘Since it was opened eighteen years ago by Martin McKay and Wilba Sandison it’s been a good place to meet and talk about music, all the guys that work there now were shopping there ten, 15 years ago.’

‘I remember going in with my pocket money on Saturday afternoon,’ says Revill, ‘and not having enough money to buy everything I wanted. It’s still the same as it was then, there’s a real buzz about the shop. It’s unfortunate that vinyl does seem to be in decline year on year, but there’s still a high demand for equipment and digital DJ software is picking right up. Part of the point of the website is that we’ll also be moving into digital distribution for a lot of the labels we handle.’ Things are mostly thriving then, which is good. A record shop is a record shop, many might say, but one with the passion and specialist knowledge of Rubadub is to be cherished by all who use it and respected by everyone else.

Rubadub Presents Jeff Mills at the Sub Club, Glasgow, Fri 23 Jul.