Beats & Pieces

Boyz Noise

The Optimen have been added to one of the biggest bills of the year. They’ll support Wu-Tang Legend and mafioso rap innovator Raekwon at The Step Inn with Lazy Grey and DJ Katch on Friday March 19. Raekwon will also step to Byron Bay’s Beach Hotel on Tuesday March 16.

Is Ladyhawke an Aussie? A Kiwi? We don't know and we don't care. All anybody needs to know is that the 'Paris Is Burning' and 'My Delirium' star will headline the launch of glamorous GC venue Twenty1's Raw Sundays on March 14.

Whether Delphic represent the last gasp of Madchester or the first wave of a Marple Bridge invasion, debut LP 'Acolyte' proved the UK phenoms are here to stay. See what all the bloody fuss is about when they play The Hi-Fi on Thursday March 25 with Matt Van Schie and Modular DJs.

Thanks to the global financial crisis, P-Money is now more valuable than most foreign currencies. Invest wisely when the superstar NZ producer (of 'Everything' fame) goes public at Magic City (The Church) this Saturday March 13 with blue chippers DJ Tom, Oscar, Owe and MC OP.

If you were soft enough to be scared away from Future Music Festival by the mud, you missed Boys Noize’s massive closing set. Luckily for you, the German juggernaut is set to bring his heavy hitting electro beats to The Met this Thursday March 11 with Housemeister, Ajax, Danny T, Aniki, Stretch, Tag Team, Keen? and Wolfie.

Since spending some quality time together at the Woodford Folk Festival, dub and dancehall heroes Dubmarine and ramshackle hip hop crew Laneous & The Family Yah have been inseperable. Their ‘Mash Up’ EP - featuring two brand new tracks alongside remixes of their respective singles, ‘Chip’ and Bubblegum’ - will be available exclusively at their co-headlining show at The Zoo on Friday March 26. Mad Occupants - who can’t help but feel like a third wheel - support.

The cameras return to The Jubilee Hotel on Friday April 9 for the next instalment of Decked Out TV. Photogenic leads The Optimen (those guys again), Winnie Coopers, Rainman & DJ Butcher will be joined by character actors Pure Product, PJ, Sneaky T and DJ Sanchez.

Former US DMC champ DJ Rectangle headlines Envyus - a VIP event for the ladies - at Shooters Nightclub this Tuesday March 16 with DJ Kartoon Kid, who really is big in Japan.  

Do the batteries in your dancing machine need recharging? Let the Recharge Retro crew do the trick when they play the dance songs you know and love from the '70s, '80s and '90s at West End mecca Uber on Sunday April 4.

Since Jerome Dwyer and the Whiskey Tears crew moved to London, you’ve been losing your edge. Get it back when the Whiskey Tears Disco rolls into Swingin’ Safari on Friday March 19 with Jerome, Wolfgang DJs, Youth and Charlie Why.

Mighty Highness Records were able to secure four elite producers to work on their ‘Kafka Remixed’ 12”. The rare vinyl features Kafka-esque remixes from Golden Sound, Red Bantoo, Chikashi Nishiwaki and Two Dee. www.mightyhighness.com

Melbourne’s Mista Savona is back with a scorching new dancehall and reggae record featuring Capleton, Sizzla, Horace Andy, Prince Alla and the final recorded appearance of the late Godfather of Rocksteady, Anton Ellis. ‘Warn The Nation’ on Friday March 19.