Underground Dance Parties - Edinburgh
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Edinburgh, Scotland's capital city, has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its drum and bass scene over the past three decades. What started as an underground, tightly-knit community has evolved into a diverse and more visible musical landscape.
One of the early pioneers in this journey was Ekwols, an artist who grew through Edinburgh's close-knit drum and bass community, drawing inspiration from key figures such as Memtrix and Receptor. The scene's evolution was further propelled by broader bass culture trends, as seen with collectives and labels like Night Slugs, which emphasised rhythmic experimentation, genre fluidity, and cross-city/global engagement with drum and bass and electronic bass music scenes.
Initially, the scene was centred around small clubs and local events, fostering community bonds. Over time, artists and promoters in Edinburgh diversified their sound and events, adapting to trends such as integrating different rhythmic styles while maintaining core drum and bass elements. This maturation and expansion of Scotland’s drum and bass culture have been instrumental in balancing local identity with global electronic dance music innovations.
Today, the Edinburgh drum and bass scene is thriving, with notable collectives and sound systems like Electrikal Sound System, now Scotland's most recognisable d&b sound system, founded in part by Mungo's Hi Fi. Midnight Bass, a weekly drum and bass night, is seen as the backbone of the local scene, often featuring homegrown Scottish talent.
Artists like imo-Lu, whose wistful liquid number "Hard Feelings" marked their debut with the Hospital family, and Refracta, whose "Hollow" collab with Torso went viral on Soundcloud, are shining examples of Edinburgh's burgeoning drum and bass talent. Refracta's Elevate EP was picked up by DJ Hybrid's Audio Addict label in 2021, further cementing their place in the scene.
The scene's vitality is also reflected in the emergence of new events like Sunday Service, a daytime party format in Edinburgh, and the upcoming club night, Niteshift, launched by Brynk and Ominous, who met at Sunday Service. Edinburgh's university students are credited for supporting the drum & bass scene due to their annual influx.
However, challenges persist. Travel costs and accommodation expenses make it difficult for smaller promoters to book big names in Scotland, making drum n' bass an underdog genre compared to a more prominent techno culture elsewhere in the country. Despite these challenges, the scene's veterans, like DJ Kid, remember initial struggles but remain optimistic about the future.
Anikonik, a local DJ and promoter, describes Edinburgh as the drum & bass capital of Scotland, and Refracta hopes that the Edinburgh drum & bass scene will last and become a culture. Pollyanna, the founder of Sunday Service, moved to Edinburgh from Bristol and describes the scene as "small and strong". Despite its size, the Edinburgh drum & bass scene is a testament to the power of community, creativity, and resilience.
References:
- Electrikal Sound System
- Night Slugs
- Ekwols
- Refracta
- Memtrix
- Receptor
- Blu Mar Ten
- Midnight Bass
- Torso
- Mastaki
- EQ50 Mentoring Scheme
- Sunday Service
- Pollyanna
- Brynk
- Ominous
- Niteshift
- DJ Kid
- Bongo
- La Belle Angele
- Symbiosis
- Junglism Castle Party
- Drum and Bass Scotland
- Scotland's Population
- London's Population
In the flourishing Edinburgh drum and bass scene, collectives like Electrikal Sound System and Midnight Bass have become significant contributors to the city's lifestyle, offering entertainment that seamlessly blends music from key figures such as Ekwols, Refracta, and Memtrix, creating a unique rhythmic fusion. This thriving scene, often marked by events like Sunday Service and upcoming club nights like Niteshift, has become a testament to the power of community, creativity, and resilience in Scotland's electronic dance music culture.
