The Month Ahead: October Clubbing In Glasgow

Image: Sub Focus

As a new member of the Skiddle writing team, and someone who is passionate about events and clubbing in my native Glasgow, I’m really looking forward to bringing you the very best of what the city has to offer on a monthly basis, and trust me, that’s a lot! I strongly believe that Glasgow can boast one of the best party scenes in Europe, with each week offering big names and underground talent alike. But it’s not just the headline DJ’s and world class clubs which make it special, it’s the feeling of community, inclusiveness and fun which keep people coming back (despite the less than appealing weather). 

With September traditionally heralding the start of a new party season and of course the induction of thousands of fresh-faced students, it’s October when things really kick into gear. If you are a new student, I can highly recommend venturing away from the relative safety of your union, as you’ll soon discover that Glasgow has the energy, drive and variety of a city twice its size. From huge venues like The Arches to underground rave dens such as the world renowned Sub Club, there is something for everyone, no matter what your tastes may be…

So where to start? Well, in addition to the more obvious venues, Glasgow has a plethora of smaller (and naturally more intimate) clubs which regularly pull in some interesting names. Kicking off with Saint Judes, a 300 capacity basement venue equipped with Funktion 1 and an LED ceiling, you can expect to find Cocoon’s DJ W!ld leading the charge on the 4th, followed by a hotly anticipated appearance by Visionquest poster boys, Lee Curtiss and Ryan Crosson on the 11th. Like a bit more bass with your Redstripe? Weekly student night Different Drum has got you covered every Thursday with the likes of Eliphino, Shox and Lockah. 

Staying underground, the dimly lit Berkeley Suite is one of Glasgow’s most popular new venues, catering for a more mature weekend crowd with impeccable taste. Hiding behind the façade of an old pawn shop, its stylish speak-easy interior is the perfect setting for a night of hedonism. If you like disco, this is the place to go, as flagship night Supermax regularly has people queuing round the block to see one of the city’s most respected (and wild) residents, Billy Woods. Check out their next party on Oct 5th. 

Over the last few years La Cheetah has also become a force to be reckoned with, attracting bass junkies and discerning house & techno heads in equal measure. Equipped with an exquisite soundsystem and yes, cheetah print upholstery, recent events have featured Kink, Theo Parrish and DJ Funk. Nights to look out for this month include the booty bouncin’ DJ Assault (stream his recent mix for Diplo & Friends above), presented by The Void on Fri 4th, an appearance from Club Cheval’s Canblaster at Nightwave’s highly popular ‘Nightrave’ on Sat 5th (including special guest - think along the lines of Rustie) and La Cheetah’s 4th birthday with Chicago house hero Ron Trent on the 11th. 

Deep down in the financial district you’ll find The Admiral, a welcoming pub which, apart from offering a great atmosphere and a fine place to start your night, also offers a large basement that occasionally doubles up as a club. This is where you’ll find long running party, Melting Pot and one of the most consistent events in town. Having been on the go for twelve years, previous guests read like a who’s who of DJ legends with the likes of Danny Krivit, Joaquin "Joe" Claussell and Francois K doing the business. This month they welcome Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, a self confessed audiophile and tastemaker at David Mancuso’s Loft. The date for your diary is the 5th. 

It’s likely you will have already heard of the Sub Club, and for good reason. One of Glasgow’s most iconic venues, quality nights are standard week in week out, with its infamous low ceiling and bodysonic dancefloor ensuring an unforgettable experience. October’s highlights include a Halloween special featuring AUS Music’s Will Saul and Bicep, a celebration of the annual GLASGAY! festival with Chicago legend Derrick Carter on the 13th and Sensu’s 9th birthday on the 25th (guests yet to be announced). Midweek clubbing meanwhile is covered by Wednesday night House party Sub Rosa and clued-up student specialists, iAM, who welcome Midland and Optimo’s JD Twitch on the 15th. 

If it’s the big room experience you’re after, then head round the corner to The Arches where you can find some of the biggest DJ’s in the world balanced with some incredible underground talent. Situated beneath Central Station, and making use of an expansive warehouse system, the space is often used for theatre and art, something which feeds into the club’s extravagant installations and visuals. Over October you can see ‘King Of Trance’, Paul Van Dyk on Sat 26th, incendiary Electro bandits, Bingo Players on the 5th, and recently crowned No.1 artist, Duke Dumont on the 12th. New student party, ShangriLa is also worth keeping an eye on every Wednesday, with names like Mosca, Krystal Klear, Deadboy and Oneman handling the ‘bounce’.

The Golden Ticket

Glasgow’s Golden Ticket this month is a live event which you daren’t miss. Rising from the underground like a bass-wielding phoenix, Nick Douwma aka Sub Focus has assaulted the chart over the last year with a string of heavy-hitters that have catapulted him to the mainstage, with latest album 'Torus' (stream below) earning rave reviews.

With his mind-blowing live show boasting a hypnotising LED corkscrew and enough energy to power a Glasgow for a year, tracks like the epic ‘Tidal Wave’, new single ‘Turn It Around’ and old classics like ‘Follow The Light’ and ‘Could This Be Real’ will blow you away. Catch him on the 29th October at the O2 ABC, and dress to sweat…

 Like this? Check out Artist Feature: Sub Focus

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