PLAYGROUP FESTIVAL LAUNCH PARTY
Concorde, Sat 3rd
Best news of the month? Probably that Playgroup are hosting a festival this summer. More on that next issue but in the meantime here’s a launch party that will give you some idea of the madness that you can expect. JFB is going to be launching an idea he’s been working on for ages – sampling a five-piece band and working them into beats live before your eyes. There’s also Burulho, a 30 piece Brazilian samba orchestra, and original rocksteady and ska band Shofar Allstars, plus loads of DJs. And – it gets better – the whole launch party is free. (JK)

HOSPITALITY
Digital, Sun 4th
Always bettering themselves, Hospitality hits Digital hard this bank holiday Sunday with a line-up that breaks the mould. Logistics back-to-back with NuTone is the killer pairing topping the bill and like that’s not enough to burst your ear drums, enter Netsky, Camo, Krooked, Utah Jazz and Brookes Brothers. Expect the finest liquid drum’n’bass all night hosted by MCs Wrec, Darrison and AD. It goes without saying these tickets will sell like blazing hot cakes so ravers best book well in advance. (ZC)

CASPA
Digital, Sat 10th
Subprime plays host to one of dubstep’s murkiest producers, Caspa. Hella busy between hosting his bi-monthly night at Fabric and an excessive tour that takes him to the four-corners of middle earth, tonight sees him down in Brighton for a night that’s guaranteed to be BIG. Supporting him is none other than dubstep’s own lion tamer Rod Azlan, as well as the SubSplash DJs, so your dancing feet are going to be properly spoilt for choice. (ZC)

MARTIJN TEN VELDEN
Coalition, Sat 10th
Possibly their biggest guest to date sees Toolroom Knight Martijn Ten Velden visit Prok & Fitch’s excellent Floorplay shindig. He’s the perfect guest, having been instrumental in breaking the big room electro house sound alongside sometime partner Mark Knight. While the latter has become more maximal – with a trance influence coming from his Ibiza residency – Ten Velden has stripped things back a bit. Tracks like last year’s smash ‘Together’ are still big though, and will fit Floorplay perfectly. (JK)

THE REVENGE
Audio, Fri 16th
There’s two things that get us excited with DJ sets – one, a Brighton debut and two, someone who can weave together something from just their own productions. This first trip to Brighton for The Revenge ticks both boxes, with the hotly tipped Ooft DJ bringing a big pile of dubbed out disco and classic house re-edits and productions down from Glasgow to Disco Deviant to join brother in arms Pablo Contraband. (JK)

FRICTION
Audio, Weds 21st
Where else can you see a world class DJ like Friction play for a fiver? Supercharged is still killing Wednesdays after all this time and a booking from one the top d’n’b DJs around is exactly the reason why. Last time we spoke to Friction about his love of Supercharged he was talking excitedly about playing a breaks set but the shift in the club’s music policy over the last year or so means there’s every chance he’s here to tear things up with one of his trademark diverse drum’n’bass sets. (JK)

JOHN DAHLBÄCK
Digital, Sat 24th
Following last month’s James Zabiela night (with it’s rather generous free album for everyone), the second Digital Presents night sees Sweden’s tech house master John Dahlbäck drive into town – he lives in London now. Alongside his cousin Jesper – as Hugg & Pepp – the young producer has really put his country on the economic electro map. His Pickadoll imprint is always worth checking with Zoo Brazil, Sebastien Leger and more appearing, giving you an idea of where he’s coming from. (JK)

LOOKING SOUND
Riki Tik, Sat 24th
Dubstep, breaks and drum’n’bass sound pretty good but they aren’t much to look at – until now with this rapidly emerging collective of sound and visual manipulators. It’s funny where things turn up though, and Riki Tik is playing host to some great local VJs and visual DJs. Rad!oSam is the resident video scratch/mix artist and DJ Maxi Mcgoo from Brighton’s Phonic FM88.8 fm always keeps things interesting. They’ve got some interesting stuff coming up at the Fringe but this is free so there’s no reason not to get a early heads up. (JK)

DON DIABLO
Honey Club, Sat 24th
Holland might be best known for trance, but there’s been a pretty strong electro house scene growing there for a while now. Don Diablo is standing on some serious shoulders to be seen all the way over the North Sea – tracks with Example and Sidney Sampson have been smashing it with rough beats, harsh synths and sirens and hooligan chanting. There’s so much energy in his productions this Seven Sins appearance ought to be intense. (JK)

PRIDE’S 18TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
Bar 211, Sat 24th
Help raise money for Brighton and Hove pride by attending Pride’s Bright And Beautiful party, a night consisting of a champagne reception, DJs, face painting, hypnogician Kiegan Vallelly and drag act Lady James, who will be hosting the night. Tickets are £10 per person which will bust you into the Honey Club for gratis after midnight. Get your tickets on the door or via the Pride website www.brightonpride.org.

UFFIE
Concorde, Sat 24th
Love her or hate her, the electro scene is a much more vibrant place for the existence of potty-mouthed Lolita Uffie. Taking rapping to its most naive and raw edges, her lyrics could make PRJCT MYHM blush. But it’s not all about being “ready to fuck”, with Feadz and Mr Oizo behind her productions, and collaborations with Justice, her tracks can bang as hard as she claims to. She been promising to come to Brighton for years, let’s hope she makes it now she’s got her long delayed album to promote. (JK)

SMASH & GRAB
Concorde, Fri 30th
“The only night devoted to kissing and dancing,” boast the team behind this established Thursday night at Proud Galleries. Is there anything that sounds like more fun? How about throwing in a – very, very, very – special live guest (it’s too secret to say, but beyond exciting), great DJs in the form of The Queens Of Noize playing 80s anthems, 90s hip hop, house and slow dances – all with a love theme. Head onto the Facebook page to see how god damn cool it is, and fun to boot. Don’t miss this one. (JK)

FELIX DA HOUSECAT
Life, Fri 30th
Wow, what a line-up this month for Big Fish Little Fish Cardboard Box. Ed Banger’s Feadz (2nd), quirky house bod Style Of Eye (9th), big room electro funk up-and-comer Mowgli (16th) and the ghetto destruction of local hero High Rankin could all rate as the month’s highlight. Well, that is if Felix Da Housecat didn’t turn up to play a club that he could fill five times over. Yep, this is going to be exciting as Felix always brings the party – mixing up pop and indie classics into brutal electro. The guy pretty much invented electroclash after all. Go and buy a ticket now cos this will sell out early. (JK)

Words by Pia Webley, Zac Colbert and James Kendall