Happy Birthday To Cab!

The Skinny doesn't like to play favourites - we love all the venues in Edinburgh. Every stinking toilet, sweaty dancefloor and ego-crowded DJ booth is a joy to us! However, there is one club that you could say truly shares our ethos and ideals, and has supported our humble magazine from day one. That club is the rather marvelous CABARET VOLTAIRE, which celebrates its 2nd birthday this February. The pre-'Cab landscape was full of old and much-missed favourites such as the Venue, La Belle Angelle and the Honeycomb. When Cabaret Voltaire first arrived it was with a flurry of innovation: taking risks on small live music nights, and expanding Edinburgh's night-time playlist with a welcome fusion of breaks and electro from the likes of Sugarbeat and the mighty We Are... Electric. Not to mention free and cheap nights like Split and Trade Union, the venue's stock in trade, which regularly see the atmospheric, tunnel-like venue rammed to the gunnels with punters demanding a plethora of the freshest beats.

Cabaret Voltaire intends to celebrate its birthday in grand style on Feb 23. It's also the second birthday of Sugarbeat, as residents The Utah Saints welcome Finger Lickin' breakbeat superstars Krafty Kuts and ASkillz for a night of rolling, funk-infused beats and extra-width bass drops. Having rocked the 'Cab already, Sugarbeat regulars will know what to expect from these seasoned party DJs.

Cabaret Voltaire's continuing innovation and support of the local scene, and its commitment to bringing the finest international talent to town, from Felix Da Housecat to Spank Rock, make it a valuable local institution. In these days, such fine venues in Edinburgh are thin on the ground, and like they say, you don't know what you've got til it's gone... Let's pack this birthday bash out and show our appreciation.

Happy Birthday to Sarah David and all the fabulous folk at Cabaret Voltaire, from The Skinny and all our readers!