DIRTY MARTINI Brighton Ballroom Weds 1st Dec
A brand new club night is starting next month, a slightly different take on the ubiquitous student club nights around Brighton. Dirty Martini offers a more decadent, glitzy affair, with music ranging from electro to swing and retro classics, as well as the more alternative entertainments such as burlesque dancers and fire eating. If you are looking for a place that not only offers a delightfully sinful name, but also a chance to dress for the occasion and have a unique night out, then look no further. (KS)

CHEW THE FAT Audio Fri 3rd Dec
It seems that the long-established Supercharged has got some competition from the capital for the moniker of Brighton’s best breaks and beats night. Chew The Fat continues its welcome invasion bringing us DJ Zinc, A1 Bassline and Warrior One. The former needs no introduction after producing top tracks in most dance genres and recently creating a completely new one – Crack House – with his latest EP of the same name. Support A1 Bassline has solidified his position as a producer and DJ to watch in the new era of party crunk. (ZC)

RATATAT Coalition Sat 4th Dec
Although we’re sure they are jolly excited about playing Brighton again (theirs is always a fun show, and Brighton crowds are nothing if not up for a bit of fun), you’d have to say that anything is going to be a come down after supporting Daft Punk on tour wouldn’t you? Ratatat make a kind of psyche disco melange – all arpeggiated guitar hooks and irresistible post-kraut grooves. But catchy. God, it’s catchy. (MB)

MATTHEW DEAR Audio Weds 8th Dec
To be honest we most expected to see Matthew Dear turn up in a Brighton club in his techno-based Audion alias, but we’re happy that he’s here to play live from his song-based ‘Black City’ and ‘Asa Breed’ LPs. Although this is an early show, Dear has been getting tough and slutty lately, meaning you should bring your dancing shoes for tracks like the industrial sex of ‘You Put A Smell On Me’ while the off-centre pop of ‘Neighbourhoods’ is sure to bring have the whole room bouncing. There’s a good chance you’ll be so hyped you’ll want to stay for Alix Perez afterwards. (JK)

ALIX PEREZ Audio Wed 8th Dec
For those that like their drum’n’bass deep and minimal Alix Perez brings the noise. Lauded as one of the main leaders of the nu school by ATM magazine, Perez has touted his melodic mixing style all over Europe, and as a DJ that loves to read the crowd and take his audience on a journey every set is catered differently. His Orwellian album ‘1984’ defied genre classification, dipping into hip hop, electro and breaks, so tonight’s a cert for accomplished junglists who like their tunes diverse and engaging. (ZC)

PNAU Concorde 2 Thurs 9th Dec
Their first album was recorded in a bedroom and hastily withdrawn from the shelves due to undeclared and appropriated sampling. Their most recent album gained them worldwide acclaim and a devoted new fan in Elton John. Who knows what will happen next? If you would like to be part of the next chapter, and you like to disco dance on Thursday nights, we recommend you go along to find out. (JMM)

DUBPRESSURE • Life Fri 10th Dec
Continuing its residency at Life, Dubpressure has got a double celebration this month. Not only is its own 5 year anniversary as a forward thinking Brighton club night but it also wants to help all the students jubilate at the end of term. Helping throw essays in the air is Shackleton with his intricate beats and life-size basslines. In support is his Skull Disco partner Appleblim whose otherworldly dubstep is unmistakable and totally enchanting. (ZC)

HOSPITALITY Digital Sat 11th Dec
Hospitality brings the two staples, old and new, of its liquid signings over the past decade. Headlining is the godfather of liquid funk – High Contrast – who defined the early 00s scene with his debut album ‘True Colours’. Then we have the highly-tipped Netsky, whose natural production talent led to a swift signing to Hospital’s label late last year and the amount of quality rollers on his eponymous album has placed him up on a drum’n’bass pedestal as the next big thing. (ZC)

OPEN FIRE • Concorde Sat 11th Dec
For god’s sake, stop thinking about yourself and you family, buying all that pointless crap – do something for charity like, say, going to see some bands and having a great party with the Playground crew. Open Fire is offering up reggae folk from Derriere, trip hop courtesy of A State of Mind, Origami Dinosaur’s gypsy ska and the Laylanas’ playing indie stuff from their new LP. On top there’ll be the usual Playgroup nonsense from the likes of the Ophelia Fancy girls and Charlie Bear?s Teddy Bear Picnic, and all the money goes to the Sussex MS Treatment Centre. (JK)

RESONANCE Life Fri 17th Dec
After putting in some time at Jam and the Jazz Place, Resonance is now hitting the seafront with its confident blend of upfront dance music and full on jungle decor. Tonight sees drum n bass veteran Nookie on the ones and twos along with Kromestar who always brings a little more dub with his step and EL-B whose dark two-step garage classics contrasted with soft vocals have set precedent in the genre for years. (ZC)

AUDIO BULLYS Digital Sun 19th Dec
It’s been a tumultuous year for the Audio Bullys; first the disappointment of having to postpone their UK tour due to Franks’ burst ear drum, then on the up their album ‘Higher Than The Eiffel’ was praised by critics who cited it as a return to form. Most recently the duo hit the electronic festival circuit hard in the field all summer. The last month of 2010 sees their hooligan house heading to Digital, so come help them round off the year on a positive note and a dirty beat. (ZC)

SBTRKT Life Fri Jan 14th
You may have caught a weird, tribal-masked DJ knocking them dead at Digital earlier this year in support of Holy Fuck. Or you may have seen the said same mask behind the decks at FWD>> or Fabric. Such is the wide-ranging appeal of SBTRKT. On the back of releases on Young Turks and Brainmath – and featured spots on Rinse and Tempa Allstars – the shady SBTRKT brings his future garage/crack house to the peerless Aka Aka Roar’s first birthday. The long list of excellent support is headed by a back-to-back set from Braiden and Brackles. (MB)

WORDS BY MATT BARKER, ZAC COLBERT, JAMES KENDALL, JESSICA MARSHALL MCHATTIE, KIRSTY SCHOFIELD