Clubbing Highlights Scotland – October 2014

With an exceedingly packed calendar this month, we makes plans for Gilles Peterson, Leah Floyeurs, Octave One and Bicep

Preview by Ronan Martin | 01 Oct 2014

We kick off in Glasgow where Rubix have the pleasure of hosting the long overdue return of world-renowned selector Gilles Peterson. At a time when DJs are everywhere, many with a limited arsenal and questionable skills, Peterson encapsulates all of the qualities of a true master of the craft. Emerging from the pirate radio scene of the mid 80s in Britain, Peterson’s roots are in jazz, funk and soul, but his tastes are as broad as his collection is sprawling. Through his labels Acid Jazz, Talkin’ Loud and Brownswood Recordings, the former Radio 1 regular has released everything from soul and funk to hip-hop, garage and dubstep. Not seen around these parts for six years, Peterson’s appearance is clearly one of the picks of the month (Thu 2 Oct, Sub Club, £8-12).

On 10 Oct, we’re headed over to SWG3 to take in a live set from legendary Chicago group, and founding fathers of acid house, Phuture. Composed of DJ Pierre, Spanky and Lothario Lee (who takes the place of original third member Herb J), the US group are credited with the birth of the acid sound which went on to dominate much of dance music from the late 80s into the 90s – particularly in the UK. Their seminal hit Acid Tracks, the product of a revelatory experience playing with the little-known Roland TB-303, was something of a game changer and introduced the world to the gratifying bass squelch of what has since become a revered piece of equipment. With the warehouse setting providing a perfect backdrop, and with the kind of full on live set they delivered for the Boiler Room earlier this year as a benchmark, we suspect this one will be special (£12-15).

On the same evening that Phuture roll into town, another Chicago-bred maestro hits Glasgow for the second instalment of La Cheetah’s 5th Birthday celebrations. Now based in Detroit, Theo Parrish needs little introduction for those with a penchant for authentic deep house – the type that leaves most of today’s cookie-cutter imitations seeming dull and lifeless by comparison. His back catalogue, much of which has been released through his own impeccable Sound Signature label, is brimming with seminal records and his soulful, raw take on house has clearly been a key reference point for other Motor City players such as Omar S and Kyle Hall. Most importantly, Parrish is a selector whose passion is rarely matched and the joy with which he sifts through jazz, funk, hip hop and whatever else takes his fancy is usually infectious enough to carry entire clubs along with him. It’s no surprise he returns for the club’s birthday, as his last two sets were among the best in La Cheetah’s five year history (Fri 10 Oct, £13 adv).

Next up we have something of a mini festival on the cards as Magic Waves invite a troupe of international DJs and producers to join a selection of local talent for what we suspect will be one of the most interesting nights all month. Headlining is French artist Bernard Fevre under his Black Devil Disco Club guise – a project which has its origins in Fevre’s 1978 Disco Club album which first unleashed his synth-driven European disco style. Fevre launched this contemporary update of the project in 2006 and has proven his continued relevance with last year’s Black Moon White Sun album. Elsewhere on the bill is prolific DJ and remixer, Arthur Baker – whose work with the legendary Tommy Boy label saw him produce Afrika Bambaataa’s Planet Rock amongst others. Fevre and Baker are joined by a host of other names including Rotterdam-based house and techno head, Mark Du Mosch, and EBM artist Emile Strunz (Fri 24 Oct, SWG3, £8 adv, £12 on door).

Next, it wouldn’t be October without a Halloween night and Glasgow has a couple of good shouts, depending on your tastes. The Arches as ever plays hosts to that end of the month stalwart Pressure and their Halloween Special also doubles up as a launch party for Reverse Proceed, the long awaited album return of hosts Slam. Expect snapshots from a record which finds them on their best form in years. Also on the bill is UK techno vanguard Dave Clarke who – on a good night – is one of the best DJs you’ll see (Fri 31 Oct, £16 earlybird, £20 adv).

If you’re looking for a more intimate techno thrill on the 31st, we’re inclined to nod favourably in the direction of Nice‘n’Sleazy where the ever-scrupulous Slabs of the Tabernacle have lined up what may well be one of the best nights of the month when they host London-based DJ, Leah Floyeurs. Melding together jacking Chicago house, penetrating Detroit techno and dark Drexciyan style electro, Floyeurs is a DJ we suspect should have a much wider audience. A few hours spent trawling through her ‘Leah with Sound’ mixes on Timeline Music’s visual internet radio station – which you can check out on YouTube – should be enough to tempt you in the direction of Sleazy’s. In support is Tabernacle’s Andrew Ingram, who was the first contributor to our Skinned mix series earlier this year. Safe to say, he’s a favourite (£4).

Other Glasgow nights well worthy of consideration include Detroit innovator Derrick May, appearing at the Art School (Fri 17 Oct, £5-12), Offbeat’s party with Dutch techno maestro Orlando Voorn on the same night (La Cheetah, £5 adv), and ghetto house goodness when Void and Footwork showcase the Dance Mania label, featuring Jammin Gerald and Houz Mon amongst others (Sat 11 Oct, £tbc).

Moving on to Edinburgh, we start at Sneaky Pete’s where In Deep welcome Glaswegian duo Auntie Flo and Esa, who are transporting their Highlife vibes up north from their base in London for the evening. Since emerging in 2011 with the instantly captivating single Oh My Days, Auntie Flo AKA Brian D’Souza has done a lot to further diversify the output of his hometown and enhance the electronic music pedigree which Scotland can lay claim to. Advancing a style which merges elements of house, afrobeat and bass music, D’Souza’s take on music doesn’t pay much need to boundaries – genre-based or geographical. The Highlife club concept, which sees him team up with Esa Williams on percussion, is a celebration of melodies and rhythms from around the world and there’s always likely to be something fresh on the menu (Friday 3 Oct, £4).

The following week it’s all about Jackhammer, as they host brothers Lawrence and Lenny Burden, who comprise Detroit’s Octave One. Emerging back in 1990 with the single I Believe, the Burdens have gone on to become one of the most celebrated and enduring acts to hail from the Motor City. Advancing a rhythmic, and unmistakably funky brand of techno, Octave One to this day embody the roots of the genre in a way few others manage – sure there are 4/4 drum patterns and mechanised hooks, but the duo always seem to bring out the soul in the music they make (no surprise if you’ve heard their seminal hit Blackwater, with vocalist Ann Saunderson). Their live sets are usually pretty special too so this one is worth noting in the diary (Fri 10 Oct, The Caves, £10).

Next up, we’re heading along to Nightvision, as the series continues in fine form with a back to back set by Bicep and Leon Vynehall. Having expanded their operations greatly since they first started their Feel My Bicep blog, Northern Irish duo Andy Ferguson and Matt McBriar have quickly emerged as one of the most talked about DJ and production outfits in house in recent years. They’ve now amassed a considerable back catalogue for their time in the game, with releases on Throne of Blood, Aus and their own Feel My Bicep outlet finding their way into many a playlist. Joining them for the night is Brighton-based Leon Vynehall, whose album Music for the Uninvited has been one of the deeper highlights of 2014 so far (Fri 24 Oct, La Belle Angele, £16-£18)

Finally, for your Edinburgh Halloween outing, it seems rather fitting that you should head to Substance to take in the rather solemn, though entirely captivating sounds of Shxcxchcxsh – an act whose murky style is thankfully much more clearly pronounced than their infuriatingly illegible moniker. Hailing from Sweden, the duo mark their spot somewhere between probing techno and ambient IDM, with tracks often dominated by the merging of overdriven kicks, swirling noise, while lighter ethereal melodies often creep in to temper the gloom. In other words, this should make for a perfect Halloween party, and one which doubles up as Substance’s 8th birthday bash. To round things off alongside trusted resident Gavin Richardson, Glasgow-based All Caps co-founder Ryan Martin is also in attendance. A solid line up all round (Fri 31 Oct, Bongo Club, £6).

Other notable picks in the capital include eclectic UK veteran Bill Brewster (Fri 17 Oct, Sneaky Pete’s, £4), mash-up pioneers 2manydjs’ turn for Nightvision (Sat 18 Oct, The Liquid Room, £22), and Rinse FM spinner Oneman who takes to the decks for Juice at Sneaky Pete’s (Thu 23 Oct, £8.50).