About me: Circo
‘Circo’ bar/restaurant/club represents Liverpool’s Korova Corporation’s return in style to the location where the group made it’s reputation, the historic Albert Dock development, with the launch of it’s largest venue to date, the 17,000 sq foot operation opening it’s doors this October.
Having founded the Likes of the ‘Blue Bar & Grill’, ‘Baby Blue’ and ‘Pan American club’, the group sold it’s Albert Dock estate in 2005, and went on to launch even more spectacular bars and eateries such as ‘Babycream’, ‘Alma de Cuba’ and ‘Korova bar’. Only last month Korova Group opened ‘Geisha’ bar/restaurant in Liverpool city centre, it’s first foray into Asian cuisine, to instant acclaim.
Korova CEO Rob Gutmann is delighted to be working at the world heritage location of the Albert Dock again : “ The Dock feels like our spiritual home. We made our reputation here from 1998 onwards, and it seems right that as the Dock is about to enter a new golden era, with the impact of 2008, the Arena and Liverpool One, it’s only fitting that we save our biggest and brashest venture to date for this location.”
‘Circo’ is a new concept, originated by Rob, and as ever, influenced by his foreign adventures. Gutmann explains : “ We don’t ever plagiarise other operations we see, but I am influenced by the world’s legendary bars or restaurants. It’s our philosophy to keep striving to add to the collection of world greats, and we hope ‘Circo’ will have a chance. Although it won’t resemble it, ‘Circo’ is hugely influenced by a great evening I spent at the ’21 Club’ in Manhattan. It was a timeless and atmospheric place that served simple, great (largely) American comfort food in great style and of a superb quality. It also had that ‘speakeasy’ vibe that I think is effortlessly romantic.”
If some of ‘Circo’s’ food and atmosphere will be reminiscent of New York, then it’s heart and soul belong to another far flung venue, one of Paris’s best kept secrets ‘The Clown Bar’. Rob adds : “ more than anything, ‘Circo’ is an homage to the ‘Clown Bar’, which is a fantastic small bar that sits right next door to the ‘Cirque D’Hiver’ (winter circus) in Paris. It’s an amazing place where the various clowns that have worked at the circus for the past 100 years or so, have come to unwind and drown their sorrows . The walls are adorned with images of past clientele and lend the bar a very surreal quality. We wanted to capture some of it’s pathos, warmth, and yet slightly dark heart, with our theme for ‘Circo’.”
‘Circo’ fills a vast series of spaces in the old Britannia Pavilion warehouse at the Albert Dock. The design promises to be another challenging and quirky effort from Korova Group, and will again witness the group’s trademark marrying of slick modernism with eclectic pieces largely collected by Gutmann on his travels.
The venue will be a ‘multi-purpose’ one in that it will provide a large stylish bar area, split into 2 rooms : one a dark ‘speakeasy’ like space, the other bright, airy and overlooking the Albert Dock quayside. The large luxury ‘steakhouse’ restaurant will also directly overlook water, before literally pulling down curtains to evolve into a sophisticated nightclub room. On the venue’s mezzanine levels will be a series of stylish private spaces for hire. Perfect for the array of VIP after shows parties and launches that will abound when the adjacent Liverpool area opens early next year.
February at Geisha sees us welcome Trus'Me to Geisha, producer of our favourite album of 2007, 'Working Nights'. He is followed a week later by Pirahnahead, straight out of Detroit, and part of the Mahoghani Records crew that also featues Moodyman and Theo Parrish). Do not sleep on these! All for free.
WHAT THE DJ'S SAY ABOUT TRUS'ME's "WORKING NIGHTS"
The most interesting and promising young producer in the country right now” (Gilles Peterson)
“This man can do no wrong” (Benji B)
Wonderful stuff and put together brilliantly ! Thank you ! ( Ashley Beedle )
“Better than KDJ at his best” (Piccadilly Records)
I'm a huge fan of this guy..... Expertly executed reworks which never fail on the floor - 10/10 ( Chris Duckenfield )
Trusme is bad! Deep dirty disco for both soul and house heads. ( Mad Mats, Raw Fusion )
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7th - COSMIC BOOGIE (with Gavin Kendrick) FRIDAY FEBRUARY 8th - EARTH II (with Tane-Chibuku) SATURDAY FEBRAURY 9th - TRACKIN (guest tba) THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14th - COSMIC BOOGIE (with Stu Robinson) FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15th - OUTLAR (with Paul Outlar and Gareth Cheshire) SATURDAY FEBRAURY 16th - TRACKIN (with CJ-Soul Heaven) THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21st - COSMIC BOOGIE (with Greg Wilson) FRIDAY FEBRAURY 22nd -TRUS'ME (Working Nights) SATURDAY FEBRAURY 23rd - TRACKIN' (Salsoul Special) THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28th - COSMIC BOOGIE (with Neil Meekin) FRIDAY FEBRUARY 29th -PIRANAHEAD (MAHOGANI RECORDS, DETROIT)
All 10pm-2am All Free Entry Student discount cards available from venue. Geisha, Myrtle St, Liverpool.
