Frogs Are Electric

This Bank Holiday Sunday, something a little different is happening at Yorkhill’s Eastvale Place.

The creative minds behind Liquid Events (The Wee Chill), Numbers and Optimo and Glasgow arts studio/venue, SWG have joined forces to present the Electric Frog Street Carnival.

Taking place over two stages, one situated outside on Yorkhill’s Eastvale Place, adjacent to SWG3, the other in the venue itself; its name’s been inspired by the neighbouring steel galvanizer’s yard, or more precisely the original meaning of the word galvanize; the administration of electric shocks, stemming from 17th century scientist Galvini’s accidental generation of electricity via his induction of twitches in severed frogs legs.

Its eye-catching line-up combines both established, well-respected acts alongside some of the freshest, most exciting names on the current UK scene, brought together by one of Glasgow's leading clubs, Numbers and Optimo Music; the imprint founded by Optimo's JD Twitch and JG Wilkes.

The Numbers hosted stage features two stellar names from Detroit’s techno and house corners; Stacey Pullen and Theo Parrish.

An innovator from the Second Wave of Detroit techno, Pullen grew up under the mentorship of Detroit's Belleville three: Derrick May, Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson. Known for his characteristically atmospheric electronic sound, he’s also one of the world's most in demand DJs, playing weekly across the globe year in, year out.

“Love of the music should be the driving force of any producer, performer or DJ. Everything else stems from that core; that love. With that love, sampling can become a tribute; an expansion on ideas long forgotten, reconstruction, collage. Using the same understanding openly and respectfully can turn DJing into a spiritual participation" So goes the unique, personal philosophy of Motor City house artist, Theo Parrish, giving shape and direction to the distinctive sounds he creates.

Alongside this Detroit based pair will be Chicago’s Rahaan. Growing up he was constantly exposed to his parent’s soul music collection during his childhood. As a teenager he witnessed first hand the emerging house music scene in the city, sneaking in as an under-ager to the now legendary Music Box to hear house music icon Ron Hardy spin. In 1987 he took to the decks himself and began creating his own re-edits, inspired by what he heard Ron do. His love of disco and house music has never died; a passion that has seen him finally break out of Chicago in recent years and notch up gigs all over the world.

Roska grew up immersed in reggae and soul, thanks to his Dad working as Soundman in the '80s and '90s. He began producing music in 1999; initially working on his own take on the UK Garage sound, before his head was turned by house. This led him to create his own interpretation of the style, though he now describes his regular output as a mixture of broken Beat, nu-Jazz, funky and soulful house.

Jackmaster and Spencer should need little introduction to those familiar with the Glasgow clubscene. Both residents of the now well-established and ever-popular, Numbers, the pair also help promote the night .By day, Jackmaster works behind the counter at Rubadub Records and is kept busy releasing music by the likes of Rustie, Hudson Mohawke and Lory D, through his involvement in the genre-defining, Dress 2 Sweat and Wireblock labels, while his fast, furious mixing style and ever changing musical palette has gained him bookings across the UK and internationally.

Spencer also runs the Wireblock label, alongside his brother Neil and Jack and works for independent label, Warp Records. Currently living in London, Spencer travels regularly to Glasgow due to his Numbers involvement and also gets booked as a label DJ for both Warp and Wireblock, taking him to such international destinations as Paris, Barcelona, Milan and Mexico.

The Optimo Music-curated stage has Tim Sweeney of Beats In Space fame, playing alongside his other, DFA partner-in-crime, Tim Goldsworthy.

Sweeney supplies a weekly dose of musical goodness thanks to his genre-sweeping, NYC broadcast internet-radio show, Beats In Space, which attracts a large international following. Beginning his career began as an intern with Steinski; Tim Goldsworthy and James Murphy later invited him to work at their Plantain studios. Since then he’s worked on two DFA collaborations with the label’s Compilation # 2 and Holiday 2005 mixes.

Alongside Mr Sweeney will be his T&T cohort, Tim Goldsworthy. Co-founder of James Lavelle's Mo Wax Label and joint owner of DFA Records, this man is no stranger to the world's dance floors. From 2007’s hugely successful 'Sound of Silver' album by LCD Sound System, to more recent projects with Cut Copy; Goldsworthy’s proved he certainly knows his way round a production desk.

Optimo’s Twitch and Jonnie Wilkes will be offering their able support to T & T. Though their legendary Sunday night may have been existence for over a decade, both had been DJing separately for ten years prior; Twitch - electro, noisy rock and the sounds of eighties New York punk-funk band, Liquid Liquid; Wilkes - reggae, funk and jazz. Then techno arrived leading Twitch to co-found Scotland's legendary, ten-year spanning, Pure. However, in the late nineties, they decided to established Optimo, a reaction to the seemingly all-pervasive 4/4 techno sound of the time and their anything goes music policy helped the club become a massive hit.

Also making an appearance on this stage will be Optimo Music’s Den Haan (aka Crème de Menthe & Gardi), the pair coming together due to their love of Italo disco, Erin Gray and shiny white shoes!

The end product of collaborative efforts from producer/songwriter Matthew Aldworth and DJ/Songwriter Andrew Gardiner, the duo formed in summer 2006. Though initially a one off, they soon realized the possibilities of their song-writing partnership, helping them develop their own unique style and a confident approach to modern audio production.

Al Kent has been at it for a good while now; starting out as a soul boy and discovering his love of disco in the 80's, a love that turned into an obsession which is still going strong today. A visit to his Million Dollar Disco website quickly reveals that its music that drives him; MDD giving an encyclopaedic-like coverage of all things disco. At a time when the sound is very much en vogue; it's refreshing to see a DJ with knowledge and a history that goes beyond the latest trends; something that’s earned him gigs alongside Joey Negro, Dimitri From Paris and two appearances at Southport Weekender.

Finally, making up the full Optimo Music billing, is Sam Sheppard aka Floating Points. The Eglo Records artist has broken onto the scene with a refreshing approach to not only house, but also the sounds of hip-hop, jazz and soul. His intricate and deeply woven beats are unlikely to have been created through chance or luck though; the 22 year old has been an accomplished pianist since the age of 16 and has been turning out numerous soulful compositions since then. Wearing his influences clearly on his sleeve, the London based producer draws inspiration from Sun Ra and Dorothy Ashby just as much as he does DJ Premier or Theo Parrish; in the process gaining huge support from likes of DJs, Gilles Peterson and Benji B.

Aside from this exciting, broad sweep of DJ and production talent there will also be various visual stimuli incorporated into the event, courtesy of the wide range of artists currently utilising SWG3’s multi-discipline facilities who’ll be creating specially commissioned work for the Street Carnival; including 3-dimensional projections from Pointless Creations and a large-scale collaborative centre-piece by graffiti artists’ Gazmac and Sam Bates, amongst others.

Add in-and-outdoor drinking areas, a selection of great gourmet food (including the jerk chicken bar) as well as covered, heated areas and even a spot of rain in this ever changeable summer of ours won't spoil what’s sure to be the ideal way of enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend.