When there’s a bank holiday, the actual weekend becomes way less important. Why go out on Friday or Saturday when you can enjoy Thursday night properly, without having a six Mars bars, triple pack of sandwiches, one big bottle of coke and head-on-the-desk kind of day afterwards? And while Sunday parties are always the best when you work in a bar or restaurant, it still feels good to wake up on a Monday with nothing in front of you except the sofa, and wondering if it’s worth paying the £2 delivery fee at that takeaway even though you can see it from your house. So, a day early, here are the best parties this long weekend.
Rinse Easter Special @ Fabric, London
Thursday 17th April
Rinse FM really step up on UK bank holidays (see also: their Boxing Day special) and this one is no exception. The three rooms have something for everyone from chart friendlies (Route 94, German Whipper Meridian Dan) to the underground’s best (Evian Christ, Total Freedom, Jam City, Neana) and next most-wanted (Novelist, Mssingo, Visionist). Music runs from 10pm til 7am, then slink off home to enjoy a Friday at home listening to the same kind of tracks on the station – as always -–online and at 106.8FM
Love Action Weekender @ SWG, Glasgow (Erol Alkan, Eats Everything, Young turks Friends and Fam, DJ EZ, Ben Pearce)
Thursday 17th April
Friday 18th April
Saturday 19th April
Love Action has got it locked down this weekend. It’s three nights with carefully selected guest DJs and great residents (Doc Daneeka, Tasker) to show off the city’s love of techno, house, garage, electro and celebrate – this bit really got me teary – 'the end of winter, the start of spring, unhealthy obsession, loud music in dirty places, longer nights and those long lost weekends to come'. Phantasy’s Erol Alkan headlines Thursday, alongside a Young Turks friends-and-fam special, with Sampha, Andrew Ashong Live, Jon Rust and resident Tic. Friday has Eats Everything up top, while Saturday belongs to DJ EZ and Ben Pearce.
Ikonika B2b Scratcha DVA @ Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
Thursday 17th April
Kode9, Ikonika, Terror Danjah, Scratcha DVA @ The Art School, Glasgow
Friday 18th April
The unstoppable Hyperdub label (everything from Burial to Hype Williams) hits the 1-0 this year, and to mark the occasion they’ll be releasing a new compilation ‘Hyperdub 10.1’ and putting on a series of events all over the UK, culminating in a Fabric takeover on May 23rd with ALL the family. First up is this trip to Scotland. Ikonika and Scratcha DVA warm it up on the Thursday in Edinburgh with a special b2b, while in Glasgow on Friday some of the label’s biggest line up at the Art School. Rest safe in the fact it’ll be a great night – they rarely put a foot wrong (even if some of the music will make you move your feet in weird ways).
Andrew Ashong @ The Hifi Club, Leeds
Friday 18th April
Seeing as Thursday night is the new Friday night, why not take it slow on the 18th? Following his appearance at Young Turks’ friends-and-fam night in Glasgow, the master of laid-back Andrew Ashong plays songs from his recent Special EP and 2012 standout Flowers at the HiFi Club. The promoters FUNKSOULNATION say it’s 'beautiful, beautiful music played in intimate surrounds… mark our words, if you miss this… you will regret it in a few months time'. The club is open til 3am if you fancy more after.
Chibuku w/ Ben Pearce, B.Traits @ East Village Arts, Liverpool
Saturday 19th April
Liverpool has reason to celebrate atm, thanks to both the city’s teams doing well at football. But if you’re more into going out than following the Premiership run-in, then reliably big night Chibuku Shake Shake hosts this easter party with ‘What I Might Do’ Ben Pearce and energetic Radio 1 late nighter B.Traits.
Tale Of Us, Joy Orbison, Move D, Axel Boman @ Canal Mills, Leeds
Sunday 20th April
Mosca, Funkineven @ Audio, Brighton
Sunday 20th April
Here’s a plan for Sunday: A nice meal with the family early on, quick change into something comfortable, quiet drinks with friends in (hopefully) a sunny location, then get down early for this line up at Leeds’ Canal Mills. Berlin based Tale of Us headline alongside Joy Orbison ('We’re looking forward to being kept on our toes once again,' say promoters Mono_cult), house authority Move D, Purple Drank man Axel Boman, making his venue debut, and residents until 4am. If you’re in the south, try this night in Brighton instead feat. Mosca and Funkineven. Not as many DJs as you’ll get in Leeds, but you can sit on the beach beforehand.
Thursday 17th April
Before my Eyes VII @ The Waiting Room, London
Future History 2nd Birthday w Mike Simonetti (Italians do it better) @ Bar A Bar
Hip Hop Vs R&B @ Birthdays, London
Rooftop Party w Move D @ Saltwater, Nottingham
Theo Parrish @ The Warehouse, Leeds
Soul Clap + Wof + Lamb @ Sankeys, Manchester
Phantom Power w Dauwd 2 The Magnet, Liverpool
Horse Meat Disco @ The Deaf Insittute, Manchester
Krept & Konan @ Liquid, Peterborough
Ellen Allien @ Sub Club, Glasgow
My Nu Leng @ Fez Club, Cambridge
Hannah Wants @ Buffalo, Cardiff
Friday 18th April
TTT w/ Anthony Naples x Will Bankhead @ Plastic People
UKG Fest @ The Coronet, London
Dark Sky, Smutlee, My Panda Shall Fly @ Fire, London
Tonight Matthew we’re Debbie Harry @ The George Tavern, London
Heavenly social @ The Social, London
My Panda Shall Fly, Hello Skinny @ Canavans, London
Move D @ The Tunnels, Aberdeen
Terrorhythm w Plastician, Logan Sama @ Thekla, Bristol
Saturday 19th April
Kitsune Easter Special @ Village Underground, London
Objekt @ Dance Tunnel, London
The 2 Bears @ XOYO, London
Jamie Jones @ Fabric, London
Boddika @ Autumn Street, London
Sell Off @ The Shacklewel Arms, London
Space Dimension Controller @ The Soup Kitchen, Manchester
Peven Everett @ The Wardrboe, Leeds
Love Action @ SWG, Glasgow (DJ EZ, Ben Pearce) WEEKENDER.
Psyk @ La Cheetah Club, Glasgow
Krystal Klear @ the Basement, Southend
Patten + Young Male @ Old Crown Court, Bristol
Sunday 20th April
Wolf + Lamb, @ Studio 338, London
Theo Parrish @ Studio Spaces, London
Dollop present Swamp81 @ Heaven, London
Livin Proof x Work It Bank Hol special @ Bussey Building, London
Shadow Child @ XOYO, London
DJ Yoda @ The Nest, London
Tiger And Woods @ Gorilla, Manchester
Patten Live AV @ Soup Kitchen, Manchester
Deep Shit @ Twenty Twenty Two, Manchester
Gorgon City @ Ocean Scene, Southampton
Perc Presents Sunrise Sessions @ Bassment, Newport
Follow Sian on Twitter @Sianrowe_
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.