In an attempt to cater for everyone, Keele Student Union nights often leave many disappointed or disinterested. Despite their attempts to offer themed nights, many of these fall short of expectations, leading to complaints from students. However, many, including myself, and particularly those from the Athletics Union, still frequently attend SU nights and have a great time despite these shortcomings.
The last SU event I attended was the KRAP emo night, a nostalgic attempt to bring back the 2000s alternative scene. While I ultimately enjoyed the night, there was one noticeable flaw. The music selection was inconsistent, with long stretches of generic pop-punk hits as well as the occasional oddball that you couldn’t even pretend to match the theme, such as Nickelback’s Rockstar and Tenacious D’s Tribute.
Despite my complaints about the specifics of the genre, there were still many moments of fun, and most attendees took the night in stride. Considering the slightly poor attendance, the dance floor was full and there was a friendly and inviting atmosphere which is hard to compete with.
Speaking to others, a few recurring criticisms emerged: many students complain that SU nights stick to a repetitive, mainstream playlist that lacks variety. While pop and throwback anthems can be fun, their overuse leaves little room for diverse tastes. General lack of interest means that some students simply don’t engage with SU nights, finding them unappealing, predictable, or lacking the excitement of other nightlife options.
With underwhelming guests and overpriced events, SU club nights often feature mediocre guest performers or DJs while charging relatively high entry fees. Many feel they aren’t getting their money’s worth. The DMK is full of talent and, when allowed to play what they want, put on a great evening at a fraction of the cost of a guest DJ—who, when they come, charges around £15 or more just to enter.
Also, more consistent live music would be a great sight to see at the SU, with some of the acts they have brought in being talked about as some of the best nights put on—such as Tion Wayne, Jake Bugg, The Ks, and The Zutons. As well as a plethora of tribute acts, which all receive a good reception if being a little pricy for entry.
With the K2 being indefinitely closed, this leaves out many smaller acts that can’t pull such a crowd, which is definitely a loss for Keele students. Especially with such a vibrant and budding music scene just down the road in Stoke, full of many bands hungry to play in front of anyone who will listen.
Interestingly, those who seem to enjoy SU nights the most are members of the Athletic Union. With a built-in crowd, the AU consists of some of the biggest student-led organizations on campus. The AU nights are often full of these clubs on social nights. AU members often have pre-drinks together and show up in large groups, taking over the venue. For students who aren’t part of the AU, these Wednesday nights can make you feel separated from most people in attendance. Without that shared sense of community, it is easy to feel like an outsider, watching others have fun rather than being fully involved.
While SU club nights do offer enjoyable moments, they clearly don’t appeal to everyone. To make them more engaging, a few changes could be considered: more diverse music nights instead of relying on the same mainstream hits; introduce well-curated alternative, indie, house, electronic, or even cultural music nights.
Ultimately, SU nights have potential and can be a real class night out, but their current format can only benefit specific groups. If they aim to truly cater to all, they need to rethink their approach and offer experiences that feel fresh, exciting, affordable, and genuinely inclusive.
