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Bahrain’s Likwid Reaches A New Level Middle East tech-house pioneer Karim Miknas has opened a new club in Bahrain called Level this week, just weeks after closing the island’s best known international DJ venue Likwid. The Lebanon raised DJ/ promoter managed to persuade the likes of Derrick May, Jim Masters and Kevin Saunderson to visit his tiny 100 capacity club during its seven year lifespan though told Skrufff he’s even more optimistic about new club Level’s potential. “Level takes over where Likwid left off; Likwid was the place in which we were instrumental in bringing quality dance music to Bahrain; consistently,” said Karim. “But whereas Likwid was a much more rounded room with different corners, nooks and crannies, Level is very linear in comparison and much more stark and minimalist in style. It’s a proper mini-dance club that holds 150 punters comfortably,” he said. Despite his enthusiasm, Karim said Barhain’s club scene is ‘up and down’ presently, partially as a result of local laws (‘religious types aren't really the problem, more the authorities’ wishy-washy regulation of clubs, bars and anywhere that sells alcohol’) and also because of Tiesto’s recent DJ no-show. Karim DJed at the event (under his stage name Mr K) and saw the stage torn apart first hand when fans realised Tiesto wasn’t turning up (the pop-trance guru later blamed authorities). “Lots of the kids lost faith in all promoters and getting the confidence back is taking a little time,” he said, “But with each decent event since then it's getting better.” Upcoming internationals appearing at Level include Shinedoe, DJ Bone, Onionz and Kenny Hawkes (on New Year’s Eve) in marked contrast to the mainstream superstar DJs currently dominating club line-ups in rival Gulf destination Dubai. “We’re not really in competition with Dubai actually,” Karim corrected, “But we’ll always be cooler because from the beginning the focus here was about the party not the money.” His views partially matched those of Trilogy manager, Jessica Glunz, who told the New York Times in March that Dubai’s club scene is ‘all about status.’
“We’re like the Miami of the Middle East . . . it’s all about showing up in the best car, getting the best table and sharing the biggest bottle of Cristal with the best-looking group of girls,” she said. Article by Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com) Subscribe to Skrufff music newsletter at www.Skrufff.com
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