— 01.01.12
Few would dispute the claim that Skream is the biggest name to have emerged from the dubstep scene in the last decade, huge both in terms of popularity but also in influence on the scene as a whole. Known as one of the scene’s most entertaining and accomplished DJs, his intense sets headlining festivals and clubs across the globe, demonstrated on his classic Essential mix for Radio 1. An incredibly passionate music lover, his 130 BPM set at the Modeselektion event will be a rare and unique opportunity for him to display a different facet of his DJing.
A legendary party starter, Detroit’s Seth Troxler has spent the last ten years driving crowds into frenzies in the best clubs and festivals across the world, either as part of the Visionquest crew or on his own. Regarded by many as one of the most exciting house and techno DJs on the planet, his Essential mix on Radio 1 this year was one of the best of recent times, featuring the likes of Moodymann, Julio Bashmore, DJ Sneak and Tiga.
One of the most exciting and uncompromising DJs in the UK, Kieran Hebden’s DJ sets are as varied, engrossing and unique as the music he releases under his Four Tet guise. From the latest upfront techno releases to his own ground-breaking collaborations with the likes of Burial and Thom Yorke, he is rightly regarded by many as one of the best DJs working today, his passion and desire to entertain the dance floor matched only by his willingness to push musical boundaries behind the mixer as much as he does in the studio.
To many, Jamie Jones is regarded simply as one of the best house and techno DJs to have come from the UK in the last ten years. With years of experience playing at the very best festivals and clubs in the world, from Fabric in London, Watergate in Berlin to Space in Ibiza as well as many Crosstown Rebels and Hot Creations parties across the world, very few DJs can match his ability to enthral a crowd so effortlessly. A master at building a groove, as evidenced on his own fantastic productions, his mixes for the likes of Mixmag show why he is revered by so many.
His music is known for its wild playfulness and unique individual style, and Hudson Mohawke’s DJ sets are no different; from the latest upfront hip hop and digital r&b from America to German techno and the experimental beats of Flying Lotus, Samiyam and Sholomo, he is a thrilling and eclectic DJ. The youngest ever entrant to the UK DMC championships, his technical abilities are second to none, with his passion for brilliantly challenging dance music abundantly evident throughout his sets.
Every year the number of people who claim that Jackmaster is the best DJ in the UK bar none grows and grows, and the fact that he has built such a reputation without ever releasing a track of his own music speaks volumes. Very few DJs ever reach the level he does, an exceptional performer that can entertain crowds no matter what their musical preference. His electric, eclectic sets saw him win the much coveted Best Breakthrough DJ award in DJ magazine last year, as well as Fabric commissioning him for a mix CD, one of the very few DJs to do so known only for their DJing rather than their productions. His sets take in everything from vintage acid house and Detroit techno to hip hop and Uk garage, to the latest upfront bass music released on his brilliant Numbers label.
L-Vis 1990, is one of the most exciting young DJs in the UK, his bass heavy sets taking in elements of garage, electro, UK funky, dubstep, techno and many other sounds, as do his productions. His single United Groove, released in 2009 on Diplo’s popular Mad Decent label, was a huge hit, getting plays from DJs across various scenes such as Jack Beats, Drop The Lime, Roska, Fake Blood and Annie Mac amongst many others. He frequently collaborates with fellow Night Slugs boss Bok Bok, his most recent EP Forever You recently released on their label. His eclectic sets have seen him travel the globe playing clubs such as Fabric, Glasgow’s Numbers, Sonar festival and Field Day, and earlier this year he released a brilliantly eclectic mix as part of the Sound Pellegrino podcast series featuring the likes of Julio Bashmore, Green Velvet, Snoop Dogg and Cassius.
Since his eponymous debut EP on Claude Von Stroke’s Dirtybird label back in 2009, Bristol’s Julio Bashmore has won many fans of his stylish fusion of classic deep house, broken beat, UK Garage and techno. Tracks such as Footsteppin’, Batak Groove and this year’s Battle For Middle You were hugely popular amongst his contemporaries such as Deadboy, Jackmaster, Joy Orbison and Pearson Sound. As well as remixing the likes of Mosca and Classixx, this year alone has seen him perform at Fabric, Social Club in Paris, Glastonbury and the Big Chill.
Of Ukrainian descent, growing up in Yorkshire but now residing in Manchester, Krysko has been DJing for over 17 years and is rightly known as one of the best DJs in the whole city. A handpicked resident for Sankeys and Tribal Gathering for many years, the list of legendary names he has played with goes on and on; Derrick Carter, Francois K, Todd Terry, Underground Resistance and countless more. Over the last few years he has been a stalwart resident of the Warehouse Project, playing alongside the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Basement Jaxx, Hot Chip and others, as well as playing on the WHP essential mix on Radio 1.
Having spent his youth in various bands xxxy, otherwise known as Rupert Taylor, finally decided to hang up his guitar and began producing electronic music fuelled by his love of drum and bass and techno. He released the Reflections EP on the influential Manchester label Mindset and Science Fiction / 651 on Formant Recordings both in 2009.
Last year saw the release of a split on Infrasonics, comprised of the Baltimore influenced Blue Flashing Lights and Know You, which was included in FACT magazine’s tunes of 2010 list. Pitchfork picked this year’s Ordinary Things as the best new tune of the day, and he has forthcoming releases on Orca, Well Rounded, Infrasonics and All City. His music takes on myriad influences, from Detroit techno to the post dubstep sounds of compatriots and peers Burial and James Blake.
WHP resident Greg has also previously held residencies at Sankeys and the former Paradise Factory, and over the last decade has played alongside artists as diverse as Dave Clarke, Francois K, Jeff Mills, Basement Jaxx, Carl Craig, Giles Peterson, Steve Lawler and Jamie Jones amongst many others. His residencies have enabled him to master a wide range of styles, ranging from soulful and jazzy deep house all the way to uncompromising techno. Recently Greg has played high profile gigs outside of Manchester at the likes of London’s Matter and a set at V Festival.
In less than three years Manchester’s Now Wave have graduated from putting on up and coming bands at the Deaf Institute to bringing huge international acts such as Flying Lotus, Battles, DOOM, The XX, Four Tet and Chris Cunningham to Manchester for some of the most thrilling and ground-breaking shows the city has seen in a long time. Their weekly club night adheres strictly to their motto “give the past a slip”, playing only the best new music from the last two years. They recently put on the first Now Wave at the Apollo event, featuring Caribou, Battles and a host of other acts at the legendary Mancunian venue.
A long-time resident of The Warehouse Project and one half of highly respected electronica duo Andro + Dimit, Belfast's Andro was one of the founding members of legendary Manchester night Naive Melody. Bringing huge guests to the city such as Carl Craig, Superpitcher, Michael Mayer, Daniel Wang I-F, Smith n Hack and Aeroplane to name just a handful, Andro quickly established himself as one of the city's brightest young up and coming DJs, his sets mixing old classics and vintage electronica with newer techno from the likes of Marcel Dettmann and Surgeon. He has played with the likes of Theo Parrish, Slam, Steve Bug, Green Velvet amongst countless others.
In two short years Juicy have quickly established themselves as Manchester’s best loved hip hop night. As well as their hugely popular club nights, they have also hosted shows by Grandmaster Flash, Raekwon and the DMC Championships, as well as the opening up for the likes of the Wu Tang Clan, Kelis, Big Boi, Mark Ronson and countless others. Known for their house party style of DJing, they were named Best New Club by the MEN last year, and have hosted tents at Parklife and Kendal Calling festivals.
One of the co-founders of the greatly missed Mancunian institution Tramp!, Will Dunn and his friends bought such diverse guests as Modeselektor, Tim Sweeney, Diplo, Joakim, Chromeo and Justice to their party at the Bierkeller, with a musical policy of anything goes. They quickly gained a reputation as one of the most forward thinking club nights in the country, packing in the crowds week in week out for 4 years, with Will playing all around the UK and beyond including sets at Optimo, Fabric, Futuresonic festival, Bugged Out! and the Big Chill to name just a few.
Since bowing out gracefully from a weekly club format, Tramp! have thrown sporadic parties around Manchester and Will has gained a reputation as one of the most daring, eclectic and passionate DJs in the city, regularly playing at Homoelectric and Bugged Out! as well as several high profile slots on this year’s festival circuit including Parklife and Electric Elephant in Croatia.