Pacha's vibe thrives

In the space of two years, the London branch of the world's best-known club, Pacha (Ibiza), has become a firm favourite of the capital's discerning and shiny clubgoers.

Pacha is home to nights such as Hed Kandi, Space, Glitterati and Urban Deluxe which, combined with its slick environment, require that you make a real effort.

We've even found security to be polite and friendly (surely a first?). This weekend, Kenny Dope Gonzalez (Masters At Work) drops in for a rare solo four-hour London slot to mark Pacha's Second Birthday. Masters At Work may be the definitive soulful house producers, but Kenny Dope's a hip-hop head, and, boy, does it comes across in his extended sets which are edgy, raw and slamming - especially in comparison to the smooth blends predominant in soulful house. It's showcased on his recent fantastic triple CD for Defected, which is laced with broken beats and soaring a cappellas, expertly looped over bumping beats.

For the penultimate night of this year (the next is Dec 31), Destination Out hosts Two Banks Of Four, who recently supported Matthew Herbert's Big Band at Gilles Peterson's Future Sound Of Jazz gig. The man behind Two Banks Of Four is Rob Gallagher, of funky acid-jazz outfit Galliano (that's before 'acid jazz' became an insult), who has reinvented himself as the zany Earl Zinger - think The Streets on acid and you're in the right ballpark.

Gallagher forms Two Banks Of Four with Dilip 'Demus' Harris, who has produced for Zero 7 and is involved in future soul night Co-Op - their atmospheric folky soul jazz sound is demonstrated on the recent LP Three Street Worlds. Germany's deep house laptop DJ Henrik Schwarz also plays, though the appearance of Ceri Evans is particularly interesting. As Sunship, Evans was a leading light of vocal UK garage, which seemingly disappeared without trace; though word is that Evans hopes to revive it - Naughties style.

Ali B's bumper breaks extravaganza, Air, has been getting jammed earlier and earlier and the last night of 2003 will be no different. Breaks has enjoyed its best year to date with Free*land performing We Want Your Soul on Top Of The Pops. Free*land's LP, like those of Plump DJs and Freq Nasty, has been warmly received and breaks is way more popular than house, d 'n' b or any dance music in clubs Down Under. Ali B is joined by Matt Cantor's Freestylers, Lee Coombs, Barry Ashworth's Dub Pistols and the latest addition to Fabric's residents, Joe Ransom, in this celebration of beats, breaks and basslines.

Launching a new night so close to Christmas is certainly unconventional, but when the name of the night is Motherf**ker, you can safely say that convention has joined the baby and the bathwater sailing out of the window. The tequila and Marlboro Light-fuelled night has been running intermittently throughout 2003, and the hype has steadily been building. So much so that the promoters, Daughters Of Kaos, launch its weekly incarnation tomorrow, while Club Motherf**ker Live goes, er, live in January. We're talking a polysexual rock 'n' roll night with sartorial elegance to match, featuring alternative underground bands (this week it's the glam garage scrumdown of The Dirty Burds) and no small amount of attitude.