Turbo @ Digital, Fri 23rd May
Founded in 1998, Turbo Recordings is the result of a collaboration between electro posterboy Tiga and DJ Mark Dillon. The label claims to release only the highest quality electronic music, which, luckily for us, they’re bringing to Digital this May. With the evening kicked off by talent from across the channel, sets from Ivan Smagghe and Brodinski will bring pounding techno to what should be a heart stopping evening. Headlined by none other than Tiga himself, expect cracking tunes and remixes with sleazy fl oor fi ller ‘You Gonna Want Me’ among them. Among countless others, Tiga’s versions of Nelly’s ‘Hot in Herre’ and Corey Hart’s ‘Sunglasses at Night’ moved The Rapture to call him a covers ‘whore’. More of a high class escort, he’s widely known for collaborations with Zyntherius, Richard X and Soulwax. I’d definitely pay him for his services. Digital & Wax:On presents Turbo with Tiga, Ivan Smagghe, Brodinski, People Get Real: Preamptive VJs
Alex Saggers
Deadmau5 @ Shindig Digital 31st May
Loved by club kids and dance music compilation makers alike, Canadian producer Deadmau5 has been cited by many as one to watch for the past year. A pioneer in the field of all things bleepy, wonky, weird and wonderful, the mysterious mouse has also started a record label, Mau5trap recordings, worked on an unlikely side project involving Tommy Lee, and even has a Myspace-based imitator, Deadrat6. Evidently an accomplished individual with a style singular enough to prompt parody, the mouse is innovative, imaginative and pumped with raw talent; a master of progressive, spacey, inspiring house music. If sparse and haunting soundscapes layered across hot, persistent beats sounds appealing then his upcoming Shindig appearance should be an essential part of your end of term celebrations, and as the release of a massive studio album approaches, it is sure to be worth experiencing what the fuss is all about.
Roz Tuplin
Black Magic Vs Ape-X @ The Red Rooms Fri 9th May
Two Newcastle nights, Megadebt (Black Magik) and Ape-x team up for a night jammed full of the latest electro and techno. Due to hit the decks are Bobmo (Institubes), Marc Roberts (Snowbombing), Mat Payne (Black Magic), and Ape-X residents Chris Clarke and JP. Parisian teenage producer and one half of the High Powered Boys (with Surkin), Bobmo is set to blow the roof with some cut up French electro. Check out his album ‘3000% Yes’ available on EdBanger’s sister label ‘Institubes’, the label that’s also home to Surkin, Para1, Midnight Juggernaughts, TTC and Das Glow. Warming up for Bobmo is Marc Roberts who will no doubt add a touch of eclectic electronica to the evening. This guy runs the Snowbombing festival (boarding by day, beats by night), and has played at the likes of festivals Global Gathering and Creamfields. And before Marc is Mat Payne who has played at nights such as Prostitutes and Policemen and Homoelectric. If seeing Bobmo alone isn’t enough, their attempts to pull you in include; extra sound, extra decor and a top secret room 2!
Heather Welsh
Tokyo Police Club @ Other Rooms 11th June
Canada is not particularly well known for its music heritage – Bryan Adams and Celine Dion, anyone? – but over the past few years a great batch of bands have exploded onto the world scene, such as Metric, YSP!WSD! and Land of Talk. Leading the Charge of the Indie Light Brigade are Toronto’s Tokyo Police Club, who have spent the past two years teasing their fans, releasing nothing but singles and EPs, such as their A Lesson in Crime EP, which managed to squeeze eight tracks of blistering neo-punk goodness into just fifteen minutes. Forthcoming LP Elephant Shell sounds fantastic; their live shows are even better, as the band promise to effortlessly tear through their surprisingly large and varied back catalogue of genuine pop gems.
Philip Copley
