Transmission, Manchester
Manchester’s Warehouse Project will soon be celebrating its 10th year of scene-changing, expertly programmed events. But before it returns on a bigger scale than ever later in the year, WHP and a host of other local promoters are filling the calendar with Transmission, a series of nights taking place at the city’s grandiose Albert Hall, a former Methodist meeting place now turning itself into one of the country’s most acclaimed gig venues. Heaven knows what its original owners would make of the who’s who of techno, house and bass that will be in residence throughout the spring. Kicking things off this week is David Rodigan, perhaps the UK’s leading ambassador for dancehall and dub styles. With a rabid and expanding fanbase, he remains a vital figurehead, possessing the ability to whip a crowd into a storm like no other selector of his ilk. He’s joined by fellow veteran DJ Hype, the Streets’ Mike Skinner and Radio 1’s Toddla T.
Albert Hall, Fri
JT
RL Grime, London
Losing out to Ross From Friends in the DJs-with-silly-names-playing-London-this-week stakes, RL Grime gets the most begrudging of chuckles for his moniker. You see, it’s like children’s horror author RL Stine, but with Grime instead of Stine. Even though he doesn’t play grime. Instead, he creates a gloriously kitsch take on trap where pitched-up vox and trance effects gather pace before suddenly hitting a wall of horns. For his album Void he recruited Big Sean, Boys Noize and How To Dress Well, often showcasing a good nose for straightforward rap production. Perhaps he’s too generic to truly break through, but it won’t matter here, as he makes another turnt euphonium erupt with spun sugar.
Village Underground, EC2, Sat
BB
Drank, Dublin
Every city has its favourite sweatbox basement club, but Dublin is in the lucky position of having two. Alongside the long-standing Twisted Pepper, a new underground option has emerged in Pacino’s: a restaurant, bar and venue that local party-starters Drank have quickly made their home. With a focus on the myriad mutations of bass music from around the globe, Drank are set to celebrate the beginning of a new year in sound, and their first birthday, with a trio of badass DJs. Coming from South Africa with his blistering technical display of jungle and footwork DJing, Ricard Entropy of the Elemental Music label is a solid lead for the accompanying local talents, Paul Purcell and Bobofunk. As the head of Dublin-based new grime label Glacial Sound, Purcell’s take on grime instrumentation is a raw re-imagining of the now-classic UK style (Glacial Sound’s Rabit produced for Roll Deep’s MC Riko Dan recently). Bobofunk’s blends of garage, house and UK funky round off a killer lineup.
Pacino’s, Sat
LM
Worldwide Awards, London
You might be inclined to take the piss out of Gilles Peterson’s globe-trotting, bongo-appreciating hepcat shtick, but you don’t really have a leg to stand on – his is a brilliantly cosmopolitan and staunchly dancefloor-driven taste, which he uses here to dole out prizes to overlooked acts. Amid the gongs are live performances, ranging from jazzy hip-hop (Bilal) to Afrobeat (Orlando Julius) and hyped-up dance (Lone). Best of all are UK funk ambassador Fatima and Marshall Allen, still evangelising Sun Ra’s cosmic spirit.
KOKO, NW1, Sat
BB
Howling Owl Records, Bristol
Turning three this year, Howling Owl Records has become a core constituent of the Bristol scene. Releasing everything from drone to psychedelia, its merging of art and music has seen it host nights in graveyard crypts, court rooms and old diving schools. After the sell-out success of last year’s event, they’re back with New Year/New Noise 2. ATP’s latest signees Vision Fortune will be dosing the dance floor with enveloping drone and Killing Sound will provide their merciless soundscapes with brutal precision.
Arnolfini, Sat
SM
