Next Wednesday, Trouble & Bass is bringing us the first “No Escape From New York” of the new year. The celebrated monthly party is moving to The Studio at Webster Hall to accommodate No Escape’s growing audience and an impressive roster of hard-hitting acts.

Each month at No Escape, the Trouble & Bass crew, headed by The Captain, Drop the Lime, AC Slater and Star Eyes, will continue to spread their signature “heavy bass” style while bringing us noteworthy local and global acts.

The first event is staying true to its name with Brooklyn-based artists Uproot Andy and Ninjasonik. Originally from Columbia, Andy Gillis (aka Uproot Andy) blends his signature cumbia beats with electro-basslines, resulting in a global style that ranges from laid back tunes to dance floor thumpers. Uproot Andy puts a refreshing spin on the style we’ve come to expect from Trouble & Bass events; and while he might seem like an unusual choice, listen below for a subtle hint of wobble-wobble in his remix of “Manuelita”, a traditional-style Columbian bullerengue song:

Uproot Andy & Geko Jones – “Manuelita” (remix)

After seeing Ninjasonik at the Mercury Lounge last weekend, it would be difficult to capture their infectious energy in a written description. What we can tell you is that Ninjasonik is not for the faint-hearted. Led by Reverend McFly, Telli Gramz, and DJ Teenwolf, Ninjasonik storms the stage with a crew in tow, delivering a performance that includes both original songs and popular beats, not to mention constant crowd-surfing by band- and audience-members alike.

The HiFi Cartel is giving away two pairs of tickets to the show. Enter the contest after the jump or purchase advance tickets here.

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Originally from North Wales and hailing from London, The Joy Formidable is a three-member indie rock band who made their way to the music scene in 2008. Acclaimed by the Times (UK), who described them as “dreamy indie pop” and regarded as one band to watch by the Guardian (UK) upon the release of their debut single “Austere” in August 2008  – the group is of pure sensation with regard. Their syncopated style draws on a contention of riffs that are backed with the resounds of pleasing and rejoicing melodies. The reavealing voice of lead singer Ritzy Bryan plays off their forceful drums and raw guitars to create a sound that is fervently fit for a  jaunt. It is also nice to come across a band that isn’t trying to sell you anything. Their music is their brand – and a good one that is! Tagged with the likes of the Editors, White Lies, and Passion Pit, The Joy Formidable will be making a stint in New York City from January 8th to January 12th. (Their exact schedule is below.)

Selling out their debut UK tour, the heavily creative group is more than the sense of optimism they omit in song. True artists, we can only imagine them live…for now. With four dates to choose from, we certainly won’t miss them. Check out their tracks “Austere” and “Cradle” below. Click through for the video of their recently released track “Greyhounds in the Slips” featuring Paul Draper.

The Joy Formidable - “Austere”

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The Joy Formidable - “Cradle”

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The Joy Formidable – 2010 New York Tour Dates

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Last March, attendees from 80 countries flocked to Miami for the annual Winter Music Conference. The legendary five-day event , which goes from March 23-27, will host some of the best parties of the year, informative panels with world-renown DJs, and of course, Ultra Music Festival.

The initial line-up for the music festival, taking place once more at Bicentennial Park, already includes A-Trak, Major Lazer, Steve Aoki, the Bloody Beetroots, and Pretty Lights. The added presence of Rusko, Skream, Bassnectar and Crookers is just another indication of how prolific dubstep has become in the music scene. Tiesto, Carl Cox, Dirty South, Rabbit in the Moon, Infected Mushroom, Deadmau5 and Armin Van Buuren were on the bill last year and will make repeat appearance in 2010.

A ticket to Ultra is included with the purchase of the Winter Music Conference badge, which is $325 if you purchase by January 6. On it’s own, a two-day pass to the festival costs $139.50.

Click through to view the complete list of the initial acts set to perform at Ultra, along with the official festival trailer. If the line-up wasn’t enough to get you psyched, check out photos from Ultra 2009 with Santigold, The Ting Tings, Armin van Buuren and Prodigy.

Stay tuned for our complete coverage of WMC – we’ll be posting info about the week’s best parties, panels, concerts, and more…

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Last June, Major Lazer exploded on the international music scene with their debut album, Guns Don’t Kill People, Lazers Do.  2009 was a big year for Major Lazer – they were nominated for two MTV awards, headlined multiple tours (including a star-studded performance at Hard NYC), and brought their reggae-tinged sound to dance floors around the world.

Their third single, “Pon de Floor” enjoyed quite a bit of club play at all of our favorite parties, and even crossed over to the mainstream when it was used on the season finale of So You Think You Can Dance. Skerrit Bwoy’s graphic reenactment of the NSFW music video (directed by Eric Wareheim of the comedy duo Tim and Eric) at the Best Buy Club Beats event last November ruffled a few corporate feathers, resulting in an abrupt end to their set and a hasty exit. Considering that the Jamaican government instilled a nationwide ban on all music and videos relating to “daggering” last February, we’d say that Major Lazer got off easy here in the states.

After Dances With White Girls equated “Pon de Floor” to Reel 2 Reel’s 1994 hit “I Like to Move It” via Twitter, “Pon de Floor” secured its position as The HiFi Cartel’s song of the year.

We trust that as HiFi Cartel readers you’ve heard the original song, so we’ve included Laidback Luke’s remix below for your listening pleasure. Be sure to check out photos from Major Lazer’s NYC debut at S.O.B.’s, Hard NYC at Terminal 5, and Club Beats at Best Buy, and in case you’ve been sleeping, watch the video for “Pon de Floor” after the jump. Major Lazer will once again play Hard NYC when it returns to Terminal 5 on April 3. Get your tickets here.

Major Lazer – “Pon de Floor” (Laidback Luke Remix)

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So much for a relaxing weekend. With everything that’s going on for New Year’s Eve, some of you might be planning to take the weekend off. For all you die-hards out there, here’s what’s on the menu for the first weekend in 2010:

On Friday, GBH and Girls & Boys are getting right back into the swing of things with a special New Year’s Day Party at Webster Hall. Andy Butler of Hercules and Love Affair will be spinning, and admission is only $1 before midnight if you RSVP.

This Saturday, The xx, one of 2009’s top breakout acts, are doing a special DJ set at Le Poisson Rouge. Given the laid-back nature of their music, we’re curious to hear what they’ll bring behind the decks. VHSorBETA will also be spinning, tickets are $5 in advance or $8 on the day of the show. Be sure to catch The xx when they tour with Hot Chip this spring. Click here for tickets and info.

Over at the Mercury Lounge, Brooklyn-based trio Ninjasonik will take the stage for one of their signature high-energy performances. DJ Cobra Krames will open. Click here to purchase tickets, which are $12.

This New Year’s Eve, there’s so much going on that we have to break it down for you in a more organized fashion. So without further ado, we present The HiFi Cartel’s Official Guide to New Year’s Eve… after the jump.

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If the Grim Reaper had to sing, he would probably sing about death. Cage, the New York-bred rapper and indie-rocker may not meet the reaper’s demise in song but gives him a run for his money in a fashion reminiscent of Charlie Daniels’ Johnny in “The Devil Went To Georgia.” In such a case, the Reaper should have been at BB King in New York City this past Friday for the “Depart From Me Round 2″ tour.  With Shinobi Ninja and Tame One setting the stage, Cage’s appearance was met by fans who were eager for his story-driven lyrical journeys. Backed by DJ Chauncey, he spewed over beats in the familiar form that garnered acclaim in the New York underground and independent hip-hop scene. With a cult status following, the audience responded to every single jagged and jilted word in his lyrics.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PHOTO GALLERY

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Last Thursday, Kid Koala joined Matisyahu at the Music Hall of Williamsburg for night six of Matisyahu’s fourth annual Festival of Lights.

Kid Koala is the type of artist that gets better each time you see him, not only because each set is different, but also because his unique style and technique becomes more apparent with each live show. I’ve witnessed my fair share of beat juggling, but Kid Koala is the first and only artist I’ve seen who uses the turntables and mixer to actually create and manipulate melodies.

The short, 40-minute set included reinterpretations of “Robbing Banks (Doin’ Time)” and “You Turn Me Cold” by The Slew and “Poison Dart” by Warrior Queen. He also played Nas’ “Bridging the Gap”, adding a layer of bluesy harmonica that gave the song a heartier quality. He closed with his mother’s favorite song (and a Kid Koala classic), “Moon River”.

The giant disco dreidel suspended from the ceiling set a festive tone for Matishayu’s epic performance that followed. While he’s best known as a reggae artist, he incorporates many different styles into his music, drawing influences from rock, hip hop, and even psychedelic jam bands. The set lasted for over two and a half hours and consisted entirely of reworked versions of his songs. Matisyahu took a moment to light a menorah towards the end of the show, calling upon an audience member to help with the ritual. It was a touching and refreshing moment, especially given the fact that most mainstream holiday celebrations focus on Christmas.

Tonight is the final performance of the eight-night run. In case you missed it, you can stream tonight’s show live on Facebook beginning at 7:45 PM EST.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PHOTO GALLERY

After taking on CMJ, The Electric Zoo, Street Scene, All Points West, and the Winter Music Conference in 2009, it seems only natural to add South by Southwest to our growing itinerary for 2010.

Last year, the festival drew 12,000 participants and showcased nearly 2,000 musical acts on 88 stages. The 2009 line-up included AC Slater, Amanda Blank, Buraka Som Sistema, Deadmau5, The Golden Filter, Grizzly Bear, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Jack Beats, MSTRKRFT and The Twelves, among others.

Now in its 24th year, the annual SXSW Music Conference and Festival will be held in Austin from March 17-21. The initial line-up of 450+ artists is likely to quadruple by March, and already includes Treasure Fingers, Kidz in the Hall, HEARTSREVOLUTION, Team Facelift, Adam Tensta and The Postelles. Chauffeur is also rumored to make a rare appearance at the festival, but is yet to be confirmed.

Music badges cost $675 if you register by January 12, and will allow you to participate in all of the official SXSW music parties, panels, and courses. Click here for a full list of badge levels, rates and details about the programs that the badges include. While the price tag might seem a little steep, it includes five full days of music with nearly 2,000 acts (which, if you do the math, breaks down to less than five cents per artist).

Don’t forget, the Winter Music Conference kicks off the following week in Miami (March 23-27), so plan accordingly. But more on that later…

Last week, Fixed got the holidays started early with a DJ set by Hot Chip. The parties continue this week when our favorite NYC music families bring us plenty of reasons to celebrate the season…

Every year, Matisyahu celebrates the Festival of Lights with a whopping eight shows, each with a different opening act. This year’s festival kicked off last Thursday with Glitch Mob at Webster Hall, but you still have four opportunities to see the reggae musician in action at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Personally, we’re planning to catch this Thursday’s show, when HiFi favorite Kid Koala will also be playing. Get your tickets here.

On Friday at Webster Hall, GBH is celebrating with Mark Ronson and Aaron LaCrate. We caught Mark Ronson with Q-Tip at Santos Party House last week, and look forward to seeing him at our favorite weekly party. A limited number of $10 tickets are still available, so act fast.

Meanwhile, at Public Assembly, the Trouble & Bass Crew will be spinning alongside Finnish producer Rico Tubbs. Click here to win tickets to what is sure to be another great party.

On Saturday, The Brothers Macklovitch, Nick Catchdubs, Max Glazer and Just Blaze will headline the Fool’s Gold and LTD Holiday Party at the Etnies Showroom. The party is free with RSVP.

Also on Saturday, Basic NYC residents Sleepy and Boo are getting in on the holiday action at the Sullivan Room with special guests Mark Farina, Nickmatic, and a tag team set by Pete Schwinge and Tonylee. Get advance tickets here.

Looks like it’s going to be a busy weekend… click through to view the fliers for this weekend’s events, and check in next week for the lowdown on New Year’s Eve in NYC.

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