Infusion # 247: May 3-17 2015

A Note From The Editor

Publisher: Talal Budebs Managing Partner: Charl Chaka, charlchaka@infusion.ae Editor: Andy Buchan andy@infusion.ae Sales Director: Vip Patel Vip@infusion.ae 050 169 8712 Online Guru: Chris Rayner chris@infusion.ae Contributors: Dale Chandler, Greg Brown, Stephen Day, Garethisonit Design: Gustavo Cordeiro

I’ve been here for 10 years, and I’ve seen the city change beyond belief, including the nightlife. And right now, it’s thriving – there are punk nights, grime nights, funk and disco nights, RnB and hip hop parties every night of the week and enough house and techno nights to make Berlin jealous (well, not quite, but you get the point).

And yet people still moan about the lack of diversity in the city, or that there’s not enough going on. Seriously, stop. Read our magazine, and tell me that Jazzy Jeff, Jack Parow, Francois K, Goldie, Steve Bug, Dennis Ferrer, Nicky Romero and Tale Of Us isn’t an impressive roll call (and that’s just in the next two weeks!) And if you’re still moaning, get up off your sofa and do something about it. Start something new, fill that gap in the market and bring something to the (turn)table.

Infusion is published by Milehigh Media, LLC PO Box 53443 – Dubai, UAE Tel/Fax: 04 368 8098 Never miss an issue, get Infusion delivered to your door for just Dhs100 a year.

Email info@infusion.ae now!

Powered by

Listening with

Getting social with

Chillin’ with

WE LOVE The Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE line ups

Jackmaster, Sven Vath, Damien Lazarus, Dixon, Butch, Marco Carola, Danny Daze, Luciano, DJ Koze, Stacey Pullen, Miguel Campbell, Maya Jane Coles. All within 5 months.

That’s a dream Fabric line up for the season, or maybe Watergate. To be honest, even Berlin would be lucky to boast that line up in a good month.

But that’s some – just some – of the DJ talent that’s been out to Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE since the end of December last year.

Not only do they bring over cutting edge bookings – oh hey Jackmaster! – they frequently bring over two or even three big name DJs every week. Like DJ Koze and Blond:Ish, or Danny Daze and Finnebassen on the same night.

We’ve been in the dancefloor business for 10 years, but few clubs have upped the ante in the same way Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE have – their bookings have been consistently excellent, forward thinking and adventurous. And they celebrated their 3rd birthday with Dixon and Ame, two of the hottest house properties on the market. They’ve done it all with a free entry policy, and by uniting all walks of life on the terrace and their mega-spending tables.

And with Hector and DJ W!ld on May 8, Art Department the weekend after, and Noir and Jackmaster closing the season on June 12, they’re going out for the summer with some serious heat.

LOOKING

BACK Retrospective on what’s been happening in our world.

• What We Did • Photo Gallery

Looking Back

What we did PIKNIC ELECTRONIK @ SPORTS CITY The family friendly party returned for its third of four parties before summer, and had the best set up yet: a raft of slides and inflatables lined the back of the arena, including a water slide (for little kids only), while the food and drink was all done by tickets, making it quick and easy to get your ice-cold drink or surprisingly good festival grub.

Musically, we caught the day time acts from 3pm, with Deep Like resident Josephine Retour throwing down a rock solid opener, before Arcade 82 stepped up for a live show. They’ve been honing their live show across town recently, and it was clear they were in their element. With Mark Pickup DJing and on live drums, and Shyam on live vocals, they rolled through their deep disco set, with the haunting vocals off-setting the chunky nu-disco beats.

Imagine a sunnier Art Department, and you’re in the right ballpark. From there ToyBoys upped the ante, and the volume, driving the music in a techier direction, ready for international headliners Manik and My Favorite Robot.

Sadly this reviewer had to leave at 7.30 due to Daddy duties, but we’ll definitely be getting a baby sitter for the season closing party on May 9.

UP NEXT:

May 9 - Season closing party feat. Fairmont Live & Patrice Baumel

L X X X

ofs for a n c in g h o g h H o u s e , a d r u o y P r e pa r e d v e n t u r e t h r o u a s k y h ig h a s s M u s ic B & e g a r a G

Thursday 28th May

Level41, Media One Hotel, Dubai SPECIAL GUESTs//

mj cole

stanton warriors Hosted by OLLY WOOD

+ SUPERHEROES RESIDENTS

Advance Tickets: Platinumlist.net - Time Out - Virgin Table bookings: 0558296348/ sean@superheroesdubai.com facebook.com/superheroesdubai - 9pm - 3am / 21+ OnlY

Looking Back TUBE & BERGER @ CHINA GRILL

Having been a big fan of Tube & Berger and their long-running Kittball label, we jumped at the chance to catch their second DJ set of the day at the intimate China Grill. Earlier that evening they had been down at Barasti to soundtrack the sunset. China Grill seemed like a strange place for DJs of this calibre to play: it’s mainly a large restaurant, with a smaller bar area upstairs that hosted the German duo. The venue itself was nice and the sound system really gave the night some punch. The guys rattled through their set, always happy to pose with anyone who wanted a photo and dropped some outstanding tracks including classics like Moderat’s ‘Bad Kingdom’ (DJ Kose Remix), Veerus & Maxie ‘Divine’, ‘Cars’ and the standout track of the night for me Jonas Rathsman’s latest banger, ‘Wolfsbane’. Even though we had a great night I couldn’t help thinking how much better it would have been in a proper club venue with a clued up crowd.

Chris Rayner UP NEXT:

May 8 - Jazzy Jeff @ Barasti

WIN AED2,000 WORTH OF

TICKETS

T O ANY EVEN T IN THE UAE* EN T ER T ODAY

BY GIVING US YOUR DE TAIL S. REGISTER AT: T I C K E T- L I N E . A E / PRIZEDRAW

Terms and conditions

*The competition is only open to people aged 21 years or over. Closing date for entries is Sunday 14th June 2015. The winning prize is tickets for one public ticketed event only up to the face value of AED2,000 between specific dates. For full terms and conditions visit www.ticket-line.ae/prizedraw. This promotion is being run by Ticket Line LLC, PO Box 478418, Dubai, UAE

Looking Back

DXBEACH @ ZERO GRAVITY

Sandy feet, thousands of people and chart topping acts blasting out over the picturesque backdrop of Dubai at night – close your eyes and it could almost have been Sandance.

This though was the launch of DXBeach at one of the city’s hot spots, Zero Gravity. ‘Uptown Funk’ star Mark Ronson was the main draw, but Jess Glynne stole the show with her live vocals and stage presence. Previously, Nightmares on Wax set the tone at sunset with a trip hop masterclass, before Australian duo Sneaky Sound System upped the tempo as the sun set.

The weather was unseasonably hot, creeping into the high 30s, meaning the well set out 5,000 capacity crowd didn’t arrive until later in the day, but Dubai’s weekend warriors still went toe-to-toe with the humidity and rising temperatures. Word on the street is that DXBeach will be back in October, we’re looking forward to it already.

Greg Brown

GRIME DUBAI @ THE BASEMENT

After spending many of my teenage years in the amusement arcades of Sunderland, D Double E became an instant legend with his epic take on Street Fighter 2’s classic samples, and has gone onto become one of the forerunners of the UK Grime scene. Fast forward to today, and he was joined by the Newham General’s sidekick Footsie for the first ever grime night in the city.

‘But what is Grime?’ a few people have asked me… well I’m no expert, so YouTube it.

But one answer is it’s exactly the kind of sound that could come out of a place like London: dirty, raw and deeply rooted in the influences of the city’s urban culture. Footsie and D Double E immediately got the crowd around them to form a small but impenetrable shield of chaos. There were baselines, a lot of energy, a fierce party spirit and some ludicrous spinbacks (as many as 5 on some tracks!). It was energy rarely seen in the city and definitely one of those ‘remember that night!’ gigs.

The music isn’t for everyone: your average deep house, main stream hip hop or EDM fan frankly won’t have a clue what’s going on. But for those who like their music a little dirtier or from different corners of the audio spectrum… definitely get yourself down to the next one. Just leave your pint on the bar, else you’ll get more beer on you, than in you.

Garethisonit

FRIDAY | May | 15TH

TALE OF US Woo YORK FULL LINEUP TBA

(LIVE)

Hed Kandi @ Nasimi

Lara Taylor @ Cirque Le Soir

Plus Minus feat. Benoit & Sergio @ Level 41

Robin Schulz @ Nasimi

Think Floyd @ Music Room

House of Afrika Freedom Day feat.

DJ Kent @ Dek on 8

Grime Dubai @ The Basement

Defected @ Pacha Ibiza Dubai

Schooly Farewell Party @ Dek on 8

Tube and Berger @ China Grill

LOOKING FORWARD

Where we filter out the best things that are coming your way...

• Local News • Cover Story • The Magnificent • Jack the lad • Francois K • Bug’s life • The Last Time Jubei • Gig Guide

Looking Forward

Local News EDM EDEN

Eden are back in EDM action with their Thursday night Eden Black project and have young Dutch DJ Nicky Romero playing on Thursday May 14.

He was ranked at Number 8 in the DJ Magazine Top 100 poll, and recently had a huge smash with Avicii called ‘I Could Be The One.’ He’s a regular at big dance music festivals across the world, including Coachella, Electric Daisy and TomorrowWorld, with Romero due on stage at 11. Advance tickets are Dhs200 for ladies, and Dhs350 for men.

GROOVE ON THE GRASS

Cult techno festival Groove on the Grass are signing off for their season with huge German duo Tale of Us headlining at Emirates Golf Course on Friday May 15. The Berlin DJ and production partnership were one of the festival’s stand out headliners and have been invited back for another session, with Ukraine live outfit Woo York on We have a pair of tickets support. With May 15 possibly a dry night, Groove to give away, on the Grass have the option of partying on head to infusion.ae Thursday May 14, so every eventuality is covered.

FLASHMOB AT BLISS

Italian duo Flashmob play at Bliss Lounge on Thursday May 7. The duo have several huge house hits behind them, including ‘Need In Me’ and ‘Brick House’ which were signed to heavyweight labels Defected and Get Physical and crossed over onto house and techno dancefloors. They’ve also started their own label, and have so far had support from Dusky, Disclosure and Tiga.

DIMITRI FROM PARIS

French producer and DJ Dimitri From Paris is confirmed to play Pacha Ibiza Dubai on Friday May 8. The French DJ of Greek origin fuses cult soundtracks and 70s disco and funk influences to modern day electronica, and has released several well received albums including the much loved A Night at the Playboy Mansion. He’s also a noted fashion house DJ, having worked alongside Chanel and Yves Saint Lauren, while he’s remixed Michael Jackson, Bjork, New Order and James Brown during his long career.

DRUM AND BASS DUBAI

O2 GO BIG IN MAY

There’s a new Drum and Bass night in town, cunningly called Drum and Bass Dubai, and they’re launching on Thursday May 14 at The Basement.

DJ Nicky Blackmarket will be in charge of the ones and twos, alongside Mach 4, with MCs Skibadee, Shabba and Hollaphonic’s Olly Wood on hype duties. It all kicks off from 10pm, with ladies free until midnight.

The Sofitel Palm club have gone all out for their May line up, with Basti from Tiefschwarz and Lee Jones heading up proceedings on Thursday May 7, with Steve Bug and Hobo the following week. May 21 welcomes Timo Maas to the DJ booth, with Dennis Ferrer (pictured) the following week, while Nick Warren headlines on June 4.

Looking Forward RUMOURS • Kenny Dope from Masters At Work has been confirmed to come back and play in October.

• Pendulum and Shadowchild could be heading our way over the summer.

• Martin Solveig is rumoured to be coming out before Ramadan to play at Pacha Ibiza Dubai.

• Annie Mac (pictured) is said to be heading out to Dubai this year for a return show.

• DJ Sneak is said to be making his debut in the UAE at the end of May.

We’ve had over 5,000 plays on our Taiki Nulight Pioneer DJ Lab mix on Soundcloud, go get some of that good stuff soundcloud. com/infusion-magazine O2’s rooftop bar, H20, is now open after hours on Thursdays. Get in!

A bit of advice: if you’re running an awards ceremony, it might be a bit tricky to nominate events that HAVEN’T EVEN RUN YET. Unless, of course, you have a time machine, then all good.

We’re pumped for new 80s/90s club Stereo Arcade launching in JBR in May, with dozens of classic arcade games lining the walls.

A sad farewell to Schooly who after thousands of hours of amazing music on the radio and with his DJing, has left Dubai for a new challenge.

Good luck dude!

HERE COMES

THE SUN

Legendary garage party Sun City are making their debut in the Middle East on Thursday May 7 at Level 41, with a sprawling line up including The Dreem Team’s Mikee B, Heartless Crew, So Solid’s MC Harvey, Pas As You Go Cartel and MRK1. We took a look back at the party’s history, which began nearly 20 years ago…

Since 1996, the Sun City brand has provided some of the biggest promotions throughout UK and Europe in the house and garage club scene. The brand started thanks to its unforgettable weekly events every Saturday at the ‘Adrenalin Village’ in Chelsea. The legendary event ran for over 4 years, and attracted 2000 energetic party people from all over the UK on a weekly basis.

During Sun City’s peak years they held parties in the heart of the West End, in venues like The Hippodrome, Astoria, Emporium, and Equinox. Sun City soon became infamous within the UK through the release of tape recordings of each of the events, called Sun City tape packs (yes, cassette tapes!).

These tape packs would sell in the thousands, often more than commercial album sales.

The release and sale of these tape packs made the DJs and MCs household names. Up and down the UK, people saw the likes of Heartless Crew, Pay As You Go Kartel, The Dreem Team and So Solid completely take over the UK charts and radio waves.

The Dream Team went on to become the ambassadors of UK Garage with their weekly prime time show on BBC Radio 1, becoming a staple listen for all UK Garage fans across the UK. Heartless Crew and Pay As You Go Crew went on to have top ten-chart success that later led to the legendary sound clash at Destiny’s in Watford which was the most treasured tape recording of every UK Garage fan in the world.

Maxwell D of Pay As You Go, also achieved solo success in the UK National charts with his single “Serious” charting in the Top 20. So Solid Crew stormed the UK charts with numerous top 10 singles and one number 1 single, ‘21 Seconds’. The group consisted of a large number of members, the most notable being Romeo, Lisa Mafia and Harvey all of whom went onto bigger and better things, and are well known TV personalities.

In Europe, Sun City hosts extremely successful annual summer events in Ayia Napa, Falaraki, Malia, Magaluf, Croatia, Bulgaria, New York and now Dubai. Sun City provides memorable party nights like no other. Over the years Sun City has attracted the elite of UK Garage artists and for their next installment they have pulled out all the stops to bring one of the biggest UK Garage lineups Dubai has ever seen to Level 41 at Media One Hotel.

Whistles and horns at the ready for what is shaping up to be a truly memorable night.

THE LINE UP

Mikee B – The Dreem Team Heartless Crew MC Harvey – So Solid Crew Pay As You Go Cartel MRK1 Lombardo

MAXWELL D

MIGHTY MOE

We have a pair of tickets to give away, head to infusion.ae

DJ FONTI

MC HARVEY

Sun City, Thursday May 7, Level 41, 9pm-3am, advance tickets Dhs120

ROLL MASTER

Rolled by sho cho’s renowned Roll Master with your own combination of super fresh ingredients. Simply design, order and pay online. Then our speedy delivery Ninja’s will suddenly appear at your door. Let’s Roll!

Call 800 SUSHI (78744) or visit chezshushi.com Eat or collect at our restaurant. Find us at Shop 18, Wasl Square, (opposite Safa Park) Al Wasl Road, Dubai.

The Magnificent!

Party starter and turntable magician, Jazzy Jeff is back once again at his sandy home Barasti for a big night of classics on May 8 Very good to have you back, you’ve been to Dubai countless times – always a good party? Yep! I always have a great time in Dubai.

People come to Dubai to have a good time. They know how to party. It’s always a good crowd.

You brought Will Smith out for a guest performance recently in Dubai, have you guys worked together since, any new music/tours or do the movie moguls have him too busy? We’ve done a few things since. I actually just saw him a few weeks ago. We’ve been talking about working on some new music. We’re just working out timing.

Where else do you play a lot around the world, any favourites?

I play all over. I love London and San Francisco, they’re two of my favourites.

You’re a very accessible DJ, is there anything you wouldn’t play?

And what’s your stance on EDM and Djing in America?

I play everything. If it’s good and makes the people move, I’ll play it. As far as EDM, as with any genre of music, there’s gonna be some good and some bad. The culture of DJing in America is changing. More so because people want to hear a bunch of different things.

How hard is it to break into Djing now compared to when you started, what advice would you give yourself if you were starting now? When it first started, it was very much a new thing. The difference now is everybody is a DJ now. It’s easier and harder at the same time. It’s easier because you can go buy a computer

and get some music and then tell everybody you’re a DJ. But it’s harder because there are so many people out there saying they’re a DJ. I would tell anyone that wants to be a DJ to do it for the right reasons. Do it because you have a passion for the art form. I would say study music. All music. Embrace technology but don’t rely on it.

How much of being a good DJ is in the preparation – if we handed you a loaded USB, could you work the crowd do you think?

I definitely could. But then again, I’ve been doing this a long time.

Good DJs should prepare. They should know who they’re playing for and be able to read their audience. But the best DJs know how to perform on the fly. Things don’t always go as planned.

And the crowd isn’t always what you expect it to be.

And what have you learnt recently about Djing, any new skills/tips?

I’m always learning. Being a great DJ you can never think you know everything.

You’re often cited as a DJ idol by a lot of people – but who do you look up to in the Djing world? I have a lot of favourites: Z-Trip, Skratch Bastid, as well as new guys like DJ Eskei and Four Color Zack.

Jazzy Jeff, Barasti, Friday May 8, free entry.

Jack The Lad

Cult comic rapper Jack Parow is a big deal in his native South Africa, with his larger than life image and screwball tracks. He’s now making his debut in the UAE for House of Afrika, so we caught up with the monster hatted man to ask what it’s like being Jack Parow A BIG WELCOME TO DUBAI – WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO? My name is Jack Parow and I am an Afrikaans rapper from South Africa. I also like drinking and partying.

You have a very strong image – how did your look come about, are you inspired by anyone?

I am inspired by the people of my country, especially the more “zef” as they call us [roughly translated, it means common], because that is where I come from. I like the way that they do not care what anyone thinks and will go to a fancy restaurant or club in shorts and a vest and that is where I got my look. As for the long cap, I am into comics and toys, so I wanted to look like a comic book character or toy, and I always wear a cap, so we just made it long and it looked cool so we kept it. Pretty easy.

You rap in Afrikaans, but will you switch it up in Dubai?

My music is Afrikaans , but there is a lot of English in it as well and some of the songs I will be doing there will actually be much more English than you would believe. Song like

‘I Miss’ and ‘Bloubek’ are very English, so yeah, there will be enough of it so you will understand. But I feel that you do not need to always understand what some one is saying to like the music and this I have experienced first hand through touring the world and playing to people who barely even understand English. Some of my favourite bands like Seeed and Manu Chao I don’t understand, but I still feel their music in a way that makes me love them.

What do you rap about? Do money, hoes and bling feature as they’re big in other rap works?

Nope, not really, I rap about things I like, do or experience, parties, people, things that come my way. My life doesn’t really revolve around money, hoes or bling...or at least not two of them... haha!

You make being Jack Parow look like a lot of fun – would you recommend it?

Definetly, it’s fun... but at the same time it’s the hardest job I’ve ever had because it’s 24/7 365. But no rest for the wicked as they say.

Do South African politics – especially at the moment – ever feature in your work?

Nope, not at all. I feel that South Africa and the world already gets so bombarded by politics, crime and whatever is wrong with society that I don’t want to bombard them even more. When I go out I want to enjoy myself and forget about all of that stuff. So I make music that people can have fun to, and I think that’s important in its own way.

You’ve released a drinking game, your own range of signature caps and your own BBQ sauce – according to your song ‘Bloubek’ you eat hipsters.

Will the sauce go well with them?

Haha, very well! But I will have all my merch at the show so you can buy some and try for yourself. I’m sure there are a few lost hipsters in Dubai…

And what’s next off the production/merchandise line?

I’m currently actually writing a book with Penguin that I’m really amped for, it drops in september and is not really a biography but more just a look at all the trouble etc I’ve caused up until now.

Can you teach us a cool Afrikaan phrase to shout at you during your gig?

Jack Parow jy is blerrie gevaarlik!!

House of Afrika feat. Jack Parow, Dek on 8, Media One Hotel, Friday May 8, 6pm-3am, free entry.

5 reasons you need to see Francois K

Analog Room have branched out into the big time with their Finest Friday party on May 8 featuring Francois K, Cosmin TRG and Ryan Elliot. Here are 5 excellent reasons why you need to be there‌

1. In a time when the word legend is grossly over-used and

horribly misappropriated, it’s fair to say that New York disco giant Francois K is a legend. How else do you describe someone who started his career at Paradise Garage and Studio 54 and is widely considered to be one of the forefathers of house music.

There are DJs, and then there’s Francois K.

2. Although he’s a disco and edit king, with decades of

experience behind him (he’s 60, so old enough to be your grandfather, which is pretty darn cool), he’s playing a techno set for the Analog Room boys. Imagine cosmic melodies, inspired track selections and a whole lotta love.

3. He’s supported by Cosmin TRG who’s one of the leading

techno DJs around, and a favourite at clubs like Fabric, Berghain, Trouw and Sonar, blending cinematic soundscapes with hardhitting techno.

4. Further support comes from Detroit DJ Ryan Elliot, as well as Analog Room co-founders and residents Shemroon and Siamak Amidi. And with their week-in, week-out knowledge of starting up dancefloors, expect things to get moving early.

5. People complain that there’s not enough variety in the

city, there’s not enough diversity, not an underground scene.

Well, there is, and it’s here. Get down to this and support a homegrown, much-loved night like Analog Room as they branch out into the big time.

COSMIN TRG

RYAN ELLIOT

Analog Room presents Finest Friday feat. Francois K, Cosmin TRG and Ryan Elliot, Friday May 8, Level 41, 6pm-3am.

BUG’S LIFE German house and techno star Steve Bug is the latest big name to play at 02. We caught up with the Poker Flat main man to talk DJ idols, Googling yourself and 27 years of collecting music You graced our magazine cover last time you were here, do you collect your press cuttings, for you or for your mum, or have you got used to the exposure now?

The more important stuff is collected in my press map at the label office anyways, so I don’t collect magazine or flyers anymore.

When was the last time you Googled yourself?

Yesterday, because I can’t access my Facebook profile for some stupid reason at the moment, I had to search on Google to check out a post.

And do you get involved in online debates, or interact in social media?

Yes sometimes. Part of it is fun, but it can get too much sometimes.

Djs are a very revered part of dance music culture and have been for a long time – do people put too much faith into Djs, are you good idols?

Haha, I don’t think we are, and I don’t think the job should be idealized. It is a great job, but it is also very tough and lonely at times. People think it is the greatest job on earth, but if they travel with a DJ for a week, they suddenly see it is not all about the fun.

Musically, what's been working for you recently? -Hard to say, I like some of the old school house revival, but I also like simple groove tracks. And I definitely still love melodic, Detroit-ish techno. For me it was never about trends, it always was about a solid groove and some elements that carry you away.

And how have your tastes shifted since you started?

In the beginning I was just picking up almost everything out there and then in the 90s I got carried away a bit by some new sounds and styles, but basically my love for raw and

simple house was always a part of the music that I bought.

Going through my collection, there are many great tracks from more then 27 years of buying house and techno What does your ideal party look and sound like? And have any recent parties come close?

There are many ways to have a great party. Recently I played an amazing gig in Playa Vanao in Panama, it was an outdoor party for around 200 people partying under the stars, the vibe was just amazing. The day after I played in the Lost beach club in Montanita, Ecuador, a completely different setting even though the club was at the beach as well. But it had a roof and way more people. I’ve been playing there since the beginning and I really love this place, such good energy from a heartwarming crowd. Last week I played at Didi Gallery in Tbillisi. Again, completely different to the ones I mentioned before. But it was a great party in a very cool, raw environment. Also playing at Output NY, or Air, Tokyo is amazing, people are really into dancing and they enjoy the music on another level. But as I said, there are many great parties. They are all different and great for different reasons, but at the end it is all about being able to connect with the crowd and enjoy yourself.

Steve Bug plays 02 club, Thursday May 14, 10pm-3am.

THE LAST TIME JUBEI Ahead of the exclusive Something Big Metalheadz yacht party on May 7 with main man Goldie, we caught up with his support act and highly rated DJ Jubei to find out the last time he‌

THE LAST TIME I WAS IMPRESSED BY ANOTHER DJ WAS… I recently played at Cross Club in Prague, Czech Republic with SP:MC and the resident who came on after us was a really good DJ. I think his name was ‘Rudeboy’ and he was technically impressive and caught my attention straight away. We hung about for a little while to watch him.

THE LAST TIME PLAYED A REQUEST WAS… A few weeks ago I was playing in Oslip, Austria and this guy kept asking me to play “Say Nothing” which is one of my tracks that I hardly ever play. He wanted to hear it so badly, he kept asking before and during my set. In the end I gave in and played it purely for him. He was very grateful, it went down really well so I’m glad I did.

THE LAST TIME I PLAYED WITH GOLDIE I THOUGHT… Where does he get these tunes that I have never heard before?

He has a knack of doing that, he has been doing it for years.

THE LAST TIME I WISHED I DID A DIFFERENT JOB WAS… When I had a ‘normal’ job. Before I started doing music full time, I used to hate all the jobs I had before this.

THE LAST BOOK I READ WAS… Mike Tyson’s autobiography. Such an insane and amazingly interesting life he’s had so far. Despite the things he’s said and been accused of I feel sorry for him in a way. Don King is the real criminal in that story.

THE LAST PIECE OF MUSIC I LOVED WAS… Probably not dance music. Either some funk and soul which was made a long, long time ago. If it has to be something modern I really like the new Kendrick Lemar album – To Pimp A Butterfly.

THE LAST TIME I LAUGHED OUT LOUD WAS… Today. I always have a laugh with my friends when we catch up on the phone.

THE LAST TIME I LIED WAS… I never lie... (cough cough).

THE LAST TRACK I PLAY IN DUBAI WILL BE… I have no idea what I am going to finish with, I will probably decide on the night, usually about 5 minutes before I have to play it. You will just have to be there to find out!

Something Big Metalheadz Yacht Party feat. Goldie, Jubei and Mc Fokuz, Dubai Marina, Thursday May 7, 10pm-2.30am. Tickets Dhs350 including open bar, somethingbigdubai@gmail.com, 056 649 9728

ON THE THE RADAR ON RADAR

MAY 21

MAY 22

Globalfunk’s 12th birthday feat.

Ulterior Motive, Casa Latina

Deep Crates Cartel feat. Prince Fatty, Melia Hotel

MAY 21 The Wailers, Irish Village

MAY 22 Plus Minus feat. Chris Liebing, Level 41

MAY 21 Sunstroke feat. DJ Spen, 360

MAY 22 House of Afrika feat. Steve Paradise, Dek on 8

MAY 21 Timo Maas, O2 Club

MAY 28 Krafty Kuts & A Skillz, Zero Gravity

For a full list of what’s on, please head to infusion.ae

MAY 28

Superheroes feat. Stanton Warriors & MJ Cole, Level 41

MAY 28 Dennis Ferrer, O2 Club

MAY 29

House of Afrika feat. Jose Marquez, Dek on 8

JUNE 5

Lee Foss, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE

MAY 28 Dash Berlin, XL

JUNE 5 Plus Minus feat. Mathew Johnson, Level 41

MAY 29

SEP 17 Spandau Ballet, Trade Centre

John Digweed, Pacha Ibiza Dubai

We’ve re-worked our listings – one-off events will appear in the magazine, for everything else please check infusion.ae for our day-to-day listings. For inclusion, email andy@infusion.ae Pick up a copy from our Infusion Magazine stands at these locations and more across the city Every A+E outlet, Every MMI outlet, Double Decker, Media One, Zero Gravity, 360 club, Casa Latina, Barasti, Pure Sky Lounge, Beatz and Cuts, McGettigans JLT/DWC, Music Room, China White, Nasimi, Story Rooftop, El Fuego, The Basement, Bliss Lounge, Zinc, Pulse, Cinnamon - Raddison, La Terrasse, Fashion Lounge, OcactI, Serafina, Soul Al Bahar, The Scene

TUESDAY 5 Cinco de Mayo, Loca

As well as a piñata there’s unlimited tacos, margaritas and Mexican beer for Dhs220.

7pm.

THURSDAY 7 Bad House Party, Casa Latina

The monthly punk and indie party returns, with guest DJs DUST. 9pm-3am, Dhs60 including a free drink.

Cause We Love Music feat. Flashmob, Bliss Lounge

House and tech-house from the Italian duo behind big hitters on Defected and Get Physical. 8pm-2am.

DJ Snake, XL

A big booking for the Habtoor club, with DJ Snake currently big news following his ‘Lean On’ collaboration with Major Lazer. 10pm-3am.

Fedde Le Grand, Cavalli

House and EDM from the ‘Put Your Hands Up For Detroit’ DJ and producer. 9pm-3am.

Glitch presents Spartaque, The Basement Minimal and techno from Toolroom signing Spartaque, with Kris Lee and Ryan D on support. 10pm-3am, ladies free, men Dhs100.

INFUSION PICK! Something Big feat. Goldie, Dubai Marina The Something Big yacht parties continue with a Metalheadz takeover with Goldie and Jubei in charge of the drum and bass tunes. 10pm-

2.30am, Dhs350 open bar.

Sunstroke feat. Natasha Watts, 360

Soulful house and a live PA from well respected UK singer Watts, with Robert Walker on DJ support. 6pm-3am, free entry.

INFUSION PICK! Sun City, Level 41 Renowned UK garage night makes its UAE debut, with Mikee B from the Dreem Team, So Solid Crew’s Harvey, Pay As You Go Kartel, Heartless Crew and more.

9pm-3am, Dhs120 advance.

Tiefschwarz + Lee Jones, 02 Club Basti, one half of Tiefschwarz, drops deep, techy house alongside fellow guest Lee Jones. 10pm-3am.

4pm-3am, free. Weekly.

Bob Marley 34th Birthday, The Music Room A tribute to the great man, with reggae tunes from DJ Moh, DJ Daddi Ramosh. 9pm-3am.

Dimitri From Paris, Pacha Ibiza Dubai House in the main room from the well respected French DJ, with BFG and Fever on terrace duties, with hip hop in the Red Room. 10pm-3am.

Full Moon Party feat.

Sander Kleinenberg & Hannah Wants, Nasimi

Nasimi’s recent rejuvenation continues, with tough house from Kleinenberg twinned with Hannah Wants’ UK bass sound. 5pm-late, Dhs150.

Hector & DJ W!ld, Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE

House and techno from Hector

and DC10 resident DJ W!ld.

Velocity feat.

Funkagenda, Zero Gravity 1-11pm.

House from the Toolroom Records signing, who was also awarded a Grammy for his part in producing the Black Eyed Peas. 6pm-3am, Dhs100 after midnight, ladies free until midnight.

FRIDAY 8 Audio tonic, 360

The resident DJs take control of the two floors with Secret Circle residents Michka and Aidan Karami guesting above.

INFUSION PICK! Jack Parow, Dek on 8 Cult South African rapper and comedic figure Jack Parow plays live for the House of Afrika massive. 6pm-3am.

INFUSION PICK! Jazzy Jeff, Barasti Party starting classics from one of the most respected DJs in the world. 6pm-late, free entry.

Journey Through House, Zero Gravity

Reade St Boat Party, Jebel Ali Resort

The third Reade St voyage features disco from Conan Liquid and the DUST DJs, with Matthew Charles on support.

1-6pm, info@wearedumm.com INFUSION PICK! The Martinez Brothers, Eden Beach Club Eden’s strong booking policy continues with much loved Ibiza stars The Martinez Brothers bringing their infectious energy. Midday-late.

The popular classics monthly returns with Jeremy Healy and Julie McKnight amongst the guests. 6pm-3am, ladies free before midnight, Dhs100 men after 10pm.

Nicole Moudaber, Provocateur

American/Lebanese DJ Nicole Moudaber returns to Dubai for another set of driving techno anthems. 10pm-3am.

SATURDAY 9 Wankelmut, Saadiyat Beach Club

The German house DJ behind ‘Óne Day/Reckoning Song’ headlines, with support from Dany Neville and Danny Cee. Dhs125

INFUSION PICK! Lemon Jam feat. Nicholson, Pool Area, JW Marriott Marquis The live music series continues, with electronic act Nicholson supported by local stars Nasrawi and Thornwood. 2pm.

Omid Djalili, Music Hall

Live stand up from the British star who’s filmed in several big Hollywood productions, including Sex and the City.

7pm, Dhs195.

THURSDAY 14 Drum and Bass Dubai, The Basement

Nicky Blackmarket headlines this night of classic DnB, with MCs Skibadee and Shabba supplying the rhymes. 10pm3am, Dhs100, ladies free before midnight.

Kiko Navarro, Provocateur

Dubai favourite Navarro returns, bringing his years of soul-infused house music experience at venues like Pacha Ibiza with him. 10pm3am.

INFUSION PICK! Nicky Romero, Eden Eden Black’s EDM night returns with Dutch DJ sensation Romero headlining. 8pmlate, men Dhs350, women Dhs200.

INFUSION PICK! Piknik Electronik, Sports City The season closing party for this family friendly festival features Canadian live act Fairmont and Dutch house DJ Patrice Baumel. 3-11pm, Dhs130 advance.

INFUSION PICK! Steve Bug & Hobo, 02 Club Techno titan and Poker Flat main man Steve Bug headlines, with support from Hobo. 10pm-3am.

INFUSION PICK! Warehouse Dubai feat. My Nu Leng, XL Bristol bass warriors My Nu Leng return for a night of big beats and big bass drops.

9pm-3am.

FRIDAY MAY 15 – POSSIBLY A DRY NIGHT, CHECK AHEAD

Aurora feat. Judge Jules, Zero Gravity

Classics from the longstanding British DJ (and yes, he is a qualified judge), with up-coming trio Futuristic Polar Bears on support. 3pm-3am, free before 10pm, men Dhs100 after, ladies free until midnight.

INFUSION PICK! Groove on the Grass, Emirates Golf Course After another strong season,

the GotG team bow out before summer with Tale of Us headlining, and Woo York dropping a live set. 5pm-3am, advance tickets Dhs180.

House of Afrika feat. Kyle Worde, Dek on 8 One of South Africa’s biggest new school Djs, Kyle is a regular on Good Hope FM (Cape Town) and East Coast Radio (Durban), and has played alongside Roger Sanchez on the Space Ibiza tour. 6pm-3am, free.

Never Get Out The Boat feat. Jixo & Danz, Jebel Ali Resort

House and groovy techno from Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE residents Jixo and Danz.

1-6pm, info@wearedumm.com

SATURDAY 16 Lemon Jam feat.

Dubhigh, Pool Area, JW Marriott Marquis Live music from the popular new Saturday afternoon/ night party, with Dubhigh headlining 2pm.

LOOK AND

LISTEN Music be the food of love, so read on...

• Music News • Album reviews • Dj Hereos • Soundstage • Dj Booth • Music That Matters

Look and Listen

Music News...

SPOTIFY NOW WORTH MORE THAN THE RECORDED MUSIC INDUSTRY

For the first time in history, money maintained from music streaming services has exceeded CD sales. And, following funding of over $400 million, Spotify is now worth more than the US recorded music industry.

The streaming service is now reported to have an estimated net value of £5.5 billion ($8.4 billion), which is said to be more than double that of Pandora, its nearest rival, worth an estimated £2.3 billion ($3.5 billion). In 2014, the revenue of the music industry was £4.62 billion ($6.97 billion). In other streaming news, Jay Z’s Tidal service slipped out of the top 700 downloaded iPhone apps in America just weeks after its high profile launch.

ELECTRONIC MUSEUM LAUNCHED Frankfurt is set to open the Museum of Modern Electronic Music in 2017, with interactive exhibitions, DJ workshops and a host of live shows. Everything from history and influences, through to media, global movements, technology and DJs will be showcased at the free entry museum. In other music museum news, the White Stripes’ Jack White has donated over Dhs300,000 to the National Blues Museum.

both, u could be o y e c n e c li quor W ithout a li E THE RISK! K DON’T TA

The process couldn’t be simpler, just follow these 3 easy steps.

STEP 1 Complete the Application Form and get it stamped by your employer.

STEP 2 Attach copies of the required documents.

STEP 3 Visit any MMI shop to submit your Application Form and documents.

For more information please contact our Liquor Licence team on 04 304 0331/0332 or e-mail lipsadmin@mmi.ae mmidubai.com

/mmidubai

@mmi_dubai

MMIDubai

Look and Listen

Album Reviews...

HOT CHIP – WHY MAKE SENSE? Electronic // hotchip.co.uk



6 ALBUMS IN, AND HOT CHIP keep finding new ways to impress. Why Make Sense? is their most disarming album title yet, as all 10 tracks are as streamlined and focused as they’ve made: all killer and no filler.

Where other HC albums might have featured a few downtempo numbers, or indulged in some whimsical electronica, Why Make Sense? has both feet firmly on the dancefloor, which maybe isn’t a surprise considering the off-shoot DJ careers of The 2 Bears and Joe Goddard in recent years.

Lead single ‘Hurache Lights’ is a real statement of intent, with vocoder vocals riding atop a mellifluous bassline and house hi hats. ‘Easy To Get’ and ‘Need You Now’ follow suit, with the evermutating ‘Easy To Get’ melding acid, house and funk influences.

Intelligent dance(floor) music is rarely this much fun, proving why Hot Chip continue to make perfect sense to us.

TYLER THE CREATOR – CHERRY BOMB Hip hop // facebook.com/TylertheCreatorOfficial



AS IF ONE ON A ONE MAN MISSION TO SAVE HIP HOP, Tyler The Creator throws everything – including what often sounds like the kitchen sink – into the mix. And his latest album, his fourth, is a perfect example of that.

Guests are as diverse as Kanye and Toro Y Moi, and musically it goes from bombastic, scatter-gun hip hop to jazz-accented freakouts. The strongest influence is rock though, with opener ‘Deathcamp’ a fuzzy, scuzzy hip rocker that could have been lifted off a prime era N.E.R.D album, which is high praise indeed.

There’s a limit to his creativity, and just how much you can stomach – ‘Cherry Bomb’ sounds like a Stormtrooper invasion, all thunderous drums and military beats, while ‘The Brownstairs’ is what we’d imagine a breakdown in Wallmart to sound like. But when his creative instincts are properly harnessed and toned down, like the classic 90s hip hop era jam ‘Smuckers’ and the off-kilter ‘Buffalo,’ Cherry Bomb goes off with a bang.

DJ Heroes #4 Pierre Ravan

Next up in our DJ Heroes series is one of the first DJs to make it internationally from the region, and also the driving musical force behind Pacha Ibiza Dubai. Alongside that, Pierre has released several well received compilation albums under his KaRavan banner and is one of the nicest men in the dancefloor business

First club you played in Dubai?

It was back in the day. It was 1995 in a bar called Carters in Wafi where we explored house music for the first time. We were also doing nights at M Level in Hilton creek.

First track you played?

It was my own track ‘Avaz’ and the deeper version of ‘Plastic Dreams.’

Best change in the city’s club scene?

More house music awareness and an openness to different genres of music.

Worst change in the city’s club scene?

Corruption to over pay A list cheesy EDM DJs. Best club still running from when you started (or best you’ve played if it’s since closed)?

From when I started, it was Planetarium – but the club doesn’t exist any more.

Key to longevity as a DJ is…

Stay truthful to your self and your music that is coming from your heart, and treat DJing not as a hobby but as your mission in life and to serve the music community.

The best way to get gigs is…

To openly ask without any ego and offer what you can do.

Unsung DJ? Rootical Deep & Dj Subandrio. ubai DJ you’d most like to go back to back with?

Danny Neville doing a house set.

Upcoming gigs?

I’ve just played at House of Afrika, and I’m always at Pacha Ibiza Dubai. Internationally, I’ll be at Pacha Mallorca, Barcelona and Ibiza, Rebus in Calabria (Italy), Can You Dance To My Beat in Greece and Duplex and Radost in the Czech Republic.

Soundstage

FLAMINGODS

A psychedelic five piece spread across the Middle East and London, we caught up with much-hyped live outfit and occasional DJs Flamingods…

Our first musical influence was…

The blues output of Bruce Willis.

The last pop star we liked was…

David Byrne.

Our sound is best described as…

Outside the box, but still within a bigger box of psychedelic world music to keep it simple.

Best piece of advice you’ve received?

To be modest.

What’s your musical guilty pleasure?

Barbara Streisand.

The best band in Dubai is…

Parallel Sound System.

Lamest claim to fame?

Being in Flamingods.

When we make it, the one thing we want on our rider is…

More cowbell.

Our musical motto is…

What would Barbara do?

Best gig you’ve played?

Milhoes De Festa in sunny Portugal last year!

And the worst?

The time our support act was a world cup match on TV. Best lyrics of all time?

Coca Cola Rollercoaster. soundcloud.com/flamingodsmusic

DJ Booth: DJ Aries

This issue’s star DJ is Akua Afram, AKA DJ Aries, a mainstay at House of Afrika and a recent Nasimi guest DJ

One thing you might not know about me is... I’m a qualified creative arts lecturer.

My worst ever job was… Being a team PA. Awful, but I make the best cuppas!

My favorite ever record is... There are too many to name.

Hmmm... ‘Human Nature’ Michael Jackson.

DJing is much like... Therapy.

Dubai’s clubbing scene is... Not diverse enough.

I’m really proud of... Seeing my ex students succeed.

What track could you drop in every set?

DJ Gregory - Don’t Panic.

I can’t live without... Food and my decks.

My biggest DJ achievement to date is... Being the 1st and only African female DJ to be featured on BBC 1xtra.

What is your guiltiest pleasure? Love and Hip Hop, a reality TV series.

If you could DJ in any decade which would it be... The 80s.

I’m an 80s baby.

If I could go back-to-back with any other DJ it would be...

Brooklyn’s Jasmine Solano (JSMN). Love her, she’s amazing and she’s more than just a DJ. I’m not a politician but… Free university for all!

SOUNDCLOUD.COM/DJ_ARIES

Look and Listen

MUSIC THAT MATTERS SEND TRACKS/EDITS/REMIXES TO ANDY@INFUSION.AE

JAB – Ayun 36 track, 90 minute DnB mix, with big hitters from Ulterior Motive, DC Breaks and Black Sun Empire. mixcloud.com/JoshBannister/ jab-ayun/ DJ Anya – Bar Grooves Vocal led journey through poppy deep house and nudisco, with some techier vibes at the end, including a killer track from Tigerskin. mixcloud.com/DjAnya/bargrooves-19/ Ruben M – Looney Tunes Deep house, with some ghetto house grooves thrown into the mix from the Vibe Series recent guest. mixcloud.com/RubenM/looneytunes/ Chad Phunk – Turquoiz Mix 13 track deep house mix from the Abu Dhabi regular, with plenty of choice cuts from less obvious up-and-coming producers. mixcloud.com/chadglass/

chadphunk-turquoiz-abu-dhabibeach-mix/ Elaouad – HV1 Sprawling, 20+ track mix that takes in deep, disco and afro vibes, including releases

by House of Afrika guests Osunlade and Atjazz.Also, a freshly minted father, congrats dude (and little dude!) mixcloud.com/Elaouad/hv1/ Darko De Jan – Paparazzi 2015 Pumping house and techhouse grooves from the Armani Prive resident DJ. mixcloud.com/darkodejan/ darko-de-jan-paparazzi-april2k15/ Greg Stainer – Club Anthems Massive two hour mix of excellently mixed house, garagey vibes and EDM from the Hollaphonic beats man and Zinc resident DJ. mixcloud.com/gregstainer/ greg-stainer-club-anthems-foremirates-april-2015/

7TH MAY 2015

INFUSIONMAGAZINE

INFUSIONMAG

INFUSIONMAGAZINE

WWW.INFUSION.AE

LOOKING

CLOSER Opinions, thoughts and gibberish...

• Weird News • The Spin • Cool Test • Eat Sleep Rave Repeat • Movies • Angry Monkey

Looking Closer

Weird News...

HEADLINE OF THE WEEK:

ADDICTED TO UNDERPANTS: MAN’S COMPULSION TO WEAR NEW BOXERS EVERY DAY LEFT HIM FACING BANKRUPTCY STONE COLD

A red-faced US senator had some explaining to do after his phone interrupted a congressional hearing by playing a tune from the Disney hit Frozen. Pat Roberts’ handset blared the Let It Go ringtone during Thursday’s finance committee hearing on US tariff policy.

The Kansas senator’s fellow committee members and staffers laughed as the Oscar-winning song’s chorus broke off Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s testimony. And proving that politicians do have a sense of humour, Senator Roberts quipped ‘Ah, come on, just let it go’ as he reached for the mute button.

A BAD DAY AT THE OFFICE

A man who allegedly had sex with a tree, told police officers he was God, shrugged off being tasered twice and tried to stab a cop with his own badge while on powerful drugs has been arrested.

Kenneth Crowder, of Melbourne, Florida, was tripping on flakka, a new drug that authorities say is sweeping the state. According to a police report, Crowder, 41, was spotted by witnesses running naked through a Melbourne neighborhood, yelling that he was Thor, before ripping out two lots of taser probes and trying to attack a police officer with his own badge.

He was arrested on charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting with violence and assault with a deadly weapon on a law enforcement officer.

THE SPIN MAY 2015

PAGE 200

ISSUE 19

UK booking agent in shock at the prices they can charge in Dubai

Dubai: the land of gold plated palm trees, man made islands that can be seen from space and some of the most gullible, well off promoters known to man. At least that’s the opinion of one major booking agent in the UK. Melisa D’Argent books DJs through her Deckheads talent agency, and is amazed at the extortionate prices they can charge. ‘I’ll literally pluck a number out of the air for a low-level techno DJ, or a house DJ with one Beatport hit, add a few zeroes and the suckers pay it.

I’m staggered, but I’m actually buying five villas on the Palm this year with the proceeds, ironic isn’t it,’ she laughed.

D’Argent also gets venues and promoters involved in a booking war, escalating the prices further. ‘I’ll play them off against each other, I’ll make them sound like the second coming, and they’ll pay 2,000 Euros extra just because they now live from Berlin.’

Drunk man who spent Dhs50,000 on nightclub table admits giving the money to charity and heading to Rock Bottoms for a night out would be a better use of his time *These stories are not true, this is not a real newspaper. This is a parody/fiction/satire/joke. The Spin is not intended, in any way whatsoever, to be taken as factual.

COOL It’s a Journey Through House battle this issue, as dance music DJ Jeremy Healy goes head to head with ‘Finally’ singer Julie McKnight. Who’s got history on their side though, and who’s going to be consigned to history after our cool test battle?

JEREMY HEALY

JULIE MCKNIGHT

Who’s the coolest person in your phone book?

My mum, hang on, how about the Aga Khan?

My sons (Brian & Niko McKnight)

What’s the longest you’ve gone without sleep?

About 5 days, I was tearing up bank notes and woke up in an airing cupboard with a big swollen arm. That was then...

38 hours

Coolest word in the world?

“Beijo”- it mean kiss or touch lips in Portuguese, it feels good just saying it

Hot

Coolest DJ in the world?

The last one on

Trick question for me! Let’s say, any DJ who could still rock a party with his vinyls and turntable

Coolest track ever made?

Mr Fingers, ‘Can You Feel It’

Hasn’t been created yet

JEREMY HEALY VS JULIE MCKNIGHT Your best dance move is…

The smooth criminal

My hips tend to make their own dance moves

What’s your best claim to fame?

I am an 80s pop sensation

My cooking and my hugs

It’s not big and clever but…

I did stay up for 5 days once

Be kind to everyone!

Describe your best bass face…

What’s a bass face?

Think Prince with a BB King

The verdict: We’re big fans of Julie’s peace, love and hugs, but we suspect we’d rather party with Jeremy!

Journey Through House feat. Jeremy Healy, Julie McKnight, Friday May 8, Zero Gravity. 6pm-3am, ladies free until midnight, men Dhs100 after 10pm.

Eat Sleep Rave Repeat

Bottoms Up Our resident foodie Stephen Day heads to one of Dubai’s longest serving nightlife institutions to put their credentials to the test (and no doubt swig a Bullfrog or five) A quick way to tell if someone is lying is to ask them if they’ve ever been to Rock Bottom.

If they say no, then they are probably either a liar or fresh off the plane as it’s a rite of passage for most within the first few weeks of landing in the desert. Plus, you can double check by asking them to stick out their tongue – if it’s brazen blue, they were supping the bar’s infamous Bullfrogs the night before.

For some it’s a place they continue to frequent weekly and for the chosen few a daily basis. For me Rock Bottom isn’t somewhere I would normally choose to go but it’s often the kind of place you end up at.

We walked past the parked motorbike by the door and entered a dimly lit American themed bar. With plenty of dark wood, slumpback booths and an ample bar that supplies decent beer from across the world, it’s like an adult TGIs, something the menu reflects. Grills, BBQ, sharing platters are all on display sat alongside some pasta or curries if the mood takes you.

We went with a couple of dishes to share, and started with the Buffalo wings which had an interesting coating, a bit like a red chili sambal, that delivered on the flavour and texture front. The 2nd dish were Japaleno poppers and perfectly passable – but they tasted like they’d been bought in and simply dunked in the deep fryer.

Following a glass of house wine for my guest, the mains arrived.

They had mixed fajitas, which came still steaming on a sizzling skillet and were more than enough to share, along with the usual accompaniment of guacamole, sour cream, salsa and tortilla wraps.

The chicken was a little over done, but the beef was lovely and tender, with a rich spicy coating covering everything. Rock Bottom is blessed with a pork license, so there was no way I could turn down the prospect of 2 juicy pork chops with their signature pineapple ring and accompanying sauces.

The chops themselves were succulent and well cooked with a lovely charred sear. But it’s a shame the same couldn’t be said for the rest of the dish: the menu had promised apple sauce but instead some apple and cinnamon flavoured water sat there instead.

Rock Bottom run some theme evenings including a Steak night on Mondays and there was a Spanish theme menu when we visited, so we went for some Catalonian style deserts, including a Brulee and Leche Fritas. They were the highlight of the meal, both had barely been delivered before they were polished off.

The crème brulee was light and rich whilst the ice cream was smooth inside and crunchy out as you would expect, having being deep fried.

I would guess these had both been made in house and not bought in and this is where Rock Bottom should play to their strengths – home-made food created with love will always taste better than imported, bulk-bought produce. With a little more attention to detail, the chain could not only offer good value for money, but provide a menu that lives up to the infamous Rock Bottom name.

Rock Bottom, Tecom, Ramee Rose Hotel, Barsha, 04 450 0111

MAY 14

MAY 21

MOVIE IT FOLLOWS Surprisingly good, well thought out horror film that’s been getting rave reviews across the board, as a young woman is followed by an unknown supernatural force after getting involved in a sexual encounter.

Classification: 18 Director: Robert David Mitchell Starring: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist and Olivia Luccardi

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD The long-awaited re-boot features Tom Hardy in the lead role, as he struggles to survive in a post-apocalyptic wilderness (no, not Ras Al Khaimah).

Classification: 18 Director: George Miller Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult

PREVIEWS THE AGE OF ADALINE

A fresh take on the eternal love story as Blake Lively plays a young woman, born at the turn of 20th century, who is rendered ageless after an accident. After years of a solitary life, she meets a man who might be worth losing her immortality for. Soppy, but enjoyably so.

Classification: PG13 Director: Lee Toland Krieger Starring: Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman and Harrison Ford

AVENGERS

AGE OF ULTRON

The Hollywood heroes are back, this time fighting against Ultron, a man-made peace-keeping program that’s gone rogue.

Classification: 15 Director: Joss Whedon Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo

DISCLAIMER: Film release schedules are subject to change, please check reelcinemas.ae, novocinemas.com and voxcinemas.com for full schedules.

Warming down This Monkey has had the pleasure of seeing plenty of international acts come through Dubai, but with every headliner comes the inevitable warm-up DJ set from a local, the art of which half of the clowns behind the decks in this city appear not to have mastered.

No, you muppet, we don’t want to hear the headliner’s tracks before they come on. No, we don’t want you yelling at us on the microphone (there’s room for only one screeching simian around here, and it’s not you). You can’t play the Beatport top ten progressive house tracks to try and fire everyone up. And if I hear another Coldplay ‘mashup’ before an underground set, I may just fling my feces at your head.

Put some thought into your set and the artist playing after you.

110BPM deep house gives the headliner plenty of room to move, sure, but it also puts your audience to sleep and you’ll be forgotten once you hand over to the person everyone’s paid to see. There’s nothing more rewarding than moving everyone from the edge of the room to front and center with a gradually building set, and it’s going to get you noticed more than those ten-thousand fake followers you bought on Facebook.

Monkey Out...

The Angry Monkeys’ views are his own, and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Infusion Magazine.

FRIDAY | May | 15TH

TALE OF US Woo YORK FULL LINEUP TBA

(LIVE)