Firing up the decks

It's not the busiest week in clubland - a summer of festivals (Homelands, Sonar, Glastonbury, Lovebox, The Glade) seem to have resulted in a communal comedown. But

Firstly, there's a live rendition of beautiful dubwise electro from Colder; secondly, Freestylers want to prove they can tear it up even more on dance floors than on their well-received recent LP, Raw As F**k; thirdly, Goldie's back. No one can deny the man's importance in pioneering, and becoming the public face of, d'n'b - but that was the 1990s. Since then there's been Snatch, EastEnders and not much music. Still, his label Metalheadz is ten this year and he's rediscovered that creative streak - another album's underway and he's writing a semi-autobiographical film that takes in the genesis of d'n'b. Has-been or not? There's only one way to find out.

After a year of spreading the joys of a range of African sounds around London, from Afrobeat to Nigerian hip hop, this weekend marks Out Of Africa's First Birthday.

The night is not only about representing the continent's traditional music but also reflecting the cross-fertilisation with influences of countries which are home to the African diaspora. So resident DJ Eric Soul might link French, African, US and British hip hop, while live guest Weird MC - aka Rappatainer, a London-born vocalist who has worked with Femi Kuti and Ashley Beedle - blends Afrobeat, hip hop and r'n'b. The rise of this movement is reinforced by the appearance of rapper Aphletik, who has collaborated with Mercury 2004 nominee Ty and won best hip hop act at the Diesel Underground Music Awards a couple of weeks back.

Brixton's Fridge has always been a Mecca for the hard-dancing massive. And the stakes have been raised higher since March's revamp, which restored the venue to its former Gothic glory. The Sharp Boys' monthly Anarchy has brought a punky edge into hard dance, mirroring the revitalising effect rock'n'roll has had on wider clubland, with projected footage of icons such as The Clash and Sex Pistols. Metrosexual clubbers have responded, sporting Westwood-inspired clobber and towering mohicans. This weekend features vocal trance and pumping hard house from BK, Rob Tissera and Pete Ward with a funky house alternative to the big room.

Hard dance is typified by minimum pretension and maximum effort from its enthusiastic disciples - key ingredients of any good club night.

The Cross is a funny venue. It's one of London's superior clubs, with an outdoor area lending it an air of European cool but, when you're dancing in one of the three almost claustrophobic arches, it couldn't get much steamier. Space, the fourth of five annual events taking place there this Saturday, is an ideal night to see high glam that's into deep, dark and, frankly, sweaty dancing. Pioneering DJ Terry Farley headlines. A pal of Andy Weatherall, he helped launched the seminal Junior Boys Own label and is part of the notorious party-throwing Faith crew. Farley's also a bassline fiend, something of a rarity in house, which means come peaktime, The Cross will be even more steamy and sexy than usual.

Tomorrow, Out Of Africa, SeOne, Weston Street SE1, 8pm to 3am, free before 10pm, £8 after, £5 concs. Tel: 07967 362551. Tube: London Bridge

Tomorrow, FabricLive, Fabric, 77a Charterhouse Street EC1, 9.30pm to 5am, £12, £10 concs. Tel: 020 7336 8898. Tube: Farringdon

Sat, Anarchy, The Fridge, Brixton Hill SW2, 10pm to 5am, £15, £12 concs. Tel: 020 7326 5100. Tube: Brixton

Sat, Space, The Cross, King's Cross Goods Yard N1, 10pm to 6am, £15. Tel: 020 7837 0828. Tube: King's Cross