Glasgow clubland institution Optimo is set to finish its Sub Club residency on Sunday night (April 25th).
Founded in 1997, it’s almost difficult to overstate the impact Optimo (Espacio) has had on Scottish clubland. Beginning as a Sunday night slot during an atmosphere of techno overkill, Twitch and Wilkes decided to do things their own way.
Over the course of a decade or so, their painstaking yet irreverent approach to DJing would become hugely influential. Matching R&S Records to Led Zeppelin, DFA to Madonna the club has stood far ahead of the curve almost since its inception.
Optimo was there was electroclash emerged, as the post-punk revival started, as nu-disco got off the ground and as UK Funky reared its head. Compiling a mix for Fabric, Twitch and Wilkes have demonstrated that they have no intentions of standing still.
Set to finish their near mythical Sub Club residency on Sunday night (April 25th) a fair few Clash staffers will be in attendance. A Scottish clubland ritual, its fame has spread far beyond the borders of Caledonia.
New York post-punk types The Rapture are famous converts, having played live sets at the club before. Speaking to Resident Advisor the band’s Vito Roccoforte explained what he loved about the club.
“I loved going right at the beginning and staying through the whole night because Keith and Jonnie really built up the energy and vibe in the club masterfully. By the time we played, we had already been dancing and had started feeling a musical kinship with them over the music they were playing. The show went amazing and we met a bunch of kids and ended up going to one of the most bonkers house parties I’ve ever been to.”
Meanwhile, Twitch and Wilkes have asked fans to submit their favourite Optimo tunes. You can read the result HERE.
The list is deeply eclectic, moving from Arthur Russell to ‘Black Betty’ and beyond. If someone fancies tying these tunes together in one mp3 bundle please let us know…
The last ever Optimo (Espacio) takes place on April 25th.
