With the traditional January lull out the way, things get back to normal for Bristol club land this weekend, with a typically solid selection of parties taking place across the city.
From house and techno at Just Jack’s ninth birthday, to filthy D&B at The Black Swan and boom-bap-'til-you-drop at Start The Bus, kiss goodbye to ‘dry January’ and get your 2015 really moving at one of these.
51.27’ x MadTech – Thekla, The Grove, Friday, £4
Over on the good ship Thekla, regular in-house promotion 51.27’ links with house music demi-god Kerri Chandler’s MadTech Records to get the weekend started. Since its beginnings as a sister label to the Madhouse imprint back in 2012, MadTech has built a solid rep for blooding hot new 4/4 talent and this Friday’s showcase gives a bunch of the label’s latest signatories chance to show what they’re all about. Cera Alba headlines, while local talent Artifact is joined by fellow label new boys Kalyde, Kahsii and Icarus, and a Brick Artists showcase keeps things ship-shape up on the top deck.
Dispatch Recordings Present DLR ‘Seeing Sounds’ LP Launch – The Black Swan, Stapleton Road, Saturday, £10
There’s nothing quite like a down-and-dirty rave-up at The Black Swan, and this Saturday’s Dispatch Recordings party is as good a reason as you’ll get all year to put your dirtiest trainers on and pay the Dirty Duck a visit. Celebrating the launch of label stalwart DLR’s ‘Seeing Sounds’ LP, Saturday’s bash also promises sets from two of the most respected producers from D&B’s harder side, Optiv & BTK, plus label boss Ant TC1, Bristol’s own Mako and the hotly tipped AMOSS.
J-Dilla Changed My Life – Start The Bus, Saturday, £10 - £25 (donations)
This long running annual tribute to one of hip-hop’s greatest ever beatsmiths returns to Bristol for a second year on Saturday, with a bunch of the UK and Bristol’s favourite boom-bap selectors in tow. Hitting Start The Bus with their favourite Jay Dee jams will be The Scratch Perverts, Spin Doctor and Mr Thing, plus local Dilla dilettantes Tom D, DJ Skint and the Type Sun band – who will be performing instrumentals and live covers of the great man’s work. All proceeds go to the J-Dilla Foundation and Lupus UK.
Just Jack 9th Birthday - Motion, Saturday, £22.50
House and techno circus Just Jack turns nine this week and celebrates in fitting style with an enormous line-up that only Colonel Wrongface could pull off. Detroit’s very own Derrick May makes his JJ debut, joined by the irrepressible Mr G, Glasgow legends Optimo, Berlin’s Mr Ties and Ostgut Ton heavyweights Tama Sumo and Ryan Elliot. Expect all the usually JJ general tomfoolery and production prowess, as well as hour after hour of damn good music.