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HIGH FIVE: OCTOBER

The five nights you need to hit in the UK this October!

1 SIMPLE THINGS, BRISTOL
FRIDAY 25th – SATURDAY 26th OCTOBER

CARIBOU (LIVE), MOGWAI, DJ HARVEY, JESSY LANZA, ZOMBY, LIARS, SOPHIE, NIGHTMARES ON WAX, DJ SPRINKLES, DJ NATURE, KODE9, DVS1, LAUREL HALO, REDINHO, MAX GRAEF, DARK SKY, HAPPA, SEVEN DAVIS JNR, SCRATCHA DVA, COOLY G, FUTUREBOOGIE AND MORE...

With a line-up closer to London's Field Day than Love Saves the Day, headline sets come from recent cover star Caribou and Glasgow's post-rock outfit Mogwai, but the majority showing up here are experimental electronic live acts or groundbreaking DJs.

Sixty acts have been lined up for various warehouse spaces, clubs and roof terraces across the UK's western clubbing capital, with rare techno breeds such as Zomby, Actress and DVS1 crossing paths with the likes of SOPHIE, DJ Sprinkles and DJ Harvey. There's a fair amount of local names too — Turbowolf, Oliver Wilde, Pardon My French, Thought Forms and Invada Records (with a stage curated by Portishead's Geoff Barrow) — bringing attention to the here and now of a buzzing scene that birthed Massive Attack, carried the flag so valiantly for dubstep in the '00s and helped rekindle house (a la Futureboogie & co) and beyond.

Following the opening party with Caribou and Jessy Lanza on Friday, the lion's share of the action takes over most of Saturday, with 17 hours of music programmed across 12 stages in total — a single pass gets you access to all the events. Simple Things is simply unmissable.

8pm – 1am/12am - 5am | £22.50/£40 | simplethingsfestival.co.uk

2 JUST JACK, IN:MOTION, BRISTOL
SATURDAY 1st NOVEMBER

ÂME, MANO LE TOUGH, HEAD HIGH (SHED), DELANO SMITH, PARANOID LONDON (LIVE), MONSIEUR GEORGET (LIVE), JAY DANIEL AND MORE...


Bristol is where it's at this month as In:Motion gets into full swing. OK, technically Just Jack's Halloween Freak Boutique is happening in November, but the way ticket sales are going, if we don't tell you about it now, it'll be too late!

Featuring insanely in-demand Innervisions duo Âme alongside label favourite Mano Le Tough, Bristol's leading house/techno promotion has also locked in Berlin's dub-techno merchant Shed under his Head High alias as well as Detroit's lush deep houser Delano Smith.

In:Motion — Motion's three month autumn club season — kicks off this month with Apex feat Skream, Huxley, Ben Pearce and Will Saul on 10th October. The Blast Halloween Carnival of The Dead is on Friday 31st October with Grandmaster Flash, Shy FX and Dead Prez (live), but Just Jack is the one that'll get house and techno lovers in motion.

10pm – 6am | £25 | bristolinmotion.com

3 FACT PRESENTS MOBILEE, EGG LDN, LONDON
SATURDAY 25th OCTOBER

ANJA SCHNEIDER, RAY OPKARA, AND.ID (LIVE), ANDRE BULJAT, HITCH, SPECIAL GUEST TBA, KRIS WADSWORTH, TIGER STRIPES, THE WILLERS BROTHERS

Barcelona party FACT has been growing its London wing and now, like the club that houses it, it's competing with the big boys. Roping in Anja Schneider's Mobilee imprint to host The Terrace, Ray Opkara and And.ID will join tech house's femme fatale, while downstairs no nonsense Detroit techno head Kris Wadsworth will be joined by a special guest (TBA) and Tigerstripes.

Founded in 2005, the Berlin imprint, home to talent such as Sebo K, Rodriguez Jnr, Pan-Pot and now Lee Van Dowski — with renowned parties at ADE, Sonar and beyond — is without doubt one of Europe's most wanted these days.

11pm – 10am | £13.50+ | fact.worldwide.com

4 BORN ELECTRIC, XOYO, LONDON
FRIDAY 10th OCTOBER

JAMES ZABIELA, PEDESTRIAN, BENJAMIN DAMAGE

In the space of just over two years, James Zabiela's Born Electric has gone from zero to hero, providing a platform for the careers of Pedestrian, Drew Hill and Iron Galaxy, while returning the boss' reputation back underground, seeing his profile rise as a result.

This month, he's invited one of the names he helped make, and label associate, Benjamin Damage to east London's leading dance venue. Expect this party to be big, bold and bassy!

9pm – 4am | £12.50+ | xoyo.co.uk

5 OHM SWEET OHM, THE PLUG, SHEFFIELD
SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER

SPECIAL REQUEST, TRIKK, SQUAREHEAD

Ohm Sweet Ohm opens its autumnal account with a cracker. Inviting Paul Woolford as Special Request to play alongside house/bass architect Trikk, this tried-and-tested house night is proving that the underground of this city is not only about 4/4 beats. With hardcore breaks meeting in the middle with garage, house and techno, this night is bringing a lot more to Sheffield's students than cheesy pop and shuffling.

11pm – late | £8 | the-plug.com