Club shuts its doors

Jul 10 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A LIVE music venue in Perth has unexpectedly closed its doors to the general public.

Shore Road nightclub The Ice Factory has fallen victim to the harsh economic times after years of providing cutting edge DJ sets and attracting a clutch of high-profile musical ‘live’ acts.

Leading jocks who appeared in recent times included Radio One celebrities Dave Pearce and Judge Jules, as well as Lisa Lashes, Paul Oakenfold and Eric Prydz.

Last Friday, Bedrock Records founder John Digweed performed a rare set at the 1300-capacity venue, which opened in the mid-nineties.

The Ice Factory also hosted a multitude of rock acts over the weekend as part of the inaugural Perth Music Festival.

Other high-profile acts who have performed at the Shore Road venue include The View, Biffy Clyro and The Undertones.

Club boss Craig Fraser yesterday described the closure as “the end of an era.”

He added: “A lot of people will have happy memories of going there over the years.

“We’re passionate about the place but you have to think with your head, not your heart.”