COR-OAKE BAR; Club night gets punters to add soundtrack to porn films.

Byline: Marie Sharp

AN X-RATED club is getting boozed-up partygoers to provide the grunt-and-groan soundtrack to porn films. The Pornaoke Lounge was yesterday slated as 'sexist and tawdry' by women's groups.

The club, to be held at venues across Edinburgh, is the first in Scotland offering the mix of pornography and karaoke.

Instead of singing, clubbers take to the stage to yell sex sounds for a silent porn movie being played on a giant screen.

Prizes are awarded for best solo act, best group-sex performers and best porn name.

Organisers Capture Entertainment claim the night offers 'harmless fun' to both sexes.

But protesters say the event, launched at Club Ego in the capital's Picardy Place on Sunday, is 'tawdry beyond belief'.

Residents also fear Pornaoke will sell Edinburgh as Scotland's sex capital.

Catherine Harper of Scottish Women Against Pornography said: 'This club is part of the growth of the sex industry in Edinburgh and that is certainly bad news for women and children who live here.

'There are more sex shops and lap- dancing clubs opening, making large areas of the city unsafe for women and children to walk through.

'The Edinburgh Partnership are spending almost pounds 1million rebranding the capital, but the sex industry are turning it into a sex tourists' capital.

'This is in conflict with the council's policy of tackling women and children's safety.

'I am tired of hearing that clubs like area bit of fun. It is sexist and tawdry beyond belief.'

Perrier Award--winning comic and compere Garth Cruickshanks denies it is obscene.

He said although the films shown are hardcore, the actors' genitalia are blotted out - with images of beavers and cockerels.

He added: 'On the first night we had as many women as men taking part.

'The people taking part enjoyed themselves and understand that it is harmless fun.

'We expect young party people to come along - not the dirty raincoat brigade.'

Capture Entertainment's Mark Taylor said: 'Pornaoke is set up like a comedy night and resembles a 1970s quiz show, with a wah wah guitarist providing the soundtrack, comedians as comperes, a hostess called Lady Scarlet and a host called Mr Gently.'

Rough Guide To Scotland's Donald Reid denied the sex clubs would put off tourists.

He said: 'Tourists visit Edinburgh for the Royal Mile and the Castle. They do not trawl the Grassmarket looking for sex shops.'

CAPTION(S):

WE'RE NO ANGELS: Punters at club take turns to groan into microphone; RISQUE: Compere; Garth Cruickshanks