Refuge at Sub Club: politicising clubbing
After the success of their first club fundraiser in Berlin, Glasgow promoters George Patrick and Chis Duncan are returning to the city in aid of three charities at the centre of efforts to alleviate the suffering of refugees
In the midst of a devastating refugee crisis, when practical solutions are often obscured by tabloid bigotry and a lack of political leadership, it can be hard to imagine how arts and culture can play any meaningful role. There has always been a certain cynicism around people in music becoming involved in any issue deemed to be too political in nature. But sometimes simply bringing people together behind a common cause and trying to raise money for those in need can have a powerful effect.
Having put on their first Refuge club night in Berlin, raising over 7000 Euros for charity in the process, Glaswegian promoters George Patrick and Chris Duncan have decided to return to their former workplace at Sub Club to ask the city’s clubbers to dig deep for three charities involved in helping refugees in a variety of ways. Bringing celebrated Homopatik resident DJ Mr. Ties with them, the duo’s efforts are in support of the Scottish Refugee Council’s family key work project, Positive Action in Housing’s destitution fund and Save the Children.
We caught up with George of Bigfoot's Tea Party to discuss the project and the wider significance of addressing such issues through music and clubbing.
The Skinny: What made you want to get involved in a venture like this?
George Patrick: It’s been a build up from watching the news, really – watching these situations around you and you want to help in any way you can. A lot of the time you feel quite powerless to do things but you’ve just got to play to your strengths really. The only thing I’ve ever really done is put on parties. People in this kind of music scene are willing to help with stuff like this; everyone’s concerned and wants to do something about it.
Your first Refuge event was in Berlin – with Palms Trax, Objekt and a few others – what can you tell us about how that came about and how it went on the night?
It came together so quickly – we got the date a month before it was supposed to happen. The problems going on are escalating so fast that we wanted to do something as quickly as possible. Everyone agreed to play within a couple of weeks and then we announced it with two weeks to go. It got a massive response and we raised about 7500 Euros. The club was packed and that was on a Wednesday. It was a really good atmosphere and everyone DJing did really well. So I gave Subbie a shout afterwards and said I wanted to do one back home. They said “cool” and Mr Ties, who was going to play the first one but had to go to Japan, offered to come back to Glasgow and do one there. That came together pretty nicely as well.
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How important do you think it is that music, and club culture in particular, connects with these kinds of issues?
It’s obviously so important, especially for musical artists and DJs who have a lot of followers; people look at what they’re doing and what they’re saying. They have to speak out about it. It always falls to artists to be creative and outspoken. It shouldn’t be left to these people – there should be people in power taking control and doing things but they’re not. So it’s very important that the artistic community speaks out and tries to do something about the situation.
There are, of course, always people who will argue that politics and social issues should be left out of music and that clubbing shouldn’t be bogged down with serious issues. How would you address that type of position and those who would prefer to keep clubbing hedonistic rather than outward looking?
Of course, first and foremost, going clubbing is about enjoying the music and kind of losing yourself, but music and clubbing is never, ever separate from politics and social issues... ever. This whole form of music evolved from social issues and minorities, like the gay and black communities in America, finding spaces in which they felt free. So it’s not like this is anything new. You don’t have to put politics in people’s faces, but it’s never going to be separate and I think charity fundraisers are a natural progression of this.
Obviously a lot of people just want to go and get mashed at a club but, at the end of the day, if politics flips on you, and all your clubs are shut down, then what? That has happened in Glasgow of late so there is certainly a cultural/political link. People can’t really say that there’s no association between the two. It’s just a matter of how much you want to explore that link and accept it, I guess.
Finally, what are your plans beyond this?
We’re going to keep doing the parties in Berlin – the next one will be in February. I have a fairly hectic schedule already but I’d like to do the ones in Glasgow every few months as well, because these issues aren’t going away any time soon. I don’t want to just let it slide. I don’t want to just sit on my hands and I know other people don’t want to either.