DJ NANA B-DAY JAM
With DJs Glass, Flash, Techtwele, Agile. Thu, July 3. Revival (in the Stone Lounge), 783 College. $5.
District Six artist DJ Nana is one of those cool guys who’s got mad talent, but is calm and quiet about it. You’ll find him moving the dancefloor at some of the city’s most diverse hip-hop parties, performing as a DJ with live acts such as K’Naan, Zaki Ibrahim and Kamau, and producing for MCs including Planet Asia, Grimace Love and Collizhun. Nana has flash, but he ain’t flashy, as is evident in his strong solo album series, The World Inside My Head. As he gets set to launch Volume 3 later this month, Nana throws himself this birthday party and kicks off a new weekly residency.

SCOTT COOPER @ CURB CRAWLERS
With DJs Fistfight, Sek One. Fri, July 4. Levack Block, 88 Ossington. $6 before midnight, more after.
British DJ, producer and musician Scott Cooper has listened, learned and is poised to become the next big name in underground dance music. The classically trained guitarist has been honing his skills for the past decade, absorbing the influence of house, hip-hop, acid ska, UK garage, dancehall and more. His rough, gruff ragga house owes a debt to producers like Jon Carter, Switch, Sinden and Tittsworth, but Cooper comes heavier with the hooks and melodies than most. Check his releases on labels like Wearhouse, Jack Union, Potty Mouth and Moda for a taste of the future.

CE CE ROGERS @ PHATBLACKPUSSYKAT PARTY PART 2
With DJs David Dee, Haf, Yogi, Dino & Terry. Fri, July 4. Toika Lounge, 471 Richmond W. $10 before 11:30pm.
Following on the heels of last month’s Classic House jam featuring vocalist Byron Stingily, Toika owner Junior Palmer again returns to his Phatblackpussykat promotion roots. Headlining here is legendary singer Ce Ce Rogers, the voice behind numerous songs that embody the positivity and hope of house, including gospel-infused anthems like “Someday,” “All Join Hands” and “No Love Lost.” Rogers continues to perform in a variety of projects and has also written for, produced or played with artists including Sounds of Blackness, Luther Vandross, Janet Jackson and D’Angelo. He’s joined here by NYC DJ and producer David Dee.

PAUL E LOPES & MIKE TULL @ ACTIVATOR
With DJs Cryo, Dougie Boom, Fase, Shit La Merde. Fri, July 4. Wrongbar, 1279 Queen W. $5 before 11pm.
Props to the D-Money crew for booking what is, hands down, one of the most solid and interesting all-local lineups one could hope to hear. None of these DJs are new jacks — all are seriously skilled innovators — but it’s particularly fantastic to see local club veterans Paul E. Lopes and Mike Tull play together outside of their big Bump N’ Hustle monthly. Both men can literally spin any sound well, but they’re ideal headliners at Activator, a party devoted to black music from the ‘80s. Let the music play, indeed.

NOMO @ THE EL MOcambo
Tue, July 8. The El Mocambo, 464 Spadina Av. $10.50 at the Horseshoe, Soundscapes, Ticketmaster, Rotate This.
The fact that Michigan collective NOMO have shared stages with artists ranging from Earth Wind and Fire to Konono No.1 to Dan Deacon speaks volumes. NOMO’s incessant touring after their 2006 New Tones album is at the heart of their latest, Ghost Rock. In the past, the band tended to get a little mired in their appreciation of Afrobeat and jam-bands. Here, they fully step into their own sound — a confident amalgam of jazz, funk, rock, electronics and, yes, Afrobeat — proving that they’re looking forward, not back. They’re consistently lively in person, with horns ablaze over analog synths, homemade percussion and thick grooves.