Two-step ahead

It would be something of an understatement to say that dubstep is well represented in Scotland. With home-grown talent such as Kode 9, Hudson Mohawke and Loops Haunt to name but a few, alongside filth peddling labels such as Fortified Audio and the LuckyMe collective, there seems to be talent emerging from every crack a dub cares to step on.

Edinburgh has long established itself as the nation’s capital of bass heavy club nights and the proactive drum and bass crowd have naturally transferred their talents to attending the shed loads of dubstep that the clubs have to offer. The most exciting new arrival is Edinburgh’s first dedicated dubstep night: Innuendub at Cabaret Voltaire. In spite of the least graceful attempt at a pun on the word dub ever, the night exploded with onto the scene with Bar9, Emalkay and Scotland’s own Taz Buckfaster at the helm.

Most of the other nights in Edinburgh play a slick combination of dubstep, grime, drum and bass, ragga and dub. Xplicit are reliable purveyors of big bass with big names to match whilst Volume! operates monthly, rotating around The Bongo Club, Faith and Sneaky Pete’s. The Bongo Club also hosts Big 'N' Bashy on the first Saturday of the month but if you need a weekly hit then they have Jungle Dub on Wednesdays too.

You will hear bass bins being blown at the Citrus Club’s Dub Kaoss every Thursday, Coalition every Sunday and Nu-Fire every Monday in Sneaky Pete’s. If you still haven’t had enough there is always good old Split on Tuesdays at Cabaret Voltaire.

Whilst Glasgow may not have the huge quantity of dubstep nights that Edinburgh does, what it lacks in numbers it makes up for with...well, Numbers. The event appears about once a month either in Stereo, the Arches, Subclub or even occasionally ABC. Whilst the Numbers brand is best known within techno circles, the fact remains that Joker, Rustie, Flying Lotus and many more of the most revered names in dubstep have all headlined there on pervious occasions.

The disappearance of Pangaea caused great sadness amongst Glasgow’s junglists, but only for a moment before BBL Sound System stepped up with Mutiny, a new monthly dubstep and jungle night in the Art School. Last month Machine Code made his UK debut there with a set so heavy, scientists had to re-examine the established laws of physics. It has been a while since Fortified put on a night in Glasgow, but rest assured, they will be back at the Art School in September; in the meantime keep a look out for absolutely anything with their name on it, it will almost certainly be worth your while.

How’s Your Party? may seem like another traditionally house and techno orientated night at the Sub Club, but with past guests including Caspa and Toddla it's an evening definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Finally Check the Rabbit, in the Reading Rooms of Dundee, is a night that will irregularly satisfy the wonky requirements of the Dundonian skankers. Dundee is the home of Loops Haunt, the master of the terrifying wobble and it is not uncommon for him to Check the Rabbit himself. Nights like this demand closer inspection.