Scotland Clubbing Highlights – May 2013

May kicks off in fine style with a bank holiday weekend schedule that could potentially leave some people bankrupt and broken long before they even know what month it is. Chief among the innumerable highlights on 4 May, Glasgow’s La Cheetah welcomes back gifted selector Theo Parrish, a year after he treated patrons of the club to a four hour masterclass in the art of mixing. That night the deep house pioneer performed one of the finest sets the club has ever hosted, and his general form suggests it would be a mistake to miss him this time round (£12 + BF).

The same night sees Edinburgh’s Unseen celebrate its first birthday in the company of London-based producer Truss aka MPIA3. Tom Russell operates at the grittier end of the techno spectrum and his releases have found a home on such acclaimed labels as Perc Trax and R&S (Studio 24, £5 before 11, £8 after). Elsewhere in the capital, Andrew Weatherall and Sean Johnston take their celebrated club night, A Love From Outer Space, to the Cowgate, offering “an oasis of slowness” for those who like to get down to mid-tempo sounds at peak times (The Annexe, £12.50 adv).  

Back in Glasgow, Naive hosts a showcase put together by the increasingly hyped Belfast-based duo, Bicep. Over the past year, whether dropping infectious piano house or more sullen, penetrating productions on Will Saul’s Aus Music, they have firmly signalled their intent, epitomised by the establishment of the Feel My Bicep label in 2012. Joining them is Berlin’s Panorama Bar resident Steffi and London trio Dark Sky (Make Do, 5 May, £8, £10, £12 adv).

Later in the month, Pan-Pot make their debut appearance in Edinburgh as Pulse and Karnival team up to host a night of driving, minimalist techno. The increasingly in-demand duo have become almost synonymous with that most prevalent breed of 4/4 dancefloor rhythms which pulsate through rooms across the globe. They’re joined on the night by Andy Problems and Darell Harding (The Liquid Room, 11 May, £13.50 + BF). If you like your tunes similarly driving, but with slightly more grit, you would be wise to head down to Glasgow’s Animal Farm the following week for Truncate aka Audio Injection and Rødhåd. The former has seen his work praised by heavyweights such as Ben Klock and Marcel Dettman, while the latter often plies his trade in Berlin’s legendary techno temple, Berghain (Sub Club, 17 May, £12).

Glasgow’s Saint Judes has been steadily building momentum in recent months and this month’s We Love Detroit event may just be their biggest splash yet. On 18 May they welcome techno’s early innovator Derrick May to the club along with more recent Motor City graduate Jimmy Edgar (£10/15/18) The following weekend, Sneaky Pete’s hosts one of the capital’s best nights this month with the appearance of Panorama Bar resident Prosumer. The German house head has recently moved to Edinburgh which will hopefully enable a steadier diet of appearances on Scottish soil (24 May, £10).

There’s a strong close to the month with La Cheetah teaming up with The Guild of Calamitous Intent to showcase the rarely off the mark New York-based label L.I.E.S. The night will see Delroy Edwards dropping deep house sounds galvanised by chunky, ghetto style percussion, while the label’s multi-functional Steve Summers presents a live set (25 May, £10). Last but not least, a brief thought or two on May’s Electric Frog. Following on from their Easter event, the lineup is once again impressive in its scope. Standouts this time around are Detroit techno brothers in arms Octave One, Chicago house veteran Chez Damier and Scotland’s own disco edit masters 6th Borough Project, the pairing of Craig Smith and Graeme Clark (SWG3, 25-27 May, £35 weekend ticket).