Friday, 30 May 2008, Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow's 3000-capacity cave aka The Arches is the place to be this week as Chicago house don and Classic label founder Derrick Carter struts his stuff at Pressure. The night also throws off its house shackles with a hefty bill of tool techno (Len Faki), Jedi acid house (Tom Middleton) and abrasive minimal from Minus upstart and Barcelona club king Paco Osuna. We caught up with the Catalonian minimal techno star ahead of the gig.

What kind of vibe are you expecting at the party?

Last time I was in Glasgow the atmosphere was amazing. People really were into the music and not all places are like that. I really like the line up, it should be a very interesting night. I love Derrick Carter's sound and Len Faki as well.

What happens once you’ve done your set?

If I’m lucky and I’m not the last DJ, sometimes I'll go to a hotel with some girls (laughs). Unfortunately I’m always the last so I have to take all my stuff, cables, sampler, computers, and go back to the hotel...alone.

Do you like to get in amongst the melee when you’re not playing?

(laughs). Sometimes, but not always.

How do the parties in the UK differ from back home?

I think it is very similar because Spain is a country really into electronic music right now. There are many clubs, parties, festivals but the most important thing is that also there are big artists and producers. That’s nice!

Where are your favourite clubs? And, more importantly, why?

Club 4 in Barcelona and Goa in Rome. Both are really special. Club 4 is where I had my first residency and right now I run the Thursday nights together with Marco Carola, Christian Smith and Adam Beyer. We all play once a month and we invite our friends to play with us. It's a real family club where I can do whatever I want. Goa is kind of the same, too. It has an amazing soundsystem and the owners are incredible people. This club always make me feel at home.

What’s your favourite closing tune?

It depends on the period. I don´t have one tune for closing all of my DJ sets, but 'Enjoy The Silence' by Depeche Mode is kind of special to me.

If there was a league of the best parties across the globe, what would be at the top?

Sonar (Barcelona) all week is just music in the city. WMC (Miami) same as Sonar but different atmosphere.

What’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?

Depends, as a big city Chicago but also Rome because all the time my brain doesn't stop imagining things when I'm walking in front of the colosseum,etc...

If you could be locked in a room for a day with two people, who would they be and why?

Two girls. Why? It's obvious, I think (smiles).

When was the last time you laughed so hard your eyes watered?

A few years ago a friend of mine in Ibiza jumped into the pool in a strange position from 2m and he broke his leg. It was amazing how it happened. Too bad about the consequence.

Finally, Barcelona – what does it mean to you?

Barcelona is absolutely everything to me. It is the place where I was born, the place where I learned about music, the place where I have my home, my football team, everything.

Thursday - 29 May 2008

Static Special @ Club 11

Thursday, 29 May 2008, Amsterdam, Netherlands

This extra school night special adheres to Statics usual high standard of minimal with Mr. V i.e. Villalobos spinning with his protégé Raresh, the up-and-coming youngster who is part of the Romanian invasion (see also Rhadoo and Pedro). Raresh's fiendish layers of minimal and tech-house can also hold their own against Ricky's so stick around for the back-to-back action. Yes, it’s Thursday, but have some sense. For only €12, you’re laughing!

Inner city pick: Stay away from the coffee shops and try out Amsterdam’s gorgeous Parisian quarter, the Jordan, instead.

Friday - 30 May 2008

Chibuku present The Liverpool SoundCity Closing Party at Nation

Friday, 30 May 2008, Liverpool, England

Thirty venues, four days, one European Capital of Culture, one gigantic feast of music. The closing shindig of the SoundCity festival is left to Felix Da Housecat’s alternative Chi Town groove and DIY genre fusion. He’s given a helping hand by Yousef’s soulful house and Steve Bug’s fresh aural salad of minimal, house and techno funk. Meanwhile, the dysfunctional drum and bass duo, Dillinja and Lemon D, blast the Valve Soundsystem along with Croydon’s own Dubstep twister Skream and Aussie headbangers Pendulum.

Inner city pick: If you’re in town for the weekend and fancy sampling the culture, a new exhibition of Kustav Klimt’s work will be opening at the Tate.

Beck'sperience presents at Muzeja Savremene Umetnosti

Friday, 30 May 2008, Belgrade, Serbia

DJ Hell's release arm International Deejay Gigolo rolls into Belgrade for a label showcase fronted by exciting Spanish girl squad Le Chic -- check their frenetic, sexy debut Le Mix -- and Abe Duque. Expect the the big boss man to cast a knowing eye over his employee's mixing antics before closing with a sturdy mix of electro and techno.

Inner city pick: Everyone loves a good boat party and Belgrade has a line of dock bars waiting to be exploited. The fashionable Acapulco bar is hard to find but lively once discovered.

Saturday - 31 May 2008

Clubmotoren at Watergate

Saturday, 31 May, Berlin, Germany

May is ending, so it’s time to throw open the doors and welcome in the summer. Clubmotoren should be hot, loud and ridiculously merry, but nothing that will scare the fluffy white swans floating nearby. They love a bit of Ellen Allien, the hometown BPitch High Commander who will be rinsing tracks from her fresh-from-the-press fourth album Sool. No doubt the occasion will be sparked by poppy labelmate, Sascha Funke, whose forthcoming Mango remixes should be the ultimate antidote to summer madness.

Inner city pick: Clad with steel and glass and epitomising an industrial realm of elegance, Tausend bar is popular, hidden and groovy throughout. Hedonism a must.

Paul Van Dyk: In Between Album Tour at Victoria Works

Saturday, 31 May 2008, Leeds, England

For a headline act of this magnitude you need a venue of equalling hype. It’s the law! The recently-launched Victoria Works is capable of such a task with its large open-air section and three indoor arenas. PVD has brought together some of his oldest, and newest pals - trancey Vandit labelmate, Giuseppe Ottaviani, and housey Cream colleague, Steve Porter - to celebrate the launch of his latest album In Between. Meanwhile, trance scenesters Riley & Durrant stamp their authorative new school flavour on the Elektrik Playground. Proper finger-pointing stuff!

Inner city pick: The Original Oak in Headingley has a cracking beer garden for those lazy summer days. Ideal for schmoozing with scantily clad students.

Sasha & John Digweed at Lush

Saturday, 31 May 2008, Portrush, Northern Ireland

You’d be hard pushed to find a more durable DJing partnership than Digweed and Sasha and this is a rare double sighting in this neck of the woods, for sure. As a duo, they’ve had an 8 year absence from NI. Their 5 hour, back-to-back set will undoubtedly borrow from Digweed’s recent Transitions Vol. 4 mix and Sasha’s EmFire label, which has been steadily gaining momentum since its inception last year. Expect the full palette of breaks, trance, prog and deep house. And oh, maybe some exciteable faces amongst the crowd.

Inner city pick: Perfect for those post-big night woes is a picnic in the sand dunes feeling the sea breeze and sun’s warming rays on your face – Whiterocks Beach is ideal.

Luciano at Fabric

Saturday, 31 May 2008, London, England

Put your hands up for Detroit because Messrs Richards and Francis have a trio of enticing Detroit helpers this week. Shinedoe floods the main room with her Dutch spin on Detroit techno but there’s more space and cutting edge talent in room three. Two emerging label heads worth bending an ear for are Keith Worthy and Sistrum Recordings’ deep house exec, Patrice Scott. Back in the main room melee, Romania’s twinkling star Petre Inspirescu (Pedro) lines up his minimal techno alongside Cadenza founder Luciano.

Inner city pick: The tiny PYMCA (Photographic Youth Music Culture Archive) gallery on Clerkenwell Road hosts exhibitions such as the Hip Hop Wildstyles or Pills, Still and Bellyaches. Very cool and very apt.

Techfest at The Thatch

Saturday, 31 May 2008, Tullamore, Ireland

The juxtaposition of industrial sound and an agricultural setting promises to make this one-dayer a real stomper. All the world’s leading tech brains will be present: the boshing-but-minimal Adam Beyer represents Sweden together with live techno from fellow countryman Hardcell; Mobilee employees Pan-Pot make their Irish debut; whilst pioneering Madrid label NET 28 showcase From Karaoke to Stardom’s squiggly techno. Rounding the day off are Scottish Soma legends Slam, and hardhouse/tech-house aristocracy, Fergie, who’ll hopefully slip in his hugely popular ‘Senderon’ track.

Inner city pick: If you’re in Ireland then you can't escape without having a drop of the good stuff. The Mallet Tavern is the town’s oldest boozer and still has its thatched roof.

Sunday - 1 June 2008

Opening Party at Space

Sunday, 1 June 2008, Ibiza, Spain

It all starts here. This is so big it can be seen by the naked eye from outer space. Too many names to mention them all, but as a taster….Deep Dish, Sasha, Pete Tong, David Guetta, Danny Tenaglia, Fatboy Slim, Steve Lawler. New legislation was recently passed which denotes all clubs must now shut their doors between 6am and 12pm. So, just start and finish earlier! Remember, the entire summer is waiting just over the horizon so you’ll need to get some rest.

Inner city pick: If you’re in the market for some great food and top tunes in a relaxed beach environment, then look no further than The Jockey Club on Salinas Beach.

Top photo credit: wo0