Stealing the show

It's going to be one of those festival moments at tonight's

Meanwhile, the intimate confines of Room Three sees the debut of Radio 1's Desi beats duo Nihal and Bobby Friction. Desi beats it may be, but it's a broad term encompassing urban (hip hop and bhangra) and dance (breaks and d'n'b).

However, it's Nitin Sawhney launching his FabricLive mix CD that's likely to steal the show. His DJ sets manage to stir the emotions as powerfully as his artist material, and last year Sawhney headlined the Big Chill's Sunday night finale, blending Spanish, Asian, African and classical influences into a loose d'n'b and broken beat framework.

The mighty Defected label is a key player in the soulful house scene, having released essential triple CD mixes by Kenny Dope, Dmitri From Paris and, next week, US label Soulfuric.

You can get a sneak preview of that sound, and the best new music from Miami's Winter Conference, at the label's monthly shakedown at Ministry this weekend, Defected Presents Soulfuric. Soulfuric founder Brian Tappert is joined by John Julius Knight (who together are stellar producers The Cleptomaniacs) and a PA from Ron Carroll. Carroll is old school: he has links with Chicago's black dance and gay club scenes, out of which soulful house grew, and his material, including last year's anthem Back Together, radiates warm, positive vibes, which will undoubtedly suffuse the night.

Considering the chart success of dancehall in 2003, it's only natural that it should be filtering through to nightclubs. Noisy Bunch, who have been taking over a floor of 333 since late last summer with their bassheavy Cherry Pie party, launch Sweet To The Belly at Herbal with a UK garage and dancehall/ bashment double-header.

Representing twostep sounds is Sticky, the producer behind Ms Dynamite's Boo! and last year's huge Bounce featuring Donea'o (who also appears tonight), with powerful dancehall and electro-tinged UK garage. Seminal garage DJ and producer Jason Kaye reminds us that garage is not only the remit of MCs, but actually fun, sexy dance music. Upstairs, the Noisy Bunch crew nice up the dance with jiggy dancehall and hints of salsa and electronica, as well as showcasing their R'n'B bashment mixes.

Clubland's acid revival has been going on for well over a year now and includes Luke Vibert's Yoseph LP, Josh Wink's current EP and Bugged Out!'s Suck My Deck parties. All of which is credit to Wang, who have been doing the acid thing for more than four years.

Wang's about no publicity, religiously faithful regulars, Detroit techno, electro and acid house, in a small, dark and edgy environment (a recording studio), and consequently it feels far more like a house party than a club. It's always heaving, so it's best to get your tickets organised in advance even though a line-up has yet to be announced.

Tomorrow, FabricLive, Fabric, 77a Charterhouse Street EC1, 9.30pm to 5am, £12 adv and at the door. Tel: 020 7336 8898. Tube: Farringdon

Sat, Soulfuric, Ministry Of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street SE1, 11pm to 7am, £12 adv, £15 door. Tel: 020 7378 6528. Tube: Elephant & Castle