MANY of the world’s best dance cities have one club in particular that is synonymous with its scene. In Paris, it’s unquestionably the Rex. Fiercely underground, never giving an inch in its no-sell-out booking policy has no doubt helped preserve this club’s unblemished reputation. Techno and metro-deep house are the plat du jour, served up by the best French and international DJs. Perhaps France’s second most famous house music export, Laurent Garnier launched the Rex in 1992, and its unpretentious environs, party-hearty, impassioned and knowledgeable crowd have kept it one of the coolest joints in the world, not just on the continent. Veterans Jeff Mills and Carl Craig, as well as new school types like Nina Kraviz and Lerosa just played there, while D’Julz, Mademoiselle Caro, Dyed Soundorom and Jennifer Cardini head up the list of sterling residents.
88
HARDLYthe centre of the clubbing universe, Aberdeen has fared pretty well over the years, largely thanks to the existence of SNAFU, its leading spot for electronic music. By giving the party-hardy folk of the granite city something they don’t have enough of, this 380-capacity sweat-pit clearly still grips the hearts of the local clubbing elite, reinstating its rightful place in this poll through its top-notch booking policy, which has brought Claude VonStroke, Eats Everything, Ben UFO, Jackmaster, Ikonika and Air London in recent months.
85 84
CAFÈ D’ANVERS ANTWERP, BELGIUM
CAPACITY: 800
cafedanvers.com
46
WITHa history that stretches the breadth of dance music, in a country responsible for some of its most meaningful contributions, it’s no wonder that Café D’Anvers is a repeat offender in this poll. Setting up shop in 1989 in a 16th Century church, it’s by no means stuck in the past, light-years ahead of its peers thanks to a music policy people trust; an acute sonic vision focused purely on pitching sought-after newbies and tried-and-tested legends alongside up-and-coming local DJs without ever succumbing to the lure of more lucrative, commercial pursuits. DJ Sneak, Shlomi Aber and Audiofly have all basked in the glowing lights of the main room in recent months; Flying Circus also stopped by and promoters regularly take delight mixing up d&b and dubstep at weekly mid-week student nights. Don’t be a twerp. Head to Antwerp.
SNAFU ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
CAPACITY: 380
clubsnafu.com
RE-ENTRY
“BEST CLUB IN HOLLAND,” according to Tiësto and “one of the best in the world,” in the words of Laidback Luke, Matrixx is a mega club located in a mini city on the Dutch border of Germany. The sounds as gargantuan as the venue that houses them, this 10-year-old club’s penchant for only the biggest in the business has been satisfied by all its homegrown superstars — Armin Van Buuren, Afrojack, Ferry Corsten, Fedde Le Grand & co — as well as external talent to the tune of Diplo, Nicky Romero and Martin Solveig over the years. Key to the development of Holland’s up-and-coming names of today, Hardwell, Sidney Samson and Headhunterz all cut their teeth under the space-age lasers of this state-of-the-art staple of the scene. So, are you ready to enter the Matrixx?
83
THE ARCHES GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
CAPACITY: 1500
thearches.co.uk
31
REX CLUB PARIS, FRANCE
CAPACITY: 600
rexclub.com
24
POISEDto bring Judge Jules’ Judgement Sundays for the 13th year in a row this summer, Eden is firmly established as the lifeblood of the Ibiza scene, catering for the clubbers on the island unabashed by the unruly commotion of San Antonio. Probably the top-range venue that takes itself least seriously on the island, playing host to weekly TwiceAsNice parties, Eden brought the more rambunctious names in pop music to the Balearics last summer. But if Tinchy Stryder, Sean Paul or N-Dubz aren’t your cup of tea, you are likely to find top-notch big-room talent on most other nights, with last year’s opening and closing parties hosting the likes of Felix Da Housecat and Mark Knight in recent years. Those offended by in-your-face music and voluptuous pole-dancers in skimpy leopard prints need not apply.
87 86
MATRIXX NIJMEGEN, HOLLAND
CAPACITY: 2400
matrixx.nl
EDEN IBIZA, SPAIN
CAPACITY: 5000
edenibiza.com
RE-ENTRY
NEW ENTRY
NOcity likes to ‘ave it quite like Glasgow. And none in the city provide a clubbing experience as sprawling and abandoned as those dusty tunnels in the centre, known as The Arches. Home to Slam’s techno flagship Pressure, hipster mash-up Death Disco and a regular live venue for the most cutting-edge names in electronic music, the space has been shaken to the rafters by the likes of Jack Beats, Laurent Garnier and 2ManyDJs last month alone.
040
www.djmag.com
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