Leading the charge into Bank Holiday oblivion are Shine, with the first of two special outings taking place at QUBSU tomorrow night, followed by another dance extravaganza coming up on Easter Monday.

Headlining the main room on Saturday will be Dave Clarke, a frequent visitor to these shores and one of the most popular and talented electronic music DJs currently plying his techno trade on the international mixing circuit.

He played his first foreign gig in Amsterdam in 1988 which ultimately led to his dominance of the worldwide electro scene throughout the Nineties, playing many summer festivals and superclubs, from Brazil to Singapore.

As many of the first-generation experimental techno mixers fell by the wayside around the turn of the millennium, Dave kept true to his unique sound — a mash-up of techno and electro with ghetto-tek, hip-hop and the occasional 1980s new wave number.

Supporting Dave alongside resident Simon McDermott will be Detroit's DJ 3000, one of the masters of the underground sounds of his native city and boss of the highly influential Motech records label, which he founded in 2001.

His claim to fame is the totally original hybrid sound produced by his label which he has perfected by blending a solid core of funk and electronica with Albanian and Middle Eastern rhythms, using the very latest studio technology.

Shine regulars John McIver and John Craig play sets in the bar and tickets are available from the venue itself or online at www.shine.net priced at £17, or £15 for members and students.

Over the next few nights down at Stiff Kitten, there's a couple of must-see shows including Sydney-based electronic duo The Presets on St Patrick's Night, preceded by hip hop outfit Scratch Perverts, who'll be performing on Sunday.

Tony Vegas, Prime Cuts and Plus One comprise the legendary English turntablist trio who have been around since 1996 and have many DJ battle championship titles to their name, including several World DMC and Vextax crowns won both as a team and individually.

Having retired from the competition arena, they now concentrate their energies into a residency at London superclub Fabric, as well as going on constant tours and producing their own music and mix CDs, including Watch The Ride, released last year.

ZZ Everyone's familiar with Good Friday, but the previous evening has been designated 'Naughty Thursday' by the promoters of the latest outing for Penguin People's infamous Burlesque Extravaganza, taking place in Belfast's Empire next week. Expect the usual feats of mind-boggling prestidigitation (that's quick-fingered magic tricks, in case you didn't know!), dancing girls, juggling, escapology, drag queens and — wait for it — strippers, but it's more or less done in the best possible taste!

ZZ It's all change at Auntie Annie's on Friday nights — after eight long years of indie clubs including Popscene and Bang providing the jangly guitar-based soundtrack for alternative clubbers, the music policy will be shifting up by several gears, and by several hundred decibels.

The Friday Rock Club makes its debut on Friday, March 28, with Tony Wright, guitarist with local band And So I Watch You From Afar filling the resident DJ slot every week.

Expect pure rock music in all its many and varied forms and also look out for upcoming guest DJ appearances by members of local bands including the recently-signed Fighting With Wire and the superb LaFaro.