UP AGAINST IT • Victory Sat 1st
One for those in the know – they say “Alan, Steph and Leigh Anne play punk soul trash power pop disco party records.” We say if you’re craving disparate souls going mental to ‘Rabbit’ by Chas’n’Dave, ‘Instant Karma’ or ‘I Feel Love’ with no trace of self-consciousness then here’s your Holy Grail. Some trendy London type looking for the Next Big Thing to turn corporate and sell to the masses could do a lot worse than stealing UAI and forcing it overground. (LMM)
SBTRKT Audio Weds 5th
Sometimes musicians who wear masks do so to distract from their sub-standard music. Sometimes they do so for anonymity and it doesn’t make one jot of difference, because their music is so irrepressibly catchy, soulful and innovative that wearing a cow on their heads couldn’t distract you from it. SBTRKT is firmly in the latter camp. Beautiful vocals layer over post-dubstep and UK funky beats, and we recommend getting a ticket well in advance, because this is one of the most exciting shows for ages. (JMM)
DAEDALUS Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar Thurs 6th
Daedalus’ real name is Alfred Darlington, and he suits it: foppish hair, velvet smoking jackets, dandyish demeanour, and all the rest. Growing up in 70s California with twin obsessions of inventors and Welsh mountains has meant this curious child has grown up to be one of the most innovative, original and downright weird producers in the electronic music field, and tonight he’s putting on an intimate show for Brighton fans. If you like your bass music glitchy, intriguing and inspiring, get yourself a ticket. (JMM)
COPPE’ Komedia Fri 7th
Tokyo musician Coppe’ has been self-releasing albums of intricate electronica since the mid 90s, linking up with collaborators from around the globe including Plaid, DJ Vadim and Peanut Butter Wolf. Her current UK tour raises funds for the 2011 Japanese Earthquake & Tsunami Relief Appeal, and its promoters Bit-Phalanx have enlisted Brighton’s Spirit Of Gravity collective to pull together tonight’s bill. An array of familiar SOG friends and guests appear, and one or two ‘very special’ surprises are promised. (SH)
4 HERO Volks Fri 7th
Local boys Originate’s 1st birthday features old school legends and creators of the Reinforced imprint, 4 Hero. For 20 years it’s been the blueprint label for jungle, hardcore and drum’n’bass. But the great thing about this night isn’t just the calibre of the headliners, it’s the way the entire thing encapsulates the rush of genuine friendliness and unity present back in the day, rather than just the music. You’ll leave with the whole dancefloor knowing your name, where you’re from and what you’re on. (LMM)
SUPER DUBPRESSURE • Concorde 2 Fri 7th
For those of you who are new in the city this month, Dubpressure is a Brighton institution; a relentless bass-driven institution dedicated to educating the people of your new hometown in all things dubstep, reggae and dancehall. This lesson’s being broadcast live on Get Darker TV, is rumoured to have a 70k soundsystem rig, and has Emalkay, Coki, N Type and Funtcase leading the classes. For a masterclass in loudness, get a ticket in advance. (JMM)
CAMERA CLUB • The Loft Fri 7th
What’s wrong with the promoters in town – why do you hate The Loft so much? It’s a great little club (when they’ve got enough bartenders on) but there’s hardly even any good nights there now 13 Monsters has finished. Well, Camera Club is going to revive this unloved venue with a night of r’n’b, blog electro and indie/pop (from artists as unconnected as Aaliyah, Designer Drugs and Fleetwood Mac), plus drink promos and a raffle for BOY LONDON clothes. Long X DJs, Fifilicious and Alis Pelleschi will be on the decks. Not bad for £2. (JK)
FREEBASS • Concorde 2 Sat 8th
Freebass is, unsurprisingly, a night of free bass music, perfect at the end of term when those student loans are drying up. Of course, this is a freshers’ special so your loans will be in full force and ripe for the spending. Do so at the Concorde while cutting wobbly shapes on the dancefloor as the Freebass crew spin the best breaks, dubstep, drum’n’bass, jungle, reggae and house. But get there early because, as you’d expect, this night gets very full very fast. (ZC)
HOSPITALITY Digital Sat 8th
This month’s instalment of Hospital Records brings a bill of their newer signings. Camo & Krooked burst onto the scene with their ‘Play It/Hidden Edge/Drop It’ EP on Basswerk in 2008, they were signed to Hospital in December 2010 after Grooverider said they were “one of the biggest talents in drum’n’bass” and in July this year provided a boisterous mix for Annie Nightingale’s Radio 1 show. Joining them is the Belgian producer Netsky who won four trophies at the 2011 Drum’n’Bass Awards including Best International Artist, Best Breakthrough Producer and Best Liquid DJ. Get your tickets quick as it always sells out. (ZC)
MODESELEKTOR Digital Thurs 13th
Yes, you read correctly, German acid-techno-IDM duo Modeselektor are coming to tear holes in Digital’s soundsystem. Having collaborated with pretty much everyone from Thom Yorke to Maximo Park as well as Apparat and Otto von Schirach, Modeselektor are notoriously genre-dismissive, and rejoice in the unpredictable. This rare live show also features a full visual show from Pfadfinderei, meaning the assault on the senses won’t be restricted to just your ears. (JMM)
FWD>>RINSE Concorde 2 Sat 15th
The legendary dubstep night from London comes to rattle the rafters of Concorde 2 again, joining forces with pirate-turned-legit radio station Rinse FM, which has been responsible for broadcasting the future sounds of UK bass music for the last 17 years and helping launch the careers of Katy B and Magnetic Man. Tonight Plastician heads the charge with Zinc, P Money, Youngsta and Ben UFO as the cavalry. There’s going to be a glorious range of tunes, from Plastician’s fusion of dubstep and grime to Zinc’s debaucherous crack house via the classic crate-digging styles of a Ben UFO set. (ZC)
OM UNIT Riki Tik Sat 15th
Defiantly undefinable, Om Unit’s one of a new breed of London producers making beats for which no one’s thought of a genre name yet. Just as well, as it’ll probably be something ridiculous like ‘post-modern bass beat’ or ‘future Star Wars wonk’. Anyway, his minimalist basslines and catchy swagger tunes have earned him a number of high-profile collaborations, and it’ll definitely be worth seeing him make the magic for free. Support comes from one-to-watch Deft, Grinel and the WAT? residents. (JMM)
SKEPTA Concorde 2 Sun 16th
Never failing to surprise us, Skepta followed up his feature interview in the Guardian Guide with the release of his video for ‘All Over the House’. The video mainly consisted of graphic sex scenes between one very engorged dude and porn star Paris Rockxxx, who were doing the dirty deed, you guessed it, all over the house. This could have been an interesting cultural comment on the explicit nature of pop videos in the 21st Century or simply some additional material for his fan’s wank banks. It’s doubtful there will be a live reconstruction of the video at tonight’s gig but catching a performance of ‘Too Many Men’ is top of any grime enthusiast’s list. (ZC)
SUBMOTION ORCHESTRA Coalition Sat 15th
Last seen in Brighton at the-venue-previously-known-as-Jam, Submotion Orchestra wowed the crowd and severely tested our ability to bear a sweat-dripping ceiling. Now back to these shores in a mercifully bigger venue, the Leeds-based seven-piece band are here to promote their debut album, ‘Finest Hour,’ which was released in June. The album’s chilled, haunting symphonies are reworked live into crowd-rousingly raw reggae rhythms. (JMM)
DONAE’O Audio Weds 19th
Donae’o is one of the premier stars of UK funky, and if that doesn’t mean anything to you, imagine Craig David got hold of a drum machine, lost some sleaze and gained some tribal influences. The lyrics aren’t exactly something Morrissey would be proud of, but the beats are dancey house and no one likes a song that tells a story any more, so take heed of Donae’o’s wise words and “sing party hard, and just wild out, yuh.” (JMM)
DJ EZ Audio Weds 26th
Garage has experienced a glorious revival over the last couple of years with labels like Night Slugs and Numbers and artists such as SBTRKT and Mosca putting out grooving 2-step and deep UK funky tracks. Critics have enjoyed coining it as post-dubstep and future garage, so who better to take you on a tour of where it all began than DJ EZ? The Kiss FM DJ has been a stalwart partisan of UK garage since its origins in the late 90s and mixed the ‘Pure Garage’ CDs throughout the noughties so expect an encylopaedic evening from old school UKG to the best of the new breed. (ZC)
AKA AKA ROAR • Life Thurs 27th
Bok Bok is the co-founder of London label Night Slugs, who along with Numbrs and Hessel Audio, are responsible for shaping the sound of recent British bass music. Supporting Bok Bok is Oneman, who’s climbed the ranks solely as a DJ, defying the idea that to do so you need to be producing your own tracks. His sets at Boiler Room and on Rinse FM display a penchant for old school garage, disco and house so tonight’s going to be a sonic love affair full of baby making music. (ZC)
VICE ISSUE LAUNCH Green Door Store Fri 28th
London quintet Theme Park, fronted by twins Marcus and Miles, have enjoyed stacks of momentum on the blogs in 2011. With Bloc Party’s management also now on board, the industry machine is in full swing as they arrive in Brighton for October’s Vice party. Lengthy A&R queues were seen at their debut show in September to catch their excellent brand of impossibly catchy, alternative pop. Fans of Metronomy or Talking Heads will find their blend of percussive grooves and addictive guitar hooks utterly irresistible. (TR)
PUMP UP THE JAM • Coalition Sat 29th
Older SOURCE readers will remember how pleasing it was when the 70s revival turned into an 80s revival and we imagine the new breed of clubbers are feeling the same pleasure right now. Out with Wham! and in with Snap, Prodigy and Livin’ Joy. Who better to usher in this new era – just in time for 8,000 18-year-olds to rock up with their loans – than Tomb Crew, who have been tearing up clubs from London to New York with this debauched fun for the last couple of years. You want more? Room 2 is hosted by DJ Outbreak playing a 90s jungle and garage set. Happy Halloween. (JK)
STANTON WARRIORS Digital Sat 29th
When one of the biggest names in breaks collaborates with a ghetto bass pioneer like Hervé, you know the result is going to be special, and last year’s ‘Bring You Down’ was just that. Since then the guys have released new studio album ‘The Warriors’, which includes the booty-bouncing beats of opening track ‘Get Up’ and the raggastep energy blast of ‘Turn Me Up Some’ – Zane Lowe’s “hottest record in the world” back in December. We imagine tonight will be full of big breakdowns and pulverising basslines, all with the Stanton signature. (ZC)
WRETCH 32 Concorde 2 Sat 29th
With three top 10 singles this year already it’s a good time to see Wretch 32 in a venue as small as the Concorde. The former grime MC made his move into mainstream music a few years ago but the release of ‘Black & White’ and subsequent singles ‘Traktor’, ‘Unorthodox’ and ‘Don’t Go’ has propelled him to international acclaim. As you’d expect from a singer with his roots in grime, Wretch 32 is an energetic performer and certainly worth a watch. (CC)
WORDS BY CRAIG CHARLEY, ZAC COLBERT, STUART HUGGET, JAMES KENDALL, JESSICA MARSHALL MCHATTIE, LISA MARIE MUNDY, THE RECOMMENDER