Resident Advisors: Where to Start with Student Nightlife

When you start at university, going out feels like the be all and end all of Freshers’ week. You can meet people at coffee socials or picnics, but it's on the wild nights out where friendships and memories are truly made. This was certainly the presumption I held. The trouble was, I had no idea where to go. Thus, I was convinced by the first promoter who handed me a wristband and ended up in Edinburgh’s infamous WhyNot Nightclub.

While I had fun, I couldn’t help but wonder… is this it? The image I had of clubbing hadn’t included questionable One Direction remixes or spending more time getting shoved than dancing.

It took time to figure out there was more to Edinburgh’s clubbing scene than the charts. I often wished someone had handed me a guide, explaining how to find the right places to save me more than a few disappointing nights out. So, I decided to talk to the people who know best how to navigate university nightlife: student DJs.

Lulu Hookway, a History and Philosophy fourth year student also known as DJ Loose E, tells me that her Freshers’ week at the University of Glasgow was similar: “It started off going to the Union and HIVE, and I wasn't really liking it… [so] I was like, okay, I'll actually go out somewhere that's not the West End.”

When she started going to Berkeley Suite, Sub Club and Stereo, she found what she’d been looking for. “You learn a lot more about electronic music in a way you never had the opportunity to before – and you'll hear sounds you've never heard before.” It was a techno night at Sub Club, famed as one of the longest running underground dance clubs in the world, that was the catalyst for Hookway’s own sound, blending a love for 140 BPM with grime and UK bass.

Hookway adds: “Glasgow's crowds are very sociable, everyone's very friendly. Sometimes too friendly.” She says that although her favourite clubs mostly felt safe, it’s important to be careful: “Always have a friend.”

Harris Merson, Neuroscience graduate and former president of the Dundee Electronic Music Society (DEMS), described nightlife in Dundee as “brilliant,” but as a smaller city with fewer venues, you do have to be “resourceful.” The first step to navigating the nightlife? Join DEMS, of course. “We've been taking venues that are not fit for purpose and then repurposing them, as well as hosting house parties. So, the nights in Grouchos… it’s a bar, but if you put lights in, put camel netting and make the room a bit smaller and all the speakers in, it makes it a lot better.”

Like Hookway, he emphasises that university is the perfect time to explore. “Get on RA (Resident Advisor), get on Instagram, social media, find promoters and artists that you like, go to these things. Go to events where you haven't heard of the DJ, but you've been before and really enjoyed it… If you're a Fresher, chances are you can get the bus for free. The Embers run all night. If you've never done that, the government is wasting money on you. When I was in second year I would go to Glasgow and then just get the night bus back and sleep until 1pm.”

“Work hard, play hard.” Archie Holmes, who’s just graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in Finance and Business, sums it up. “Get your work done early in the week and then it gives you time to go DJ on the weekends."

The first event Holmes DJed during university was at The Mash House, which he labelled as “the most underrated club (in Edinburgh).” He then quickly became a regular behind the decks at the iconic Sneaky Pete’s nightclub.

Describing Edinburgh’s nightlife, Holmes says: “It’s small but there’s also a lot going on, a lot of fun events, it’s quite close-knit and feels quite safe.” Which means if you’re interested in DJing, it’s easy to get to know people who are willing to give you a chance. “Start your own event because all your friends are going out anyway so that's quite a good way in if you can't get someone to book you. Get to know all the student promoters. You'll have to probably do a few free sets or for a couple of beers in exchange to start with, but then I always say once you start getting sets, definitely know your worth.” 

Do I regret that most of my nights out during first year were spent awkwardly mouthing along to pop songs? No. Do I wish that I had known sooner there was a whole other side to student nightlife? Yes. So, if you’re starting university this year, or even if you’re in your final year, take the advice of these DJs: listen to something different, go somewhere new, and if you’re going to skip a lecture because you’re hungover, make sure it’s worth it.

---

Student Picks:
DJ Loose E recommends Stereo, Glasgow
DEMS recommends CANVAS, Dundee
Archie Holmes recommends Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh