For a generation of mid-noughties clubbers, it’s no exaggeration to say that Erol Alkan is God. A prodigious, slightly nerdy indie kid, he turned out to be one of the catalysts for the indie-rave revolution that took place around 2006. But there’s more to the London-born DJ and producer than that inglorious distinction.

He has always been something of an agitator, always pushing things forward. Aged just 22, he founded the massively influential London electro club Trash, which helped launch the careers of LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. His innovative remixes for the likes of Justice, Interpol and Chilly Gonzales made him the biggest name in UK electro for a period. And with his psychedelic project Beyond the Wizards Sleeve, he led the campaign to usher in a third Summer of Love in 2009.

That, of course, proved wildly inaccurate. But Alkan is still revered among dance music circles, and his all-night appearance at the Subbie tomorrow night is sure to go down as one of the early highlights of the year. He’s no stranger to putting in a 12-hour shift in the booth, so this four-hour slot in front of a super-charged i AM crowd should be a breeze. Expect messy, genre-hopping, delirious fun in spades.

* Erol Alkan, tomorrow, Sub Club, 11pm – 3am, £10

Celtic Connections Festival Club

Every January, Celtic Connections pierces the suffocating winter gloom with its brilliantly-curated array of folk and world music shows. This year, 2100 musicians from across the globe will be taking part in 300 gigs over the course of the 18-day festival, which kicks off tonight with award-winning songwriter Laura Marling performing at the Royal Concert Hall. Throughout the festival, the Art School’s series of late-night hootenannies are the perfect way to keep the party going after the music stops. Hosted by the sparkling Kevin McLeod, each night brings together performers and fans for a raucous, improvisational jam session that is never anything less than interesting. And for those who’d prefer to take it easy, the Drygate’s late-night sessions are somewhat more subdued. There’s no club after tonight’s Festival opener, but the Vic Bar’s Sgàiraoke promises “the karaoke equivalent of a tearful but much-needed chat with an emotionally volatile drunk friend.” You had me at karaoke.

* Celtic Connections Festival Club, tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, The Art School, 10pm – 3am, £9

Million Dollar Disco

Saturday night sees the legendary Al Kent take to the Berkeley Suite’s luxurious DJ booth for an all-night session at Million Dollar Disco’s fifth annual party. “Every year gets crazier and crazier,” the promo material intones breathlessly, “with a queue up the street at 10pm and a lockout 30 minutes after the doors opened last year!” The keenest disco lovers will be rewarded with a copy of Kent’s long-awaited Men in the Glass Booth album, so get down early if you want one of those. And, of course, if you want to get in at all.

* Million Dollar Disco Annual Party, Saturday, The Berkeley Suite, 11pm – 3am, £8

CASisDEAD

“I’m a teaching assistant at a nursery,” the Tottenham grime MC CASisDEAD said a couple of years back in relation to his signature death mask. “I really want to try my best to avoid confusing the kids. They’re so young and impressionable.”

You get the feeling he wasn’t being entirely serious. He went on to describe his music as “Not belonging to any genre. Just drug-fuelled, cold harsh reality,” and he maintains a veil of ironic shtick about actually being dead at all times. For all these gimmicks, it’s lucky that he actually has some tunes. His live shows are insane, too. “Total chaos. A proper rave,” is how he would put it, and he’ll be extra-keen to impress on his first time in Scotland. Support comes from Faze Miyaki and Creep Woland.

* CASisDEAD, Saturday, SWG3, 10pm – 2am, £16

Shredd/Nite Tripper

Shredd are one of the hottest new garage bands in Glasgow. Back in September, I saw them at Freakender: I stood speechless as they carved out enormous, full-bloodied Thee Oh Sees-style riffs that destroyed my eardrums for weeks afterwards. The 13th Note’s grotty basement is the venue for the launch of their debut EP on Saturday, and afterwards it’s a short walk to Broadcast, where Nite Tripper DJs Holly Calder and Craig Reece spin the best in psych, garage and rock and roll.

* Shredd EP Launch, Saturday, The 13th Note, 8pm – 11pm, £3

* Nite Tripper, Saturday, Broadcast, 11pm – 3am, free