Clubbing Highlights – January 2012

There are many deep, symbolic interpretations of T.S Elliot’s claim that April is 'the cruelest month,' most of which neglect to factor in that he was a freelance writer with a year’s worth of tax returns to sift through. The cruelest month for the rest of us is this one. Whether you are genuinely skint or just trying to live with a new financial regime or, worst of all, you've decided that dancing, drinking and staying up late is bad for you, then fine. You see how that goes. For the rest of us it’s business as usual. 

i AM have some good news for people who love bad news in the form of a brand new night focusing on soundsystem culture called Bad News at The Arches on Fri 20 Jan. With an emphasis on more than just music there will be graffiti walls along with some the country’s best Street artists in attendance. That’s not to say the music has been overlooked though, as along with a mammoth 26KW soundsystem they have got some serious talent to take full advantage of it with Zed Bias, Girl Unit, Loefah and Phaeleh all on the bill. 

Changes are afoot on Wednesday nights at The Liquid Room as Mansion moves from The Green Room & Below the Stairs to take up a new residency for what will be a new addition to mid weeks. Not only do they have Tim Mason – whose song The Moment has been on rotation with some of the world’s biggest DJs and which led to him being snapped up by Steve Angello’s Size Records – for the launch on Wed 18 Jan, but the night will also premiere the new second room that is hidden below the main dancefloor which will be playing R‘n’B and hop-hip. Book Thursdays off now. Musika will also be hosting their annual resident’s party at The Liquid Room on Sat 14 Jan with the regular team of Derek Martin, Laurie Neil and Kirk Douglas taking an extended voyage through deep house and techno. 

Sub Club and i AM have Drums of Death on Tue 31 Jan unleashing a whole world of dark, distorted electro in its most relentless form. With three EPs released last year including Red Waves and Black Waves, there is a lot of seriously filthy new material ready to be dropped.  Sneaky Pete’s plays host to LuckyMe on Fri 27 Jan who feature the supreme talents of Manc Dubliner Krystal Klear who is right on the money with that sparkling neo new jack swing vibe that makes you feel like you are in an MTV video from the early 90s with the contrast set too high (a good thing). Thrown together with some 80s boogie this is an irony free love-in for all things Teddy Riley. 

Finally, Xplicit has joined up with Leeds' Wax:On and We Own for a the start of a huge new monthly outing and they kick things off on Sat 21 Jan with the huge pairing of Fake Blood's bouncing squelchy basses and Jakwob’s spacious dubstep.