DJ Heather @ Solescience, Cabaret Voltaire, Aug 11 (for skinnyfest 1)

Expect a boompty-boomp ride through the Windy City

Article by Colin Chapman | 14 Aug 2006
Chicago native Heather Robinson's early musical inspiration came from her parents' varied record collection of jazz, blues, soul and folk; later she would expand her tastes to include hip-hop, ska, new wave, punk and industrial. She began DJing in Chicago at a local bar, where she learned how to read a crowd and program her sets accordingly, and soon she developed an interest in the technical aspects of DJing. Impressed by the skills of local talent as Mark Farina and Derrick Carter she got a pair of belt drive decks describing the first time she mixed two records "like discovering a new secret language". After holding various jobs in the record industry she became Hip-Hop buyer at Chicago's famous Gramophone Records store, using the experience to network and promote her DJing skills. Her bookings increased so much as a result that she had to leave and it was at this point she moved from playing hip-hop to her now signature sound of house. A tour with Mark Farina in the late nineties helped her gain global recognition, and since then she's played the world over. Expect Heather to be the perfect tour guide on a boompty-boomp ride through the Windy City and her new mix album, 'House of Om'. This is her only Scottish date, so you have one chance only to catch her before she leaves these shores for Fabric in London. Residents Nick Yuill and Rob Mathie will be supplying the house support, that's if they don't get too overexcited at the prospect of hosting DJ Heather! [Colin Chapman]

10.30pm-5am, £7 http://www.solescience.co.uk