By MARC WATSON

Sub Club Soundsystem

It feels wrong to kick off this absolutely monumental clubbing weekend preview on a sour note, but it’s impossible to ignore the elephant in the room. Yes, we have Pressure returning tomorrow after a lengthy summer break, and the enormous two-day spectacular that is Sub Club SoundSystem kicks off on Saturday. These are undoubtedly good things.

But – and I do hate to sound like a spoiled brat here - this should have been the weekend that saw the collaboration between George Bowie and the Glasgow Philarmonia Orchestra bear fruit. Their planned Barrowlands show – titled GBX Orchestral Bits and Pieces, natch – was due to be performed tomorrow night before a rapt audience of, presumably, hedonistic ravers and curious opera-goers, both keen to experience how the other cultural half live. As it is, the night has been postponed to give both parties more time to practice – a state of affairs that can presumably only be traced back to the Orchestra and their inability to live with Georgey Boy’s visionary, virtuoso ideas. I look forward to the rescheduled show with the kind of anticipation usually reserved for dentist appointments and the Tory party conference.

Now that we’ve dealt with that trauma, it’s on to the good stuff. Sub Club SoundSystem, which takes over the Barras Art and Design complex on Saturday and Sunday, is the weekend’s highlight. Subculture’s Harri and Dom have curated a house-centric lineup for Saturday, with deep duo Âme, Dutch-born Panorama Bar resident Steffi, roof-raising London Joy Orbison, and the hugely popular German producer Roman Flugel. Phew!

On Sunday, Sensu offer up a more techno-orientated bill. They have Berlin-based emotional electronica merchants Tale of Us, our favourite local hellraiser Jackmaster, Irish underground hero Mano Le Tough, and Dorisburg – one half of jackin’ Swedes Genius of Time. As well as this international wrecking crew, locals and Subbie residents like Optimo, Spencer, Éclair Fifi, Hammer and Telford will be warming up across both days.

The pick of the afterparties is, obviously, Subculture on Saturday: it features Âme, Joy Orbison, Optimo and resident Dom. Sunday’s afters at the Berkeley Suite is an all-Glaswegian affair, with JD Twich, MWX and the I AM scamps.

For a light precursor to get you in the mood for all that, get to Bigfoot’s Tea Party tomorrow for their regular monthly party. This edition’s highlight is a live set by Xosar, a beguiling, Berlin-based siren becoming increasingly notorious for her mystical, mind-expanding techno. Also playing is Fiedel, another Berliner who recently recorded a two-part mix dedicated to Glasgow called Buckfast Swagger. Finally: a guy who gets it.

• Xosar, tomorrow, Sub Club, 11pm – 3am, £8

• Sub Club SoundSystem, Saturday & Sunday, Barras Art and Design, 2pm – 11pm, £55/£35

Pressure

Even with a rave of giant proportions kicking off across town, it cannot be overlooked that Pressure is back this weekend after a summer hiatus that felt like it lasted a lifetime. The evergreen techno night’s 18th season begins with a set from the Italian tech-house giant Joseph Capriati. He takes over the TV Studio with Slam, while upstairs in the warehouse it’s left to Apollonia – a trio of Paris’ hottest underground DJs comprised of Shonky, Dan Ghenacia and Dyed Soundorom – to duke it out between them in a five-hour set.

• Pressure Opening Party, tomorrow, SWG3, 9pm – 2am, £20

Hi & Saberhagen

In a city teeming with house producers, it can feel like a revelation to find an act doing something fresh and genuinely exciting. Glaswegians Hi & Saberhagen fit that bill: a deep house duo who infuse their music with notes of bass, tech-house, Latin melodies and African rhythms and textures. Their headline set at the Berkeley Suite tomorrow night is one for house purists and adventure seekers alike.

• Hi & Saberhagen, tomorrow, The Berkeley Suite, 10pm – 3am, £5 before midnight

Vinicombe StrEAT Party

Hillhead Book Club’s street parties aren’t quite so famously decadent as their BYOB soirees, but the opportunity for a massive outdoor scran and bev should never be sniffed at. The fun kicks off on Vinicombe Street early doors on Sunday, with bands, delectable food, coffee and cocktails. Later in the evening, the party moves indoors and Harri from the Sub Club will be on hand to spin classic house tunes while you eat and drink even more. Sounds like heaven, no?

• Vinicombe StrEAT Party, Sunday, Hillhead Book Club, 12pm – 1am, free

Divine!

The broadcaster and writer Stuart Cosgrove brings his weight of northern soul expertise to bear on The Admiral’s basement on Saturday night. He’s the guest DJ at Divine, alongside Lenny Harkins – darling of the Scots soul scene. With such a colossal collection of obscure 45s to get through, things kick off at 10pm – get there early and stake out a prime spot on the dancefloor.

• Divine! Young Soul Rebels with Stuart Cosgrove, Saturday, The Admiral, 10pm – 3am, £5/£7