GOOD CLEAN FUN: Sober Clubbing in Glasgow

Launched by the pair behind The Queer History of Dance Music, a show on Glasgow community radio station Clyde Built Radio, GOOD CLEAN FUN offers a lesser known kind of clubbing experience. The focus is purely on the enjoyment of the event itself without the pressure of having to drink, or the pressure of being surrounded by alcohol and others who are drinking, which can be particularly difficult for those in recovery. We chat to Amy Rodgers, one half of the duo behind the radio show and club night, to find out more.

Tell us about The Queer History of Dance Music and how the idea for the radio show came about?
I started the show back in 2018 on Subcity Radio with my friend Duncan. I have a big interest in dance music and culture and I was doing a research masters on transgender legal rights at the time, so the show brought both of these passions together nicely.

We’ve had a residency on Clyde Built Radio since 2020. The shows go through the history of dance music and discusses how the different genres and key artists have co-evolved with the queer rights movement in many ways. For example, we recently did a show focusing on SOPHIE’s music and artistry which gave us a jumping off point to talk about current trans issues and also much broader questions like what it means to be human.

We’ve also showcased quite a few guests on the show. The official line is that the aim of this is to showcase the queer talent in Glasgow, but it has also been a thinly veiled excuse to meet and make pals with artists we admire. So far we’ve had TAAHLIAH, DJ PAULETTE, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, Hot Mess, PlantainChipps, Mojxmma and Bonzai Bonner of Shoot Your Shoot on, who have all been fab.

At the end of 2021 you launched GOOD CLEAN FUN at the Garnethill Community Centre. Tell us about the idea behind the night?
GOOD CLEAN FUN is an alcohol-free club night that was initially aimed at people in recovery, those who are curious about stopping/cutting down and anyone else who fancies a sober dance. But we’ve also had people coming along who don’t drink for religious reasons and also people who are drinkers but wanted to come along with their newly sober friends to support and have some fun with them.

I stopped drinking a few years ago and the thought of having to say goodbye to nightlife culture and friends made this really difficult. I was determined to still go out once I got sober but I really had to force myself and found it challenging being around alcohol and drugs when I was in the clubs. Also, I would feel lonely at times as it felt like everyone else was on a different level.

So GOOD CLEAN FUN is offering a clubbing space for people who don’t drink to feel more comfortable in and also the opportunity to meet other sober folk. For me, meeting people who were into music and clubbing – and that were also trying to get sober and stay sober – really helped me in my recovery. The hope is that the parties can offer a casual place for people to do this in addition to the more formal avenues of support that are out there.

And how did the first night go? What was the reaction from the crowd like?
Ah, the first night was so good. We managed to sell out which I was so buzzing about because I really wasn’t sure how big a demand there would be for this sort of night, but it turns out there is! The reaction on the night was great – folk were a little apprehensive at the start about dancing but once a few were on the dancefloor the rest joined and the energy was high. I got quite a few messages on social media after the event from people who came saying they really enjoyed it, and from people who had heard about it asking if more would be happening, so that was all really encouraging.

GOOD CLEAN FUN by Helena Gore Photography

Your second night is set to run on Saturday 14 May. Tell us more about the night – who’s playing and what people can expect?
The night is gonna be at Garnethill Community Centre again. We had feedback that the centre has a great floor for dancing and it holds a soft spot for a lot of people who have managed to get sober in Glasgow, so it feels right to host another party there. 

We have Mi$$ Co$mix headlining with GYM CRUSH and Mojxmma supporting. I’m a big fan of the music that the artists play and also really admire how each of them have contributed to the queer scene in Glasgow. Expect some house bangers from Mi$$ Co$mix, ravey and big dance tunes from GYM CRUSH and then some R'n'B and hip-hop from Mojxmma at the very start to ease us into it all. 

What does the rest of the year hold for The Queer History of Dance Music and GOOD CLEAN FUN?
GOOD CLEAN FUN is going to start a monthly party at the Pink Peacock cafe in the southside over summer. The venue is a late-night alcohol-free cafe so it feels like a great match. The parties will be a chilled out affair and will take inspiration from the culture of listening bars in Japan.

I have been trying to avoid putting the GOOD CLEAN FUN nights on in clubs because it’s hard for folk in recovery to be in those sorts of spaces. So I have a few ideas in the works for the next few GOOD CLEAN FUN parties to take place in interesting places around the city. We're also hoping to start doing food at the parties and some iced coffee or something like that.

Besides this, The Queer History of Dance Music will continue our residency at Hillhead Bookclub every Thursday and we have a few club nights booked in at Nice N Sleazy in June and July which will be good fun. Me and Duncan are both dying to play a summer festival so we’re also hoping we manage to blag our way into a slot last minute somewhere!

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GOOD CLEAN FUN takes place at Garnethill Community Centre, Glasgow, 14 May, 6-10pm; tickets available here

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