Phat's the way for McConkey as Rock revs up for a special party

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Rock Stewart takes to Club Soi stage on Thursday

Friday, May 09, 2008

From wacky outfits and antics worthy of a rockstar, to throbbing engines (ooh-er!), leather jackets and huge dollops of nostalgia, it's a weird and wonderful clubbing week in Ulster, warns Patric Baird

After the disappointing news that Jaguar Skills has postponed his exclusive Northern Ireland date at the Soi's Phat Club in Portrush this weekend until later in the summer, most likely August, because of Radio 1 commitments, it's reassuring to hear that you can still have some fun up on the North Coast.

The postponement opened up an opportunity for an up-and-coming DJ from the local circuit to show clubbers what he can do.

Barry McConkey has been causing a stir as far away as Es Paradis and Privilege in Ibiza but he's probably best known for his DJ appearances around Belfast and Banbridge. Obviously, though, appearances abroad can only be good for the profile.

"I was lucky enough to obtain good playing times last summer and a couple of the clubs have booked me to play this summer on some of the prestige nights so I'm very happy about that," he said.

Locally, Barry has been cranking up some serious radio airplay and more recently has been in the studio laying down tracks which are close to release.

On a slightly different matter, as the official nightclub of the North West 200, Club Soi has been gearing up — if you'll excuse the pun — for the arrival of the motorbike fans next week in anticipation of one of Northern Ireland's biggest sporting events of the year.

The club has laid on a Teams and Riders party to take place after the practice session on Thursday night and the inimitable Rock Stewart will take centre stage. In what guise he'll emerge in is anybody's guess but club staff have promised they will be there with safety net and cattle prod to keep him in line!

"Rock Stewart never fails to disappoint with his exceptional singing voice and great band but it's his crazy antics that stay in the mind long after the night is over," said club main man Brian Moore.

ZZ One of Scotland's leading dance music labels, Soma Records, is hosting a showcase featuring some of its stars, including Slam and Vector Lovers, at Stiff Kitten club tomorrow night, with support from Islandhopper's Timmy and Mark.

Slam are electronic DJ/production duo Orde Meikle and Stuart McMillan, residents at Glasgow club night Pressure at The Arches and prolific recording artists with several albums to their credit, as well as numerous singles with 1995's Positive Education being their best known.

Vector Lovers, is the self-confessed manga-mad, Eighties-obsessed computer nerd Martin Wheeler. His unique production style is winning him fans across the globe, with more than a nod to Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode, to The Happy Mondays, Velvet Underground and My Bloody Valentine.

His eponymous Soma debut release, complete with his own stunning artwork, blends beautifully deep and dreamy electronic lullabies with raw alien future funk and has mapped out a whole new direction for the label, which previously concentrated on a much harder sound.

ZZ Anyone who ever brandished a glowstick sometime around the early Nineties will be familiar with the work of The Orb, the ambient electronic house outfit whose soothing, soulful rhythms soundtracked the 'comedown' of manys a raver, back in the day.

Founded by Alex Paterson and KLF's Jimmy Cauty in 1988, the group, who practically invented the term 'chill out', has seen many personnel changes during its long life, as well as scoring several Top 10 singles including Blue Room and Toxygene.

Paterson remains at the group's helm and, with his longtime pal ex-Killing Joke bassist Youth, The Orb are set to perform their new album, The Dream, at the Festival Marquee, Custom House Square tonight as part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival.

ZZ There are a couple of club events taking place in the middle floor of the Pavilion on Belfast's Ormeau Road this weekend which recall some of the sounds and styles of the 1980s — but in a good way.

Tonight, ska night Ghost Town namechecks The Specials' 1981 chart topper and serves up a blend of 2-Tone tunes from the likes of Madness, The Beat and The Selecter, as well as some original Jamaican stompers from the 1960s. Doors open 9pm, admission £3.

On Saturday, monthly 1980s night Atomic returns with a mix of the very best (or some might consider the worst) musical excesses from the Thatcher era, ranging from Slayer and Faith No More, to Madonna and Blondie, via XTC, The Smiths and The Cure.

patric.baird@ntlworld.com)