Just what’s going on? Club boss James Manero reveals all…
So have you been shut or are the rumours untrue
“The club was never closed. Over a period of years it simply dropped of the underground radar. With the whole move of the clubbing scene over to east, I think it may have been an easier option for the venue to simply host R&B and Hip Hop parties simply because of its location – right in the centre of tourist London.”
What you got coming up that you’re excited about? Which nights’ are going to get me zipping into London at the weekend? What promoters, DJs etc are coming up? You say you have a refreshed musical policy…tell us…
“We have some great stuff coming up over the next few months. I’m most excited about the new exclusive ‘Cadenza’ residency that we will have here in the New Year. And without revealing too much about our plans, with other clubs around us dropping like flies, we have picked up some very good underground nights, which should rock the club. The music schedule is relatively varied. There is something there for everyone I believe. My personal favourites are the more techno driven nights such as ‘LT Editions’, ‘Don’t Be Leftout’ and my night ‘Fluxus’. But as I said, there is something there for everyone, with more disco sounds from ‘Nodisko vs Codex’, ‘Electro Bass’ sounds from ‘City Lights’ and classic house sounds from ‘Automatica’. I think one night that particularly stands out is ‘Worldwide Underground’, a new weekly Monday dance session run by Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Records. Many fans of Bar Rumba will remember Gilles Peterson’s legendary Monday night. This is the 2008 version, so we can expect more of the same quality world music, but with sounds like Dubstep, Tribal house, etc thrown in. And of course, the man himself will be headlining…”
Owner, Eric Yu – he’s f*cking brilliant isn’t he?
“Yeah he’s a good man to work for. A proper businessman unlike some other club owners out there. I’ve already learnt a lot from working with him.”
So the closures of legendary clubs like The Cross, The Key, Turnmills and Canvas – a big chance to step up for your place huh?
“It is a big chance, but at the same time I think it puts even more pressure on me to make it work, because there is no way that I can let such a historical venue fall under the same fate. As a Londoner myself, I can’t say I’m too thrilled to see all those venues go, simply because it means as a city we have a lot less on offer than the likes of Berlin and therefore it’s even harder for DJs, producers, promoters etc. to make a name for themselves. But then again with a lot less quality on offer, it also means that we have a lot more in our favour. Only time will tell to be honest…”
Where have you come from career wise?
“Well my career has been a bit of a fast track over the last couple of years. I’m 25 now and I graduated from university 3 years ago, studying Music and Media Management and Marketing at London Metropolitan University where I learnt pretty much nothing at all. In my last year at Uni I had already begun running a small Sunday night called ‘Battery BOX’ at Public Life in Shoreditch, which was once a month and at the same time a Friday night called ‘Warme’, at Sketch in the West End. This was around the same time as the minimal scene and electro scenes were really taking off. When I left Sketch I went straight on to running a Monday night called Social Club – also in the West End at a club called The Burlington Club. After 6 months doing that I was asked to take over as General Manager which I did for about a year – quite a leap I can tell you. Then after leaving that I had a meeting with Eric Yu who said he wanted to see how he could get me involved with one of his venues and naturally I asked him to give me Bar Rumba and let me relaunch it. Which is where I am today. All based around contacts and being in the right place at the right time really.”
Does the venue look different in any way?
“We have made changes, it’s not an all out refit though. The relaunch was more of a focus on the musical policy, branding and promotion. The club is a great space, so there’s not really much I needed to as far as a refurb is concerned. And plus, I would prefer that people come down more for the music than because of a “spectacular refurb”. So I will let your readers make their own minds up regarding the look of the club.”