A Club Culture Retrospective

Celebrating 38 years, through a multitude of lifetimes, Sub Club is one of the oldest underground electronic music clubs in the world. On 22 Jamaica Street, life begins in the basement of a warehouse building, initially being converted to a cinema in the 1920s, to then becoming a speakeasy in the late 1950s, and subsequently to dinner dance venue “Jamaica Inn”, before its penultimate transformation to funk and soul club Lucifer’s, to finally opening as ‘Sub Club’ in April 1987. And still, after decades of operation, this cultural institution is now regularly voted amongst the best clubs in the world and treasured by regulars, visitors, DJs and musicians the world over. The Sub Club’s commitment to nurturing Glasgow’s talent is evidenced through the number of longstanding club nights that have emerged over the years, offering punters and artists alike the very best clubbing experience Scotland has to offer.

Now, the club celebrates over 30 years of its flagship Saturday night, ‘Subculture’, pioneered by long-time residents Harri and Domenic Cappello and recently joined by new additions to the family Stevie Cox and Telford. Apart from jointly hosting Subculture since its inception in 1994, Harri has been a regular DJ at the club since 1985 and Domenic since 1992. Harri was also a weekly resident at Atlantis with Slam alongside from 1990-1994, making his own unbroken Saturday night residency 35 years long - but who’s counting?

Other integral residencies include Sunday night Optimo (Espacio), founded by JD Twitch and JG Wilkes from 1997 to 2010, and Slam’s Friday night JOY running from 1989 to 1990, prior to Atlantis’ inception. With countless other residents and deep-rooted collaborators all dedicated to making ‘the Subbie’ so special, it’s no wonder the space has been revered by all those who’ve entered its doors - a club that promises no prejudice and no limits when it comes to enjoying great music.

“The music still batters the senses, pushing boundaries, constantly reinventing and setting the tone for what’s coming round the next corner. This is the space where underground clubs really exist, breaking new music, creating new energies, inspiring new ideas, and forging new friendships all along the way.”
- Mike Grieve, Managing Director