Hi folks, how was your weekend? Mine was pretty special...again. There seems to be a great abundance of amazing musical event taking place this spring and the rest of this month looks set to keep on rolling with with top drawer enetertainment.
My weekend started with a short trip over to Edinburgh on friday afternoon to catch up with some of my east-sider friends. Most of my time there was spent in the comfortable surroundings of The Newsroom on Leith Street, a great wee bar which is undergoing a bit of a transformation at the minute. Its always been a really nice space but until fairly recently the rather dire music policy it had, seemed to attract a fairly rubbish crowd of neds and wannabe gangsters. Since the new management team of Harry Bennet and Paul Cunningham took over though, its managed to shake off that tarnished reputation and is steadily growing more and more poular as a place for a slightly older (25+) clientele to hang out for post work beverages and unwind to some soulful sounds mixed up live by some of the city's best loved djs such as Trade Union's Beefy, Ultragroove's Gareth Sommerville and Heavy Gossip resident Craig Smith.
On Friday evening the ever fabulous Isla Blige was on duty in the booth, dropping some classic funk, soul and disco joints, causing no end of beaming smiles and some weird shape throwing antics from at least one still-suited office worker. And after 4 or 5 tasty Mojito's it became increasingly difficult to stop myself singing along as some of my all time fave tunes rocked out the bars soundsystem.
On Satururday afternoon, Solid Gold set up camp on Woodland's Road here in Glasgow for the first of our Saturday Safari Jams at The Halt 2. Dribbler, Anton and myself spun some tasty house, deep techno and proper disco while the sun beamed straight into the bar. By the time we were wrapping up, a nice we crowd of punters had gathered for some pre club Bloody Marys and banter and they all seemed to be digging the music. After a taxi home and a bite to eat I headed back into town again to one of my absolute favourite nights in the city.
Melting Pot was pretty incredible once again, resident dj and audio boffin Andrew Pirrie had tweaked even more magic out of the already very impressive soundsystem resulting in an audio clarity you'd be very hard pushed to equal in any club in the world. His warm up set was up to his usual very high standard as well dropping classic disco, funk and a slight curveball in the shape of Paperclip People's anthem "Throw" which really got the crowd fired up. By the time special guest, Beats In Space's Tim Sweeney stepped up to the decks the buzz on the dance floor was already reaching fever pitch. Sweeney dropped back into disco more for a few tracks including Dennis Parker's "Like An Eagle" before sweetly changing tack into a deep and brooding house set which sounded incredible from anywhere in the room.
By Sunday my energy levels were starting to wither slightly due to a cold i've been trying to shake off all week. But there was still Million Dollar Disco to check out, at a venue i've never been to before. The Big Joint is an intimate little bar and clubbing space with about 100 capacity. Its located in the middle of an industrial estate on the north west edge of the city in a district called Scotstoun. From the outside it's pretty hard to even notice its existence at all as it just looks like all the other warehouses round about it. Inside however it feels like something from a Star Wars film set, like a spaceport tavern frequented by intergalactic smugglers. Above one end of the bar there's even a sculpture of a skull coming out of the wall kind of like the sleeve art on The Prodigy's Music For The Jilted Generation album, it reminded me of Han Solo frozen on the wall as Jabba's prisoner.
The crowd already gathered inside were buzzing though, in anticipation of 2 of the best Disco Jockeys on the planet going head to head in this tiny venue. As we made our way through to the blacked out cube which served as the main room, the sounds of Al Kent's warm up beats were already pounding from The Big Joints impressive rig. Tracks like Mystic Merlin's "Just Can't Give You Up" and Harold Melvin And the Blue Notes's "The Love I Lost" had never sounded so good to my ears. The crowd which was largely made up of old soul boys and Djs such as Craig Smith, Andrew Pirrie, Hobbes and Eric Da Viking from Trouble, Ross Hutchison and Ricky Reid, all there to show there appreciation and pay there respects to Al Kent and special guest Rahaan who took the roof clean off with an amazing set of rare and exclusive, soul drenched disco edits. Three o'clock came round all too soon for everybody inside but every one of us felt nothing short of privaleged to have been a part of such an amazing night.
This weekend looks set to be another cracker with lots of great nights on both here in Glasgow and over on the east coast too. Are you ready to take a look at the highlights? Ok then, lets get stuck in.
@ The Flying Duck, 142 Renfield Street,
Glasgow
Slo-Mo returns for its second event at The Flying Duck this week, and this will be our first guest night. For your listening and dancing pleasure, myself, Charlie, Stuart and Rob will be joined by two of the awesome Solar Disco's residents. Craig Moogroove and Kev Stevens will be dropping in with their record boxes full to bursting with some of the freshest nu-disco and deep, soulful house music.
If you've been following this blog for a while you'll know how much i rate their Solar Disco night and how much i've been looking forward to this event. Craig and Kev are both very much in demand DJs around Glasgow and beyond and they're both usually busy with gigs every weekend. The party starts at 11pm and we're open till 3am. Entry's only £3 and there will be the usuall excellent drinks promos on to keep you lubricated. I hope i'll see some of you there.
FRIDAY 7th MAY 2010
6th Birthday Party
@The Reading Rooms, Black's Croft, Dundee
Kicking off in Dundee on Friday night, the Headway crew are celebrating a milestone event this month as they reach their sixth birthday. To help them mark the occasion they've booked one of the world leading techno innovators. Flying in from The D to the Dee will be none other than Carl Craig, a man widely regarded as one of the most important and influential producers on the face of the earth.
As part of Detroit's second wave of techno pioneers following in the footsteps of the genre's original holy trinity of Saunderson, Atkins and May, Carl Craig has been at the absolute forefront of the techno scene since the mid 90's. His seemingly countless back catalogue of original productions released under various moikers including Innerzone Orchestra, Paperclip People, BFC, Psyche, 69, C2C4, Tres Demented, and Urban Culture includes some of electronic dance music's most ground breaking anthems such as "Throw" or "Bug In The Bassbin". His equally impressive list of remixes for other artists also features some of the most well known underground tacks ever produced Theo Parrish's Falling up being one such example.
He's an incredibly talented DJ as well but primarily Carl Craig is a musician. Many people refer to him as the Miles Davis or John Coltrane of electronically produced dance music, indeed he often fuses elements of jazz and soul into his productions. He doesn't make hit records in the popular music, here-today-gone-tomorrow sense. Carl's productions are most usually timeless pieces of music that touch the very soul. They're records that only improve with age and with every listen. You can pick one of his records from '94 or '95 and play it today to a dancefloor filled with 18-24 year olds who've probably never heard it before and the reaction will be exactly the same now as it was back at the time it was originally released. His understanding of musical theory and his passion for embracing new technology, mixed with his unrivalled natural talent make him one of the most important musicians of the 21st century and indeed one of the most in demand Djs on the planet. In the past 12 months he has headlined at many of the world biggest music festivals and clubbing venues including Sonar Festival in Barcelona, I Love Techno in Belgium, Nuits Sonores Festival in France, Amsterdam Dance Event, Glade Festival, Get Loaded In The Park, Bloc Weekend, Pressure's 11th Birthday at The Arches, The Sub Club, Fabric, Berghain/Panorama Bar in Berlin, Rex Club in Paris, Air in Tokyo, Space in Ibiza and many more.
For this event the Headway boys are beefing up the Reading Rooms's house system with some extra Function One subs to give some serious bottom end and an extra special warmth to the sound.
The Reading Rooms is quite an intimate venue at only 300 capacity and Carl will be playing an exclusive 3hour set so this will be a very special occasion indeed. Doors open 9.30pm-2.30am. Advance tickets on sale now from Grouchos for only £12. Also available online from Club Tickets and Resident Advisor
@The Caves, Niddry Street South,
Edinburgh.
Back down in Edinburgh, Jackhammer plays host to Glasgow's most prominent techno dons this Friday with another party at one of my favourite capital venues, The Caves.
Stuart McMillan and Orde Meikle have been Scotlands most prolific techno ambassadors for the best part of 20 years. Although their hectic djing schedule regularly takes them to the four corners of the world they're always keen to keep their feet firmly in their native Glasgow. Their regular parties here, Pressure at The Arches and Return To Mono at The Sub Club, regularly feature some of the biggest names in todays electronic music world such as Richie Hawtin, Sven Vath, Felix Da Housecat, Joris Voorn, and Green Velvet.
The vast majority of these artists will tell you that Glasgow regularly features as one of their favourite places to play in the world. That is also partially down to Slam, who's tireless work promoting and pushing the local scene here, be it through their own parties or via Soma Records which they co-run with business partner and manager Dave Clarke, or via their longstanding residency at Scotlands largest music festival where they've hosted their own 15,000 capacity tent for the past 10 years.
They're well respected producers in their own right too with anthemic tracks like Dark Forces, Azure and their seminal 1995 hit Positive Education which first brought them to the attention of the worlds techno and house music fans.To date they've released 4 studion albums plus a pile of top class eps and remixes. They have some of the most dedicated fans of any recording artists in the world. This will be another awesome night for Jackhammer and its promoter Connor McLarnon.
Dj support will come from Stepback Djs Wolfjazz and Keyte and also Gee Dubs. Doors open 11pm-3am and entry cost £8/6concessions.
@ The Flying Duck, 142 Renfield Street,
Glasgow
Back here in the west Depthcharge have joined forces with another of my favourite nights, Wedge, for a double whammy of electronic funk and deep house. Joining Jaya and Frazer devine in the main room this month will be Mylo's touring guitarist/keyboardist Williams. Hailing from the Isle Of Skye William Threlfall has been involved in making music for about 7 years now. As a friend of Myles "Mylo" MacInnes he assisted in the creation of the seminal electro pop album Destroy Rock n Roll. The Album was a huge success and led to tours around the world. Ona more personal level Williams is regarded as a real talent in his own right. He realeased a 9 track LP on Glasgow Underground label back in 2003 which became something of a cult underground hit due to its bleepy Roykssop-esque melodies until the label ran into financial difficulties soon after.
Since then he's released a string of quality eps on Germany's Get Physical Label, including "Picadilly Circuits/The Arrival" which gained huge support from MANDY and Richie Hawtin amongst others. He now has his very own Love Triangle Recordings which is always looking to put out music of a slightly alternative nature.
The Bar area will open as a second room this month with the Wedge boys hosting it. Wedge has been one of my favourite parties here in Glasgow, booking guests like Fudge Fingas, Linkwood and Trus'me who all played sell out shows at The Hetherington Research Club. This looks sure to be an exciting new development to both clubs as since the Hetherington went into receivership Wedge has been without a venue.
Doors open 11pm-3am and entry is just £5before midnight or £7 after
SATURDAY 8th MAY 2010
Solid Gold presents...
Saturday Safari Afternoons
@The Halt 2, 160 Woodlands Road Glasgow
If you happen to be up the west end on Saturday afternoon, or you're still up from friday night and just looking for a cool place to hang out and listen to some great music then fire along to The Halt 2 on Woodlands Road where Dribbler Anton , myself and some mystery guests will be soothing hangovers and aurally massaging you with blissfull chill out, deep melodic house and techno, a smatttering of disco and a dash of sun-drenched reggae vibes. The bar staff will be knocking out some of the tastiest Bloody Mary's in the city all afternoon too so there will be no better hair of the dog treatment anywhere else.
Solar Disco
@ The Brunswick
My favourite montly fix of nu-disco, midtempo house and deep boogie is back at the Brunny this Saturday as Craig Moogroove, Paul Maelstrom and Kev Stevens bring some of those beautifully fresh flavours thy're famous for. Last month's free party was awesome so been really lookin forward to this one all month. Entry is free of charge for this one as well so no excuses folks. If you like a bit of Tensnake, 6th Borough Project, Greg Wilson and some the Solar Disco record label's own signings then pop in and check it out. Party starts upstairs in the main bar around 9pm and finishes downstairs about 2am.
Dance! Dance! Dance!
@ Mamasan, Bath Street, Glasgow.
@ Sneaky Pete's, Cowgate Edinburgh
Auld Reekie's noisiest bass merchants Stepback are back this week with another guest from the UK's techno elite. This month Jim Masters who runs the hugely popular High-Tek Soul parties at London's Ministry of Sound will be joining them on the decks in what will no doubt be another roadblock event for the club.
During his illustrious 20 year career as a dj and producer Jim has held down a 7 year residency alongside Carl Cox at their night Base, one of the most important techno nights on the planet during the 90s, he also helped establish Ministry Of Sound, both the club and the record label as brand leaders on a global scale. His own Open label put out Carl Craig's Paperclip People track "Throw" one of the bigest and best loved house tracks ever produced. His Drum Club project was a pivotal factor in the whole evolution of the UK dance scene and was the first place that acts like The Chemical Brothers, Underworld and Leftfield got the chance to play alongside the likes of Sven Vath, Danny Tenaglia and DJ Sneak. He's one of the single most important people in the entire history of UK club culture and the Stepback camp are thrilled to have him join them in such an intimate club.
Again i must stress that Sneaky Pete's only has a cpacity of around 100 and this will be a very busy night indeed so get down early to avoid huge dissapointment. Entry is free before midnight too or £5 after.
Bang Bang Club
& General Erection Section
@ The Electric Circus, Market Street, Edinburgh
Saturday in Edinburgh sees The Bang Bang Club unpacking its trunks and saying hello again to The Circus.
Residents The Baron and The Regent will be serving up their usual tasty, eclectic, fast paced mash of sleazy swamp funk, rockabilly, indie and alternative and throwing some curveball dancier numbers as well.
Meanwhile in the second room Jetboy will be doing his thang with cinematic weirdness with extra high-drama underground freak sounds... a typical playlist includes Vangelis, Portishead, Bowie, Sonic Youth, Gil Scott Heron.... heavy downbeat eclectic goodness!
Video art will be supplied by the honourable Lord Awesome, a serious force to be reckoned with in the edinburgh clubscene at the moment.
Now that Optimo has finished The Bang Bang club is striving to claim the title of most musically diverse clubnight in Scotland and among those luck Edinbuggers who know that title is already theirs.
Doors 11pm-3am Entry is £6/5
F.C.P Announcement
Forever Cookin Presents...
Red Rack'em (Hot Coins/Smugglers Inn/Tirk/Home Taping)
and Billy Woods (Supermax)
Danny Berman (aka Red Rack’em, aka Hot Coins, aka Marlinspike) is a man on a mission. Since Gilles Peterson invited him to play at his Worldwide Awards party last year, broadcasting his set live on BBC Radio 1, Danny’s rise through the ranks to the UK underground’s elite has been nothing short of meteoric. With DJ sets at the UK’s best loved music festivals, Glastonbury, Bestival and The Big Chill he proved his worth to the masses blending hip-hop, funk, disco, two-step, house, techno, jazz and electro into an energetic frenzied vibe which has gained him fans such as Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank, Greg Wilson and Jazzanova amongst others.
His skills on the decks however are only half the story. Danny is also a very talented producer with ridiculously eclectic tastes in music styles and forms. Under his Red Rack’em moniker he produces some extraordinary deep house and techno grooves, He also makes some stunning nu-disco and electro tracks as well as creating some of the finest re-edits of last year under his Hot Coins guise. As Marlinspike he seamlessly blends the deep techno, sci-fi sounds of Detroit with the UK’s very own two-step garage beats.
In the past 12 months he’s released tracks on labels as diverse as Tirk, Untracked, Deep Freeze and the hotly tipped Home Taping Is Killing Music label. He has just released 2 new singles which are both getting huge respect. 'In Love Again' which has just dropped on the Untracked label became Phonica’s record of the week and received Radio 1 airplay from Gilles Peterson.
His 'Nightshift' EP on Undertones (Detroit) is also gaining huge respect and support from key players such as Laurent Garnier, Dixon, Slam, Mark Farina, Ewan Pearson and Osunlade. Danny has another single about to be released on London’s Shift label titled 'Undergound' in June plus his debut on the Home Taping label 'Pressure' is out in July.
In September he will launch his own record label Bergerac with the hotly tipped 'How I Program' EP. All releases on the new label will feature bespoke sleeve art from German artist Silke Eiselt.
http://soundcloud.com/red-rackem
http://www.redrackem.com/
Supporting Danny on our hallowed turntables is Glasgow's nocturnal wizard of the sonics....
A man who casts no shadow...
A man even more mysterious than The Stig, who's natural habitat is usually the darkest, funkiest and downright bohemian club spaces in the city.
Armed with 3 turntables, a world class, custom built soundsystem and a crateful of the sleaziest, sexiest and utterly debauched beats from the world of rock, funk, soul, disco, house, acid techno and everything in between, he patrols the city's more exclusive and and well hidden drinking dens and party spaces.
His extraordinary, somewhat magical power over a dancefloor has to be witnessed first hand if it is to be believed at all. Wild shape throwing, jacking, bumping, grinding, writhing uncontrolably as his beats do their work upon your mind body and very soul, once you succumb to his musical spell only he can decide when to set you free.
He is the resident and host of the legendary Supermax Love Machine
His name is Billy Woods.
Advance tickets for this event will be on sale from this Friday 7th May at Rubadub Record Store and
Tickets-Scotland priced £7+bf. Otherwise it will be £10 on the door. If you're fortunate enough to have my and you'd like to come along please gimme a call and I can sort you out with tickets at£7 without a booking fee.
Ear Candy
This week i've got a couple of mixes from myself for you plus the latest Resident Advisor podcast from Edinburgh's Fudge Fingas, a crakin mix from Billy woods and a fantastic home listening mix Red Rack'em did for the Another Night On Earth Blog from 18 months ago.
Chef De Party - Medium Rare Grooves
This week i've got a couple of mixes from myself for you plus the latest Resident Advisor podcast from Edinburgh's Fudge Fingas, a crakin mix from Billy woods and a fantastic home listening mix Red Rack'em did for the Another Night On Earth Blog from 18 months ago.
Chef De Party - Medium Rare Grooves
Tammi Terrel and Marvin Gaye - California Soul
Isley Brothers - Love The One You're With
Temptations - I Just Can't Get Next To You
John Holt and Dennis Brown - Wild Fire
Ella Fitzgerald - Sunshine Of Your Love
The Rimshots - Dancin Girl
Jamiroquai - Love Foolosophy (Accoustic demo)
The Jacksons - One More Chance
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan - Live In Me
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
Clarence Wheeler and The Enforcers - Right On
Sénor Coconut and his Orchestra - Smoke On The Water
Bran Van 3000 featuring Curtis Mayfield - Astounded
Soul Dhamma featuring Donni - If We Could Fly Away
Pepé Deluxe - Big Muff
MFSB - Summertime
Otis Redding - Mr Pityful
Soul II Soul - Back To Life
Peshay - Theme
Bass-O-Matic - Fascinating Rhythym
Isley Brothers - Love The One You're With
Temptations - I Just Can't Get Next To You
John Holt and Dennis Brown - Wild Fire
Ella Fitzgerald - Sunshine Of Your Love
The Rimshots - Dancin Girl
Jamiroquai - Love Foolosophy (Accoustic demo)
The Jacksons - One More Chance
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan - Live In Me
Stevie Wonder - Superstition
Clarence Wheeler and The Enforcers - Right On
Sénor Coconut and his Orchestra - Smoke On The Water
Bran Van 3000 featuring Curtis Mayfield - Astounded
Soul Dhamma featuring Donni - If We Could Fly Away
Pepé Deluxe - Big Muff
MFSB - Summertime
Otis Redding - Mr Pityful
Soul II Soul - Back To Life
Peshay - Theme
Bass-O-Matic - Fascinating Rhythym
Chef De Party - Sweet Smells From The Disco Kitchen IV
Linkwood - Miles Away (Intrusion Sunrise dub) - Firecracker Recordings
Jazzanova feat Phonte - Look What You're Doing To Me (Motor City Drum Ensemble remix) CDR
Jayson Brothers - Its My Life - MCDE US
Manolo - Lose Myself - Delusions Of Grandeur
Beatdown Sound Machine - More Love (LTJ Xperience dub) - Sleazy Beats
Smal World Disco - More Love - Small World Disco
Martin Luther King - We Shall Overcome (Accapella)
6th Borough Project - The Soul (John Daly Remix) Delusions Of Grandeur
Show B - Komposit - Compost Black Label
Soul Renegades - I Wont Let You Go - 3 Of A Kind
Tiger And Woods - Time - Editainment
Claudia Barry - Sweet Dynamite - CDR
Juan Laya and Jorge Motiel - Underground Variations CDR
Soul Tourist - Lowfield High - Drum Poet Community
Show B - Moory - Compost Black Label
Weldon Irvine - Deja Vu (Intro) - Cool Note
Fudge Fingas - What Works - Firecracker Recordings
First Choice - Love and Happiness (Acapella)
Vakula - You Can Do - Firecracker Recordings
James Mason - Nightgruv - Soul Brother
Chez Damier & Stacey Pullen - Forever Monna - Prescription
Danell Dixon - I Saw the Future (Intro)
Disco Nihilist - Easy - Construction Paper
Andy Stott - Night Jewel - Modern Love
Symbiosis - Oxygen - Alleviated
KiNK - Kiss The Sky - Boe Recordings
John Collins - All We Need - Underground Resistance
Kevin Johnson - Atonement (Version I) - DNH
Skudge - Convolution - Skudge
Linkwood - Nectarine - Prime Numbers
Fudge Fingas - Mass X - Firecracker Recordings
Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Myth Science Solar Arkestra - Springtime Again (Outro) - Art Yard
Fudge Fingas - What Works - Firecracker Recordings
First Choice - Love and Happiness (Acapella)
Vakula - You Can Do - Firecracker Recordings
James Mason - Nightgruv - Soul Brother
Chez Damier & Stacey Pullen - Forever Monna - Prescription
Danell Dixon - I Saw the Future (Intro)
Disco Nihilist - Easy - Construction Paper
Andy Stott - Night Jewel - Modern Love
Symbiosis - Oxygen - Alleviated
KiNK - Kiss The Sky - Boe Recordings
John Collins - All We Need - Underground Resistance
Kevin Johnson - Atonement (Version I) - DNH
Skudge - Convolution - Skudge
Linkwood - Nectarine - Prime Numbers
Fudge Fingas - Mass X - Firecracker Recordings
Sun Ra And His Intergalactic Myth Science Solar Arkestra - Springtime Again (Outro) - Art Yard
Sorry no tracklist.
Robert Shroeder - Invisible Danger
Thomas Leer – Tight As A Drum
Wax Stag – Sson
Hot Coins – Valiant Truth
Lunar Jam – Over and Over
Glaxo Babys – Shake The Foundations
The Jellies – Jive Baby On A Saturday Night
Hot Coins - Leathered
Heinz Becker,Karl-Heinz Stegmann & Isabel Zeumer – Mein Tanzlied
A Certain Ratio – Touch
George Duke - GamesBauhaus - Kick In The Eye
Azmuth – Toqeu De Cuica
Tones On Tail - There's Only 666 - Secret Mixes Fixes Edit
Liassons Dangereuse – Peut Etre… Pas
Wax Stag – Mirror Lantern
Stereo Twins – Slang Thang – Amplified Orchestra Remix
Was Not Was – Mr Friction
The Mole – Alice You Need Him
Pepe Bradock - Mandragore
Well that's it for this week guys. Thanks as always for reading. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to leave them in the comments box below.
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