Scotland Clubbing Highlights – November 2013

This month’s selection includes quality hip hop from Madlib, a debut Scottish appearance from Daphni and a Coccoon takeover in the capital headed up by Sven Vath

Preview by Ronan Martin | 28 Oct 2013

We start off in Glasgow with the visit of the multi-talented Madlib. Working with some of the most talented names in modern hip-hop over the years, releasing albums with the likes of MF Doom and the late J Dilla, Otis Jackson Jr has gained critical acclaim for his output as a producer and his work as an MC. He considers himself a DJ first and foremost though, and his passion for a range of sounds as diverse as jazz, ska and electronica should ensure interesting selections find their way into this turntable masterclass. Support comes from Eclair Fifi (SWG3 Fri 1 Nov, £12). The same night sees late Halloween high jinks with the legendary Twitch & Wilkes hosting their popular Optimo Espookio party (Sub Club, £10) and Pressure inviting Ben Klock and DVS1 to The Arches (£16).

On Sunday 3 Nov, Caribou AKA Dan Snaith adopts his Daphni moniker and treats the Sub Club to a four hour set – his first Scottish performance under this more club-oriented guise. Snaith followed up on the success of the dark dancefloor destroyer Ye Ye with last year’s full length album Jiaolong, and his leftfield take on house music is an interesting counterbalance to the bland, imitation deep house that has become so prevalent in recent years (£12).

On Friday 22 Nov, globe-trotting local crew Numbers pop up to host London-based producer and DJ, Peter O’Grady AKA Joy Orbison. Announcing his presence in 2009 with the Hyph Mngo/Wet Look EP, O’Grady has continued to build a loyal fanbase with a sound combining elements of house, bass music and UK garage. His tracks have been released on leading labels such as Hotflush, AUS and Nonplus (Sub Club, £TBC). Later in the month, another artist with ties to Boddika’s Nonplus label, Kassem Mosse, hits Glasgow to play a live set for Missing Persons Club alongside local analogue wizard Meschi (La Cheetah, Fri 29 Nov, £10).  

Now we take a look across the M8, where Cocoon Edinburgh unfolds in a secret location, headlined by veteran showman and label boss Sven Väth. Having begun his career in the early 80s, at first championing trance through the influential Harthouse label, the Frankfurt-based producer and DJ has become one of the biggest names in dance music. On Saturday 2 Nov, he’ll bring the spirit of his celebrated Ibiza events to this one-off party (Buses run to the secret location, £24.50 adv). The following weekend, drum n bass purveyors Xplicit welcome Ram Records’ Wilkinson to the Bongo Club (Fri 8 Nov, £10).

Towards the end of the month, The Picture House plays host to Annie Mac Presents 2013. The stylistically diverse Radio 1 DJ tops a lineup featuring Duke Dumont and Cyril Hahn (Fri 22 Nov, £22). Elsewhere, notsosilent give free reign to German duo Hauke Freer and Matthias Reiling AKA Session Victim for an all night DJ set. Freer and Reiling have been on a roll since the release of their debut EP No Friends in 2009. They have since developed a close link with Delusions of Grandeur, with their album, The Haunted House of House, dropping on the label in 2012 (Sneaky Pete’s, Fri 29 Nov, £7-10). Finally, on the same night, Kapital’s 6th Birthday brings Gaiser to The Caves on Niddry Street. One of the leading lights on Richie Hawtin’a Minus label, the Detroit-born artist’s breed of minimalist techno has earned him many followers since he first surfaced in 2005 (£10).