DEMS, Szentek & An Education in East Coast Clubbing

“I saw these crazy line-ups I didn't think could exist in Scotland, or at least anywhere near here", Callum McCabe recalls on joining Szentek – St Andrews' arts and electronic music collective. Founded in 2016, functioning much like a student society – yet maintaining independence from the university – it’s an expressive vent in a town with limited outlets. “We have to make our own fun in a place like this,” explains Alex Woodward. “I got involved early last year… I said I wanted to see Neffa-T...” So Szentek brought it to life at a grain silo.

“It’s a unique venue," beams Nikita Rakhmanov, describing the barren Cupar venue. “The circular shape allows us to do lots with lights and art.” “People want to be creative”, emphasises McCabe, “there’s just no Art School”. Accordingly, in anticipation of events, handmade tapestries are hung from members’ homes – “we call it an open-air museum… it gives the town that little bit more colour”.

Moving Castle – Szentek's flagship festival, founded in 2022 over a shared Studio Ghibli appreciation – spreads across three stages, plaited by a slew of pathways, a courtyard, and spiral staircase. “It allows us to do completely different things in such close proximity to each other,” explains Rakhmanov. "There’s a worldwide experience of nightlife coming together here,” McCabe highlights. If there isn't something you like, “make it yourself… that's what several groups have already done. They come and they go. We’re just dependent on the sweaty basements on the east coast of Scotland at the moment.”

Photo: Szentek

Operating out of The Maker bar (formerly Hunter S Thompson), holding down DEMS – Dundee Electronic Music Society – is Kieron Neave. “When I first moved from Glasgow, during Freshers' week, I found that going to Aura wasn’t my cup of tea.” Over the three years since, still largely in its infancy, Dundee Electronic Music Society has built a community for scholars. Although considering the closure of King's, since last May the venue space is limited. “We do pop-up spaces downstairs at The Lowdown… lots of the King’s residencies moved over here,” remoulding late-night licenses into more casual affairs confined by a 1am curfew of the non-purpose-built club. But for many, bracing rising rents and living costs combined, this night-time alternative suits. “You have to spend your money wisely,” admits Neave. “It’s just not viable to indulge in going out as much.”

With DEMSFEST, their annual festival at Mains Castle, DEMS have welcomed international artists, from MC Pat Flynn to Flowdan, alongside a local hotbed of burgeoning talent, whilst raising thousands for The Brain Tumour Charity. “Dundee is small, it can be overlooked…" says Neave. "But the student population is huge." Whether enrolling at the university, or art school, “try it all out… there’s so much going on.”

“It's one of the most picturesque parties in the UK,” says Stewart Aitchison, pitching Pier Party – the boatyard brainchild of the seven-strong DJ collective, Le Freak & Friends, formed within their Perth Road shop. “It’s become a bit of a hub for club nights, jazz bands, and even rappers, across the city,” smiles Tim Piele. “There’s been so many artists that have become huge out of Dundee in the last ten years, like Hannah Laing, AVNU, PYLOT, Clouds, KILIMANJARO, and Craigie Knowes.”

“When I moved through, it was The Reading Rooms… this was the space you’d see the acts that you would in Sub Club or La Cheetah,” Aitchison recalls. “It was an iconic beacon on the east coast,” Piele ruminates. “You still got the big, more mainstream acts, coming up after, through Van Damn doing All Good… it kept a whole section of kids still going out.” “But that’s the problem,” Kev Dorward interjects, “nobody goes out anymore.” “We’ve reached this apex for club culture,” chimes in Aitchison, “and it’s now on the downside.” “DEMS nailed it,” laughs Piele, “they’ve got a captive market doing what nobody else was allowed. We used to get shit for playing the student union. It was seen as commercial… but it was about showing students there are other places to go out. Though we’d be amiss not to say that, currently, there’s no standout club… but that doesn’t mean the scene’s dead.”

“There are lots of smaller spots around the city,” agrees Tom Le Feuvre, “places like Nola, Roots, Beat Generator, Church.” “That's what we’ve got over other cities,” stresses Aitchison, “little DIY bubbles. You just need to accept, in the first instance, as much as you're contributing towards culture, it's a hobby, and any hobby in life will drain your bank balance. Nobody goes to play five-a-sides thinking they’ll get signed for Man Utd… It's the same for being a club promoter. You need to accept you're going to spend a lot of money, and if you do it well enough, and you do it long enough… you’ll break even.”

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Le Freak & Friends, The Lowdown, Dundee, 7 Sep, 9pm-1am
Le Freak Records's St Andrews pop-up, 9 Sep
Szentek: Freshers Edition, The Vic, St Andrews, 11 Sep, 10pm-3am 
DEMS Live, Bonar Hall, Dundee, 12 Sep, 11pm-3am