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JULY'S TOP CLUB NIGHTS

Cocoon, Leeds. Made Festival, Birmingham. XOYO, London. We Concur, London. Ezup, London.


Cocoon in the Park at Temple Newsam, Leeds
Saturday 11th July

Sven Väth, Carl Cox, Ricardo Villalobos, Dixon, Enzo Siragusa b2b Seb Zito

The awesome Cocoon in the Park returns for 2015 with another incredible line-up that should have you all online checking the fastest route to Leeds this July.

This much-loved day/night romp, now a staple of the North’s party/festival circuit, reaches its seventh year, taking up residence, once again, inside the lush, green backdrop of Yorkshire’s Temple Newsam. Up to 10,000 people will be in attendance for over 13 hours of pulsating techno from Papa Sven and friends.

Enzo Siragusa returns for his second year, with Fuse label and party mate, Seb Zito, for a b2b that sees the pair's first return to Leeds since their Terrace party/Fuse Showcase at Mint Warehouse two months prior.

They’ll be kicking matters off in signature style to warm up the Cocoon faithful into a frenzy before Dixon joins in, and off the back of some hefty touring, having played both Paris and T in the Park the previous day. This machine of a man always brings something special to his sets, be that club or festival, but with this his Cocoon in the Park debut, the Innervisions boss will be looking to set the place alight.

Techno, minimal and all-round vibe-master, Ricardo Villalobos is one Cocoon regular who, having debuted at the extravaganza on its fifth birthday in 2013, returns for his third year in a row. Given his ultra-selective booking schedule, this festival must be doing something right.

Legendary veteran of techno, Carl Cox, makes his debut appearance for Sven this year. The Intec boss should throw down one of his trademark energetic and grooving techno sets before handing over the controls to man of the hour, Sven Väth. Rarely ever putting a foot wrong, he’ll still be out to impress the Temple crowd, having put together such a hefty supporting cast.

The party doesn’t stop there with afters at the Mint Warehouse, where Enzo & Seb are joined by Cesar Merveille and more, TBC.

10am - 11pm | £40-£75 | cocooninthepark.com

2
The Rainbow Venues & Weird Science Present MADE Birmingham 2015
Saturday 25th July

MK, Wilkinson, Claude VonStroke, David Rodigan, Blonde (live), Lee Foss, Matrix & Futurebound, Heidi, Friction, Julio Bashmore, Beardyman, Dusky, Norman Jay MBE and a lot more!

Prominent Midlands’ party spot, the Digbeth Triangle, continues to keep its figurative foot firmly on the party gas this year, teeing up for MADE (The Metropolitan, Arts & Dance Event).

Delivering a huge, genre-spanning line-up that screams “proper festival” as opposed to “pony one-dayer”, 2015 will build upon their incredibly successful launch in 2014, which saw a similarly rich and varied line-up spread across the renowned region of venues in the industrial district of Digbeth.

Having boasted “50 of the worlds finest electronic music acts”, their plans to deliver this programme include six new and unique concept stages. Drafting in the skills of designers and creatives to impart their vision, MADE-for-it-ravers will be stimulated by bespoke lighting, visuals and innovative set design across the vast arena within the Rainbow Venues’ umbrella.

Be it a pub, basement, mezzanine, textile factory, garden or warehouse, the likes of MK, Wilkinson, Beardyman, Blonde (live), Claude VonStroke, David Rodigan, and 44 other highlights will be guiding you through their wealth of music and inventive performances from midday to midnight. Just follow the rainbow, y’all...

12pm - 12am | £25-£60 | therainbowvenues.co.uk

3
XOYO, LONDON

Friday 17th July

Matthew Dear, Delano Smith, Dauwd

Balancing old and new together on a line-up is a tricky recipe to master. In fact it’s something promotions rarely pull off these days without feeling overly retro or sentimental.

Cooking can be made easier with the right ingredients, however, and XOYO looks to have rustled up the perfect meal by bringing together the experience of Detroit alumni, Ghostly International’s Matthew Dear aka Audion and Mixmode head honcho Delano Smith, and the rising talent of Kompakt's Dauwd.

The recipe goes something like this; start with a solid Detroit-techno influenced base, add some experimental and boundary-pushing ideals, and whilst that’s simmering, throw in some fresh talent and youth to add some impact to the flavour profile...

it’s at this point you realize you just want to party. So address these needs first, put down the wooden spoon and come back to the cooking on Saturday night when you’re all danced out.

Expect to see a metaphysical alignment of musical brilliance from Dear and Delano, and take the chance now to catch Dauwd before he blows up (more)... like, seriously, he’s on his third Kompakt release (out of only six in total). Get to it, goddammit!

9pm-4am | £14 | xoyo.co.uk

4
We Concur All Day/All Night with Michael Mayer, Extrawelt (Live), Robag Wruhme and more @ Oval Space
Saturday 11th July

Michael Mayer, Extrawelt (Live), Robag Wruhme, Alex Niggemann, Christian Löffler, Rachel Lyn, Aiden Doherty, Tom Law, Qash

When we say they put on massive line-ups, we mean they put on massive line-ups. Arguing with us is just wasting time and quite frankly that’s something we haven’t got a lot of. Where We Concur is concerned we make time, and we’ve cleared our diary on the 11th July.

It’s hard to say who's headlining and who isn't, given they have Kompakt label head Michael Mayer joining them, alongside Cocoon favourites Extrawelt (live); Pampa and Kompakt champion, Robag Wruhme; Aeon Recordings owner/producer Alex Niggemann, and in-demand live showman Christian Löffler.

The extensive programme kicks off at 2pm, with food on offer in the terrace to keep your energy levels ripe, and runs all the way until sunrise. So next time we say they put on massive line-ups, just say, “You concur”!

2pm-6am | £20 | facebook.com/weconcur

5
Ezup All Day Party @ The London Fields Brewery, London
Saturday 11th July

Rick Wilhite, Neville Watson, Dixon Avenue Basement Jams, Denis Sulta

One of our favourites from Glasgow’s burgeoning underground house and techno scene, Ezup bring their brand of good times and gritty, raw music selectors down south for a day and night of Detroit and Glasgow techno.

Having started life as a Sunday party 18 months ago and establishing themselves on a diet of Mia Dora, Milton Jackson, Todd Edwards, Chesus, JG Wilkes and The Revenge, Ezup’s first foray outside of Scotland lands slap-bang in the heart of East London at London Fields Brewery where Detroit’s Godson and Rick Wilhite will showcase some genuine Motor City grooves; Neville Watson plays live, showing everyone what’s what with his celebrated free-form set;

Glasgow’s label and DJ duo, Dixon Avenue Basement Jams (DABJ) bring their “real rockin’ raw shit”, whilst experienced new man on the block and DABJ releasing artist, Denis Sulta, rounds off the all-day affair. Serving pizza outside from 2pm, this will be a party stocked full of good vibes and not one to miss.

2pm - 12am | £16-£30 | londonfieldsbrewery.co.uk

WORDS: LEON CLARKSON