House music is something that lives in some peoples’ bones, once it gets a hold of you, you can’t let it go.  Someone that house music grabbed hold of and it’s been with him ever since is Scottish DJ, Iain ‘Boney’ Clark.  In 1987 when house music had started causing major waves in the club scene, Boney got his first set of decks and his journey towards becoming a big player in the world of DJing began. Having attended the now legendary Club 9 events in Lanarkshire, Scotland, Boney took inspiration from the one & only Yogi Haughton. Yogi’s selection of Soul, Jazz, Funk, Hip Hop and everything House, convinced Boney that DJing and club promotion was the life for him.

Boney has an eclectic taste in music but with such early influences in listening to and playing along side the likes of Masters At Work, Frankie Knuckles, Tony Humphries, Danny Krivit, Francois K, Joe Claussell, Blaze, Arnold Jarvis and Kenny Bobien, his first love of Soulful House always shines through.  He has been an integral part of the club scene in Scotland. Along with some earlier ventures, he was a founding DJ/promoter along with Ricky Magowan, of the very successful Cru Club (1987). It was the catalyst in starting many a clubbers journey into a lifelong love affair with the rave/dance culture. Some of the biggest events of the era was undoubtedly, ‘Dirtbox’ at Glasgow’s famous Barrowlands, where he joined the bill along with now pioneering artists Slam and Revolution at the Plaza Ballrooms where an unknown Judge Jules played one of his early first sets. Iain ‘Boney’ Clark was the original STREETrave resident after starting the brand with long-terms friends Ricky Magowan (Colours, STREETrave, Back To The Future) & Jim McKay. He has been part of the STREETrave/Colours family for over 23 years and continues to be a driving force behind what makes the events so memorable. You name any DJ from Sasha, Digweed, Graeme Park to Morillo, Morales then Iain ‘Boney’ Clark has shared the bill with them.

It’s been STREETrave that has become the longest standing residency for Boney and throughout his time with the brand he’s played some of Scotland’s most famous events. From memorable parties in venues such as Ayr Pavilion and Prestwick Airport, Coloursfest and Festivals like EH1 and Live at Loch Lomond to a yearly party at the world famous nightclub The Arches, Boney has done it all. His relationship with the brand has also taken him to many super clubs of the world such as Pacha, Privilege/Manumission, Ministry Of Sound and Limelight NY to name a few. Whether he’s playing the opening set, closing set, or sandwiched right in the middle, Iain ‘Boney’ Clark will indulge all.

His involvement in the scene has not only included DJ’ing, but also record label management distribution and journalism. He started up Sugarcube Recordings along with friend and fellow DJ, Kris Keegan in 1996. The label had released 13 singles including releases from Jason Nevins, Smokin Jo, Andy Marshall & Colin Walker. The label was distributed with his full time employer Pinnacle Records, who where not only a distributer but also label as well.
Legendary National dance magazine M8 approached Boney to write their monthly reviews for new releases and these influential features ran for over 2 years. 

Boney has mixed magazine cover-mount CD’s and has guested on various radio shows but after a brief hiatus he’s now rediscovered his thirst for the scene again and after 25yrs and now securing his own radio show on Glasgow based Soul Project Radio, his thirst for the industry ever grows.


A podcast exploring how to bring anthropology to the people, from UCL Anthropology.

"Anthropology demands the open-mindedness with which one must look and listen, record in astonishment, and wonder at that which one would not have been able to guess." - Margaret Mead

Recorded and produced by Laura Haapio-Kirk at UCL Anthropology. Laura is a research assistant on the Why We Post project which examines the consequences of social media for people's lives in 9 communities around the world.

Jane W is following