JEROME DERRADJI @ VINTAGE: A BRAND NEW BAG
With DJs Patrick Paredes, Basic Soul Unit, Jason Ulrich). Fri, June 6. The Rivoli (back room), 334 Queen W. $5 before 11pm, $10 after.
As disco — in all its cosmic glory — is once again a dominant dancefloor force, some DJs have been digging deeper into both its roots and its offspring. Chicago-based selector and collector Jerome Derradji brings the rare funk, disco and boogie on his new two-disc compilation for Britain’s BBE label, The American Boogie Down. The vocal-heavy collection culls from the vaults of Past Due Records, a disco reissue division of Derradji’s Still Music. The man himself is also well versed in Afrobeat, house, nu-jazz and techno so expect to be surprised as well as schooled.

DJ MENSA @ NEVER FORGIVE ACTION
With DJs Dalia, Numeric. Fri, June 6. The Drake Underground, 1150 Queen W. $5.
It never ceases to amaze me just how much people love their classic hip-hop. The Never Forgive Action crew, who are also the peeps behind T.O.’s Hip-Hop Karaoke, blend big crowd favourites with lesser-known ‘80s and ‘90s nuggets every month, much to the audience’s delight. Here, they’re joined by local turntablist and party-rocker Mensa who’s known for smoothly juggling old school gems alongside tougher breaks and music by fresh new hip-hop acts. He also entertains audiences with his Coolout mixes, as well as when he DJs behind artists including Masia One and rising R&B vocalist Ayah.

STA @ RANDOMLAND’s HEAVENLY THRILLS 1991
With DJs Nu Ravers On The Block, Tom Stephan. Mark Falco, Rory Them Finest, A.D/D, Dopey, Serious, Fathom, New Kicks. Fri, June 6. CiRCA, 126 John. $15.
While the A.D/D. promo crew never seem to lack for new weekly themes to affix to their Randomland Fridays, this may well be the most colourful and poptastic to date. Referencing the year 1991 in all its bright, diverse dance-music glory (think everything from Black Box to DJ Pierre), they’ve booked fast-rising local DJ/producer Sta to headline alongside Montreal’s Nu Ravers On the Block in the main “Boom Boom” room. Sta’s mega-edited electro sensibility should be a fun fit — check his single “In Living Colour” on Marine Parade and his recently posted mix on Discobelle.net for a taste.

RYAN CROSSON @ PAWN SHOP
With DJs Alicia Hush, Jap_.  Fri, June 6. Toi Bar, 577A College. $5 before midnight, $10 after.
When the Fukhouse crew announced they’d be ending their Compressed weekly at Toi Bar, many prepared to mourn the loss of such an intimate techno and tech house event. Now HushLamb productions, two women out to continue the fine tech tradition, have stepped up. While resident DJ Alicia Hush is generally joined by top-notch locals, this week’s Pawn Shop features talented young Detroit DJ and producer Ryan Crosson, a.k.a. Berg Nixon, who has releases on influential labels including M_nus, Trapez and Telegraph. If you dig your techno deep, dark, dubby and percussive, Crosson is your man.

FRANKIE FELICIANO @ PHATBLACKPUSSYKAT
With Byron Stingily, DJs Nick Holder, Dino & Terry, La-Z-E. Sat, June 7. Toika Lounge, 471 Richmond W. $20 before 11:30pm.
Junior Palmer, the owner of Toika, goes back to his Phatblackpussykat promoter roots to throw this “classic house edition” featuring an all-star lineup, including NYC producer/DJ Frankie Feliciano. The man behind the Ricanstruction label is also known for a string of soulful, funky, vocal and percussion-driven gems on labels such as Masters At Work and King Street. He’s spent much of the last 15 years touring the globe, thanks to a reputation for tight skills and strong song selections. Also not to be missed is a live performance by legendary Ten City vocalist Byron Stingily as well as DJ sets by four stellar locals. 

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