The Skinny: Latest

Ninajirachi @ SWG3, Glasgow, 21 Mar

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:53:43 +0000

Ninajirachi, KAVARI and Laces bring a beautifully paced club and wonderful crowd to SWG3

Terminal V 2023: The review

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:07:00 +0100

Saturday at this year's Terminal V festival in Edinburgh offers an technically impressive but occasionally frustrating snapshot of techno in 2023

Scottish Clubbing Highlights: October 2022

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 11:00:00 +0100

October's clubs round-up includes Pop Mutations festival in Glasgow, Sneaky Pete's Fruitmarket residency, and big nights with Jamz Supernova, Juliana Huxtable and more

Andrew Weatherall obituary: The DJ world loses its Guv’nor

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 14:43:00 +0000

Arguably the most complete artist to emerge from the acid house era, DJ, producer and remixer Andrew Weatherall died earlier this week, aged 56. We look back on his legacy

LISB-ON 2019: Festival Report

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 13:11:14 +0100

A fairly recent addition to Portugal's festival calendar, LISB-ON benefits from an idyllic location and glorious weather as it brings local and international artists to the country's capital

Kappa FuturFestival 2019: Festival Report

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 15:51:00 +0100

For the eighth edition, Kappa FuturFestival sticks with its tried and tested formula of bringing the biggest names in underground electronic music to the incomparable Parco Dora urban park

SOPHIE, Lanark Artefax @ Leith Theatre, Edinburgh, 11 Aug

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 17:13:00 +0100

Edinburgh International Festival and Numbers bring a thrilling slice of progressive nightlife to the capital

Meadows in the Mountains 2018: Review

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 11:42:00 +0100

Bulgaria's Meadows in the Mountains festival has its focus firmly on music, nature and community and is a truly unique and unforgettable festival experience

Terminal V @ Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, 1 Apr

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 15:40:00 +0100

Peggy Gou, Helena Hauff, Bicep and Rødhåd head up an all-action line-up as Nightvision's all-dayer returns to the Royal Highland Centre

Sub Club Soundsystem @ BAaD, Glasgow, 26-27 Aug

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:40:00 +0100

Sub Club's two day celebration of electronic music brings together a varied line-up in a unique setting

Platform 18: The Depot Summer Rave @ The Depot, Glasgow, 29 Jul

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 15:00:00 +0100

Jeff Mills, Mathew Jonson and Gary Beck head an impressive line-up for Platform 18's summer party in Glasgow

Awesome Tapes From Africa @ Summerhall, Edinburgh, 10 Aug

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 12:21:59 +0100

Brian Shimkovitz brings a night of solid grooves and eclectic African rhythms to Summerhall

Late Nite Tuff Guy @ Berkeley Suite, Glasgow, 8 Jul

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 12:30:00 +0100

The We Should Hang Out More boys (WSHOM) have surpassed themselves in bagging the revered Late Nite Tuff Guy (LNTG) to play The Berkeley Suite on a Saturday night. LNTG has some of the best disco edits and remixes on the scene, and has commanded audiences in the thousands playing massive arenas and festivals. The 100 tickets left on the door are snapped up with a large queue of hopefuls still remaining; audible sighs from the crowd as the bouncer announces the tickets are all gone highlights just how much people are looking forward to the evening ahead.

WSHOM DJs Shahaa Tops and Peter Panther take turns on the decks providing the warmup for the evening's main event. The duo have no problem getting the party into a perspiring fervour, getting just as sweaty as the crowd surrounding the booth. Cam Bianchetti, the aforementioned Tuff Guy, arrives at the helm just after 1am to shouts of approval and begins his disco onslaught. Tracks such as Robosonic & Adana Twins's La Fique and fellow disco don Dimitri From Paris' remix of Teddy Pendergrass cut You Can’t Hide are met with mass approval from the sweaty clientele and Bianchetti recognises this with a nod and a smile.

The highlight of the evening, which causes a mass exodus from the upstairs bar to the dancefloor, comes when Do I Believe In God – LNTG Muscle Mix (Bianchetti's take on Prince classic Controversy) is dropped amid a sea of fist-pumping. Bianchetti makes it all look so easy, showcasing his years of experience with seamless mixing and track selection responding to the atmosphere of the dark basement. A wholesome evening of soulful disco and booty-shaking beats, and a night to remember.

WSHOM's 3rd Birthday, 12 Aug, La Cheetah Club; Prince x Late Nite Tuff Guy, 7 Oct, SWG3

Sub Club XXX: Domenic Cappello @ The Planetarium, Glasgow, 3 Jun

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 16:21:48 +0100

With 30 years in the game, Sub Club has built an unrivalled reputation as being pioneers in electronic music. Their most recent foray, Sub Club at the Planetarium, is further evidence of this. The brainchild of Subculture resident Domenic Cappello (one half of Subbie's ever-present Harri & Domenic) and in collaboration with the club’s in-house record label Nautilus Rising, this event at the Glasgow Science Centre sees Cappello soundtrack a whistle-stop journey through the solar system and beyond.

When doors open just after 9pm, the atmosphere is very relaxed. The Science Centre’s café has been turned into a makeshift bar and a handful of punters enjoy a beer whilst watching the sunset over the Clyde. Things are moved upstairs shortly after and the crowd are greeted by planetarium manager, Steve Owens, who receives cheers from the excitable crowd. ‘Alcohol enhances the experience, so you guys will be in for a treat’, he laughs.

Just after 10pm, the lights begin to dim, and all of a sudden the room becomes fully immersed in the night sky. The focus then moves onto the Earth, zooming in for intricate detail. Cappello pairs these visuals with an ambient soundtrack as the audience are eased in gently.

The ambience in the room continues for the first half of the show: Jupiter and Saturn’s rings are explored in detail, providing captivation and relaxation in equal measure. But all of a sudden the crowd are thrust into an asteroid shower; and the Drexciyan electro of Benjamin Milz’s Electric Current fills the room. The start of the shower coincides with the track’s first kick drum, as Cappello expertly compliments the increase in tempo illustrated by the visuals.

Moving into the latter stages, the mood becomes far more emotive as the theme of ‘journey’ is conveyed. Close-ups of a satellite are shown, before a few glimpses of Earth, millions of miles away in the background. The delicate piano keys of Robert Perry’s 5291989 close out proceedings in the most poignant way possible, as the visuals melt into nothingness and the crowd enthusiastically celebrate an immersive and wholly unique audio-visual experience.

Part of Sub Club XXX, Sub Club's 30th anniversary programme

Riverside Festival 2017: The review

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 16:04:01 +0100

No matter how impressive a line-up Glasgow’s annual Electric Frog & Pressure Riverside Festival delivers – and this year’s crop of acts is particularly enticing – the Riverside crowds prove almost equal value in the entertainment department. The weather – generally sunny with just a smattering of rain over the two days – has the audience in a particularly rowdy mood. One punter getting into the Bank Holiday spirit on the Sunday manages to slip past security guards and clamber aboard the cordoned-off Tall Ship, where he precedes to bust out energetic dance moves for the benefit of the heaving crowd gathered at the Mastermix Stage. At Riverside, you come for the music, but you stay for the debauchery that ensues.

But back to the dancefloor – Slam’s Pressure stage set is a perfect mid-afternoon pace-setter, with the duo dropping bangers by the likes of Johannes Heil and Dustin Zahn to keep the BPM flowing. The rain has stopped, and the vibe is energetic and high in anticipation. Over on the Cocoon Stage, the NYC-based Levon Vincent has drawn a smallish crowd, with perhaps what is one of the more house-skewed sets on what is traditionally known as ‘techno day’. A Jefferson Airplane remix towards the end of his performance goes down a treat, as does his own track Launch Ramp To The Sky, before he rounds out the show with some rumbling beats and jungle vibes, with the kind of seemingly-scattergun but deceptively crafted approach that made his fabric 63 release such a joy.

Slam go back-to back with Alan Fitzpatrick, launching in with some DJ Diego Palacio, and putting on what is surely one of the most energising and crowd-pleasing sets of the Saturday. All great big builds and gratifying drops, it’s a mammoth performance from the Glasgow duo and the We Are The Brave techno heavyweight. Unfortunately it also coincides with ‘peak toilet time’, the moment when many (mostly female) ticket holders are left frustrated with a loooong wait due to an inadequate number of bathroom facilities at the venue.

Back at the Pressure stage, there’s an excellent lineup pairing in the form of UK techno stalwart Surgeon, aka Anthony Child, who is then followed by German powerhouse and Dystopian label founder Rødhåd. The former shows he’s worthy of his moniker, delivering a hard, tough yet danceable set with clinical precision and a stage persona to match. Rødhåd then takes the reins and continues to lean on the BPMs, with selections like Works Unit’s Foundation Two and HMC’s Cum On showing off his trippy techno tastes.

However, there’s one act on Saturday that everyone is seemingly here to see, and that’s the beloved ‘Papa’ Sven Väth. Closing out the first day on his own Cocoon Stage, he puts on a killer show from start to finish. If you’ve never seen a Väth performance before, you might wonder what all the fuss is about, until you experience for yourself the veteran’s peerless mixing skills and innate knack for knowing exactly when to hand over that long-awaited drop. It’s a jubilant and riotous day-closer from the Riverside favourite.

DJ Koze at Riverside Festival 2017. Photo: Anna Wachsmuth

The house acts, many of which include a strong disco inclination, mean a slightly older crowd on the Sunday. Jasper James has an impressively large home crowd for his early afternoon slot on Jackmaster’s MasterMix stage. He creates a summery, Ibiza-esque vibe with some White Isle house; a track that goes down particularly well with the jubilant dancers is Filippo Naughty Moscatello's At The Bar With the Sharks. Throughout the feel-good barrage of tunes Jackmaster can be seen in the wings, enjoying his roommate's uplifting set.

Hunee also appears to be enjoying Jasper James' mixing skills, showing his appreciation with handclaps and dance moves before taking the reins. Keeping up a similar vibe and pace as James' set, Hunee drops an eclectic selection of tracks, with highlights including the old school house grooves of Lil Louis' Music Takes U Away (Vocal Mix) and Acid Blam by Jason Hodges, the latter's harder psychadelic tones setting the scene for some tougher fare to come.

On the Electric Frog stage, taking us into the early evening we have the stalwart techno DJ Derrick Carter produce a disco-esque set for the lovely people as the sun peeks out from behind the stage. It’s not the largest crowd that greets the veteran selector, but house cuts such as Lil’ Louis Music Takes You Away (Vocal Mix) and Dirt Crew’s Rok Da House ensure happy punters dancing along to his groovy beats.

After an ecstatic and floor-filling set from DJ Koze over on the Mastermix Stage – who closes with his own fabulous singalong remix of Lapsley’s Operator – the anticipation for the following act is visible in the increased crowd size, which found yours truly balancing on a raised concrete walkway to the side so as to even catch a glimpse of the legendary Mr G. With over two decades in the game, starting off as a techno DJ with two mates before later starting his own project focusing on “electro tech funk”, Mr G has become hugely acclaimed by his peers.

G's energy is infectious, and he dances just as much as the crowd does. He sings along with clear passion as he drops classic old school house track one after the other – all organ-heavy synths, jagged piano keys and jackin’ beats – to roaring cheers and wolf whistles. Even with his curious ‘non-mixing’ mixing style, it’s a set that has you feeling transported back to the golden era of house music.

Could there be a more fitting finale for a Glasgow dance festival than the pairing of Jackmaster and Jasper James? The cheeky duo, whose back-to-back was kept a secret until the last minute, have the adoring crowd eating from the palms of their hands. From Laurel Canyon to Sam Paganini, their eclectic choices are seamlessly woven into one euphorically danceable set, which never takes itself too seriously – their airing of Technotronic’s Pump Up The Jam a (welcome) case in point.

Halfway through the set a large message appears on the screen behind the DJs and the vast amounts of electronic hardware, reading GLA LOVE TO MCR. Jackmaster takes the mic, to deliver a raspy-voiced message of love and solidarity to the city affected by the Ariana Grande concert shooting. It’s heartfelt and heart-warming, and the rest of the set passes in a mad blur of happy dancing people, defiant and united by the music.

Nicolas Jaar @ Barrowlands, Glasgow, 1 Jun

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 13:00:00 +0100

"Please dial this toll-free number to begin the show, and kindly place your portable telephone on speaker function," reads the message projected onto the Barrowland Ballroom's dimly-lit stage. Call the number, and what do you hear? A smattering of sprightly techno music, played on loop. The intro is unexpected, confounding, and playful. In short, it's quintessential Nicolas Jaar.

We should expect as much. Jaar's LP Sirens, which dropped last year, was arguably one of 2016's best and most eclectic electronic releases. Doing away with convention, Sirens traverses pop, techno and ambient terrain, blending in tinkling piano, harsh drums, guitar, samples, synth and spoken word lyrics. It's unsettling yet completely original and undeniably compelling – much like the live show Jaar has in store tonight.

On a smoke-saturated stage Jaar is a barely perceptible figure. Slim rods of light cast a green glow across the haze, as the Chilean-American producer teases a thirsty crowd with a long, ambient intro. When he finally bursts into a flurry of moody, pulsing beats, the audience loses it. Yet Jaar is just as quick to reign it in, and this cat-and-mouse game continues throughout the set.

There are periods of wandering electro-noise, pushed into thumping, danceable territory. A couple of Sirens tracks are a welcome inclusion and showcase Jaar's familiar baritone, layered with distortion effects. His encore is two minutes of the most thunderous, stomping techno you're likely to encounter – and then it's abruptly over, with our ringmaster vanished and a crowd left hungry for more. Rather than offering up a three course meal, tonight Jaar has given us an elusive taster of his many and multiform talents.

Riddim Rally Final @ Red Bull Studios London, 17 May

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Wed, 31 May 2017 13:29:00 +0100

We follow Glasgow producer Bushido to London to see him battle it out for the title of Red Bull Studio's Riddim Rally UK Champion

Sam Gellaitry @ Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh, 10 May

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Wed, 17 May 2017 13:13:43 +0100

Witness – the midweek party-in-a-box at Sneaky Pete’s – continues the venue’s propensity to book big acts in small spaces by bringing in Stirling lad Sam Gellaitry. Though he’s still relatively unknown at home, this summer tour is on the heels of big things Stateside (e.g. supporting DJ Shadow) – an impressive rap sheet for a producer so young. But Sneaky’s knows how to make guests feel welcome: local Unstable Creator Martin Sweeny has built a mini-install of blocks akin to a Roman numeral 3 (a nod to Gellaitry’s latest EP Escapism III), to feature his trademark projection-mapped animations alongside the boys at the decks.

Residents Ross Witness and Fault Lines lay the groundwork for our headliner, serving up angular, hyperactive r'n'b remixes and mutant dancehall, drawing the growing crowd into the dark and strobing dancefloor. With effortlessly tight transitions and the kind of metallic, bass-heavy selections that’ll define the rest of the night, energy is high and we’re primed for more.

Gellaitry builds on the distractible, genre-spanning beats of the Witness crew, taking us to some shimmery, spring-loaded highlights of his Escapism EP series via bangers like DJ Luck & MC Neat’s 1999 garage hit Little Bit of Luck and T2’s iconic Heartbroken. With a tendency to make tracks flavoured with strings, sitar and synthesisers that sparkle, his own plucky tunes stand out among his otherwise inventive selections (a steroidal remix of Yeah! by Usher sends bodies flying, as does Teriyaki Boyz’ unhinged Tokyo Drift).

But it’s all underpinned by the sort of bass you feel in your ankles; TNGHT’s glass-crushing face-punch Easy Easy and Rustie’s prismatic City Star prove that this XL signee can go toe-to-toe with the LuckyMe brood – especially with his own atomic hit Long Distance getting the dopest response of the night.

The pacing, then, swings from his twinkling cinematics – pensive amid the carnage – to firecracker beats and choice hip-hop (Young Thug’s 420 anthem Stoner, or Roshi by JD. Reid). It seems erratic at first, but it’s just a rigged explosive with multiple fuses – allowing Gellaitry to reignite the Sneaky’s hurt locker over and over again.

Aera @ Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh, 7 Apr

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Wed, 03 May 2017 13:30:00 +0100

Sneaky Pete’s is probably one of the only venues in Scotland where the DJ comes nose-to-nose with much of the dancefloor. A tangible sense of intimacy is achieved, simply by moving the booth off the stage so it’s level with the rest of the club. This is a sure-fire way to connect clubbers with artists, and vice versa. It works wonders, particularly when the music in question revolves around hypnotic feelings of total escapism, such as those of Berlin-based DJ and producer Ralf Schmidt, aka Aera.

Since launching in September last year, newcomers L’anatomie have firmly established their sound by booking Lil Tony, Lord of the Isles and Marcus Worgull amongst others. Despite Schmidt being a lesser-known name, with releases on Hivern Discs, Innervisions and Maeve this latest booking sees the crew continue along a similar standard.

After warm up sets from residents Hendry and Kieran Apter, Schmidt takes to the decks just after 1am. From acidic club pounders like Bawrut’s rework of Boyd Jarvis’s The Music Got Me, to Denis Horvat’s emotive synth-led number Axle, he lays down a selection of records perfectly in-tune with his surroundings. Come peak time, Henrik Schwarz’s Not You Also receives a typically rowdy response – as either side of this release usually does.

Schmidt keeps the energy levels at a constant high, culminating in Frida’s I Know There’s Something Going On. Having been released in 1982, this synth-pop gem appeared to predate at least 95% of the crowd, but resonates with everyone in the room. In the track’s closing moments, Schmidt remarks that the gig has given him “chills”. This could be down to any number of things – the riotous Friday night Cowgate crowd or tight-knit relationship between the DJ and the dancefloor being but two of them. Whatever the reason, it's a pleasure to hear Schmidt share a selection of apt dance music from across the decades.

Snowbombing 2017: Festival Review

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 11:59:50 +0100

We head to Snowbombing in the Austrian Alps for a week of top-notch electronic music in some spectacular – and unexpected – surroundings

Mano Le Tough @ La Belle Angèle, Edinburgh, 31 Mar

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 12:15:00 +0100

At the heart of any club night lies a good sound system, and (optionally) a lighting rig to boost it. Since relocating to La Belle Angèle, local promoters Tweak_ seem to have put these two values at the core of their ethos. Picture the scene – half past midnight on Friday night, and a steady stream of dancers ebbing back to the lower bar of the club. White strobes illuminate streams into the crowd, reflecting off the resident DJ and onto the camo-netting cutting off part of the dancefloor.

Edinburgh’s club scene really has pulled out all the stops tonight – Legowelt, Optimo, Move D and Joseph Capriati are all playing in venues across town. A sizable chunk of the punters, however, have turned out in force to see Irish stalwart Mano Le Tough grace the Tweak_ decks for the second time in a year.

Come quarter to one, Le Tough takes the reins with his customary selections of trance-esque house which he, and his labelmates on Maeve, have become known for. Teasing in hi-hats to compliment tracks already playing he maintains a solid selection of mid-tempo 4/4 throughout his whole set. Denis Sulta’s Nein Fortiate unexpectedly bobs in close to 2am, resulting in raucous cheers amidst the pounding 808s.

Between more tenacious tracks, Le Tough drops in spacey synth-led builders, allowing for a brief respite before rolling back in with the punches. Henrik Schwarz’s Not Also You stands out as a firm highlight – the powerful riff and rasping vocals sounding better than ever on La Belle's speakers.

Some big name bookings leave clubbers crammed like sardines, queuing for 20 minutes for lukewarm Red Stripes before pushing their way towards a near-crushing experience at the front left. This isn't the case tonight, and whilst it was by no means quiet, it proves that less is often more in this kind of scenario. The luxury of having space to dance is one that is often forgotten about in club culture – and combined with over two hours of Mano Le Tough behind the decks, it made for a welcome addition to an already stellar night.

Sub Club XXX – Harri & Domenic @ Sub Club, Glasgow, 1 Apr

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 12:52:00 +0100

As we know, age is just a number – and evidently so, as a 30-year-old Sub Club has all the youthful exuberance of any other burgeoning club in our dear green place. Unlike the drunk dancing uncle at Christmas who really should just sit down, we will confidently egg on the Subbie to keep on keepin’ on dancing as it's arguably one of the best in the world.

The flagship night Subculture is the current longest running house and techno night in the world and it's fitting for the dynamite Glaswegian duo Harri & Domenic to kick off the first in a series of Sub Club XXX birthday celebrations by playing all night long. The basement where Subbie now inhabits was formerly a speakeasy called Le Cavé, an after-hours spot in the 50s and 60s which apparently played host to the likes of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald after gigs in the city. Harri began DJing in the club when it was known as Lucifers in 1985, before it opened its doors as The Sub Club on 1 April two years later. Domenic then joined in 1992, and over the years, the club has hosted a 'who’s who' of underground music.

The queue for this evening’s festivities is unsurprisingly long as there were no advance tickets available. The first 150 guests on the night are greeted with a glass of bubbly and a Subculture: A House Music Experience CD of tunes selected and mixed by Harri back in 1997 (the back of the CD states “for your car, ageing computer or home entertainment system").

This warm welcome is a testament to the inclusive ethos the club holds and tonight's celebrations are as much for the punters as they are for the venue. The room is filled with birthday balloons and new XXX neon signs and the music is of course, on point. With a cultured mix of new cuts and old house classics, the pair have the ceiling-slapping approval from tonight's diverse crowd. Their entire set is comprised of a raucous and tangible energy and as the clock strikes four (am), we're sad the night has to end.

Reaching the big three-oh for some is the beginning of an existential crisis but for Subbie it's the complete opposite, basking in a huge sense of achievement of reaching this milestone. May the club continue sound-tracking revellers' nights for many years to come because we'll always enjoy one more tune.

Catch KiNK (live) at Subculture on 8 April for the next instalment of Sub Club XXX

Elrow Glasgow @ SWG3, 18 Mar

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 18:00:00 +0000

The first day of Elrow is upon Glasgow, and as much as the organizers want to showcase their Ibiza-esque pomp with an Amazonian jungle themed extravaganza, the real show is put on by the dancing of the Glaswegian party animals who are clearly feeling right at home.

This event sold out in a heartbeat, and the crowds are huge downstairs. It's an apology-led struggle to move between the sweaty dancers, palm leaves, twigs, inflatable bananas, beach balls and lilos. The inflatables are merrily tossed around, and there is nothing funnier than seeing a deflated, wet lilo sail through the air to wrap around some unsuspecting reveller's face. There's also the delightful and bemusing spectacle of 10-foot-tall tribespeople, led through the crowd by an overly-friendly chimpanzee who is kindly inspecting sweaty hairdos for nits.

Elrow has perhaps forgotten about SWG3's upstairs, as only the DJ booth is decorated, with some minor foliage. Artwork is on hand to remind the sparse crowd of dancers that it's about the music and not the superficial stuff, as he plays some proper techno – think DJ Deep's Stressin. It's a harder set than normally expected from Art, who recently held a raucous 'housewarming' at Sub Club.

De La Swing, an Elrow resident normally holding court in Barcelona or Ibiza, has rubbed shoulders with top DJs such as the Martinez Brothers, Maceo Plex, Maya Jane Coles and Seth Troxler. He keeps up the European vibe downstairs with mid-noughties house numbers such as Greece 2000 by Three Drives and Dibs & Cosmo's Sonic Rush.

Back upstairs, we have the pleasure of Edu Imbernon's talents in the booth. He's a worldy selector who has played all over to many larger crowds and deservedly so, as he's clearly well-skilled in his craft – prompting fellow Elrow Glasgow act Theo Kottis to show his appreciation by going over to shake Imbernon's hand mid-set.

Drawing the crowds away from the upstairs room are the headliners, local lads Jackmaster and Denis Sulta who hold court with aplomb amidst the bushes that adorned the DJ booth. The pair complement each other with their often leftfield disco gems dropped amidst house classics by Daft Punk and deep rumbling techno. Proving to be real selectors and crowd pleasers at the same time is quite the anomaly, but such rare species are to be found deep within the Amazon, right?

Groove Cairngorm 2017: The Review

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 12:59:00 +0000

For its second instalment, the Groove Cairngorm team have upped their game with top-quality artists performing for the après-ski set

Nightrave ft. Nightwave @ La Cheetah Club, 18 Feb

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 19:20:00 +0000

The line-up for the latest edition of the genre-defying La Cheetah Club night Nightrave reads like a who’s who of Glasgow’s finest under-the-radar electronic talent. First up on the night is So Low resident and Art School regular Becky Marshall who delivers a masterclass in cold synths and industrial electronics. Blending together music from the fringes, she shuns crowd pleasers in favour of the obscure and the left-field.

Up next is Rubadub affiliate Mother, who expertly transitions towards more murky, dubbed-out territories. The Heated Heads label boss showcases his seamless technical ability and wide-ranging musical tastes in what is the night’s standout performance. It's a set littered with dancehall and menacing grime instrumentals, and The Bug classic Skeng evokes a particularly enthusiastic reaction from the crowd when dropped in the latter stages.

Mother precedes the resident and night’s namesake Nightwave, debuting her all new live show to the Glasgow audience. Her Ableton set is characterised by high-paced, bass-heavy rhythms and keeps things moving along nicely. The crowd continues to swell throughout the night and by this stage the basement is close to capacity, despite the absence of any marquee names. This is testament to the appeal of the local DJs on show, and emphasises how engaged Glasgow clubbers are with the scene from the grassroots upwards.

It's left to Fear-E of the Dixon Avenue Basement Jams crew to close out proceedings as he takes to the decks for the final hour. He turns up the heat with a set that combines stripped-back house and feel-good disco, ensuring the stowed-out basement gets even sweatier, and Chaka Khan’s I’m Every Woman provides the hands-in-the-air moment needed to cap off yet another massively successful Nightrave event. This is a club night firmly in the ascendency and it’s difficult to think of any other promoters who can combine contrasting genres of music to such devastating effect.

Bicep @ SWG3, 3 Feb

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 15:07:00 +0000

Andy Ferguson and Matt McBriar, aka Bicep, head a stellar line-up at SWG3 in Glasgow

Kölsch @ Barrowland Ballroom, 13 October

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 17:04:00 +0000

With the Red Bull Music Academy UK Tour landing in Glasgow for the second consecutive year, anticipation is high after last year's debut outing that featured appearances from the likes of Optimo, Dimitri From Paris and Prins Thomas. This time around we're treated ti another exciting series of shows, lectures and workshops, with many of the events in quirky spaces and unexpected locations. Case in point – tonight's show, which sees Kompakt Records mogul Kölsch kicking off the tour at the iconic Barrowland Ballowroom.

Matching a DJ of Kölsch's reputation to a venue of equally grand stature was certainly a stroke of promotional genius, and though not packed to the rafters the ballroom hums with high spirits. Red Bull have taken over the bar with a range of drink and cocktail options, some of which are a challenge to order with a straight face ("three Tropical Frat Parties, thanks"). Before the great Dane takes to the podium, skittish beats, whiffs of grime and drum n' bass from Nightwave keep that frat party vibe alive. The Slovenian-born Maya Medvesek now calls Glasgow home, and after being selected for Red Bull Music Academy’s session in Madrid back in 2011, she has become something of a fixture on the circuit, popping up at last year's Sub Hub event alongside Harri & Domenic and Optimo.

Clad in black, with his trademark fedora holding fast despite his energetic stage moves, Kolsch starts off loose and trancey, dipping straight into a warm – dare we say it – almost EDM zone. His live set is expansive, though it's surprisingly to see such muted visuals given the scope the Barrowlands offers. With an after-party scheduled at Sub Club, one can't help but sense that he's holding his heavier fare in reserve.

Instead, lots of handclaps issue forth from the big man, pausing between songs to rile up the crowd. We're only 20 minutes in and already the 'here we fucking go' chant starts up, with Kölsch ladling out huge, crowd-pleasing drops amidst reliable 4/4 beats. It's a performance that veers somewhat towards style over substance, but nonetheless, the euphoria-charged dancers amass to give those sprung floorboards a solid Thursday night workout.

Ben UFO @ The Bongo Club, Friday 30 Sep

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 12:13:31 +0100

A sold out Bongo Club, a top-tier imported sound system, a 5am license, and Ben UFO. Even on paper these symbolise all the right ingredients for an incredible night. Kicking off the venue’s 20 year anniversary celebrations, the Substance team have set the bar high by calling in the services of one of the world’s most highly regarded selectors for a four-hour long set.

Just after half 12, we’re greeted by pounding, 909-driven 4/4 from resident Gavin Richardson. Ben UFO – aka Ben Thomson – is due on within the next 30 minutes, and a shared sense of crowd anticipation laces the dancefloor alongside the relentless acidic techno. Space is sparse at the front of the room come 1am, when Thomson then takes the helm for the remainder of the night.

Cowbells and pulsing 303 bass-lines signify the sounds of Fango’s latest release Rectum, making for a gracious transition to slower BPMs. On a similarly industrial wavelength, Randomer’s clunking Woodwork immediately puts the sound system through its paces. The result? A full body-meets-drum machine sensory takeover which can’t be achieved anywhere else but in a club environment.

Prior to the gig, rumours circulated of Ben pioneering ‘that’ new Denis Sulta song. And sure enough come the euphoric synth build-ups, a briefly lit-up dancefloor, and complimentary 808 drums. Testament to his abilities as a DJ, this transition between heavyweight, breakbeat techno and emotive tracks seems blissfully unobtrusive. As a DJ, Ben UFO is known to play down his stage presence. However when faced with a dark, jam-packed Bongo Club in the palm of his hand, a confident and powerful persona begins to emerge.

Clearly driven by the impressive range of the sound system, Thomson mixes unreleased rarities such as the latter with the famed Hessle Audio release Slope, by Joe. Circa 4am, the breezy guitar chords and drawn-out vocals of Midland’s Final Credits make for an abundance of smiling faces and a cheerful atmosphere, which continues thanks to a mix of Four Tet’s Kool FM over a variant of Chicago great Mike Dunn’s God Made Me Phunky.

Drawing to a close, Thomson mixes Floating Points’s beatless, synthy wonder Argent?, aptly culminating the night in feelings of total elation. This is played out in its entirety, before he launches into an onslaught of chaotic jungle and compelling dubstep for the last 20 minutes of the night. This seems appropriate, due to both Thomson's well-known love for the genres and the venue’s acclaimed history for bringing both to the capital over the years. Throughout the four hours of his set, Thomson manages what few DJs can – to bring about feelings of total unrivalled unity through music.

Plaid @ The Art School, 29 Sep

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 18:07:03 +0100

A celebration of ambient, electronic psychedelica is first up at The Art School this late evening, courtesy of Konx-om-Pax. The DJ, musician, graphic designer and animator also known as Tom Scholefield performs for the modest crowd who have made the effort to brave a cold and rainy Glasgow night. Scholefield's talent for animation is illustrated on the large projector screen behind him.

The graphic virtuoso has worked with the likes of Hudson Mohawke, Lone, Mogwai and Jamie Lidell, and his often ominous imagery marries well with his dark and progressive electronic sound. A floating, spinning skull disappears into pink clouds, shooting lines of colour next to floating balls of different hues, like a lava lamp on acid. The crowd is engrossed, almost entranced by the audio and visual feast. Konx-om-Pax takes his musical craft as seriously as his graphic work, evident by his concentration on the musical apparatus and relative lack of interaction with the audience.

Plaid, meanwhile, make a whistle-stop visit to Glasgow amidst a massive world tour. The London duo of Andy Turner and Ed Handley are veterans in electronic music having released albums together as far back as the early 1990s. The stage is altered, removing the projector screen and adding in its place a wall of triangles in front of the pair. This obscures the crowd’s view of the artists behind behind a wall of shapes and light, akin to the live performances of Richie Hawtin alter-ego Plastikman. The room fills and feels more engaged as Plaid transition from moody ambience to a loud trip-hop beat with melodic synths.

New album The Digging Remedy is received enthusiastically, with tracks such as Do Matter and CLOCK particular standouts. Multi-coloured spots appear on the triangular façade to be replaced with illumanati-like imagery of yellow eyes, all pulsing in time with the music. Lighting behind the on-stage wall of triangles creates an impressive silhouette as Turner and Handley progressively lift the energy of the crowd.

This culmination of light and sound proves a far more engrossing experience than your run-of-the-mill DJ on stage – it's understandable why this genre is often referred to as 'Intelligent Dance Music'.

FLY Open Air Festival: The Review

hello@theskinny.co.uk (The Skinny) — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 16:00:00 +0100

FLY Club present a stunning array of local and international talent at their first Open Air Festival in Princes Street Gardens