Omar S (FXHE Records. Detroit), Subculture, Sub Club, Glasgow, 7 Jul

Alex 'Omar S' Smith learned the keyboard at an early age, playing along to house classics Can You Feel It? and Jack Your Body, before going on to teach himself drum and synth lines. Making his DJ debut at one of Joe Claussell's early Manhattan club nights in 1993, Alex spent the rest of the nineties producing, recording and spinning records, eventually releasing his first 12" Omar S 001, in 2001. It was picked up on by fellow producer Rick Wilhite who offered to sell it in his record store. When Alex went to collect his profits he met Theo Parrish, who praised the track and encouraged him to produce more. The highly regarded Omar S 002 and 003 releases eventually followed. Fast-forward to 2007, and each Omar S release is met with feverish excitement, usually selling out before being re-pressed. Aside from his own distinctive raw but soulful take on house, techno and now hip-hop, he's also collaborated with Parrish and Marcellus Pitmann. Continuing to play worldwide, his sets usually give a healthy nod to the Detroit underground. Residents Harri and Domenic will be supporting. [Colin Chapman]