SOS CLUB SAYS THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC AND A GREAT FIRST YEAR

SOS CLUB SAYS THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC AND A GREAT FIRST YEAR

THE SOS club, home to the best in Swedish pop, has had an exciting first year, packed with spectacular live performances and fantastic floor-filling sets from both resident and guest DJs.

They've played host to a diverse mix of artists in a variety of venues, from Swedish- language crooner Vapnet, who wooed a seated crowd at an intimate Sleazy's gig, to elusive underground electro producer Mr Suitcase, who set the dance floor alight at a packed Admiral Bar.

SOS founder Stacey Shackford has a nose for sniffing out new up-and-coming talent, and several SOS acts - including Maia Hirasawa, Hello Saferide, Blood Music, Vapnet and Suburban Kids With Biblical Names- have gone on to be nominated for the Manifest Awards, Sweden's version of the Emmys.

SOS have worked with other Glasgow venues and promoters (including Out To Play, El Rancho Relaxo, Dolly Mixture, Edinburgh University Indie Society, Pop Theory, Drunk At The Pulpit and The Winchester Club) to facilitate live opportunities for other Swedish acts they couldn't fit on the bill, and have also helped to build a network of other Swedish club nights across the UK.

They recently teamed up with Stockholm club Starfly to expand - and possibly export their operations. It's clear the bods at SOS simply love Swedish pop and their mission is purely to help the artists and promote it in any way they can, and to that effect they operate as a non-profit organisation.

This year promises to be just as exciting as SOS's first birthday celebration this Friday returns to the place where it all kicked off -The RAFA Club in Woodlands.

With their crazy repertoire of cheesy yet genius electro covers of artists such as Toto, Bryan Adams and Aaliyah, The Mexicos will surely get the party hopping.

The Stockholm collective features Mikael Hall, Douglas Holmquist and an ever-changing motley crew of friends, including members of Oh Sweet Music and Suburban Kids With Biblical Names, who played their first UK gig at Nice n Sleazy on Wednesday.

There will also be surprise guests doing their own covers of Swedish songs, and other special treats!

• SOS 1st Birthday Bash @ RAFA Club, 27 Ashley Street, tomorrow, 9pm-1am, £4. 0141-332 4465.

Seismic activity

Seismic's April party with Bas Bron was a blast, and this month's adventure promises more of the same - thugged out disco, electronic funk, and plenty of ground shifting bass.

As well as two European floor destroyers, Lory D and Automat, Seismic are hosting the launch party for WireBlock - a new Glasgow label specialising in bedroom classics and electronic club bangers.

It's gonna be busy, loud and heavy on the bounce.

Lory D's name was little known outside Rome before the Sounds Never Seen album was released on Aphex Twin's Rephlex Records in 2003. Credited with bringing the acid house and techno to Italy in the early 90s, Lory's status as a seminal artist was cemented by his fearless productions and jacking live shows.

Automat meanwhile is known for his dynamic and energetic DJ routines, cutting electro, techno and acid sounds with precision and a healthy dose of personality.

Speaking of the new label, Neil Morton of Seismic says: "WireBlock has been a long time coming, but the first two records will be in shops this summer.

"We started thinking about the label years ago, and finally began gathering tracks over the past 18 months - so to see it all come together is pretty exciting."

WireBlock is run by Jack, Calum and Neil - they're both involved with promoting the Seismic and Numbers parties in Glasgow.

"Numbers (run with with Stuffrecords and Marcia Blaine), and Seismic (promoted with the guys from Point.One Recordings) are great places for the sound we're into," says Neil.

"The first release on WireBlock is part of a series of limited edition compilation EPs featuring various artists, while the second is a project from a local act called Music at Nite.

"Future output will include an EP from one of our guests at the launch - Lory D - plus more from homegrown talents."

Local pocket dynamo Rustie and old friend Nelson provide DJ support on the night.

• Seismic @ Blackfriars, tomorrow, 11pm-3am, £8.

Detroit technofest

Alan Oldham, the Renaissance man of Detroit techno, is known across the globe as an ambassador for the more uptempo side of the genre and this Saturday he brings his mixing skills to Maggie May's in the Trongate.

Joining resident Sean Matthews on the support schedule for the evening are two fine local live acts, Stick 430 and dubstep don Monochrome.

Stick 430 are Hektor Ruiez and R, a duo who combine the best of of Edinburgh and Glasgow to create some of the finest electronic sounds around.

Tom Churchill, aka Monochrome, has been DJing and producing since 1996, when he started Headspace Recordings. Tom also hosts a regular show for Radio Magnetic, called Flux. Do not miss!

• Saturday May 12, Alan Oldham @ Maggie May's Basement, 11pm-3am, £8.

Montreal fun at the double

DBLSPK welcomes a very special guest this Saturday in the form of Montreal's Ghislain Poirier.

Poirier is obsessed with big, dirty beats, an affliction that has caused him to create some of the most out of control raga-style-rhythms, and deconstructed abstract hip hop around.

In the past Poirier has collaborated with MC Beans, DJ Rupture from Tigerbeat6, Parisian mad men TTC and Big Dada's blip-hop dons Lotek Hi-Fi. Poirier is also renowned for his top-notch remixes of tunes by artists including Lady Sovereign, Les Georges Leningrad, Pulseprogramming and The Editors.

A master in the art of getting the floor moving, Poirier is sure to set DBLSPK bouncin'.

Backing up Monsieur Poirier we have future hip hop upstarts Surface Emp, aka MC-producer/ DJ-producer tag team Sum Won and Hudson Mo.

Working together since 2004, Surface Emp specialise in outer-space R&B electronics and bare bones lyrics swelling with concepts and wordplay.

Their recent LuckyMe EP has received acclaim at home and abroad, and their live shows are full of originality, swagger and a healthy dose of turntablism from Hudson Mo, aka DMC finalist DJ Itchy.

Their blips and beats have landed them support slots alongside Roots Manuva, Autechre and Buck 65. This pair are sure to be making a big noise in the near future so catch them live now.

Taking care of guest DJ duties is DBLSPK's new mate eclairfifi. With six years of DJing experience under her belt, eclairfifi will be supplying her usual, unusual style of electrofunk, Italo disco, freestyle, crunk and techno with a few unpredictabilities thrown in to keep things bubbling away nicely.

• DBLSPK @ Blackfriars Basement, Bell Street, Saturday, 11pm-3am, £8.

Pretty Ugly

The Underskirts return once again this Saturday to present their Pretty Ugly club night. Head along to the Hold (under the Admiral Bar on Waterloo Street ) from 11pm 'til 3am to join the fun. There's also a guest DJ slot from Dave Ross.

The night's soundtrack will be stylish, quirky and energetic, a bit like the girls themselves.

• The Underskirts present Pretty Ugly, with Dave Ross, Saturday, 11pm-3am, £4. E-mail your ticket requests to www.myspace. com/prettyuglybastille as the night is sure to be a sell out.