Scotland Clubbing Highlights – July 2013

In Edinburgh, much-loved Cowgate venue Sneaky Pete’s kick off their fifth birthday celebrations in fine style with Juice set to welcome Rinse FM’s Oneman. Steve Bishop is a graduate of dubstep who has developed a diverse DJing style that has made him one of the most in demand selectors around (11 Jul, £5). As the birthday celebrations continue, Sneaky Pete’s will also play host to the mysterious Marquis Hawkes, one of a number of artists who have been killing it on Glasgow’s Dixon Avenue Basement Jams label over the past year. 2012’s Sea Lion Woman in particular was a track that was immediately picked up on and rinsed repeatedly by scores of DJs across the globe (12 Jul, £5 advance). The promoters behind that night, #notsosilent, are also kindly bringing Gerd AKA NY Stomp to the club on 26 Jul, rounding off an impressive series of anniversary celebrations (£5 early bird).

Elsewhere in the burgh, Jackhammer come up trumps with the visit of Detroit techno legend Kevin Saunderson and fellow Motor City outfit Scan 7. Generally recognised as being the producer responsible for bringing Detroit’s mechanised future music to a wider audience with his Inner City project, Saunderson has been responsible for a number of classic records, including seminal vocal-driven hits Big Fun and Good Life. Scan 7’s Trackmaster Lou on the other hand has always operated on the underground plain, and yet he has amassed a loyal and substantial following with his punchy productions on labels such as Underground Resistance and Tresor. This one should be tasty (26 Jul, The Liquid Room, £8 advance).

On to Glasgow now, and the 13 Jul offers some particularly good options for your night out. Wrong Island invites Future Times record boss Andrew Field-Pickering AKA Maxmillion Dunbar to Nice 'N' Sleazy for his Scottish debut. The US artist’s sound ranges from lush excursions through gleaming disco-informed house to more synth-driven psychedelic material. Outwith his own stable, his records have found a home on such labels as L.I.E.S and Ramp Recordings and, in partnership with Ari Goldman, he also releases tracks as Beautiful Swimmers. At a mere four pounds, we reckon this is the bargain of the month. On the same night, #notsosilent pop up again with the Glasgow leg of the Marquis Hawkes appreciation society (see this month’s Beneath The Label feature for more on Hawkes). With the intimate La Cheetah Club playing host, this should be a sweaty affair (£5 adv). 

Elsewhere, Highlife presents a midweek session showcasing Shangaan Electro, a street dance movement originating in South Africa which melds traditional vocal elements with uptempo electronic backing tracks in a captivating synthesis which has grabbed the attention of several global electronic acts. Shangaan tracks have been remixed by the likes of MMM, Peverlist and juke duo DJ Rashad and DJ Spinn. This event will form part of a UK tour featuring all-inclusive dance workshops, spreading the Shangaan movement to even wider audiences (17 Jul, SWG3, £10 adv).  

Outwith the clubs, it would be rude to ignore Scotland’s leading summer festival, T In The Park. The Slam Tent as always will offer plenty of doof-doof all weekend, offering a shaded refuge for those who come primarily to dance. Particular highlights will be the pairing of Jackmaster and Joy Orbison, likely to be in all-out party mode, Ben Klock and Marcel Dettmann offering slabs of brooding techno and the trio of Derrick Carter, Mark Farina and DJ Sneak who, despite the certain prospect of trite commercial material finding its way into their set, will surely also tap into their collective roots to find at least some of the soulful, grin-inducing house cuts with which they made their name (12-14 Jul).