3rd Annual Club World Awards

March 29, 2005 10:36 AM
by

Here are Chicago's nominees for the World Club Awards held at the Winter Music Conference in Miami. Below that are all the nominees.

BEST SUPERCLUB This hotly contested category includes Crobar (New York), which helped usher in New York’s new era of super-sized clubbing; three-time nominee Avalon (Boston); the pure theater of Mansion (Miami); and newcomer Sound-Bar (Chicago), where even the Bush twins, Barbara & Jenna, were reportedly spotted dancing to outspokenly anti-Dubya UK DJ Adam Freeland.
 
Sound-Bar, Chicago (BEST SUPERCLUB)
In its long-awaited first year, Sound-Bar forced itself onto the national club radar by using its many weapons in different ways. The two-level, multi-environment club hosted marquis DJs like Paul van Dyk and Paul Oakenfold, who took full advantage of its customized EAW speaker system (by Windmiller Sound), and DJ-booth-focused 4,000-square-foot dancefloor. It expanded its musical focus to include hip-hop, which is featured nightly in the very bling, Slick Design-ed lounges of the lower level, each in a different hard-candy hue.
But perhaps Sound-Bar’s most fitting move of ’04 was the initiation of Fashion Rocks Chicago, a monthly fashion show billed as “the ultimate fusion of catwalk and concert.” The event features hot models in equally hot threads from designers like DKNY and Diesel, sashaying to the music of guest jocks like Dimitri From Paris and Lego. The union of sonic substance and pure style is what this fledgling superclub is all about. www.sound-bar.com
 
 
NIGHTSTALKER AWARD The “People’s Choice” equivalent will be selected by the clubbers through online voting at www.clubworldawards.com. The nominees are all clubber favorites, including Rise (Boston), the city’s original after-hours club, which side-steps a citywide curfew with a members-only policy; Stereo (Montreal), boasting a serious analog sound system and more than a few patrons who have permanently inked the club’s logo onto their bodies; Sullivan Room (New York), home to the infamous Tronic Treatment techno parties; andZentra (Chicago), a gritty alternative to the city’s splashy superclubs.

ZENTRA (NIGHTSTALKER AWARD)
Zentra’s party lineup features a Wednesday night members-only party, 3 Degrees Ultra-Lounge. But if you’re thinking Manolos and Moet, think again. The party boasts “secret” DJs (line-ups aren’t revealed until the night of), house music, no dress code, and open mic events when members can show off their individual talents. It’s personal touches like that, plus a tight focus on the music, that have made the two-level, 10,000-square-foot club a local favorite for all its five years. “Generations change year to year in the nightclub business, so you need a close eye to move with them,” says general manager Robert Panczuk Jr. “We showcase hundreds of guest DJs according to the needs of the present generation of clubbers.”
Proud of its Hindi mystique, Zentra features hookah pipes, belly dancers, body painters, and even the occasional live camel. The main dancefloor boasts sonic power (16 EV 18-inch subwoofers on the dancefloor), and the VIP room houses a fireplace and a giant Buddha. But it’s the party roster – which also accommodates gay (OTDL Sundays), collegiate (Sweet & Lowdown Fridays), and tech-noid (Return Of Psychobitch Saturdays) clubbers – that makes Zentra a boundary-less favorite.
 
 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Betty Kang | Plexi PR – betty@plexipr.com | 718.729.6550
 

The 3rd Annual Club World Awards
2005 Nominees Announced
Nightclub industry award show set for Winter Music Conference 2005
 
 
New York – Club Systems International is pleased to announce the nominees for the Club World Awards 2005. Now in their third year, The Club World Awards recognize innovation in design, technology, sound, and talent across nightclubs in North America. The nominees are a snapshot of what’s hot in the nightclub industry this year, and a barometer for the direction of trends. The best-of-the-best winners in all 17 categories will be announced at The Club World Awards ceremony to be held at a marquis nightclub during Winter Music Conference on March 23rd, in Miami, Florida.
           
“The Club World Awards is Club Systems’ way of recognizing the true heroes of the nightclub industry, and the innovations that keep it constantly evolving year after year.” –Kerri Mason, CLUB SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL editor
 
The Awards – also known as the “Disco Globes” after their mirror ball trophies – honor the hottest, newest, most cutting-edge products; and the DJs, promoters and proprietors who strive to bring the public the ultimate clubbing experiences. The Club World Awards also provide an indication of where the fast-paced, dynamic industry is headed in the coming year.
 
“The Club World Awards are certainly growing in stature and the [North] American nightclub community now has an event to look forward to each year.” –Jim Tremayne, DJ TIMES Editor
 
 
Some highlights about the nominees:
 
BEST SUPERCLUB  This hotly contested category includes Crobar (New York), which helped usher in New York’s new era of super-sized clubbing; three-time nominee Avalon (Boston); the pure theater of Mansion (Miami); and newcomer Sound-Bar (Chicago), where even the Bush twins, Barbara & Jenna, were reportedly spotted dancing to outspokenly anti-Dubya UK DJ Adam Freeland.
 
BEST CLUB  After taking home honors in several categories last year, including Best New Club&Best Sound System; and being chronicled on Spike TV’s reality show “The Club,”  Ice (Las Vegas) may provide some real competition for two-time Best Club winner The Church (Denver). Also in the running is music-driven boutique club Cielo (New York), which hosts Best Resident DJ nominee Francois K’s Deep Space party. Rounding out the top four is SouthBeach in Houston, which features a weekly Latin night anchored by Best Resident DJ nominee DJ Cubanito.
 
BEST NEW CLUB  The nominees include the newly reconstructed Vinyl (Denver), whose roof famously collapsed during a snowstorm in 2003, and newcomers Compound (Atlanta), Fur (WashingtonDC), and Lotus/Karma (Denver).
 
BEST RESIDENT DJ  The biggest reward for any DJ is a dancefloor full of clubbers shaking what God gave them.  This year we have two top contenders from San Francisco, Behrouz at Mixed Elements, which has also been nominated for Best Party; and David Harness  at the long-running Sunday T-Dance at The EndUp. On the opposite coast, Body & Soul stalwart Francois K casts the deep house aural spell with his Monday Deep Space party, which is fast becoming a New York institution. And down South, DJ Cubanito’s weekly Latin night at Café Con Leche in Houston is keeping Texas hot with the spirit of Miami.
 
NIGHTSTALKER AWARDThe “People’s Choice” equivalent will be selected by the clubbers through online voting at www.clubworldawards.com. The nominees are all clubber favorites, including Rise (Boston), the city’s original after-hours club, which side-steps a citywide curfew with a members-only policy; Stereo (Montreal), boasting a serious analog sound system and more than a few patrons who have permanently inked the club’s logo onto their bodies; Sullivan Room (New York), home to the infamous Tronic Treatment techno parties; and Zentra (Chicago), a gritty alternative to the city’s splashy superclubs.
 
The winners of the Club World Awards will be determined by an independent panel of expert judges, and will be announced in March 23, 2005 at TheClub World Awards ceremony held during Winter Music Conference in Miami, Florida. Joining this year’s panel of judges is DJ Times editor Jim Tremayne and world-renowned DJ/producer THE SCUMFROG.
 
The special edition January 2005 issue of Club Systems International will profile all 61 nominees. For a copy of this issue, please contact Betty Kang. For a complimentary industry subscription to CSI, please go to www.clubsystemsinternational.com and fill out the provided form. A full list of nominees is included below.
 
 
Watch for more information about “The Club World Awards Stalk South Beach Sweepstakes.” Club Systems International will be giving away a trip for two to the Winter Music Conference, including airfare, hotel, two badges, and the chance to present the NightStalker Award at the ceremony. This is “the chance for real NightStalkers to take the trip of a lifetime.”
 
 
Club Systems International is the only magazine in North America dedicated to the look, sound, and feel of nightclubs. Launched in July 2000 to instant acclaim, the monthly publication covers the world’s best venues from a technical & aesthetic perspective. Club Systems International and sister publication DJ Times are published by Testa Communications.
 
 
For info about the Club World Awards (interviews with nominees, press photos and WMC Awards show event info), please contact Betty Kang | Plexi PR – betty@plexipr.com | 718.729.6550.
 

CLUB WORLD AWARD NOMINEES 2005
 

Best Superclub
Avalon, Boston
crobar, New York
Mansion, Miami
Sound-Bar, Chicago
 
Best Club
Cielo, New York
Ice, Las Vegas
SouthBeach, Houston
The Church, Denver
 
Best Lounge
BarTwenty3, Nashville
Pearl, Providence
Tabú, Las Vegas
The Abbey, West Hollywood
 
Best New
Compound, Atlanta
Fur, Washington, D.C.
Lotus/Karma, Denver
Vinyl, Denver
 
Best Sound System
Mansion Miami, Phazon & Sound Investment
Quo New York, Advanced Audio Technology
Rain Las Vegas, Infinite Audio
Vinyl Denver, GC Pro & Speed of Sound

Best Lighting System
Blush Burlingame, Rutherford Design
crobar New York, SJ Lighting
Ontourage Chicago, Hospitality Design Group & Windmiller Sound
V20 Long Beach, Akroz Professional
 
Best Video System
crobar New York, Artfag & V Squared Labs
Teatro Las Vegas, Realisations & Tihany Design
V20 Long Beach, Akroz Professional
Vinyl Denver, GC Pro & Speed of Sound
 
Best Interior Design
Blush Burlingame, FUN Display/Mr. Important
crobar New York, BigTime Design & ICRAVE Design Studio
Fluid San Francisco, ODA Design Associates
Lotus Tampa, Slick Design
Mansion Miami, Francois Frossard Design
 
Best Party
Altered State Detroit
Anthem Miami, Michael Tronn Enterprises
Asseteria New York, Rob Promotions
Cubik Washington, D.C., Buzzlife
Mixed Elements San Francisco
 
Best Resident DJ
Behrouz, Pure Behrouz at Ruby Skye
David Harness, Sunday T-Dance at The EndUp
DJ Cubanito, Café Con Leche at SouthBeach
Francois K, Deep Space at Cielo
 
Best DJ Product
Denon DN-S1000
PVDJ (by Peavey) DAI
Rane Serato Scratch Live
Technics SL-DZ1200
 
Best Sound Product or Series
Dynacord Alpha Concept Series
JBL Dance Series
Martin Audio W8LM
Turbosound Aspect Series
 
Best Lighting Product or Series
American DJ Accu 250 Series
Chauvet Legend 250RX
High End Systems DL2
Martin Professional MAC 250 Entour
 
Best Video Product
High End Systems Digital Eye
Korg krossfour
Pioneer DVJ-X1
ScreenPlay Video Jukebox
 
Best Effect Product
CITC Little Blizzard
Jem Hydra
LFI DPSS Rainbow
OmniSistem PyroFog
 
Best LED Product
Color Kinetics iColor Flex SL
Elation Professional Octopod 80
Main Light Soft-LED
Pulsar ChromaFlood200

NightStalker Award
Rise, Boston
Stereo, Montreal
SullivanRoom, New York
Zentra, Chicago