Morrissey sadly won’t be giving an alternative Christmas speech to rival the Queen’s on December 25, after declining Channel 4’s offer. But if you’d like a shot of festive Moz nevertheless, try Strangeways Smithsmas on Saturday at The Admiral – a Christmas special from Smiths and Morrissey themed clubnight Strangeways, with some festive surprises thrown in, we’re promised. The jangly wrangler himself popping out of a gift box singing ‘Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want’? or ‘You’ve Got Everything Now’? Or perhaps chastising turkey eaters with a slice of ‘Meat Is Murder’? Did we include this just so we could reel off these terrible Smiths-song-titles based puns? It’s possible. Elsewhere in Glasgow club land…
Sub Rosa presents Ejeca – Sub Club, Dec 17
Your midweek clubbing needs are catered for by Sub Club weekly residents Sub Rosa. This last party for 2014 features a special guest DJ set from Ejeca – the globetrotting Belfast disco, garage, deep house and techno producer and Subby favourite, synonymous with Ralph Lawson’s 2020 vision imprint – alongside Sub Rosa residents Spittal and Nowicki. It’s only a week out from Christmas, meaning all the usual 'ah, but it’s a school night' midweek clubbing excuses tend to go out the window, so best pre-buy tickets to avoid disappointment.
Huntleys & Palmers 7th Birthday – The Art School, Dec 19
Eclectic Glasgow-London-Berlin label Huntleys and Palmers celebrate seven years of great Highlife parties with a special across both floors at The Art School featuring special guests. Namely two of the label’s favourite producers from different corners of Europe – John Talabot, the Spaniard behind the essential hook-laden 2012 album 'ƒIN', and Axel Boman, the Swede responsible for roof-raising releases across a raft of labels from Ourvision, Pampa and Glasstable to his own Studio Barnhus imprint. They’ll both be upstairs in the Assembly Hall, while H&P residents Auntie Flo and Esa preside over the party down in the Vic bar.
Pressure Xmas Party: Sven Väth + Slam – The Arches, Dec 19
Gear up for Christmas with clubbing veterans Slam at a festive special installment of their monthly night at The Arches, the first of two this month with a second upcoming on December 27. German techno legend 'Papa Sven' aka Sven Väth, founder of Cocoon Recordings and all round godfather of the German and Ibiza techo scenes, returns to Glasgow for the first time in five years as special guest. He’ll play a three-hour set (which is nothing really, for a guy whose longest ever set was 30 hours), with support from the local scene care of Harvey McKay, Hans Bouffmyhre, Simon Stokes aka Petrichor and Skiver, plus the Slam residents.
Words: Malcolm Jack