Sugarbeat: A Sweet Celebration

Sugarbeat is unique in its approach - today's syndicated clubs usually come with the backing of huge budgets, big names, national media coverage and record labels, attracting crowds through clever brand-positioning and radio-friendly music. Sugarbeat certainly have not shied from bringing big names to their nights such as Erol Alkan, Felix Da Housecat, Justice and Krafty Kuts, but any proliferation of venues was achieved through toil, sweat, and the encouragement of a regular fanbase. It's now approaching its third year at Edinburgh's Cabaret Voltaire, while playing weekly at Sugarbeat Leeds and monthly at Sugarbeat Bristol, thanks to the support and effort of Tim Garbut and Jez Willis aka The Utah Saints, the hugely successful (and especially cherished in Scotland's capital) '90s dance band.

Going by their self-proclaimed Power To The Beats philosophy, Sugarbeat has introduced an edge of affordability for cash-conscious clubbers, meaning even the most cash-strapped have the opportunity to treat themselves at the end of the month. How does Jez feel about the club and ethos he helped create? "Well, it feels good, if a little full-on sometimes - Leeds is weekly and has been for seven years. We are proud of the longevity, and the fact that Sugarbeat is getting recognised a bit now," he explains.

And what would you say the key elements are? "A nice club for nice people!" he says, "Actually, it's fairly loose - we don't really put on house DJs, there's plenty of nights doing that already - we do try and put on interesting DJs who play a good mix, but still know how to rock the joint. The names combined with the artwork (akin to technical sketches with robotical themes - ed) seem to attract an ace crowd of people, and the whole thing just works."

The Sugarbeat concept arrived in Leeds in 2001, playing simply good beats from old skool hip-hop, funk, d'n'b, electro, house and techno, and after its reputation grew, they decided to launch the Scottish version in January 2005, going on to enjoy a large-scale event last year in Princes Street Gardens. Sugarbeat is hesistant to set a definitive future for the club, saying that it is out of their hands and in those of the clubbers. "As long as people like it, we'll be there," Jez reassures us, "Sugarbeat and The Cab - we lock up brilliantly - the owners and the staff have a fantastic attitude and vision; everyone pulling in the same direction, to make some hopefully legendary nights happen! It would also be great when people really start to trust us, and so even if they haven't heard of any of the DJs, they know they will have a great night!"

Now they can add Sinden and Herve, the recent Domino signings and bassy dance freaks, and the legendary, industrial electronica act Cabaret Voltaire to the list of guests after their third birthday on 29 February. It was the venue's idea to get in Cabaret Voltaire, "true electronic pioneer artists", for the event. In Sheffield, 1973, Cabaret Voltaire aka Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk set out to go against the local bands that played cover versions of chart hits; it was their intention to "rip the piss out of conventional forms of music and create something that would intimidate and totally freak out people's normal concept of music," says Richard. Apart from the anti-art Dada movement, which found a spiritual home in the Swiss nightclub Cabaret Voltaire, and is referenced through the band's moniker, Brian Eno, Roxy Music, and the German electronic scene of the '60s and '70s were other influences upon their music. "All this was against a backdrop of soul music, Tamla-Motown and reggae/dub. So, put all that together and you kind of end up with Cabaret Voltaire. Plus Sheffield was a very grim northern city, which had been heavily bombed during World War II - it still looked like it, and felt very bleak. Unemployment, urban decay. Very J.G.Ballard."

For this Sugarbeat gig, Richard will be playing an eclectic set of sounds that he personally enjoys, "sometimes enhanced or tweaked, plus I may throw in some of my own works in progress..." says Richard. "It's the first time I'll have played in Scotland on my own, and I'm really looking forward to it. It was always really good coming here with Cabaret Voltaire back in the day. I'm obviously very flattered to have been asked, but don't know very much about Sugarbeat, other than its great reputation as a club night. The name Cabaret Voltaire is very familiar!"