The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club, Bristol
Space-station vending-machine technician and last human being in the universe Craig Charles seems to be in a pretty good way at the moment. After his days on cult comedy series Red Dwarf, his career has had its ups and downs, but he’s ushering in his 50s travelling the UK with these wild, jam-packed retro funk and soul parties. Tonight, LA’s neo-soul godfather Roy Ayers heads up the bill. Also in tow is a less widely known musical veteran who deserves his place in the history books: Mixmaster Morris, AKA Irresistible Force, who previously toured with the Shamen but is now best-known for soothing the highs of 90s rave and popularising ambient music at desert festivals, wonky London clubs and the Radio 1 airwaves alike. If nothing else, it’ll be worth coming to watch the Bristol kids get down to three guys with a combined age of 174.
Motion, Sat
GT
Scavenger, Dublin
In the belly of a club, there’s much to be said for contrast, and the Twisted Pepper’s next pre-weekend offering is a stylistic soundclash. Londoner Scratcha DVA has been known for his abstracted take on the hybrid dancefloor sounds of London’s last decade: weaving house, garage and techno together, and releasing on seminal dubstep oddities label Hyperdub. In distancing himself from the groovy pop licks of funky house today (myopic, despite its infectiousness), his rapid-fire mixing style and swaggering 140BPM selections have seen him tear through the UK recently, and he deserves all the attention he can get. At his side, though, is a very different figure. Lee Bannon is a Louisiana-born, California-raised producer and fan of both OutKast and Goldie. Duly, his beats feel like low-slung southern instrumental rap put through a spiked, junglist wringer; it’s a sound that classic UK label Ninja Tune signed him up for and continue to push with his recent Pattern Of Excel LP.
Twisted Pepper, Thu
LM
King Original, London
Here’s an assemblage of grime’s most high-pressure fonts of energy, likely to remind you that few things are as vital as these MCs when they’re on their game. Newham Generals top the bill, their vocal styles – Footsie’s bleak heft under D Double E’s anxious, spidery nattering – can give even petty scene beefs a sense of majesty. Next up is Cas, grime’s answer to MF Doom, who performs in a creepy skull mask and whose flow is an enjoyably blunt and rusted instrument. Then there’s Big Narstie, fresh from shutting down Glastonbury with Toddla; Flowdan, whose voice can freeze the blood; plus Chronik, P Money & Blacks, and Heartless Crew. Champion and Logan Sama are among the selectors.
Electric Ballroom, NW1, Fri
BB
CDR, London
Alongside FWD» and Theo Parrish, one of the definitive nights at Plastic People was CDR, where aspiring producers could bring works in progress, hear them on a proper system, and gauge the reaction of proper punters. It lives on and thrives at Dance Tunnel, as a place to divine the secrets of production and engineering. This time around, Auntie Flo and Esa, the globally minded pair who draw on African-Cuban swing as well as techno stasis, give a masterclass on their studio and live setups.
Dance Tunnel, E8, Thu
BB
Moving Metals, Manchester
Andy Stott’s last two albums, released through his own Modern Love imprint, have seen much greater reach than the Manchester-based producer ever anticipated. And yet, within a progressive and experimental musical community, his ideals and intricate sound continue to develop in intriguing new directions, often flirting with hardcore as well as more ambient leanings. Stott will be playing live and joined by long-term collaborators Demdike Stare on decks and FX, adding up to an absorbing and cohesive night of music that’s not afraid to get a little gnarly and weird around the edges.
Soup Kitchen, Fri
JT
