SINDEN
With A.D/D., Missfit. Thu, Sep 18. The Social, 1100 Queen W. $15 advance tickets at Rotate This, Play De Record, Soundscapes, Ticketweb.ca.
I am thoroughly exasperated by the lazy, uninspired, party-party electro-house tracks that continue to be tossed out for easy dancefloor consumption. Like Peggy Lee, I find myself asking, is that all there is? Thankfully, people like Sinden up the ante. Whether concocting originals with frequent collaborators Switch and Herve (a.k.a. The Count of Monte Cristal) or remixing the likes of Basement Jaxx, Mark Ronson, A-Trak and Bjork, Sinden marries the energy of today’s underground sound with actual melodies and vocals. His embrace of pop, dancehall, hip-hop and house has helped earn Sinden residencies at UK superclub Fabric, on legendary London FM station Kiss 100 and as M.I.A.’s touring DJ. His skills make

HARVEST FESTIVAL
With Junior Boys (DJ set), Metalogic, Dunkelbunt, Noah Pred, Eric Downer, Ian Guthrie, Dalia, Friendlyness, Rollin’ Cash, Medicineman, Ray Vincent, Shankar, Zero Gravity Circus, more. Fri, Sep 19 to Sun, Sep 21. Midlothian Castle, Burk’s Falls, Ontario. $55-$70 passes at Shanti Baba, Moog/Slinky, Play De Record, Studio Gang.
Now in its 10th year, this “Autumn Equinox Arts and Music Celebration” is an annual highlight for community-minded electronic music lovers. DJs and live acts perform on three stages — the Techno Tent, Downtempo Pyramid and Mind Playground — while people also gather around food, art and the iconic giant bonfire. New this year is the option to arrive on Friday for an evening of camping minus the music. Harvestfestival.org for full details.

DJ DUNKELBUNT @ ELECTRIC GYPSYLAND
With DJ Medicineman, The Funkabelly All-Stars, Beatmap. Fri, Sep 19. Supermarket, 268 Augusta. $10.
Though it hasn’t had much of a presence in Canadian clubs, the hybrid sound that is Balkan swing has developed a sizeable audience in many European cities. Chief among them is Vienna, which hosts the Balkan Fever-Festival, DJ Shantel’s Bucovina Club and DJ Dunkelbunt. Born Ulf Lindemann, Dunkelbunt both creates and spins a blend of dub, klezmer, jazz and Balkan beats, with last year’s Morgenlandfahrt album serving as a strong introduction to his playful and infectious sound. This Small World gig — also featuring CIUT’s Medicineman, live band Beatmap and bellydancers The Funkabelly All-stars — is Dunkelbunt’s Canadian debut.

CHARLES WEBSTER @ DEEPMADA
With Nick Holder, Adam Fairhurst. Sat, Sep 20. El Mocambo, 464 Spadina Av. $20 at door or www.clubzone.com.
Charles Webster DJ sets are cause for celebration. The British deep house DJ/producer stands in a league of his own, whether offering sweet, soulful songs under his own name or as Presence, Furry Phreaks and any number of other aliases. While Webster has never been hyped as “the next big thing,” he has sold well over 100,000 albums, tours regularly and has remixed artists including Salif Keita, Groove Armada, Tracy Thorn and Fish Go Deep. Check his recent Defected triple-CD mix — featuring iconoclasts such as Doctor Rockit, Moodyman, Brian Eno, D’Angelo, Kate Bush and Webster himself — for a sense of his sets.

HEADMAN
With Pink Skull (live), DJs Shit La Merde, Nasty Nav. Sat, Sep 20. Wrongbar, 1279 Queen W. $10 advance tickets at Rotate This, Play De Record, www.wantickets.com.
Hats off to monsieurs La Merde and Nasty for this unique double-bill. Lovers of punk-funk-disco goodness should be familiar with DJ, producer and visual artist Headman. Calling both Zurich and Berlin home, Headman (real name: Robi Insinna) has crafted a series of sly, sexual and bass-heavy releases for both Gomma Records and his own Relish label. Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s Julian Grefe and his merry band of Pink Skull pranksters come with the synths, sass and psychedelics. Their albums — 2006’s Blast Yr Akk and this year’s Zeppelin 3 — blew my mind, with their live show touted as equally weird and wild.