Clubbing Collaboration for Black History Month

At Lupo’s on October 19, multiple St Andrews DJ collectives came together in a combined effort to promote community and celebrate Black History Month. The event, entitled ‘Say Less’, was more than just an average St Andrews night out — it embodied and celebrated the unity of Black culture at a predominantly white institution.  This collaboration between St Andrews Afro-Caribbean Society (ACS), BPM, Pulse, and Fever was held before Raisin and Reading Week on Saturday, October 19. For a price of £4 for early bird Tickets, £7 for main release, and £9 for final release on FIXR, St Andrews students were indulged with a comparatively affordable night out at Lupo’s from 10pm to 2am. Raising over £650, all proceeds from the event went to charity.

It's difficult to express how overjoyed I was to hear Beyoncé within minutes of my arrival. With a £5 Rum-Punch in hand and a Queen B-induced pep in my step, I was quickly (and easily) pleased that I had attended, even if it meant I got four hours of sleep before Raisin the next morning. The effort put into the event was evident: along with a signature drink, tables with free ‘goodies’ (BPM phone wallets, candy, and whistles that accompany every Fever event) lined the room. Admittedly, the St Andreans were slow to trickle in, but by midnight the room was buzzing.

Celebrating black artists and their music, ‘Say Less’ included a range of genres, including RnB, Hip-Hop, Rap, Dance Hall (from Jamaica), Amapiano (from South Africa), and Afrobeats. This was a testament to the vast improvement of the diversity of music in St Andrews — even as recently as a few years ago, these genres were certainly underrepresented in the nightlife scene. "We used to joke that collectives such as BPM used to stand for “Black/Brown People Music”, remarked BPM head Awande Dibidi. Now, Dibidi anticipates that ‘Say Less’ could become an annual tradition in celebrating Black History Month at St Andrews. “We have this amazing opportunity to use our talents to collaborate and bring our culture to the forefront […] honouring those who paved the way before us, and respecting the responsibility that it’s now our turn to give back.”

‘Say Less’ exemplified the broader transition Lupo’s is attempting to make as a venue within the St Andrews nightlife scene. Providing a chic alternative to the Vic, the Rule, and the recently reopened 601 at the Student Union, Lupo’s has increasingly become the choice venue for events hosted by St Andrews music collectives such as BPM, Fever, and Kairo.

The event symbolised the undergoing evolution of a widening St Andrews nightlife scene. It demonstrated a move towards greater collaboration amongst collectives, the rising popularity of historically black genres of music, the emergence of Lupo’s as a nightlife venue, and a greater focus on community building.

For those enticed by events like ‘Say Less’, there is much to look forward to.  On November 9, Fever, and St Andrews ACS will be collaborating with ACS Aberdeen and Dundee for a ‘Rep Your Flag’ event. In the words of Dibidi, “No matter who you are or where you’ve come from, you’ve always been part of the family.”

Photo: Celia Irving