We are delighted to announce that we have secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a project about the Que Club. Over the next 12 months we’ll be recording oral histories, digitising photographs, flyers, posters and other ephemera associated with the venue. We’ll be holding some Ghost Gigs and creating and curating some pop up exhibitions, events and walks. To get involved contact jez@birminghammusicarchive.com
The Que Club
What do David Bowie, PJ Harvey, Blur, Carl Cox, Daft Punk, David Holmes, Atomic Jam, Flashback and House of God have in common? Answer, The Que Club!
Birmingham Music Archive C.I.C. and Viewfinder have recently been awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to undertake a twelve month music history, heritage and culture project called In The Que.
The In the Que project focuses on the musical history, heritage and culture of the Que Club that was located in Birmingham’s Grade II* Methodist Central Hall from 1989-2017. The building has played host to musical icons such as David Bowie, Blur, PJ Harvey and Suede. But it is arguably better known as the home of the city’s dance and rave culture, home to seminal and legendary club nights such as Atomic Jam, Space Hopper, House of God, Miss Moneypennys and Flashback to name but a few. It was home to the BBC who broadcast shows from there and released a number of famous BBC Essential Mix recordings from DJs such as Carl Cox, Sasha and David Holmes. Daft Punk also recorded their 1997 Alive at the
Que album citing it as their favourite live performance from that years European tour.
As part of the project we will the record memories of people who played and raved at the Que Club and we’ll digitise, archive, share and exhibit the physical materials that document its history; photographs, posters, flyers and moving image recordings. We’ll host some ‘Ghost Gigs’ and are open to suggestions of what else we can do to celebrate the The Que Club.
Get involved!
We are seeking to recruit a number of highly motivated, talented and diverse individuals, with time, energy, and a keen interest in any or all of the following subjects; Birmingham, music, history, heritage and culture (all the better if you are into dance and rave culture!).
There are a number of roles available for volunteers and all roles will include training if needed.
- Researching the history of the Que Club and recording oral histories of dance music culture.
- Designing promotional, marketing and exhibition materials for the project.
- Seeking out materials for the online archive and for physical exhibitions.
- Digitising and uploading research materials across project platforms.
- Producing written materials for the project; oral history summaries, exhibition materials, online content.
- Curating and managing project events and exhibitions
- Managing the BMA online archive and social media accounts, uploading content and building audience engagement
This would be an excellent role for people wishing to gain experience in digital archiving, community archives, web development, arts administration, audience development, music history, heritage and culture, social history, social media strategy and event management or not-for-profit governance who are passionate about Birmingham and/or music and who want to recognise, celebrate, share and tell the world about our incredible but overlooked music heritage.
We are looking for candidates who possess one or more of the following attributes:
- Knowledge of and interest in Birmingham, music, history, heritage and culture.
- Be passionate about telling the stories of the city’s music culture to as many people as possible.
- Experience and ability to work with a broad range of people regardless of ability, ethnicity, gender or sexuality.
- Good spoken, written and communication skills and be computer literate.
- Social media skills.
- Design skills.
- Media skills (audio recording, film, photography, journalism).
- Good administrative skills.
Hours will be a minimum 3 hours per week with some duties able to be done remotely. Responsibilities/tasks will be discussed on an individual basis.
How To Apply
If you would like to apply for any of the volunteer roles then please submit an email of interest to jez@intheque.co.uk or matt@intheque.co.uk using In The Que Volunteer in the subject line.
There Are Currently 3 Comments for this Post
Hi Jez/ Matt,
My name is Rob lynch, I have only just heard about your Que club heritage project.
During the 90s, I was resident DJ for both Atomic Jam and Splosh soundsystem. I also guest DJ for most of the other club nights at the Que club during the 90’s: Atomic Dog; MegaDog; Zube Zuba; Hot Foot; SpaceHopper; Third Eye, Logical Progression; Cream; Music First; ‘All Systems Go’. Even took on the Que club myself in 1996 and promoted a night called ‘Future Funk’ with Jam Jah Man live on stage.
Dare I say, most likely, during the 90’s DJ’d at the Que club more than any other DJ.
I have duplicate copies of flyers probably of all the nights at the Que Club during the 90s. Also couple of Splosh A1 fly-posters. I am currently in the process of digitising loads of live tape recordings of both my Atomic Jam’s Melting Pot rm and Splosh Bottom Bunk room.
For me, in the early 90s, the rise of the super-club arguably gave a platform to ‘Room 2’ music, alternative/ eclectic/ freestyle sounds to the Techno, House, DnB in Rm1. I do remember, in the early days in record shops often being discounted as a DJ very much by other DJs who were playin Techno, House, DnB, but that all changed with the rise of Ninja Tune/ Mo Wax etc the freestyle breakbeat scene of the early 90s.
Sadly, I stopped DJing at the Que club around 2002. Instead I moved to Oxford in 2000 to train as a secondary Philosophy & Ethics teacher and met my fiancée and started a family. Today, I specialise in SEN teaching. Have done couple of festivals since then. Still an avid vinyl collector; maybe this year I might promote myself to DJ again; I turn 50 in August 1st this year!!
Here is a ‘write-up’ of some of the history from my soundcloud page:
Began to DJ in 1990 in Cardiff for a reggae night, playing dub reggae and world music. George if you are out there, please get in touch -amazin girl!
Returned to Walsall in 1992, hooked up with Chu and was initiated into Roguetropaz. Chu did all my artwork and introduced me to Splosh Soundsystem. And thanks also to Meek, the Bottom Bunk was formed bringing eclectic soundz to the underbelly of the boat parties on the River Severn in Worcester.
In the early days we were a soundsystem and used MC’s, percussionists and Cubase technology, introducing ‘live’ eclectic beats to a fragmented 90’s rave culture.
Became resident for Atomic Jam at the Que club Birmingham in 1994, and created the Melting Pot in room two. Played next to many of the biggest names in dance music and was invited to guest DJ for many different nights at the Que club, notably Logical Progression and Third Eye at the Dance Factory. Even took on the Que club myself in 1995, and promoted a night called ‘Freestyle Funk’ wherein ‘Jam Jah Man’ were the headline live act.
In 1995 Chu and myself organised an exhibition at the Custard Factory in Birmingham called ‘Graffiti Bastards’. Chu is a talented artist, and I had links with many record labels, thanks to Harvey at Zzonked and Clean Up Records.
Most proud of having been part of ‘All Systems Go’. Thanks again to Splosh Soundsystem.
If I can be of any help, please let me know.
Rob Lynch
[…] The Que, out in May, is the project of Jez Collins of Birmingham Music Archive and was made with a £42,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, DJ Mag reports. The […]
Without Oscillate making the Que Club popular again in 95(?) I suspect Atomic Jam might never have happened there.They are legends don’t forget them! I seem to remember them bringing Orbital, Autechre and Aphex Twin to Birmingham before most people had even heard of them
https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2017/06/nightclubbing-oscillate
https://www.oscillate.club/