| URBAN GROOVE PREVIEW
Heading into the last furlong of summer, there are plenty of dance options for the remaining hot August homestretch.
Two monster headliners take to the stage at the Night Gallery this coming week – Toots and the Maytals on Friday, August 10 and Mixmaster Mike the following night.
In the "holy shit" vein, reggae fans and anyone with a soul full of love should take time to bow before one of reggae’s founding fathers, Toots Hibbert. Attributed with coining the term reggae – and with scoring notable classics such as "Monkey Man," "Pressure Drop" and "54-46 Was My Number" – Toots and his group The Maytals linked the Caribbean sonica to the globe and made a lasting influence on many a musician from Aretha Franklin to The Clash (their cover version of "Pressure Drop" ranks as one of their most magnificent moments).
Mixmaster Mike, the Beastie Boys’ beat-juggler, will give it all he’s got for a post-Snow Jam show at the Gallery. If you’ve missed him on previous occasions at Mac Hall, then this should be a priority for your entertainment options, as Mike never disappoints turntablism aficionados. Mixing everything from rare groove to hip-hop, Mike will take a sojourn through the land of diversity, accompanied by Melo-D and Pump.
For those who’d rather bounce, there will be no shortage of options on your dance card either.
The Warehouse brings you the birthday party of Grooverobber on Friday, August 10, which will feature, not so oddly, Grooverobber and the return of Rachel Auburn. Presented as part of the Warehouse’s Horizon, Special Agent will command the all-night 4/4 festivities.
Over in the land of breaks, on August 11, Rock da Funky Beats will bring you the finest in Alberta’s breaks DJs, notably Pete Emes of Hai Karate and Bridge fame. It will also feature live human-canvas painting. Tickets are available in advance at Feroshus. Call 508-8720 for location and further information.
Plurtopia will offer you a free techno ride on Saturday, August 11 at an outdoor venue yet to be disclosed. This is a free party that will harness the techno wizardry of Troy Allen, Evil G, Ursa, Jay B, Stutter, Molly F and J3FF. You can call 264-9901 for details on where to go and how to get there.
In the land of newly minted nights, Audio takes place at Escape on Friday, August 10, featuring the Jeckyl-and-Hyde DJ work of Cary Chang. He’ll play everything from trance to breaks for a night of multiple beat satisfaction.
Blissed, after hours on Saturday, August 11 at the Warehouse, will have a set from San Francisco’s Morgan along with regular hosts Pauly Dee and Anthem.
Prog house enthusiasts can do it all night at Emerald Café on Friday with Mark Thomas, Mel Reyes and Arlen, for a night of Balance.
Junglists and Double D fans can come together at the Castle Pub on Wednesday, August 15. This week only, you’ll get to hear techno goddess DD spin the broken and beautiful side of the beat world along with Wednesday night host and Dirty Decibel resident teamster, DJ Proph.
One Fish Two Fish will also look for your patronage on August 15 for a night that features new local DJs playing a bevy of beats. Enter through the back alley behind the Fox and Firkin downtown.
On August 15, The Embassy has Jonus "dyno-mite" Jordon playing drum ’n’ bass while Bruno and Spacek play deep house music upstairs.
At Pandemonium on August 15, Toronto’s Paranoid Jack lands a slot at Fehrenheit with Domenic G, Delerious and DJ Fever. Jack’s "Last of the Funky Cyborgs" is skyrocketing up the tech house charts and will no doubt find an appreciative audience here.
Speaking of tracks, Calgary's Delerious now has a track in rotation on the BBC, which is a huge deal, as the Beeb is one of the world’s leading purveyors of dance music.
Got a thing? E-mail Cunga66@home.com. |
