PERTHQUAKE

What: Ajax

Where: Ambar

When: 18 March 2011

Cost/Ticket details: $15, door sales

One of Australia’s most skilled mashup maestros and favourite all-round DJs, Ajax, is set to ‘Sweat it Out’ at the Home of the Underground. Join us as we dedicate a Friday to the fun that is Adrian Thomas at Ambar, Friday 18 March.

What we know about Adrian Thomas; aka Ajax:

Voted into the Top 10 of ITM Top 50 every year since 2005 (#1 for two consecutive years),

Famous for cut and paste mixing style,

Drops dance floor rocking electro-mashups like no other,

Founding member of the Bang Gang collective,

Won – Best Mixed CD Mashed 2 Bang Gang at DJ’s Award,

Admired by the likes of Daft Punk, Busy P and Justice, labeling him as ‘one to watch in the future’,

Perth’s favourite Australian DJ, hitting our town for sell-out club shows and slots on Big Day Out and Parklife festivals for nearly a decade.

What we’ve discovered about Adrian Thomas; aka Ajax:

Started Sweat It Out – a record label, booking agency, some-time party place and all round sweat house. Artists on the label include Yolanda Be Cool, D Cup, Act Yo Age, Pablo Calamari, KillaQueenz, Redial, Oh Snap!, Edu K, Loot n Plunder, Ajax (!) and many more,

Nickname used to be Thommo,

Was a lecturer at art school before ditching the clay and picking up the vinyl,

No longer borrows money from his mum,

Ego spiralled out of control while remixing Princess Superstar, Midnight Juggernauts and the Valentinos,

Quite fancies the moustache.

The fight between art and Ajax continues – expect an explosive and intriguing evening!

What: Dubstep Invasion Tour feat. Kid Kenobi

Where: Ambar

When: 5 March 2011

Cost/Ticket details: $15, door sales

Yep, yep – it’s time for some dubstep (with Kid Kenobi!).

Is dubstep is taking over the dance music scene? It’s certainly the most talked about genre of 2011: tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals. Britney Spear’s new album is set to be full of it with Rusko at the production helm, Magnetic Man (Skream, Benga and Artwork) is the most hyped act of the decade and dubstep events and festivals are taking over the country (nay, world).

At the Australian helm is none other than Kid Kenobi (ITM50 #1 DJ in ‘03, ‘04 & ‘05). With a high profile spot on the 2011 Big Day Out tour around the corner, and a proven ability to champion breaking genres (see his top selling 2002 Clubber’s Guide To Breaks release), The Kid brings heavyweight credentials to the just-relased Dubstep Invasion album. He’s joined by newcomers Glovecats for two discs of fierce sub sonic mayhem.

The Kid is set to tour the nation, saturating the country with the dubstep – and you’re invited when the Invasion hits the Home of the Underground.

What: Vicious Cuts feat. Ian Carey

Where: Villa

When: 23 April 2011

Cost/Ticket details: 25+bf, perthquake store

Ian Carey.

Ian Carey Project.

Illicit Funk.

Saturated Soul.

Soul Providers.

However you’ve best known Ian Carey over the last almost twenty years; there’s no denying it – Ian Carey is a legendary player in the house scene worldwide and he’s set to hit Villa in support of Vicious Cuts 2011.

His bio reads like a positive storyline straight out of The Wire – born in a small town in Maryland, USA, he found himself wrapped up in the graffiti scene in Baltimore. The lure of the one’s and two’s sucked him in before the street life could so he put down his spray can and commenced his career as a DJ and producer. His first hit, ‘Rise’ (as Soul Providers) went Gold in the UK. Seeing the heart of dance music was in Europe, he relocated there and started seriously developing that signature funky bass line.

The hits just kept coming – the more he delivered the higher up the charts they soared. ‘Say What You Want, ‘Redlight’, ‘SOS’, ‘Shot Caller’, ‘Let Loose’ and the super popular smash hit ‘Get Shaky’ which won

Best Dance Video at the Australian MTV Music Awards in 2009. His latest track, ‘Last Night’ features none other than the king of West Coast hip hop, Snoop Dogg and fresh-faced Bobby Anthony.

Vicious Cuts 2011 is everything a Vicious Cuts compilation has always been – mixed by the man himself, Ian Carey, (with a wee bit of help from Vandalism and John Course) and features tidy-as tracks from Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, Afrojack, Robyn and Armand Van Helden. This is House with huge potential for rocking out.

What: The Magnificents: MC Supernatural, Rahzel and DJ JS-1

Where: Villa

When: 8 April 2011

Cost/Ticket details: 45+bf perthquake store

There has never been a group quite like this.

The world’s greatest beatboxer, the world’s greatest Freestyle MC, and one of the best turntablist/producers still carrying the torch for The Rock Steady Crew and real hip hop music. This trio has been friends for a long time, and always wanted to perform together. A few years ago, The Magnificents formed and history was made. They set out and did a test run of less than 10 shows in the US and Europe. Of course, the response was incredible. And so now the time has finally come… The Magnificents are set to start their world tour, slamming in to Villa on Friday 8 April. This is something very special, very different, and quite possibly a one-time only run.

This may never be done again.

With Rahzel, a human instrument, known for being able to do beats on demand, and Supernatural, the Guinness Book of Records World Champion freestyler, most of the entire show is improvised. That’s right! No two shows are ever exactly the same. Topped off with the Rock Steady Crew skills of DJ JS-1, you can be guaranteed; every show is special.

What: Foamo & Slyde

Where: Villa

When: 19 March 2011

Cost/Ticket details: 30+bf perthquake store

Want to win tickets to Foamo and Slyde? Follow these steps…

1. ‘Like’ the Perthquake Facebook Page

2. Submit a comment on this post – with your name and real email address.

And that’s it. Comp closes Thursday 18th March at midnight. Winners will be picked by random number generation.

It’s been a long time coming: the return of two of the biggest and best-loved broken beat acts from the UK, Foamo and Slyde.

FOAMO

Fully-formed bassline, fidget, dubstep, wobble-centric, undiluted, champion. At the ripe old age of 24, Foamo has racked up a lot under his belt. ‘Wardance’ lit up ears and dancefloors as did his remixes of La Roux, Franz Ferdinand and also Diplo and Laidback Luke for LA’s Dim Mak imprint.

Not bad for Kye Gibbon (aka Foamo) a boy from High Wycombe (UK).

Known not only for the depth and quality of his engineering skills but also as a respected DJ, he’s toured America, Australia and Europe, played to festival-goers across the globe and earned a residency at Chew the Fat! (UK) and Space in Ibiza.

One of the next generation of dance music’s elite Kye was raised on a healthy diet of drum and bass, grime and garage, but as he matured he was introduced to the more house-orientated sound which gave rise to his bass heavy 4/4 productions.

After the success of his first single ‘Moving It Over Here’ gained him international exposure as did his recent production ‘It’s Going Down’, his ridiculously heavy collaboration with Lee Mortimer. Foamo looks set to continue on his rise to super-stardom and you’ll see it first hand at Villa.

SLYDE

It’s been too long between breakbeat drinks with our slickest Slybeats boys, Slyde.

Previously showcasing their skills and sets on Breakfest and Parklife lineups, this time we have Jason Laidback representing Slyde headlining the acts first show at Villa.

After their initial meeting through Bolshi (and after Laidback’s stint as Kylie Minogue’s DJ on her ‘Fever’ tour), it wasn’t long before 12Tree and Laidback’s mutual love for funk and breakbeat saw them united in the studio. Together they produced the track ‘Flow’ which was signed to Bolshi’s breaks division. From 2002 they continued the collaboration under the new name of Slyde, resulting in some immensely huge and popular releases during their time at Finger Lickin’ Records, including the outrageously funky ‘Slippedy Slide’ and the infectious ‘Krunk’. Slyde did nothing but churn out quality tracks, with ‘Space Bass Rock’ and ‘The Click’, and heavy hitters ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’, ‘Sex N Drugs’ ‘Frequency’ and ‘You’re My Fix’

In 2008 Slyde presented a whole new mixed up, multi-level sound with their incredibly successful debut album ‘Everyone’s Entitled To Our Opinion’. Stemming from a wealth of influences spanning hip hop, rave,

big beat and electrifying breakbeat, the album moved away from the expectations of Slyde’s previous dancefloor success and fully engaged with their combined lifetime experiences of live rock venues and sweaty nightclubs.

What: Ambar's Birthday

Where: Ambar

When: 18 February 2011

Cost/Ticket details: 15 door sales

What better way to start our birthday celebrations than by welcoming the First Lady of breakbeat back to the Home of the Underground?

Lady Waks is the best thing to come out of Russia since Smirnoff. Kick starting her career as a Hip-Hop radio show host, Lady Waks was the driving force behind the Russian breakbeat massive ‘In Beats We

Trust’ (voted best club night by TimeOut Magazine). She’s also responsible for Breaks Arena – o…ne of Europe’s biggest breakbeat only festivals.

Her infamous 2007 release ‘Minimal’ – received accolades the industry over, being lauded by scene stalwarts Krafty Kuts and Soul of Man, and nominated for Best Single at the 2008 Breakspoll Awards. She followed it up with ‘Shake It’, ‘Records Back’, ‘Ya Booty’ and ‘Take It Easy’.

Lady Waks first popped our cherry at Ambar in 2008 and returned for a stellar performance at Breakfest 2009. Since then she’s toured the world over, been busy in the studio, curated In Beat We Trust and created a wee Baby Waks!

With tremendous success and experience under her belt, this is your opportunity to see this Russian icon at Ambar as she celebrates our birthday weekend with us!

Lady Waks is the birthday candle on our cake – stay tuned for the 10th anniversary firecracker!

Supported by: Tee El, Ben Mac and Blend, Micah and Mono Lisa.

What: Reset!

Where: Ambar

When: 4 February 2011

Cost/Ticket details: 15 door sales

Force Majeure: an uncontrollable event or greater force… that changes everything.

Force Majeure is back for the double 1! And we’re kicking things off with a bang! We are extremely proud to present for the first time in Australia, direct from Italy: RESET!

Following in the footsteps of acts such as the Crookers and Bloody Beetroots, Milan’s RESET! are the latest group of Italian producers to take the dance world by storm. Whether it’s in the studio, behind the decks or promoting their own nights, RESET! have established themselves as an A-List act, regularly pulling in more than 2000 clubbers to their own infamous parties in Milan, and clocking up the air miles playing some of the biggest parties around the world. It was after playing alongside house legends Cassius at one of their own nights that RESET! were invited to rework the French duo’s anthemic “Youth, Speed, Trouble, Cigarettes”. The resulting remix, heavily supported by the likes of A-Trak and Crookers, remained on Beatport’s Indie Dance Top 10 for several weeks and featured on a Mixmag cover CD (mixed by Cassius, Justice, Busy P and D Mehdi). RESET! are about to take it to the next level with ‘Prepare to Fight’, their second EP on Cheap Thrills and their debut album set to follow later this year.

Backing up this incredible act is Perth’s newly crowned Number 1 Electro DJ – Kill Dyl. Dylan is no stranger to Force Majeure and absolutely smashed it the last time he graced the Ambar decks!

We also welcome Oli for his Force Majeure debut. Being a much loved resident at Ambar’s Japan 4, Oli knows just how to work the Ambar crowd and his warm-up for RESET! is much anticipated.

Up and comer Sean Morrison is back for another round at Force Majeure and his unique mix of jackin’ house will be a perfect opener for the night.

As usual, solid support will come from the Force Majeure crew themselves – Philly Blunt and Mono Lisa.

Bring your game face and get ready to throw down.

What: The Stanton Warriors

Where: Villa

When: 25 January 2011

Cost/Ticket details: 40+Bf perthquake store

What better way to celebrate Australia Day than with the country’s favourite DJ-duellers, Stanton Warriors? They’re returning to Perth for a dooms night at Villa Nightclub.

Stanton WarriorsWhat is that sound? Garage twisted beyond all recognition, dropped with speaker-shattering basslines and massive beats all done to splintering, blistering, devastating effect.

It’s the sound of the Stanton Warriors. The Stantons go from strength to strength and are without question the biggest force in breakbeat. Dominic B and Mark Yardley have broken more records than any other broken beat act:

* Best DJ Breakspoll Awards: 2009

* Best Compilation/Mix Breakspoll Awards: 2009

* Best Breaks Artist Beatport Music Awards: 2009

* Biggest selling breakbeat album of all time: Stanton Sessions

* Biggest selling breakbeat bootleg of all time: Gorillaz ‘Dare’ (Stanton Warriors remix)

* 50 Best Remixers of All Time: DJMag

Need we say more?

Boomtick knows how to throw a party. Boomtick + Stanton Warriors = the party of the summer.

What: Kaskade

Where: Villa

When: 22 January 2011

Cost/Ticket details: 27+bf perthquake store

It doesn’t get much more US House than a DJ born in Chicago. Yes, Kaskade is the pure definition of US House.

KASKADEKaskade moved to Utah to attend uni and became a dormroom DJ while buying and operating his own record store, Mechanized Records. As you do. In May 2000, Kaskade moved to San Francisco and began working as an A&R assistant for Om Records. Om never hesitated with Kaskade; within a year he had his first single out on the label, ‘What I Say’.

In the Moment saw Kaskade’s first top 10 single with ‘Steppin’ Out’ reaching #5 on Billboard Magazine’s Hot Dance Club Play chart. The fourth single to be released from the album, ‘Everything’, reached #1 on Billboard Magazine’s Hot Dance Club Play.

Kaskade’s fourth solo album Love Mysterious was released in September 2006, spouting singles ‘Be Still’, ‘Stars Align’ and ‘Sorry’ – the remix for which was nominated for a Grammy in 2008 for Best Remixed Recording.

Kaskade now releases under Ultra Records – most recently working with Canadian house/electronic DJ/artist Deadmau5 to produce tracks on Strobelite Seduction, including the first single (released as an EP) ‘Move For Me’, as well as ‘Angel On My Shoulder’ and ‘I Remember’ – a massive hit in the UK, US and, of course, Australia.

For Kaskade, it’s all about love. The proof is in Dynasty, his sixth album; love has never been more apparent in his sound. The first single, the title track, is a gritty production, smoothed out by the vocals of Haley, known to Kaskade fans the world over as the ethereal singer of ‘I Remember’ and ‘Move For Me’. There’s also the track ‘Only You’ which features production work from none other than Tiësto. The result is a blend of Tiësto’s signature pace of trance and Kaskade’s soulful swagger meets big floor Euro. As easily as Kaskade is able to work with a major like Tiësto, he can flip it right back into the indie space. ‘Fire In Your New Shoes’, featuring Dragonette’s Martina, delivers a rock-riffed, downtown cool, electro-pop sound sure to resonate all summer with the big city set.

This is beautiful, soulful music created by one of the world’s best – in fact, Kaskade was voted #35 in DJ Mags Top 100 DJs in 2010.

He’s hotter than ever.