Tomorrow, we’re heading to London to catch A Taste of Sonar, Sonar Festival’s annual preview event in London. Headlined by Buraka Som Sistema, the event is meant to give the London audience a taste of some of the artists playing at the Barcelona festival this June. Buraka will perform on the main stage, along with The Gaslamp Killer and Noalpre. The second stage, curated by the Red Bull Academy, will feature MJ Cole, Benji B, Axel Boman, Braiden and Tiger & Woods.

And how’s this for impeccable timing: last week, Mishka released the 24th edition of their Keep Watch Mix series, featuring none other than Buraka Som Sistema. It’s a great mix with chilled out moments and some fun remixes. Definitely check it out –  CLICK HERE to cop a free download, courtesy of Mishka.

For those residing in London,  A Taste of Sonar, is happening at The Roundhouse in Camden. Tickets are available HERE.

It’s Friday Night and we arrive at Public Assembly shortly after midnight.  Breezing past the bouncer out of the cold, windswept waste of N6th and into the musty, cavernous warmth of PA, it felt like a good time to be showing up to a party—especially a Flashing Lights throw-down featuring Mad Decent beat-smith and pan-global party-starter Douster.  Straight to the back room, past the gate and through the door and…where the fuck are all the people?  Residents Dj Ayres and Nick Catchdubs were at the decks pumping out a mish-mash mix of big name house, hip-hop, a little dubstep—anything and everything to get people warmed up and moving.  The only problem being that the room was far from full.  Outside of two raver girls pulling cartwheels and break-dance moves straight out of Electric Boogaloo, the dance floor was sedate.  Maybe people were home making seven-layer dip for their Oscar parties.  Whatever.  We were there to party, and the dudes on the tables delivered.

Around 1:30, with the room slightly more full, Douster took the stage and kicked out a mind-blowing, continent-hopping Afro-cumbia set.  Hailing from Lyon by way of Buenos Aires, the man’s sound casts a big net.  He layered trance synth buildups underneath propulsive Latin and West African percussion.   The bass bounced and croaked, and the ravey synths swept in and out and gave way to 8bit bleeps while feverish drums, handclaps and whistles beat time. He pulled tracks from all over the place—new cumbia, kuduro, dancehall.  Remixes included a bubbling, two-step workout of Major Lazer’s “Hold the Line”.  This is new world order music that would sound just as natural blasting out of tinny speakers in the favela, the massive sound system of an Ibiza mega-club, or here in a dank back-room in Brooklyn.  Douster took us on a non-stop journey, pausing with each track to add a new layer—a new flavor to the mix.  His transitions were so smooth that they felt nonexistent. The music just flowed from one place to another, hopping borders, styles—hop, bounce, skip, jump, step, and stomp.

The only drawback on the night was the crowd, or lack thereof. Douster’s multi-culti dance party should be shaking rumps and kicking up dust wall-to-wall, country to country, so the spare crowd was a bit of a buzz-kill and also cause for surprise.  Step your game up NYC. Flashing Lights is bringing the beats and you need to bring the bodies.

If you want to be in know regarding all things Douster, take a look at his artist page over at Mad Decent and, for a taste of this mad scientist’s mixology, check out this tape he put together for Fader HERE.

This Thursday, Trouble & Bass‘ own Supra1 will join the crew for a party at a secret BK location (RSVP to get the details). The Polish duo, Tomek Urbanowicz and Thomas Wirski, first crossed paths with Trouble & Bass in 2008 when they entered a remix contest for Little Jinder’s “Polyhedron”. Last summer, Trouble & Bass released Supra1′s debut EP, Still Believe, with a number of remixes including this one by L-Vis 1990:

Supra1 – “Still Believe” (L-Vis 1990 Remix) [download via XLR8R]

CLICK HERE to RSVP for Trouble & Bass’ party this Thursday event for free admission before midnight (after midnight or without RSVP, admission is $7), and be sure to listen to Supra1′s edition of the T&B Smashcast in preparation for the madness.

Smashcast 010: Supra1 [subscribe and/or download]

Featuring Busy P, Brodinski, Philippe Zdar, Nick Catchdubs, and Alex English at Hiro Ballroom, New York City.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL GALLERY

Brodinski & Busy P – Haunted Mansion Promo Mix [Download]

On Thursday, October 28, Drop the Lime’s national “Hot As Hell” tour will make a stop at Brooklyn’s Public Assembly. Joined by the Trouble & Bass Crew – The Captain, Star Eyes and AC Slater – Drop the Lime will celebrate the release of his newest single, “Hot As Hell”, which will be released in November.

And in the grand tradition of Halloween weekend, the event will have a 1950′s Rockabilly theme with a bonus for getting in the holiday spirit – the first 50 people to come dressed in era-appropriate garb will receive a free Bad Lupo Grande 7″.

The event is free before midnight with RSVP ($7 after midnight). All RSVPs will be entered to win a Trouble & Bass goodie bag that includes a tote bag, stickers, a lighter, a Bad Lupo Grande 7″, and a T&B Dracula Tank Top.

This party is most definitely going to be hot as hell (had to), so don’t miss it. In preparation, check out Drop the Lime’s Rock-A-Billy Ruckus mix below, and don’t forget to RSVP HERE.

The SWAMP81 label invades Brooklyn this Monday, October 11th, with Kode9, Falty DL, Dave Q and Loefah.

Those familiar with the SWAMP81 label know that it is associated with nothing short of pure talent. Named after Operation Swamp 81, the stop & search laws enacted by South London police in 1981 and which led to the infamous Brixton riots. Loefah, the man behind the imprint, instigates riots of a different nature, those of the dubstep and bass variety. Skream, The Bug, Addison Groove and Instra:mental are just a few of the heavy hitters who have graced the label.

NYC is in for a special treat as this Monday night SWAMP81 is taking over a secret location in Brooklyn. The event is $10 with RSVP.

Click through for the lineup and a few tunes to get you hyped…
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One more day. That’s right TroubleMakers, tomorrow night, Plastician, Bart B More and the Trouble & Bass crew – Drop the Lime, Star Eyes, AC Slater and The Captain – will descend upon Le Poisson Rouge to celebrate T&B’s 4 Year Anniversary . So as our anticipation builds, we’re bringing you a mix by Dutch DJ/producer Bart B More, who is known for his diverse live sets. Sample some tunage below, then CLICK HERE to pick up your advance tickets.

MATTER Orange County Podcast – Bart B More [subscribe]

With the Trouble & Bass 4 Year Anniversary Party just three days away (and yes, we are counting), we figured we’d help you prepare for the festivities with music from some of the artists. Today we’re featuring UK-based DJ/producer Plastician, who tore it up in Miami last March at the Trouble & Bass Temple of Doom. Check out his promo mix for the SW4 Festival below (track list after the jump).

Get Darker Dubstep Podcast – Plastician [subscribe]

Plastician will be joined by Bart B More and the Trouble & Bass crew this Saturday at Le Poisson Rouge. Don’t forget, we’re giving away a pair of tickets to the show. CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE CONTEST.

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It is without question that Ibiza has some of the best parties, venues and sound systems in world, but this live set from Zane Lowe, Mark Ronson and Grandmaster Flash sounds like insanity! Recorded for BBC Radio 1 at Space Ibiza, this is a mash of genres that can ignite any crowd. If you’re just starting your week, this essential mix is sure to gear you up. Check out the mix below, and click here for the track list.

Photo above: Courtesy of BBC.

Zane Lowe, Mark Ronson & Grandmaster Flash – BBC Radio 1 Live in Ibiza – Essential Mix by Yoland

We are very pleased to announce a new direction in nightlife indulgence, Greater>Than, launching at Cielo August 19^th. Joining us for this innovative event are two of the world’s finest producer/djs, Mendo and Crazy Larry. RSVP for FREE ADMISSION BEFORE 12…

Mendo hails from Spain, which is immediately evidenced by the latin and funk influences exuding from his rhythms. He has releases on Luciano’s Cadenza imprint along with Get Physical and VIVA as well as his own label, Clarisse Records, with his partner Chab. This man knows how to get a crowd going, spinning at the best parties across the globe including regular nights in Ibiza and Paris. We are thrilled to be a part of his NYC debut. You can have a listen to one of his mixes below from his Ibiza podcast…

Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Crazy Larry is a young and fearless talent with an insatiable craving for old and new sounds, who starts as he means to go on. Having fallen in love with dance music in 2000 via the Casa Del Soul record store and a deeply held love of wax, Larry developed his infamous live PA in January of 2006, which debuted in NYC for Taimur Agha and the Blk Market crew. His live performance is much more than the average one-man-one-laptop show – incorporating vintage drum machines, live home made plug-ins, and even the Nintendo Wii.

Currently residing in the depths of Bushwick, Brooklyn, and getting inspiration from DJ’s like Koze, Three, Matthias Tanzmann and Pedro, and pushing his Time To Get iLL parties, Larry Ursini is all about the records you may not know, but really enjoy. With the party stamina of actual rock stars and the talent to back it up, the Crazy one can not possibly fail to command your attention, or leave his own lasting mark.

New York native and founder of Greater>Than, Michael Vieira, has been influenced by music for as long as he can remember. Most likely in his blood, he first picked up DJing from his father who granted him full access to his own vinyl turntables and vinyl collection. Finely tuned over the years, the art form has become a therapeutic method of self-expression he undoubtedly excels in. Specializing in his own blend of tech house, one can find hints of deep, soul, funk, and latin rhythms in his sets. Determined to “bring the vibe back” he is looking forward to the year ahead, confident it will bring his sound to new audiences. That vibe is what he considers most important and what he strives to revive and spread as best as he can.

From its state-of-the-art space in downtown’s ultra-chic Meatpacking District, Cielo provides a music program specializing in deeply soulful house music as well as various genres of electronic music. Cielo is a haven for mature individuals seeking intelligent nightlife with neither the hassles of large clubs nor the elitism of upscale lounges with too many VIP rooms. Once you are in Cielo, there will be no more ropes, checkpoints, or rules. Security’s goal is to compliment the experience, not to hinder it. Cielo has set a new level in New York nightlife by going back to basics: the best DJs on the planet, a strong door, impeccable service, stunning decor, and lighting, and a Funktion 1 sound system which will blow the most fastidious audiophile’s socks off.

We have two tickets to give away. Simply fill out the form below to enter. Advanced tickets may be purchased HERE for $10.

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. RSVP for FREE ADMISSION BEFORE 12…