Winter carnivals, London
Two events this week close their eyes to the slate clouds, freezing drizzle and decidedly untropical figure of St Nicholas, and imagine quaffing a rum’n’ginger under an imposing Kingston soundsystem. Toddla T goes to Camden to host a fantastic lineup of dancehall and soca: Stylo G headlines, with production duo Jus Now in support alongside Cadenza, the Heatwave, Jamz Supernova and more. The night’s curveball is garage great Wookie, while Toddla himself provides scattergun sirens and general duttiness. Over in Brixton, UK dancehall mainstay Robbo Ranx tops a bill also featuring production duo Star.One, whose style of diamante-encrusted trap, grime and UK bass is being chattered about for 2016; Kings Hi-Fi, DJ Illness, Leo Samson of Reggae Roast and Murkage Dave of Mike Skinner’s Tonga night are among other selectors. Jerk turkey, anyone?
KOKO, NW1, Sat; The Prince Of Wales, SW9, Sat
BB
Sense, Dublin
After studying for a degree in fine art, and then starting one in physics and systematic music science, Helena Hauff became bored by the monotony of academia and quit in order to produce and DJ full-time. She has followed a steady upward trajectory ever since: her most recent releases include a cassette on Handmade Birds; a split with Andreas Gehm on Solar One Music; and a debut full-length, Discreet Desires, on Actress’s Werkdiscs this year. Additionally holding a long-term residency at the famed Golden Pudel club in Hamburg, she is arguably one of the most formidable DJs going; her sets, which keep to recurrent themes but never succumb to tiresome repetition, are just as likely to include a track by Nico or Belgian noise group Club Moral as they are a classic Drexciya 12-inch. Catch her here alongside Dublin’s own Sunil Sharpe, who is known – to pick just one triple accolade – for releasing a thunderous EP on Works The Long Nights, hosting a regular slot on RTE 2FM, and playing an excellently bracing Boiler Room set last year.
Button Factory, Sat
SC
Leftfield, Manchester
Despite their impact on UK dance over the past 20 years, Leftfield have only recently chalked up their third LP, Alternative Light Source. With a long-established reputation for festival-friendly live spectacle, they return to the stage with new material expertly spliced by anthemic cuts from album number one, Leftism. Proving that their sound remains vital in 2015, they’re joined by the likes of George Fitzgerald, Hodge and Paranoid London. Justin Robertson and Adrian Sherwood will also be in attendance to instil the spirit of acid house. And while you can expect an older if no less wise crowd at this student favourite venue, the Warehouse Project nonetheless continues to dodge nostalgia.
The Warehouse Project, Sat
JT
Playedoh Records Christmas Party, Dunstable
Headlining here is one of the more interesting Scottish DJs to emerge in the last year. As the son of Sub Club resident Harri, Jasper James grew up in the centre of Glasgow’s verdant techno scene. His sound is house, and owes much in spirit to the ecstatic emotion of the early 90s, or even the unbridled creativity of early 80s punk-funk. With a great release out on Optimo Trax, and residencies at Rinse FM and Brixton’s Phonox, he’s a must-see, at this night hosted by Dunstable’s best (and perhaps only) dance label of note.
Unique Club, Fri
CJ
Grandmaster Flash, London
At once a hoary nostalgia fest and a trip through some of the greatest jams ever, this Grandmaster Flash appearance has “inappropriately sweaty office party” splashed all over it. In the mid 70s, by chopping up breaks on the fly, Flash discovered the potential for eclectic collage in DJing; his development of scratching meanwhile helped launch a thousand masturbatory DMC championships. Expect hip-hop, funk and old-school electro, plus contemporary tunes and a few (justified) self-congratulatory shoutouts.
Electric Brixton, SW2, Fri
BB
