MASTA ACE @ HIP-HOP KARAOKE FIRST ANNIVERSARY
With MCs Abdominal, More or Les, DJs Dalia, Numeric, Ted Dancin’. Thu, Apr 10. Revival, 783 College. $15.
Kudos to the merry band of local hip-hop heads who started the T.O. chapter of Hip-hop Karaoke last year and developed it into one of this city’s hottest monthlies, where closet MCs bust out their favourite rhymes over classic instrumentals. It’s fitting that seasoned Brooklyn MC Masta Ace will both co-host and perform at this anniversary edition because the rapper reminds me of hip-hop’s glory days. Check recent recordings including last year’s fantastic “Nostalgia,” produced by Toronto native Marco Polo.

THUNDERHEIST
With Bonjay, vitaminsforyou, DJ Caff. Fri, Apr 11. Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor W. $10 at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Ticketmaster.
Who hasn’t fallen under the spell of MC Isis and producer/DJ Grahmzilla, together known as Thunderheist, T.O.’s hypest electro-party-rap act? They toured like fiends in ’07, and then settling into studio mode last winter to record a much-anticipated debut album (watch for a “Jerk It” single next month). This is Thunderheist’s first hometown live show of ‘08 so the energy is bound to be high.

A-TRAK @ FOOL’S GOLD TOUR
With Sinden, Jokers of the Scene, more. Fri, Apr 11. State Theatre, 69 Bathurst. $15 at Rotate This, Ticketbreak.com.
Fool’s Gold — the club music–minded label founded by A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs — is on fire. Not only has Kid Sister’s “Pro Nails” blown up like that, Fool’s Gold have dropped dancefloor gems by Ottawa’s Jokers of the Scene, ‘90s house revivalist Sammy Bananas, Kid Cudi and A-Trak himself, who, while he’s still Kanye West’s DJ, also blends pure party sets while headlining this Fool’s Gold tour. PS: don’t miss the UK’s Sinden — collaborator with the likes of Switch, M.I.A. and co-creator of the ubiquitous single “Beeper.”

SASHA and JOHN DIGWEED
With Kazell, Mark Oliver. Fri, Apr 11. Kool Haus, 132 Queen’s Quay E. $45 at Ticketmaster.
For almost two decades, British DJ/producers Sasha and John Digweed have stayed at the top of the big-room club heap and remained relevant. Now, as they each prepare to release new collections in May — Sasha with his emFire Collection of originals and remixes and Digweed with his Transitions Vol. 4 mix CD — they’ll tour North America extensively for the first time in six years. 

AUTECHRE
With DJ Rob Hall, Massonix, DJ Parsons. Sat, Apr 12. Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor W. $20 at Rotate This, Soundscapes, Ticketmaster.
Warp label shining stars Sean Booth and Rob Brown create complex, often chaotic electronic compositions that can be as maddening as they are moving. Quaristice, their ninth studio album, continues on this path, making my head spin and heart race with every listen. It’s weirdly compelling stuff, multiplied to the umpteenth degree when performed live.