CARLOS FAUVRELLE @ THE CZ NEW YEAR’S DAY
With Adultnapper, Deko-ze, Manzone & Strong, Mark Oliver, The Roaches, Joee Cons, Greg Gow, The Junkies, Baby Joel, Tim Patrick, jon jon, Alicia Hush, Lee Osborne, more. Thu, Jan 1. The Comfort Zone, 480 Spadina Av. $70.
Extend your New Year’s party — or begin it after the masses have gone home — at this infamous afterparty at the Zone, beginning 3am Jan. 1 and continuing for 26 hours. Headlining is Portuguese DJ/producer Carlos Fauvrelle, a rising star in big-room house and tribal circles. Fauvrelle has released numerous dark, percussive originals and remixes — including Lula’s recent underground smash “Twilo” — with support from the likes of Danny Tenaglia, Deep Dish and Tom Stephan. Pace yourselves.
VERSION XCURSION @ DUB AND BEYOND 5-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
With DJs Rednote, Natewize, Mutt, Big Toes Hi-Fi. Sat, Jan 3. Andy Poolhall, 489 College. $5.
Toronto production/DJ duo Version Xcursion — a.k.a. Aram Scaram and Sassa’le — have long kept the dub fires burning in downtown venues. Their Dub and Beyond series turns five with a bass-drenched bang as the pair celebrate not only the success of this monthly, but also the coming release of Past and Present, 2004-2008, their compilation of original tracks. No doubt you’ll hear many of them here as the duo are joined by fellow resident DJ Rednote, hugely talented local drum ‘n’ bass DJ/producer Mutt, Scottish reggae soundsystem Big Toes Hi-Fi and versatile T.O. DJ, producer and musician Natewize. Niceness!
PEER PRESSURE @ DRAKE HOUSE PARTY
With Rory Them Finest. Sat, Jan 3. The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen W. $5.
New Year’s Eve falls on a Wednesday, so it seems there’s no slowing on the party front at the start of ’09. The Drake is hosting two back-to-back nights of full-facility “house parties,” with this second one featuring three members of Montreal’s notorious dancefloor-smashing Peer Pressure crew. DJs A-Rock, Hatchmatik and Merk Meny will mix, mash and make merry in the Underground at this “resolution breaking party,” while Rory Them Finest entertains upstairs in the Lounge.
MACHINEDRUM @ SENSORIA
With Egyptrixx, C.O.I., Invisibling, Brontron, Law.to, video artists Jubal Brown, Videocake, MC Enlight. Sat, Jan 3. Augusta House, 152A Augusta. $10.
Sensoria is a music and multimedia event that has caught a lot of buzz in very little time. Here, for their third event, residents Videocake, Enlight, and C.O.I. have turned curating duties over to Invisibling, who clearly has an ear for the abstract. Prolific Brooklyn-based beatsmith Machinedrum (a.k.a. Tstewart, Neon Black) blurs the boundaries between glitch, ethereal electronic hip-hop and party vibes. He’s released numerous EPs and at least five full-lengths and has collaborated with MCs as diverse as Yo Majesty, Tiombe Lockhart, Addiquit and Montreal’s Giselle Numba One. Attendees will also be treated to the bumpin’ bassline, dubstep, house and ghettotech of local heavyweight Egyptrixx.