Has Christmas Come Early To Clubland? Drake, Mills, Corsten, Burkhardt, Relm…and Massive Attack, to name but a few! Phew!
Everywhere you look this weekend there’s club quality of the highest order. Talk about being spoilt for choice…
Thursday, October 14th
Canadian Hip-hop rapper Drake is at The Shrine tonight from 9pm. Former actor turned singer, Drake’s star has been rising steadily since 2009 when he signed for Lil Wayne’s record label and has since had number one’s and a string of Grammy nominations to his name. He is joined at this special after-party by his tour DJ Future the Prince, with resident spinners Sean Macnificent, and Jay Illa opening. $35 on the night, or $25 in advance from clubtix.net. South Wasbah Avenue. http://www.theshrinechicago.com
Over at Metro, Londoner Four Tet will be delighting the punters with his unique blend of mixing that sees him fuse jazz and folk into new techno, hip-hop, and electronica with amazing skill and sonic resonance that has seen him become a major draw on the club scene 1998 when he first gave the world his mega 36-minute single ‘Thirtysixtwentyfive’. Four Tet, formerly of the band Fridge, has worked with numerous big names ever since and remixed everyone from Manic Street Preachers to Beth Orton to Black Sabbath! With Four Tet is joined by moody dancefloor maestro Matthew Dear and piano-based wizard Jon Hopkins. From 9pm, north Clark Street. $21, 18+.
http://www.metrochicago.com
Friday, October 15th
Known as ‘The Wizard’ in the 80s when a DJ at radio WJLB, Jeff Mills turned his hand to the decks himself as producer and has since being wowing the club scene with his very personal, and spacey, atmospheric techno ever since. He has been credited as the founder of the Detroit Techno Collective, is seen as highly innovative, and experimental, and has even branched into orchestral pieces. His live DJ sets have become legendary…and little wonder, he has been known to use three decks, a drum machine, and up to 70 records in one hour! No wonder they call him The Wizard…and you catch him tonight at Smart Bar, north Clark Street, from 10pm. $20, $15 before midnight. http://www.smartbarchicago.com/
Meanwhile, over at the Riviera Theatre, one of the great trip-hop acts of all time will be on stage from 8.30pm. We are of course talking about the massively massive 3D and Daddy G, otherwise known as Massive Attack, and they are here showcasing their new album ‘Heligoland’, with reggae great Horace Andy and vocalist Martina Topley-Bird. $40, 18+.
http://www.rivieratheatre.com/
San Fran’s Mike Relm is at House of Blues, with Tittsworth, Dani Deahl, Willy Joy, and Zebo. Relm, who has performed with world-renowned oddity Blue Man Group, is known for his incredible audio/visual mash-ups on a Pioneer DVJ1000, which have proved to be jaw-dropping experiences that give clubland goers so much pleasure, and intense dancejoy. With Tittsworth’s electro-house-bmore on the bill to, this is going to be one heck of a night. Add Chicago’s very own talents in the shape of Dani Deahl, Zebo and Willy Joy and, well, all we can say is turn up early, stay late. $20 on the night, $15 in advance, north Dearborn Street. From 9pm. http://www.hob.com/chicago
Saturday, October 16th
Getting into Congress Theater might be a little tricky tonight, despite its sizeable interior, as headliner Ferry Corsten usually commands crowds in their tens of thousands, and then when you add ATB and Robbie Rivera to the bill you know it’s gonna be one massive rave that just might take the roof off! After selling mixed tapes to neighbours when he was a kid to raise money for his first keyboard, Corsten, from Rotterdam, Holland, went on to cut his first record at 16, and has never looked back. He is now a world favorite on the trance scene, and was voted 7th by DJ Magazine in its Top 100 poll in 2009. ATB from Germany, and home-grown Robbie Rivera give the night a ‘one-nation’ rave feel along with other guest jocks that’s not to be missed. $29.50-$50. North Milwaukee Avenue. 17+.
http://www.congresschicago.com/HomeComing.asp
Meanwhile, over at Vision there’s a Mutiny at hand as techno hits the decks all night with Christian Burkhardt and fellow techie greats taking to the stage to make a break from Visions’ usual state of entrancement. From Germany, Burkhardt is making his live Chicago debut alongside the city’s own techno crew comprising Jason Patrick, Frederick Zahm, Savile, Lee Jarvis, as well as Detroit’s rising star Prep.Step. It’s free, from 10pm, north Dearborn Street.
http://www.visionnightclub.com/
