Northwest Clubbing Highlights – October 2013

Though arguably underrated, Ewan Pearson is one of the dance music world’s most beloved producers; a forward-thinking and, well, generally always thinking figure. On 4 Oct, clubnight Cowbell Radio are bringing Pearson out from his adopted home of Berlin to Salford’s Islington Mill for another of their proper parties with a discerning but free-for-all feel (£10). The following day sees the debut at Manchester's Sound Control of Guiltless Days, a new party running 2-8pm designed to lubricate you for an evening out and featuring disco extraordinaires Rory Phillips and Luke Unabomber (5 Oct, £13).

Anyone intrigued by the record collection behind the ever-evolving style and output of Four Tet is guaranteed a very enjoyable field trip indeed on 10 Oct, when the wise and, let’s be honest, wonderful Kieran Hebden arrives for a five-hour set at The Shipping Forecast, Liverpool. Having spent the past couple of years skirting the edges of dance music’s better-established scenes (he inexplicably but refreshingly played at Ibiza’s Pacha this summer), Hebden has still had time to produce an LP for Syrian techno-folk impresario Omar Souleyman, as well as the upcoming Beautiful Rewind for himself. Expect to hear new material, and some of the strangest and most invigorating club music around (£12).

The afore-Tet mentioned [WOAHHH! – Ed] event is brought to you by Abandon Silence, who, one week beforehand, are also gifting Liverpool’s student masses and weeknight warriors a no doubt similarly thrilling back-to-back session from Ben UFO and Paul Woolford. The former is one of the most transcendent DJs the UK has seen in yonks, whereas Woolford has had a golden year even by his own standards, with the anthemic Untitled about to see a wider release after its Hotflush premiere earlier this year, and a doubtlessly rather more abrasive project from his hardcore-focused Special Request alias due this month. The night is one of those that could go anywhere, and all the better for it – and Hoya:Hoya’s Krystal Klear brings fresh and archived funk and disco in support (3 Oct, £12).

Selective Hearing have proven over the past few years to be one of the most effective, no-bullshit party promoters in the Northwest, and while most of their work nowadays seems to take them across the Pennines to Leeds, their fearsome warehouse parties in mystery locations around Manchester have proven to be a big hit. With a location announced on the night as usual, on 5 Oct lucky punters can expect sets from Tom Demac of Aus Music, a live set from much loved underground techno madman Basic Soul Unit, and New York’s Anthony Naples, whose productions – including last year’s incomparable Mad Disrespect – demand much deserved attention (£10 earlybirds, £12/£15 advance). See you there? Wherever it is we’re going.

Bridging the gap between Liverpool and Manchester like a musical M62, Scenery Records are bringing a one-off showcase of their forward-thinking and occasionally nostalgic house sound to Soup Kitchen on 12 Oct. The line-up includes some proper cosmic disco exploration from Deep Space Orchestra, a live set from Merseyside’s Bantam Lions, and label head and former Skinny feature star Stu Robinson under his ASOK alias – as well as the impeccably named Audinary People (£5). Meanwhile, back on Merseyside, there’s three shades of rave from Chibuku at East Village Arts Club with one of the most increasingly popular DJs of recent times, George Fitzgerald, demented techno and EBM from Gessafelstein, and – inexplicably only just about to release his first solo EP – Erol Alkan bridging the gap (12 Oct, £15).

It’s always a pleasure to introduce readers to new talent, but very occasionally a well-respected figure on the scene might be doing the honourable thing and unplugging his decks when the time feels right. DJ Derek, the 73-year-old Bristolian reggae and dancefloor selector, has decided that said time is right now, or specifically New Year’s Eve 2013, when he’ll be seeing out a 50-year career with a final set of 60s rocksteady, reggae, ska, dancehall and soul music at London's Notting Hill Arts Club. As well as an encyclopaedic knowledge of the aforementioned genres, Derek is a real-ale enthusiast with a visit to every operating Wetherspoons in the UK under his belt. Eschewing his favourite chain, he’ll be heading to Underdog for one last visit to Manchester on Sat 26 Oct (£4). Expect riddims, and sage, learned advice on the mic.

Meanwhile in Old Trafford, with The Warehouse Project in full swing, fellow Bristol resident Julio Bashmore aims to battle the full-scale charismatic assault of Derek with one of the finest line-ups of the season, somehow not sold out at the time of writing. While Bashmore has his detractors after releasing the inescapable, builder-whistling friendly crossover tune Au Seve, the line-up he’s put together for his WHP showing is one of this year's best: as well as contemporary crowdpleasers such as Breach and Bicep, you’ll find fresh acid from Funkineven, a rare live band performance from Metro Area, and French touch heroes like Cassius and Laurent Garnier (26 Oct, £25). Elsewhere, although Moderat have been forced to pull out, Modeselektor’s annual Modeselektion bill two weekends earlier on 11 Oct (also £25) promises to do much of the same across the spectrum of techno – Dopplereffekt meet Karenn, among many others – now with an added, doubtlessly raucous performance from Modeselektor, who last year managed to coerce 3000 far-gone punters into sitting down on the floor for a classic jump-up.

Finally, Liverpool is offered a taste of some of Manchester’s most reliable party starters on 25 Oct, when the Riot Jazz live band head to The Kazimer with a full show including bonus Chunky on the mic, while The Mouse Outfit perform tracks from Escape Music, one of the finest underground hip hop LPs this year, unfairly slept on over the summer. Rich Reason will be behind the decks, whipping up a proper party atmosphere with choice cuts of funk, hip hop and jazz throughout (£10).