Welcome to Point Blank’s monthly club recommendations column, where we trawl the listings to bring you the essential events taking place in London and Los Angeles. As we roll into August, London waves goodbye to a Dalston institution (seriously, can someone stop shutting down our clubs), but don’t mourn too long, there’s still plenty of unmissable parties keeping the capital vital. Across the pond, August gets a little weird with the arrival of the third edition of Beserktown along with something to keep the techno purists happy. Make a note in those iCals now.
For those of you dreaming of seeing yourself included here, heading up the next big summer festival or slaying clubs around the world, you can find out about our range of courses in London, LA and online to kickstart your journey.
FWD with Midland, Skream, Artwork – Thursday 4th August – Dance Tunnel
August sees the brilliant Dalston venue Dance Tunnel shuttered for good, yet another casualty of London’s escalating rents and redevelopment. You could stick a pin in any of their final blowouts this month and have a ball – and advance tickets are long since sold out – but we like the look this, the last ever FWD (well, at Dance Tunnel at least). Midland joins forces with old hands Skream and Artwork, promising a messy Thursday all round. Prepare to queue for tickets on the door and whatever you do, don’t forget to book Friday off work. Tickets over here.
Xoyo 4th Birthday with Novelist, Kahn & Neek, AJ Tracey – Thursday 18th August – Xoyo
In spite of the difficult nightlife climate in London, Xoyo has managed to make it to four – and that’s worth celebrating, no? Who better to lead the festivities than grime label Bandulu Records? Pushing a spare, idiosyncratic take on the genre out of their Bristol base, they’ve recruited rising star of grime’s new generation – and Lewisham’s favourite son – Novelist to head up the night. MC AJ Tracey and label heads Kahn & Neek offer top tier support, too. Buy tickets.
Make Me with DJ Sprinkles, Tessela, Shanti Celeste – Saturday 6th August – Corsica Studios
Activist, computer musician and deep house producer Terre Thaemlitz aka DJ Sprinkles returns to the capital for the always-excellently curated Make Me party at Corsica. A crucial voice within electronic music, Thaemlitz’s thoughts and writings on gender and the commercialisation of house find amplification through her own productions which cleave to the model that true dance music is, at its heart, a political artform. She’s joined by Idle Hands’ Shanti Celeste and Tessela who’s own mutations of 21st century house make this party unmissable. Details here.
Prototype 038: Droid Prime with DVS-1, Nick Höppner – Saturday 6th August – Lot 613 [Los Angeles]
A Berghain/Panoramabar double-hander comes to Lot 613 this August as DVS-1 and Nick Höppner showcase their different perspectives on uncompromising techno. US-born DVS-1 is best known for his strident techno sets, alongside some impressive releases on Ben Klock’s Klockworks, Transmat and HUSH. On the other hand, Berlin’s Höppner – the former Ostgut Ton label manager and driving force – has always experimented with emotive melody, recently given free rein to his lighter side with a collab EP, Fantastic Planet, alongside Japan’s Gonno. If techno’s your thing, you’ll be here. More info.
Powell at Beserktown Festival – Friday 12th August – TBA
Powell’s Diagonal Records hits the US trail to mark their fifth anniversary, stopping off at “LA’s weirdest festival” Beserktown on the way. It makes sense, Powell is hardly one to shy away from the mutated and strange, and this weekend event also boasts the likes of Container, Psychic TV and Inga Copeland on their sprawling bill. He headlines the Friday night at the Telegram Ballroom and you can be sure he’ll nail the tone. More info here.
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