Published
Tue, Feb 5, 2008, 09:15
- Tokyo’s premier club Spacelab Yellow will close its doors after sixteen years this summer.
Tokyo’s premier club Spacelab Yellow will close its doors after sixteen years this summer.
The reason behind the closure is that the building which houses the split-level basement club has recently been sold and the new owners plan to redevelop the site, club manager Yuko Ichikawa told RA.
The announcement comes as a huge blow to Tokyo electronic fans, who regularly pack the 800-capacity basement club for parties featuring A-list DJs such as Carl Craig, Laurent Garnier and Kerri Chandler. The club is renowned for the quality of its soundsystem, modeled on that of the Paradise Garage, as well as the quality of its bookings.
"I’m still quite shocked about the closing. It will take some time to sink in," says Josh Child, promoter behind the Real Grooves parties, which has brought the likes of Steve Bug, Mathew Jonson and John Tejada to Yellow. “We are losing such an amazing venue and a huge part of the music scene in Tokyo."
Child plans to move Real Grooves across town to Unit in Daikanyama, but whether Yellow will be able to find another location in Tokyo’s regulated and restricted real estate market remains an open question.
“We hope to find another venue, but it will be difficult in Tokyo,” says Ichikawa. “We don't know when we can open a new club.”
In the meantime, Yellow plans a two day final blowout to say goodbye to Nishi Azabu on June 20th and 21st.