Baktun
Nightlife newcomer Baktun (418 West 14th Street; 212-206-1590), which has established itself in the scuzzily chic meatpacking district as one of the city’s better spots for dance music, will host a 48-hour Dance Marathon from September 10 to 12. A charity event? Nope. Baktun’s owners are celebrating the fact that they recently obtained a cabaret license – no small feat in nightlife-hostile Giuliani-era New York. D.J.’s such as Holmar Filipsson, E-Man, Seoul, Lion, and Chris Thomas from Baktun events like the drum-’n’-bass-themed Direct Drive, the friendly, casual dance night Bang the Party, and the raucous deep-house party N’Ice will keep dancers on their feet through the entire weekend.
The Roxy
In addition to throwing the opening-night party for the CMJ MusicFest, Giant Step is putting together a catchall D.J.-culture night at the Roxy (515 West 18th Street; 212-627-0404 or 212-714-8001) on September 16, which will feature jazzy techno from Carl Craig’s Innerzone Orchestra and blunted beats from The Herbaliser as well as up-and-coming British hip-hoppers Roots Manuva, Detroit-techno wunderkind D.J. Recloose, and local French-house D.J. Neil Aline.
Twilo
British D.J.’s Basement Jaxx, whose debut album, Remedy, landed on Spin’s “90 Greatest Albums of the Nineties” list even before its U.S. release, will spin house music at Twilo (530 West 27th Street; 212-268-1600) on September 17. Twilo will also host a phenomenal techno triple bill on September 10. With their herky-jerky dances and frenetic synths, the Detroit-based Advent should deliver a blistering live show that belies techno’s facelessness. In a rare U.S. appearance, Japanese techno auteur Ken Ishii will perform his serene electronica soundscapes. Tsuyoshi Suzuki will probably serve up the most dance-oriented set of the night, with music ranging from hard-core trance to the big beats of the Chemical Brothers.
Westbeth Theatre
Drum-’n’-bass star Roni Size, who wowed the world with the award-winning 1997 album New Forms, will debut his latest project, Breakbeat Era, at the Westbeth Theatre (151 Bank Street; 212-691-2272) on September 17. Fronted by bebop-influenced singer Leonie Laws, Breakbeat Era comes across like a sound clash between bohemian funk and futuristic drum ‘n’ bass. Size and fellow Reprazent member D.J. Die will spin records between sets.
Prospect Park
House-music fans will flock to the sixth annual Clubhouse Jamboree at the Prospect Park Music Pagoda on September 18 to hear D.J. sets from Masters at Work producer “Little” Louie Vega, soulful-house legend Kim Lightfoot, and “Afro-tech” innovator Basil. Expect performances from Barbara Tucker (whose stunningly gorgeous “Beautiful People” has become a deep-house anthem) and world-music act WUMNI. The event runs from 11 a.m. till 7 p.m.; families are encouraged to attend.
Soundlab
Famous for its heady intellectual vibe, the mobile party Soundlab will host a Super Buffet on September 25 at Loading Dock 5 on North 3rd Street in Williamsburg, featuring a generous roster of electronica artists like New York “illbient” innovator D.J. Spooky and Detroit ghetto-tech forefather D.J. Assault. Like most other Soundlab events, this one promises “an evening of music, art, and applied technology,” meaning that audiences should expect visual projections, and enough cyber-geekiness to scare away Bill Gates. And yes, there will be food – from Mama’s catering.
Life
He’s best known for his work with the retro-seventies-funk-influenced collective Sylk 130, but Philadelphia-based producer King Britt is also a remarkably versatile D.J. whose sets segue effortlessly from house to hip-hop to vintage soul. He’ll be making a rare solo appearance at underground house-music party Legends … Live for its “Sounds of Philadelphia” night at Life (158 Bleecker Street; 212-420-1999) on September 29. Britt will be joined by Soul Dhamma, who have spiked the usually placid vocal-house scene with their jumpy, ragga-influenced house anthem “Flower.”
Vinyl
“Little” Louie Vega’s Wednesday-night house party Sunset Ritual (6 Hubert Street, at Hudson Street; 212-343-1379) kicked off at Vinyl in June to a sparse crowd – who wants to sweat it out midweek during summer’s blazing heat? Those who stayed away missed the opportunity to catch one of the world’s great house D.J.’s (as well as surprise guest stars like Everything But The Girl’s Ben Watt) in a small, intimate space. Unlike other big Vinyl nights, like “Shelter” and “Body & Soul,” “Sunset Ritual” offers plenty of room to dance, and Vega has been taking advantage of the opportunity to test out unreleased material like a sexy Stephanie Mills tune he produced called “Latin Lover.”