Some of Colorado’s best hip-hop turntablists and MCs are preparing to battle it out tonight at the Boulder Theater.
The 2005 DMC Colorado regional DJ championship pits DJs and MCs against each other in separate competitions. Winners compete at the U.S. finals and try to move on to the international DMC World DJ Mixing Championship, where past champions include highly respected American DJs like Mixmaster Mike, Q-Bert, and DJ Craze.
“It’s the most prominent competition for these hip-hop turntablists,” said Sean Choi, host of Radio 1190’s Basementalism show and organizer of this year’s regional event. “This is still a pretty underground type of event. But for kids here in Colorado to feel like they are a part of the international scene, that’s pretty big.”
More than 20 competitors are signed up for tonight’s battle in each category, making the Colorado event one of the larger regional battles leading up to the national competition. Choi thinks the interest level this year is due at least in part to the fact that Colorado’s former regional champ, DJ Vajra, has taken himself out of the competition. Vajra won the Colorado competition several years in a row, and was a finalist in the national event.
This year, Choi says Vajra has agreed to participate only as a judge and guest performer. “People are like, ‘Finally we have a chance at this,”‘ Choi said.
The 2005 DMC Colorado DJ battle starts tonight at 8 p.m. $15, all ages, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St, 303-786-7030.
Reggae revolution
It’s not too often that a party invitation suggests “extreme camo attire” as the dress code. But that’s the case for Saturday’s Dub Revolution party at Kazmo’s Lounge (1381 Kalamath St.) where Bjorn Coker, aka DJ Uplifter of the Dub Wise Collective crew, plans to break out some serious camouflage to set the mood. Roots, reggae and dub music have long been associated with political revolution, and Uplifter – along with fellow Dub Wise members DJ Segue and MC Spellbinder – plans to throw down sets of dubstyle roots and rebel rhythms. “We want a revolutionary feeling, but not in a fist-raising sense,” he said. “It’s a playful presentation. We don’t want to alienate anyone.”
Uplifter and his cohorts are working with the folks at reggaemovement.com to spread the word about similar events around town each week.
In addition to Kazmo’s weekly “Irie Nights” on Saturdays, he puts together a monthly event called Urban Klash that expands the musical selections to include dancehall, hip hop and breaks. The Urban Klash parties also include MCs, breakdancers, and live graffiti artists. The venues change each month in order to reach crowds in both Denver and Boulder.
This month’s Urban Klash event takes place tonight at Trilogy Wine Bar and Lounge (2017 13th St.) in Boulder; check out DJ Uplifter along with DJs MaseOne, Timbuk, Benghi-Nati (Zion Way Soundsystem) and MCs Spellbinder and Black Rhino.
Global Dance Fest
Every year, the club kids escape from the dark interiors of warehouses, bars and dance clubs to gather at Red Rocks for the Global Dance Festival. The party goes all weekend, so the fun begins long before the headliners take the stage on Saturday.
Tonight the party starts at The Church nightclub (1160 Lincoln St.) with a special performance by vocalist Jes Brieden of the band Motorcycle; Saturday the music starts early at 5 p.m. with sets by locals like Kostas, Ty Tek, Dragon and Trajikk before the big names – Paul Oakenfold, Bad Boy Bill, Deep Dish, Dieselboy and Junkie XL – hit the decks. And since no self-respecting dance festival should end before the sun comes up, the after-party rocks the Gothic Theatre (3263 S. Broadway) until 5 a.m. Sunday. Tickets and the complete weekend schedule available through Ticketmaster or globaldancefest.com.
Kat Valentine writes about nightlife Fridays in 7Days. Reach her at kat@kingproduction.com or call 303-820-1568.
