Gala likes it loud

Ally McGilvray 1606 - 1606 • Last updated 16 Sep 2008 09:50

"HARD Kandy is too funking hard for Galashiels ­ we've blown the funking sound system."

That was the scream from the man with the mic as megastar MC slash DJ Mallorca Lee, best known as the voice of Public Domain, Ultra-Sonic and the Warp Bros, sent Move into meltdown at the weekend.

Hundreds of revellers, from as far away as Gordon and Glasgow, danced the night away through a haze of smoke and gyrating glowsticks on Friday.

It was the culmination of a series of events to celebrate Freshers Week at Heriot-Watt University as the students returned to the campus at Netherdale following the summer break.

And, as the fluorescent flames lapped the decks in the heat of the laser show, a blown speaker only served as a reminder that it had been a blast.

The previous night, Ultrabeat vocalist Rebecca Rudd turned up the volume with an electrifying set to put the crowd in a spin.

And, on Wednesday, the boys from cheesey chart-toppers S Club 7, Paul and Bradley, confirmed there is no party like an S Club Party by performing some of the band¹s greatest hits at an exclusive students-only night.

Move boss Steve Cass said: "I think we have redefined the clubbing culture in the Borders." Mallorca Lee, who revealed he turned down a five-figure sum to remix an S Club 7 track which went on to become a smash hit, admitted he had to Google Galashiels on the internet for directions to his gig.

But he put it back on the map by painting the town red ­ and then claimed he was just following in his father's footsteps. "It¹s been great fun," he said. "This is the first time

I¹ve ever been here but my dad actually came and painted a bridge here. "I'm more used to playing in front of 10,000 people on some of the biggest stages in Europe but I prefer this kind of venue because I can interact more with the crowd."

Craig Rob DJ & Mitchell, MC/DJ Madman, Dave Nelson and myself set the tone by taking a turn spinning the decks, serving up everything from electro house to heavy trance to get the juices ­ and the alcohol ­ flowing, before Clarkie Millar, aka Art Newman, brought the night to a close.

It was the first time he had brought Hard Kandy to the Borders after dreaming up the club nights while mixing records in the garage of his former home in Galashiels, but he has already vowed to come back.

Clarkie, who dedicated the night to his sister Nikki, who died tragically while on holiday in Egypt, said: "I want to thank everybody for coming. "It was a massive night and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves ­ we'll have to do it all again sometime."

For more pictures from all three nights log on to www.bordertelegraph.com, www.myspace.com/movevenue, www.bebo.com/hardkandyofficial, or mallorcalee.com.

… Club promoter Clarkie Millar, formerly of Galashiels, is due to perform at Fantazia ­ one of the biggest raves in the world ­ at the Braehead arena near Glasgow on September '7.

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This article appeared in Border Telegraph 16 Sep 08

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