Previews

When Numbers throw a party you know about it. Without a word of warning you can find your weekend plans instantly altered to include a night with Rustie, Jackmaster or any other achingly hip artist they have on their roster – such is Numbers reputation in Glasgow, they could no doubt rely on word-of-mouth to sell their parties. Needless to say, their first event of 2012 is shaping up rather nicely, with none other than Text Record's Four Tet taking to the decks alongside Number’s favourite, Spencer. Following on from their New Year blow out with Vitamins, you can expect this to cause the necessary damage…

It’s not often we post something from outside Glasgow, but when we do it’s always worth it. Last year we stumbled across London-based production duo Colo, who after remixing close friends and current Radio 1 favourites Disclosure, soon became a regular feature in our playlists and columns. Infact, we were so impressed with their quite extraordinary sound that we even commissioned them to provide a very special guest mix which you can listen to here.

Engaging, introspective, inspired. Three adjectives which we’re going to throw out there when describing the line up for this weekend’s Likwit Fusion launch party. So often we just accept dancefloor-drivel, happy to bounce about amid mindless mediocrity and cheap, manufactured thrills, but what if the whole experience were to leave you enlightened instead of on a whitie outside the local noodle bar? If you’ve ever digged a little deeper, tested the limits or broadened your horizons then you might just want to head down The Old Hairdressers this coming Sunday.

Synth is walking down a bustling city centre street; it’s an overcast and depressingly damp day in Glasgow and as people shuffle past staring for-longingly at the pavement, we find an instant uplift in the form of a prominently placed Chungo Bungo sticker. The bright colours remind us that this Friday we’ll be bouncing about a heaving dancefloor amid an atmosphere of pure vibes - all of a sudden Monday morning doesn’t seem so bad.

It’s no secret; Glasgow’s thirst for partying is insatiable. Take any weekend of the year and you’ll find yourself spoiled for choice - every single sound, style and speed is catered for amid a community of clued up clubbers. But with every new night comes a comparative risk. Often promoters launch a new event with the intention of building it month on month, however even with the biggest names on the flyer this has proved difficult for a city of Glasgow’s size and as such, clubs have become sporadic, or in the case of 0-10, numbered.

Forget that hollow promise to subject yourself to a month of abstinence over January. You know as well as we do that come the weekend you’ll be heading out to kick-start yet another year of blissful partying. ‘Start as you mean to go on’ is the phrase and when Friday night finally rolls round you’d be forgiven for hitting the dancefloor. Certainly, when Animal Farm show no intention of taking a break then why should we? Celebrating their seventh birthday but a matter of weeks ago with Detroit legend, Rolando, the Techno-loving party collective dive straight into 2012 this weekend with what promises to be something quite special.

Friendly Fires are perhaps one of the few bands who are as highly respected behind the decks as they are on stage. From curating their own arena at this year’s Bestival (featuring a set from Frankie Knuckles no less) to providing one of 2009’s finest Essential Mixes, Friendly Fires have become an embodiment of the dancefloor, the heritage of House, Disco and Euphoria apparent in both the music they record as a band as well as the sound they promote in the club.

There can be few hotter names in club music than Julio Bashmore. One of the leading lights in a new wave of forward-thinking House producers coming out of Bristol and pivotal player in recently formed label, Futureboogie Recordings, Julio (real name Matt) has quite literally turned a genre on its head, creating a sound which is so sonically charged it’s in danger of taking off.

As we descend the dimly lit staircase from the alleyway above, the sound of amplifiers, sound-checks and rumbling bass fill the air. It’s Friday evening, just hours before Pin Up Nights explodes into action. Passing through The Flying Duck’s truly eccentric ‘Kitchen’ before entering the bewildering cavity of the angular mainroom, we find crates of beer, coiled up cables and everything else that would suggest we’ve just walked backstage at your average indie gig. But that’s where the similarities end, forget the skinny jeans, pointed shoes and lego haircuts, if you’re looking for the true meaning of ‘alternative’ then here it is. In the nine years that Pin Up Nights has been running in Glasgow, from the Woodside Social to The Winchester, Beat Club to Flying Duck they have never conformed to trends, always insisting on simply playing ‘good music’, whether that be punk, ska, synth-pop or house. Sure, the odd lazy journalist may refer to it as an ‘indie night’ (see our interview below), but in the case of Pin Ups, that term can at least refer to the word’s proper meaning as apposed to the top40, conglomerate dross it is affiliated with today.

You’d be doing well to avoid Cassy’s name this year. From DC10 to Amnesia, the freshly crowned Queen of House has become one of the most sought after and highly respected DJ’s in the world. And looking at her impressive resume it’s easy to see why. In somewhat of a fairytale but undeniably justified rise to fame, Cassy Britton has soared as one of the hottest names in the industry with a flare behind the decks which many of her peers seemed to have lost.

Is Vitamins the hottest party going in Glasgow right now? Judging by ticket sales for this weekend’s impending throw-down the answer must be a resounding yes. After building the foundation through a number of highly imaginative and all-inclusive parties in 2010, they have now managed to become one of the few nights in Glasgow where word of mouth precedes marketing. Such is the level of trust garnered by the night’s consistent quality that they could no doubt specify a time and place without ever distributing one flyer.

Deadly Rhythm really have their priorities in order. The bass-driven collective are not only booking artists who sit right at the cutting edge of modern club music, but they are also bringing you these artists for free. Following three highly successful parties in which the likes of Martyn, Instra:mental and Koreless all levelled the dancefloor, they now bring you one of Rinse FM’s most highly respected and outright talented DJ’s, Alexander Nut.

We almost feel sorry for the influx of impressionable freshers this week. Arriving in a new city, often far from home and facing the daunting task of making new friends, they must also battle through a wave of android like promoters who insist they have the best night in town. But midst the empty promises, pointless gimmicks and relentless drink promotions there is one freshers party which offers something a little different. Year in, year out Subcity Radio welcomes the new batch of fresh-faced students with the type of event that can steer them away from the misleading appeal of endless bar crawls and sticky dancefloors. The curious will most definitely be rewarded as breaking away from the mainstream can welcome you to Glasgow in an entirely different way.

You might not have noticed through the conjestion of Facebook, but there is a bit of a buzz forming around the launch of Filthy Fridays. Head onto their event page and you’ll find a wave of support from people who have been hankering for a night solely dedicated to Dubstep. As we know, such a concept has been tried and tested in Glasgow  to wavering results - for some people a whole night of sub bass can get a bit monotonous. However, as Dubstep claimed its first number 1 in July, there is no doubt the genre is soaring in popularity. Certainly, there is no reason why such a night shouldn’t be a consistent success and promoter Ross Boyle believes the time is right to give it a shot.

It’s been another big summer for Sunday Circus. Having just celebrated their 4^th birthday with Crosstown Rebel’s star Jozif as well as featuring at both Rockess, Sonar and T In The Park, the nomadic party collective are no doubt feeling excited with not only what they’ve accomplished but what lies ahead. Of course Sunday Circus have always pushed the boat out (quite literally in some cases), taking punters to the less obvious venues around Glasgow and showing them a good time. This Sunday they return to one of the city’s most exciting and promising new venues, Chambre69 where they will showcase the return of DC10 resident Dyed Soundorom.

It’s not over yet. Summer may be slipping through our fingertips at an alarming rate, but there are still a few big nights in Glasgow to be had before the onslaught of Freshers. This Saturday Oh My Days! launches at the increasingly popular La Cheetah basement where promoters Martin & Euan hope to share their passion for the more lively sound of underground bass music. Flying in directly from Paris will be 19 year old Valentino Canzani aka French Fries, a man who has been shaping his sound for only a few years, but is already turning heads.

Its pot luck whether the British summer produces good weather, that’s why some promoters who bravely opt for the al fresco experience can be understandably on edge as their prospective date nears. Thankfully however, as is the case in Glasgow anyway, daytime parties come equipped for all eventualities and with an indoor equivalent to the open air dancefloor almost becoming a legally required alternative, everyone can arrive safe in the knowledge that the party will go on. So, this Saturday, come rain or shine, one of Glasgow’s finest House & Techno factions will take to the Clydeside waterfront for ten hours of beats, grooves and basslines, in a shake-down that is shaping up to be something of an epic.

It’s hard to explain the buzz in Glasgow when Electric Frog throw a party. Your Facebook stream starts filling up with people claiming “I’m been off it for a month now – roll on Electric Frog” or perhaps more commonly, “1 day to go – hope the weather holds out”. The weather of course is completely irrelevant however; Glasgow’s raving-going public would party in a paddy field in monsoon season if there was a decent soundsystem and a steady supply of booze. But Electric Frog isn’t like other festivals, should the rain gods decide to piss all over us, the SWG3 warehouse provides the indoor solution and following on from the massively successful Easter party it seems hype is at an optimum for this Saturday.

No summer is complete in Glasgow without a blazing session at The Courtyard. While it is rather dependent on the weather there is no greater feeling then emerging from that dark bar, donning your shades and launching yourself into a full day of excess. Walking into The Courtyard is like discovering a small slice of raving paradise - time has no bearing and the outside world just doesn’t exist. When the sun is shining, there is quite simply no where better to be on a Saturday afternoon, and who better to bring those feel-good vibes than Glasgow’s own Chungo Bungo?

You’ve got to admire the Scottish spirit, this summer is officially on target to be the one of the wettest, dullest, most dismal seasons since the Icelandic volcano of Laki erupted. The rain has been persistent and those golden days of sunshine are few and far between. Thankfully this doesn’t deter promoters in their efforts to go alfresco and this Sunday is a perfect example as the ever so hip Thunder Disco Club team up with Auchentoshan whisky for an afternoon of grilled food, tasting sessions and delicious sunshine grooves.

The count down is nearly over. We’re sure you don’t need any more reminders of the Art School’s impending closure. Each resident night has pulled out all the stops to make these last few weeks truly memorable. But it’s not over yet, this Friday One More Tune bids farewell to it’s spiritual home as we wipe a tear from our eye and look towards the future. While this is by no means their last event, it is the last at the Art School – and as such Matt and Ralph have organised a line up which really represents the open minded and fun-loving music policy they have promoted over the years.

The biggest night up The Arty ever? Quite possibly. As you may already know, the iconic venue has only a few weeks before it closes its doors for a massive refurbishment project and in the run up to its closure each resident night has been pulling out all the stops to make sure it goes out in a blaze of sub-rumbling glory. However, what is planned for Friday may well force the building into retirement four weeks early as some of the finest name’s across the broad spectrum of bass take hold for a night of epic proportions.

Glasgow has always had an insatiable hunger for live music, from the mainstream monsters of the cities arena’s and stadiums to the back-room beats of the bars and basements, every week we are spoilt by a simply staggering choice of artistry. But it’s away from the Academy’s and Exhibition Centre’s that we perhaps find the greatest talents, the undiscovered gems and ‘next big thing’s’ – it’s here that aspiring bands, singers and songwriters start their journey, and for some, find their destination. It’s thanks to a handful of promoters throughout the city that we’ve always had that alternative option and there is certainly always been a great support network for bands that may just be finding their feet. However, we feel a certain deluge of praise is due to one specific faction of fanatical promoters who have really personified that statement…

It’s known throughout the world as being one of the most hedonistic parties in existence – a trademark for free-spirited ravers and a cosmopolitan celebration of nothing but the finest in quality House & Techno. Recognised the world over for hosting the ultimate Ibiza afterparty at that most famous of party outposts – DC10, Circoloco is perhaps one of the most widely recognised club brands in the world, and this Friday they’re bringing the party to Glasgow.

Since launching in September, Naïve has been responsible for bringing some of the hottest names in Disco, Italo & House to Glasgow. They understand what the average punter needs right now – big names, low prices – and that, they have certainly delivered. From the very start they’ve brought names to Glasgow which may otherwise be overlooked by the mainstream Electro contingent, legends like Fred Falke, DJ Falcon and Alan Braxe, people who are arguably a major influence on the new wave of modern Disco producers.

Glasgow is of course already overflowing with big name DJ’s on a weekly basis. Every weekend the choice can be both immensely encouraging but also fairly frustrating when two of your favourites appear on the same night. As such, you probably won’t be surprised to learn then that Glasgow’s premier electronic music festival, Electric Frog has an aftershow line up which will either have you darting between venues or pledging your allegiance to your favourite DJ for the night.

We don't want to speculate on what the E stands for but considering that 90's inspired rave crew AGT are headlining the launch of Die Late this Friday we can assume the party will most definitely be free-spirited. Everyone's seen the footage of sweaty ravers dancing to Orbital in an over sized jumper and ridiculous dreadlocks - Acid House and Jungle defined the early 90's, laying the foundation for dance music as we know it today. And as we know, Rave as a sound, lifestyle and concept is well and truly back.

It’s been hard to ignore the rise of Thunder Disco Club over the past two years. Since launching at the now defunct Lite Club they’ve added a much needed sex appeal to Glasgow clubbing which was perhaps somewhat lost in the relentless rain, projectile whitie and sporadic street brawling every weekend. From the very first party way back in June 2009 when they announced themselves in a blur of Italo-Funk and HI-NRG Disco they’ve managed to create an irresistible buzz which people come back for again and again. With Thunder Disco Club you’re not just getting another Friday night Electro party or half-assed promise of ‘bangin’ beats’ – you’re being introduced to a concept.

They’re perhaps one of the most influential labels in club music today, responsible for some of the hottest party Techno and balls-out Electro ever and it seems just having they’re name emblazoned on your flyer automatically gives you a million plus cool points. In 2011 Turbo really couldn’t be bigger, with such names like Gesaffestein, Clouds and Matt Walsh all flying the flag, Turbo has really become a leading light when it comes to those seeking inspiration and new ideas in modern dance music.

We’ve often felt that live electronic artists get somewhat of a raw deal in Glasgow. Where DJ’s have the luxury of hundreds of club nights to get involved with the live acts are perhaps less frequently considered, and this of course is a crying shame. Thankfully one collective of promoters have been working hard to change all that as they strive to expose only the finest electronic acts Glasgow has to offer.

It's been almost three weeks since Japan was devastated by one of the worst natural disasters in the countries history. And while coverage of the aftermath may be sliding further down the weekly news bulletins it doesn't mean things are getting any better. According to the latest figures the death toll has reached well over 20,000 with thousands more still unaccounted for.

There does come a point in club land when you feel like you've seen it all, resident nights will no longer cut it, that promise of the 'finest dancefloor bangers' makes you yawn and you've had it up to HERE with the weekly avalanche of endless Facebook invites that all sound rather similar. It takes something (or someone) truly special to grab our attention now - a debut performance or a new venue is what gets us really excited. So when both these things come at once there is definitely an air of child-like anticipation.