Nightlife news

WE OUT Avant Trill calls it a night.

Photo: Mireya Cierto

A new Classic
Carter and Solomon relaunch their famed house label.
With a name inspired by a type of Cadbury bar, Classic was intended to be a modest boutique house label but ended up one of the key dance imprints of the late ’90s. This month, Chicago’s Derrick Carter and London’s Luke Solomon put the label back in action as a source for digital downloads at classicmusiccompany.com. The label issues a string of new releases this season, beginning with Rob Mello’s “Critical” remixed by Fabrice Lig, continuing with many Classic rarities and culminating with highlights from the back catalog reworked and remixed by contemporary producers. The label plans a series of parties to celebrate the regeneration featuring label owners spinning with various high-flying guests. It better be setting up some parties in Chicago or there will be hell to pay.

Hello, hello
The megaclub Crescendo reopens.
As we once reported in this column, River North superclub Crescendo came crashing down when one of its investors got in some legal and financial hot water. This month, the club reopens as a member of the Sound-Bar and Y Bar family, which only makes sense, considering it’s on the same block—the north side of Ontario Street between Wells and Franklin Streets—as those two hot spots. Consistently hot party promoters Outfit Events and Tony Macey have signed on to take Wednesday nights and Friday nights, respectively, at the Moroccan-influenced, LED-lit upscale lounge.

So long…
A much-beloved, ultrahip polysexual party bids farewell.
OUTdanced!, Chicago’s favorite Tuesday weekly party—ever—felt like a punk show with off-the-wall DJs—freakiness and street style welcome—and booked groundbreaking, just plain kooky or locally promising acts on Buddha’s tiny live stage. The party has hosted sets by everyone from Uffie to DJ Assault. We saw Crystal Castles there before anyone gave two shits about that act. OUTdanced! might have been the most photographed weekly in the history of Chicago. But with the new owners at Funky Buddha changing the business terms and Avant Trill’s Jillian Valentino itching to move to New York, the two-and-a-half-year-old party will wrap things up on Tuesday 16 with polyester-clad act Leslie and the Lys live. Scott Cramer will stay with the Abbey Pub as publicist and do some publicity for Buddha and one-off events around town.

We’re jealous
New York’s minitek brings in big names.
New York, like Chicago, has been dying for its own big dance-music festival and has seen a few flops. On Saturday 13 and Sunday 14, it’s giving it a go at Coney Island, where artists such as Richie Hawtin, François K and Tiefschwarz are slated to play. Visit minitekfestival.com for info.