Dirty Knees Reunion Meets Bullion
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
Fri 30 Aug
Now here’s a name straight out the late-2000s Cardiff rave badlands! To be completely specific, Dirty Knees hung up their whistles five years ago but, aided by new(er) jack promoters Bullion, have sauntered back into the dance with a double-headliner payday stonker that combines one of old skool hardcore’s most stalwart with a newer cat who builds on the good work of classic-era dons.
Ratpack are the vintage heads here, a DJ/MC duo who assembled in acid house’s heyday and made their mark as tempos pushed to hardcore. They enjoyed the distinction of being a rave act with a sense of humour that avoided novelty trappings: appreciated both by happy hardcore stompers and moodier junglists, they’ve been a fixture of 90s revival nights since such things existed. DJ ‘Lipmaster’ Mark McKee is the straight-man foil to Evenson Allen, a master of ceremonies in the traditional sense.
Also down tonight is Gareth Greenway, whose productions as Saxxon pictured have a tearout drum’n’bass style that’s as bolshie as the most peabrained jump-up but with considerably more depth. Twisted jazzy breaks and judicious soul and reggae samples place his production style in the lineage of mid-to-late-90s d’n’b – check his recent Electrolytes EP for evidence.
Tickets: £15. Info: 029 2023 2199 / www.clwb.net (NG)