Glasgow feature: The Art of Parties

In the congested club calendar in Glasgow many nights continue to jostle for position in smaller venues, while some have the knack for a quick ascension to the major arenas that are the Arches and the Sub Club. This is down to daring ideas combined with hard working, committed promoters and this is definitely the case with Jason Edwards and Neil McKee, the guys behind Art of Parties. So much so they are already booking guests for events at both of the aforementioned clubs, presenting nights at the Subbie along with their new monthly Friday at the Arches.

Its rise can be summed up by the fact that last year the night was only just kicking off in a very different form. The Skinny caught up with the amiable and passionate promoters, and Jason explains further: "We started last year with a weekly thing at the Art School which was more band based; it was just something to do and a way of seeing the bands that we wanted to, and then electro would get played by a DJ afterwards." The night began to quickly develop though, and the post band DJ became more of the focus. "I started liking a lot more French music as we got more into the dance side of things," Jason (who also DJs at the night as Jay Sin) continues. This brought problems, albeit pleasant ones for the promoters as they quickly outgrew the venue. "It was becoming harder to bring some of the bigger acts to the Art School," says Jason.

Originally promoted by Jason, as the night grew bigger Neil McKee was taken on board. Taking control of the visual side of the night and promotional material allowed Jason to concentrate on booking whilst also turning the night into much more, as Jason explains: "I liked the idea of someone going in to a club and being blown away by everything around them and not just the music." The music itself, however, is also varied with all bases covered from electro to house to grime and hip hop. "We don't have any policy as such; it's a pretty wide spectrum, really good and unique."

After only a year at the Art School and a short break since June, a move to the infamous clubbing mecca that is The Arches may have seemed tricky. "With The Arches we just kinda talked ourselves into it," says Neil and this is confirmed by Jason: "We keep just trying to aim about eighty feet higher than we should be, we're stupidly ambitious and take risks but I think that's why we have progressed so quickly, and at The Arches we can totally do all the stuff that we want to do!" Their new monthly Friday is also accompanied by a few up and coming dates at The Sub Club with the likes of Duke Dumont and Kid 606. "The thing at the Sub Club is part of a combination of all the smaller clubs coming together, the likes of ourselves and Numbers."

Filling the larger spaces could prove difficult, but Art of Parties already have the advantage of a regular crowd. "We tend to have a lot of the same faces coming back again and again now too which is great that people are really believing in the club!" continues Jason. As their residency starts at The Arches in October the attention turns to booking top quality guests, and the debut night sees French legend Etienne De Crecy headlining with much more to follow including label nights. "I think with the line-ups we have coming up we'll shock some people and have an element of surprise if you like," says Jason.

With all these plans in place, Art of Parties looks likely to go from strength to strength with even more ideas in the pipeline as Neil tells us: "We've got the website up and running and are also looking to register officially as AOP events, as well as do more podcasts and radio shows." A busy time is in store yet the ethos of the night is sure to stay the same as Jason sums up: "A lot of seriousness is around clubs in Glasgow while what we want to say is loosen up and have fun at our nights!"