Y Afterhours

Y after hours: I’ve been here maybe six times by myself. I never go with my friends because they’re mostly lame and can’t handle the atmosphere or the music. After not going for months I went tonight and the bouncer remembered my face and said, ‘you haven’t been here for a while and I never forget a face.” So there’s that– you’re memorable when you think you’re invisible.
The crowd is a bit eclectic: men with their shirts off (gross), women wearing what looks like a mix between panda and wonder woman costumes (horrifying). A guy who has pants completely covered in mini stuff animals (wtf) and a myriad of other characters. Jeans and a t-​shirt are acceptable if you are there to dance and not join the dark horse weirdo parade and you don’t have a pail of candy and a whistle to tweet all night long. People are respectful, the music is usually incredible on the main floor and the upstairs is laid back and chilled out.
There are drugs for sure but it’s completely acceptable to get in your own head space and do whatever the hell you want. Dance like a bird, howl at the moon– anything goes. Fun place with an interesting and not-​everyday-​vibe– stay for two hours and leave at four if you’re sober like me and just want to dance. It’s a positive way to end the night– your ass won’t be able to move tomorrow. That’s a fact.

Admittedly, I was a little skeptical at the recommendation to check this club out, but I’m glad we did. When the bars all close early (2am), maybe you had too many energy drinks or caffeine, and you want to listen to some good DJ music while you burn off the last of your unhealthy supper, this is not a bad place to go for a couple of hours. Also good when you are adjusting time zones and your clock is off (so you’re up when you should be sleeping)…
Whether it’s a bar, pub, dance bar or all night dance club, you are going to encounter some strange individuals anywhere you go.
We stayed mainly on the middle floor at this club. The music was good, the space was open and well lit, bathrooms actually clean, staff very friendly, and overall, it was fun. There are plenty of seats, there is a coat check, and an outdoor space at the back. The temp can get warm, but there is AC and a giant fan.
They are very strict at the entrance, so make sure you don’t have any thing that wouldn’t be let on a plane.
The lower level is darker, and the music is a bit harder so not my cup of tea.
Once in a while if I’m not ready to sleep, I would gladly go back.

When it comes to after hours clubs in Edmonton, Y Afterhours is the only game in town. The City of Edmonton shut down the only other after hours club earlier this year and has indicated that they won’t be issuing any more after hours club licenses, at least for the foreseeable future. In a sense, this is sort of tragic because a vibrant after hours club scene can and should be part of a city’s cosmopolitan makeup. Being the only after hours resource in town, Y Afterhours works hard at complying with regulations set forth by city administration while also offering «techno» heads a late night place to party.
Y Afterhours has three rooms of music and the DJs tend to play pretty hard. If that’s your thing, all the better. But the club could probably benefit from a bit more nuance programming wise. By playing as hard as they do, the clientele tends to skew young and a bit more mid tempo fare might draw in a slightly older demographic — me included (at least more often). Expect to hear tougher house, epic trance and hard dance.
The place is relatively clean and the staff is pretty friendly. I recently attended Y’s Halloween party and the décor was really incredible. They obviously put a lot of effort in, which was nice — a throwback to the well decorated rave parties of yore.
Drugs at Y? Probably, but that’s never going to be something you can completely control no matter how effective your security is. It’s a fact that drugs and electronic dance culture are inexorably linked, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun at Y without them.

Y Afterhours is the party hot spot for the city’s night owls and insomniacs. I’ve been here a couple of times, but wasn’t impressed. It’s overcrowded. There are a lot of drugs going on, and you just never know what might go down. The city’s pill-​poppers would probably argue the vibe is chill, and there’s less likely to be a scene here than in an alcohol establishment or illegal booze can. Anything could happen anywhere, but I didn’t feel totally safe here. The music is techno beats, and I like the idea of having a place where you can stay out all night — just not the drugs, cover, crowds and potential for problems. Anything could happen anywhere, yes, but knowing the link between drugs, gangs, guns and violence, Y take the risk?