DJ Format, Headspin, The Bongo Club, 24 Feb

Straight outta Southampton, Matt Ford, AKA DJ Format, is one of just a handful of truly prolific British hip-hop producers, and quite a coup for the Bongo Club. Previously on tour DJ with Jurassic 5 and DJ Shadow, he really made his name with debut album Music for the Mature B-Boy in 2003. It was followed two years later with If You Cant Join Em' Beat Em', which saw his production skills flourish, aided by MCs Abdominal and D-Sisive. This time, without his rappers, he lets the records do the talking, and after typically solid support form the Headspin residents, he opens with fan favourite Ill Culinary Behaviour, before diving headfirst into an orgy of every style, era and region of hip-hop. Much like his recent Fabric mix, the set gradually builds up the tempo and branches out into other musical disciplines, always demonstrating an ear for the funky breaks and catchy riffs so evident in his production work. [Peter Walker]