Hi Karate started out in the basement of Blackfriars in the Merchant City in late '96. Neil McMillan, inspired by nights such as the Heavenly Social and Big Kahuna in London, needed a regular outlet for all the new (and old) records he'd been dragging up from down South and spinning at various parties and bars around Glasgow. Very quickly Andrew Divine came on board, adding a deep funk dimension to the sound he himself had been experimenting with at his legendary night Divine (Saturdays at the Art School for eleven years now).

By the time HK moved to a bigger venue at the ill-fated Tin Pan Alley, the line-up had expanded to include Crawford Tait, whose impeccable old-school hip-hop credentials as well as rampant eclecticism provided the final essential ingredients to the night. (Crawford has since moved to London and is now concentrating on his activities with the excellent Cinema (Domino Records). However he occasionally makes it back up for anotherfreaked-out Thursday night set.

The bomb was primed - we just needed the right venue to really kick it off. Along came the Art School, and everything blew up huge. Utterly unique, Hi Karate at the Art School kept prices to a bare minimum running with NO door charge for over a year. The open attitude of the music and the crowd (spontaneous breakdancing battles ... riotous clamouring for encores ... dancing naked in the street, honest!) was a combination that put Hi Karate firmly on the breakbeat map.

Sadly however, all concerned began to tire of the poor sound system, grubby dancefloor and long queues at the bar and it was decided to part company with the Art School and try to forge something even better elsewhere.

Soon two one-off nights took place at the Sub Club (well Planet Pish Sub-stitute venue if we must be accurate), the first featuring the return to HK of Scott Hendy and Andy Smith of Dynamo Productions. An excellent party went off as everyone came down glad the night was back on. Later the club was to play host to legendary DMC World Champion DJ Cash Money on a night that truly rocked. And that was pretty much that that for 2001...

So that brings us up to this year and we start with a new residency at Glasgow's underground party place The Riverside Club. Usually playing host to Ceilidhs at the weekend we pack the band up, move the decks in and rock hard for the last 3 hours of the night in true Karate style. The 'Scout Hall' appeal of the Riverside suits karate down to the ground and with the new 12K rig the sound sure hits the spot! So come on down and catch us one Saturday night - you won't believe your ears!