Forthcoming on Pictures Music, Whats There — missing apostrophe intentional — is a 3 track release from Welsh multi-instrumentalist Dauwd. Lauded by the likes of Giles Petersen, Caribou and The XX (on their confusing blog), his style is profoundly organic, mellow and richer than Scrooge McDuck. The title tune, ‘Whats There’, is similar to the recent crop of ’90s house revival tunes, with a sampled vocal snippet and deep kicks thrumming consistently throughout, but there’s an altogether more mellifluous vibe that sets Dauwd apart. Despite this, I was actually quite disappointed when the bassline that kicks in at 1:58 wasn’t continued later on, it made me feel like I’d just discovered that injecting chocolate intensifies the flavour and then realised chocolate had been obsolete since the asteroid hit, you know, the one that wiped out most of the human race except a few stereotypes who banded together for survival. I’d be the nerdy one who eventually wins over the attractive female. Definitely.

Anyway, I posted this because Dauwd is playing alongside Scuba in Sheffield tonight at Drumro[ll] and both me and Oldsy are making an appearance. Advance tickets are sold out online, but there’s a few knocking about at Bungalows & Bears and Golden Harvest and there’ll be a limited supply on the door so you should come down. If you manage to make it and want an autograph from us, just ask…and then brandish a fiver with the promise of more to come (we need the money). Head to Drumro[ll] on Facebook for mo.

Whats There by Dauwd

Buy Dauwd tunes at Juno.

Details? 11/11/11 at the University of Sheffield’s Foundry and Fusion. Tickets are £5 advance and I would urge you to get them hand delivered, mainly because the option comes with the promise of “great chat” and I would like to see if they actually have this “great chat” or come up with some kind of Natwest inspired one-size-fits-all natter that makes you realise everyone now has a cardboard heart. I’m pretty convinced they’ll manage to deliver the former and you’ll wake up on a ferry to Tangiers, but I need to test the theory. Anyway, visit Cool Beans on Facebook for more info and look out for me, I might be there. I’ll arrive on a rhino.

If you’ve been to Sheffield at any point during the last year then you’ve probably heard hushed whispers of the fabled “Cool Beans”, a fraternity of people who know not the boundaries of reality. Many thought it was a secret society akin to the Illuminati but it soon became evident that it was bigger, much bigger. Gaggles of freaks — or partygoers, whatever — would gather in venues around the city and listen to twisted DJs, perverse bands and witness other bizarre performances, all the while tipsy on skins of rich wine. Well, the time has come for you to join the ranks of the beans and come Friday 14 October, ye shall be inaugurated and your life shall change forever.

Ok, I’ll drop the medieval pretences, but you should seriously consider donning your robes and coming out to celebrate the 1st birthday of Cool Beans. Head honcho Benedict Arnold and his associates have cultivated a rather delectable line-up, with Manchester hip-hop crew Surreal Knowledge headlining proceedings like a posse of proud tigers on stilts. Elsewhere on the bill DJ Mikey J will be bringing his usual eclectic styles, comedy tramps Ham Pocket will lay down some classics, electro swing DJs The Legitimate Gentleman will be wearing suits (I’ve just assumed this) and of course, the Cool Beans DJs will be smashing it with their usual eccentric selections. How lovely.

In terms of the important details, it’s £3 before 11pm, £4 after and the venue is Penelope’s. If you want more info head over to the official Cool Beans site or their Facebook page. I shall be making an appearance, so if you want to buy me a drink or dunno, like a whole bottle of something, I will graciously accept.

Ready To Go Sick by surrealknowledge

Tickets are £10 and as is customary, the venue will be announced 24 hours before the event. Head over to Facebook for more info.

Also, Ben UFO’s ‘Never Went to Blue Note’ just got put up on Boiler Room a few days ago, so have a gander at that when you get the chance.

Continuing the theme of astute bookings, next week sees an event which is such a banger I saw the poster and had to double-take like a cartoon cat. I then walked around the block — or would have if this was America — and had another look just to make sure it was real. With a line-up comprising Joy Orbison, Pariah, Midland, Lil’ Silva as well as the inevitable Soup and Barry residents, it’s going to be more exciting than the time you and your best friend Ronnie found that dirty magazine in the woods. Basically I reckon you should snag a ticket pretty sharpish because come next Friday (March 25th) you won’t want to be standing out in the cold whilst everyone else is inside loving it like homeless men at a real soup kitchen…on Christmas Day.

Tickets are £10 and in terms of the venue, it’s a secret…until 24 hours before the event at which point it will be announced on Facebook. Talking of Facebook, head over to the event page for more info. See you there.

So on March 4 2011, If you happen to be in Sheffield, near Sheffield, passing through Sheffield or willing to undertake a massive journey to visit Sheffield…then I urge you like an overzealous charity worker to purchase a ticket — for £5 — and come and get down with us. Oh yes, we will be there. Just look for Oldsy’s huge head bobbing amongst the crowd like a miniature blimp.

Cool Beans is at The Fusion, University of Sheffield Union on March 4 and tickets are £5 advance. Get them at the Sheffield Union Box Office and head over to Facebook for more info.

Liquid d&b duo Brookes Brothers and beatboxer Reeps One finish off the line-up and it’s only £5.50 to get your arse through the door. Surely there’s no reason for you not to come!?

Head over to Facebook for more info on how to get tickets.

DJ Skitz – Dedication (feat. Rodney P)

Buy Rodney P tunes at 7digital.

A-side ‘Pembroke’ is a fusion of contorted vocals and dulcet bass that feels like a bed-time exhale at the end of a long day. It percolates and swells with a tidal intensity, all the while exuding an inspirational air of ease and relaxation. On the flip side, ‘Lock in the Lion’ inexplicably evokes warped images of 1950s New York and hazy days with a broken vinyl player that skips and pops like a bowl of rice krispies. It seems to almost simmer, with synth flickers teasingly decaying before they peak and delightfully quirky percussion breathing an uncertain yet infectious rhythm into proceedings. I like it. I like both tunes, they’re both gorgeous…

Supremely chilled and tender on the ears, MATH06 is short but sweet. DQ on Thursday then, yeah?

Pembroke / Lock in the Lion (MATH06) is out now on Brainmath.

Airhead & James Blake – Lock in the Lion

Buy Airhead & James Blake tunes at 7digital.

Tomorrow’s event also marks the first part of a double header which concludes next Thursday with an equally formidable line-up of Untold and James Blake. It’s probably best that you attend both nights because your feeble mind is falling apart in that run-down hazard that you call a body. You need something to invigorate you, you lazy shit. It’s the last bastion of hope for you, my friend!

Uhh…the venue? DQ in Sheffield, decked out with the Funktion One soundsystem. Tickets are £5 in advance, £6 on the door or £4 if you buy one for both nights in advance. I don’t like the technical stuff, head over to Facebook for more info.

Darkstar – Aidy’s Girl is a Computer

Shortstuff and Hyetal – Ice Cream